Webster OK's $47 Million Budget, Nixes Land Sale
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Free by request to residents of Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, July 3, 2020 Webster OK’s $47 million budget, nixes land sale BY GUS STEEVES water budgets; the latter a fine line between using study; he said it could CORRESPONDENT rose 11 percent because enough money for this wait until next year. The WEBSTER – A social- of debt for the new treat- year and not having other cited safety and ly-distanced Town ment plant. enough for next year,” he environmental reasons Meeting rejected sell- Town Administrator said. not to sell. Specifically, ing a parcel of town Doug Willardson noted Regarding the land he noted about 150 endan- land for development that will likely change issues, the town sought gered turkey vultures last week, but approved in the fall, once Webster bids for 5.25 acres of water “sleep in those woods almost everything else finds out how much department land off Park every night” and warned on the 23-article war- state aid it will actually Street, aiming to put the against having a public rant. The one exception get. He noted he’s heard money into an account waterline running under was another land issue, of “several different sce- that Town Meeting would private property. passing over a proposal narios,” with the “worst have to approve using. A couple items later, to given the Conservation case” being a cut of 20 Willardson said they got citizens voted 73-18 Commission control of 12 percent, or about $2.5 mil- one bid, of $250,000 from a to pass over an arti- acres taken for unpaid lion. That would require developer seeking to build cle that would have taxes. Webster to slash anoth- nine homes, but could put given the Conservation Most of the meeting was er million, since town it out to bid again. Commission control of standard financial work officials already cut the The voters had other about 12 acres off Lower that prompted very little rest from the budget pro- ideas. Two men gave Gore Road. Assessor discussion. Without even posed in March. (Town voice to what proved to be Mark Becker said get- a question, participants Meeting later put most overwhelming opposition ting that land as a tax voted 79-14 to approve the of this year’s remaining – 10-78 – to the sale. One title foreclosure was “a town’s $47 million budget. Free Cash money into argued it made no sense big win for the town” Courtesy Similarly lopsided votes Stabilization, which now to do it now since the vot- because some sections approved the $3.6 million holds $2.8 million.) ers had just approved a Johnny Marcuccio sewer and $2.6 million “We’re trying to walk water department asset Turn To BUDGET page A10 recently celebrated his Kindergarten graduation with a private ceremony in his family’s backyard. Water and sewer articles approved in Dudley He entertained them by performing a sample BY JASON BLEAU voting in the latter half of Road and Dresser Hill “These are improve- of the many things he CORRESPONDENT the annual town meeting. Road that caused the ments that in two of the learned this year, fol- Articles 16 through 19 all most debate. three cases are mandat- lowed by a celebration DUDLEY – Voters in pertained to water and Scott Zajkowski, chair ed by the Department with family and close Dudley overwhelming- sewer projects but it was of the Water & Sewer of Environmental friends. He attended St. ly approved a series of Article 16, a request to Commission, responded Protection. The tanks Joseph School, and home water and sewer arti- borrow $5,225,000 through to calls on social media need to be inspected, schooled after the onset cles during the spring the Massachusetts Clean for voters to reject the cleaned, and rehabbed. of the Coronavirus out- annual town meeting on Water Trust to cover proposal and requests The Station 1 modifica- break. God job, Johnny! Monday, June 23 despite the cost associated with during the meeting to tions are to add a level of early contention bring- modifications to Pump hold the item for the fall redundancy to our water ing strong statements Station No. 1, the Mason town meeting by implor- system that is greatly from town officials. Road Extension Water ing citizens to support needed. That station has The series of four arti- Main replacement and the article calling the been out of commission cle made up nearly an the rehabilitation to projects essential and Oxford voters Turn To ARTICLES page A9 hour of discussion and water tanks on Bates required by the state. approve debt exclusion BY GUS STEEVES CORRESPONDENT OXFORD — Last week, Town Meeting voted to approve a 15-year, $15 million debt exclusion to repair the town’s roads, sending it to this Tuesday’s bal- lot (after this paper’s deadline). The 127 voters also approved everything else on the 17-article warrant, including the $40.7 million budget and a significant sum of capital spending. According to Town Manager Jen Callahan, the pro- posal came out of the failure of the last ballot question to build a DPW headquarters. At that time, she said, “people said we’d rather fix the roads first.” “We cannot even keep up with the funding the state provides” – about $500,000 a year – and “cannot get ahead” even by adding $500,000 of local funds to that, she said. Callahan said that funding shortage has led to “decades in the making for disrepair,” which DPW Director Sean Divoll expanded on to say “most Oxford roadways need structural improvement.” At this point, the town’s average condition is 62 on a 100-point scale, with many roads in the 40-55 zone. He noted 55 is “basically in failure.” Back in 2015, he said, the town’s road condition study found Oxford needs at least $1 million a year just to “keep the town level,” leading to the town matching state Chapter 90 funding. But he noted even All Saints Academy sends off that money didn’t allow much work on neighborhood streets because it’s legally prioritized to the connector roads. The debt exclusion funds, by contrast, can be used on any road, and Divoll said $15 million would eighth grade graduates be enough (with the state’s extra money, but without the local match) to reach all of them. Doing so would cost the “mode value” house (the most common home WEBSTER — On Sunday, June 8, the eighth-grade students of All Saints Academy came to St. Louis value, $212,400) about $54 extra a year, or $1300 over the Church in Webster to partake in their graduation Mass and ceremony. While observing all social distancing life of the 25-year bond repayment, he said. rules, students sat with their families as their pastors, Rev. William Sanders and Rev. Adam Reid, and their “I know it’s a big decision, and comes with a lot of teachers celebrated them. heartache,” Divoll added. In her remarks, Mrs. Joan Matys, Principal, commented on how these students deserve recognition. In Voters generally agreed, with one woman noting the midst of this pandemic much has been said about how schools and teachers and families quickly adapt- “It’s way worth it to do $50 a year just for the wear and ed to distance learning. And yes, parents have truly become partners in education. But no one really spoke tear on my car.” Some questioned its impact because to the efforts of the students. Their world had been turned upside down. Since March 16, the first day of their home values and taxes have continually risen, virtual classroom learning for All Saints Academy, the very real need for social connections and interac- and one asked how far the money would actually reach tions that students have been accustomed to getting for seven and a half hours a day, five days a week, for with inflation. Divoll noted the costs were projected their entire school career no longer existed. Gone too were team sports, activities, clubs, celebrations, and at 3-4 percent interest rates, but those are currently gatherings. Every student in the Diocese of Worcester should be commended, but most especially, each of lower. these graduates for rising to the challenge and figuring out a way to keep going and learning despite all the Personal fiscal issues popped up during debate over obstacles. several smaller items as well, particularly the capital One of the core values of All Saints Academy is to instill in each student a sense of responsibility for projects. But that didn’t change the fact they were all human dignity. In light of the social unrest in society surrounding racism and injustice, this core value has approved. Among them were the extra $500,000 for become even more critical for these students to understand and take to heart. The hope of all faculty and roads, $265,000 for building improvements, $137,500 for staff is that all students live that core value and stand up for others who cannot themselves. All lives matter. fire apparatus, $289,000 for DPW vehicles (from two The newly graduated students exited the church with one final assignment from All Saints Academy – to different sources), $126,000 for a new math curriculum stand up for what is right and just, and go make a difference. These students will be making a difference and several smaller items. at Marianapolis Preparatory School, Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, and St.