myDedham - Recent Comments

A couple of links

Brian — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:09:31 GMT

The town meeting moderator in Walpole has his own blog, and the other day he posted an op-ed written by yet another moderator from Mansfield on Town Meeting being democracy at its best. It's worth a read.

Also, I stole the idea of an Ask Me Anything Day from David Bernstein, formerly of the Phoenix. He is now writing at Boston Magazine, and is doing an Ask Me Anything Day over there. His focus is on state and Boston politics, but, true to the name, you can ask him anything you like.

New licenses

Brian — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:31:45 GMT

The Selectmen are the licensing board in town, and it is they who have to approve any new license, or the transfer of an existing one. It's the applicants who have to pay the associated fees, including an additional fee of $5,000 for one of these licenses which will go into a special economic development fund.

I'm beyond that

Brian — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:24:53 GMT

I was in middle school when the Massachusetts Commission on Time on Learning recommended every elementary student get 900 hours of instructional time per year, and 990 hours for secondary students. I was in high school when the state mandated it. Nearly 20 years later Dedham still is not meeting those standards. I'm more interested in moving us forward than trying to get us to meet a standard that is decades old.

The 900/990 hours mandate was supposed to be a first step in getting us up to par with other countries, but for whatever reason the state never took the second step. So, I pretty much copied the language word for word from the state act 20 years ago and put it in this article. There's no reason we have to wait for Beacon Hill.

You are right about one thing, though. This would just have the School Committee study the issue and produce a plan. It would not actually increase the number of hours students are in school.

Unfortunately not

Brian — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:13:51 GMT

Nope. Exemptions 4 and 12 allows public utilities to make noise as long as it is temporary. If they started running it every morning at 7 am in perpetuity then you would have grounds for a complaint. If it is just for a couple of days then you have to deal with it.

From Mini-own . . .

FredCivian — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:31:48 GMT

what I recall is that the licenses would have to be approved first by the Legislature; if that happens then the Selectmen would be in charge of issuing them

they'd be geographically restricted to Dedham Square (per Section 3 of the Article)

they are intended to be granted to restaurants in order to attract more restaurants to the Square

some at mini-town argued that issuing more licenses diminishes the value of the existing licenses; that reminded me of similar arguments years ago when Mocha Java and Isabella's were first proposed for the Square; they were denied the first time around because of concerns about existing businesses and parking

New Liquor License proposal

plums — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:35:39 GMT

I'm a little confused by the request for new liquor licenses in Dedham Square..... Who would be able to give the licenses out? Who pays for them? Would the selectmen have to approve the request?

I have no objection to more licenses in town, it's just that the technicalities are unclear.

Would the new noise nuisance law...

plums — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:23:31 GMT

.... allow me to file a complaint against DPW for jackhammering in my neighborhood at 7 a.m.?

Re your article

CFILL84 — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:07:59 GMT

Is this article meant to guide Dedham Schools towards the planning process and, ultimately, the implementing of the state's Time on Learning 900/990 mandate?

Shoud be a bigger deal

Cool Hand Luke — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:47:56 GMT

2 reasons. The Dedham schools just aren't respected by long time residents the facts be damned and the school committee doesn't think its job is promoting the schools.

A Real Positive!

cebonvini — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:43:27 GMT

Congratulations to the Staff and Student body!

Why is this not the talk of the town and getting more chatter?

#42 is a huge accomplishment

plums — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:45:33 GMT

This is a fantastic acknowledgement of our school. Most nearby towns (aside from much wealthier ones) didn't get ranked at all. Congratulations DHS!

Perfect, thank you.i n

plums — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:48:23 GMT

I never would have found that by googling!

District map

JM — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:12:57 GMT

http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/pa...

Keep clicking on each school area and the street names will appear.

Dexter School

plums — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:08:18 GMT

Having an extra building helps.

answer

FredCivian — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:28:19 GMT

Why, the old Avery, of course!