Posted by Caroline on January 10, 2007, 1:29 pm Here's the Lowell Sun article: Committee member May Paquette, who sits on the subcommittee, said she did not receive the proposed budget until last Wednesday and there was not time to review it properly. "I would like the time to look over every line item so I can be comfortable with this budget," Paquette said. "I reviewed it briefly over the weekend and I have several questions." Paquette also said the percentage increase that was reported in The Sun on Monday was inaccurate, although, after the meeting she would not offer the correct figure. Committee chairman Ron Mercier said the proposed increase over last year's budget is closer to 6 percent, rather than the 2.1 percent that was reported. Paquette said she had informed Town Manager Dennis Piendak that the recommendation would not be ready for a week or two. After a lengthy debate, it was determined that Friday's meeting will consist of a budget workshop open to the public, after which the finance subcommittee meeting will be reconvened. The subcommittee will then bring its recommendation before the entire committee at a subsequent date. Committee member Joseph Campbell said there may be line items in this year's budget that require research and investigation. "When I received the proposed budget I had some questions, and I've made notations right off the bat," he said. "I'd like to bring those concerns forward." The proposed budget is $27.8 million. Last year's school budget was $26.2 million. In other school business, the committee voted 3 to 1 to approve a five-year capital plan. First on the list is the plan to lease or purchase six new modular classrooms for the high school at an estimated cost of $190,000 per year for five consecutive years. The district is expecting enrollment to increase by as much as 130 students by September, constituting the need for the expansion of the cafeteria. Proposed cost is $290,000. The plan also calls for roof renovation and replacement of window walls at a cost of $350,000. Campbell opposed the five-year plan, suggesting that purchasing property for a new school should be a priority. "I've been on this committee for 12 years and every year we keep putting it off and putting it off," he said.
128.222.37.21
As in Ed's previous post - Dracut board postpones vote on 2008 school budget: http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_4978086
(I'll put the text of the article below). Interesting enough -- Dracut tried to put a moratorium on the 40B housing way back in 2002 at the Attorney General's Office --http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1354
December 11, 2002 - Dracut - #2270 - A vote to place a moratorium on approval of Chapter 40B affordable housing projects was disapproved and deleted because it was inconsistent with G.L. c. 40B. Chapter 40B is a comprehensive statutory scheme providing for construction of affordable housing across the Commonwealth. Any such restrictive local regulation would frustrate the achievement of the statutory purpose of having uniform statewide process for the construction of low and moderate income housing. See Town of Wendell, 394 Mass. at 529. Clearly, statewide affordable housing standards could not be achieved if each municipality were able to prohibit its Board of Appeals from approving Chapter 40B projects.
Dracut board postpones vote on 2008 school budget
By DENNIS SHAUGHNESSEY, Sun Staff
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:
DRACUT -- A vote to recommend the proposed school budget for fiscal year 2008 was put on hold last night pending a special School Committee meeting on Friday afternoon, followed by a finance subcommittee meeting.
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