Layout 1 (Page 1)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
(508) 943-4800 Newsstand: 75 cents www.auburnnews.net PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE CENTRAL SOUTH COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE! Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Westerman out of election CITES ‘UNEXPECTED’ TIME ISSUES BY TERESA A. FRANCO race was a hard one to make. NEWS STAFF WRITER “I love working with the residents,” he said. “But I AUBURN — The race for a Board of Selectmen post just couldn’t do it because of the circumstances.” has one less competitor. Even though Westerman will not be a selectman can- Last week, the list of selectmen hopefuls for the didate this year he will not be hard to find. He said he upcoming Town Election Thursday, May 20, was would continue to serve the town in other capacities, knocked down from four to three. In an such as being involved with Keeping BOARD OF SELECTMEN updated ballot sent to the Auburn News Auburn Warm, a fuel-assistance fund from Town Clerk Ellen Gaboury, Westerman co-founded with Lorraine Wednesday,April 21, Carl Westerman, who Gleick Nordgren Senior Center Director had been certified as a candidate, was Christina Silpe in the summer of 2008. The absent. Last week, in an interview, organization gives financial assistance to Westerman confirmed that he has dropped residents in town, who need assistance Simonian seeks out of the race, citing an increased work- paying for their heat. load with his business, the Criminal Westerman said his commitment to the Investigations Bureau. organization is another factor that con- “I wouldn’t be able to give a 100 percent tributed to him drawing out of the race. However, he said Keeping Auburn Warm selectman seat of my time,” he said. In the time that has elapsed since is not as time-consuming as being a select- Westerman passed in his nomination man, so it would be easier for him to man- papers, he said his business became age. ‘I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE “unexpectedly” busy. The unprecedented “It’s a little more flexible then being a workload, he said, requires him to do more Carl Westerman selectman,” he said. “[Being on the board] COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE’ traveling. you have to be in town 24/7.” “I felt it wouldn’t be proper [to run],” he Westerman will not be out of the elec- BY TERESA A. FRANCO This is one of the main rea- said. tion limelight for long. He said he already plans on run- NEWS STAFF WRITER sons he decided to seek a three- Westerman said the decision to withdraw from the year term on the Board of the Turn To WESTERMAN, A17 page Editor’s Note: Leading up the Selectmen. Simonian, 47, has Auburn Annual lived in town for the Election Thursday, past six years with his May 20, the Auburn wife, Jody, and three News will feature elec- daughters — Victoria, Exchange project puts ‘Education First’ tion profiles on a week- 11, and 9-year-old twins ly basis for candidates Alexandra and of the Board of Elizabeth. BY TERESA A. FRANCO Selectmen and School “This is the place NEWS STAFF WRITER Committee. In the where I’ve chosen to interest of fairness, the raise my family and set- Families without the time or order of the profiles tle down,” he said. “So, funds to go on vacation to an inter- was chosen at random. I have an obligation to national destination this summer Steven Simonian try and make the com- have another way to learn about AUBURN — As an munity a better place other cultures. Auburn resident, to be.” In July, more than a 100 students Stephen Simonian said he feels Simonian said he and his wife between the ages of 12 and 18 from it’s in his hands to make the chose Auburn because of the Italy, France and Spain will come to town he loves a great one. Turn To ELECTION, A17 the area to learn English through page the Education First program. From July 7 to Aug. 2, the students will take English classes at St. Joseph School in Webster. The program is looking for fami- lies in the area to host the students. $49.5M budget on They would like families from towns within 25 minutes or less from Webster, such as Auburn, Charlton and Southbridge. Education First Site Director Courtesy photos tap at Town Meeting Diane Sullivan, of Charlton, has been working with the program for Education First Site Director Diana Sullivan, of Charlton, pictured with her husband, the past six summers. She is not Ray, and their host student, Kitty, from China in 2008. The program is currently seek- BY TERESA A. FRANCO identical” to what was proposed. NEWS STAFF WRITER only an employee, but also hosts a ing local families to host students from Italy, France and Spain this summer. If everything on the warrant gets student every year. AUBURN — At last year’s Town approved, the town’s total budget “It’s a fun experience. I think if and homes” to the students and are family and matches them with a stu- Meeting, town officials were unsure would be $49,512,712, a slight more people tried it, they’d be required to provide a bed, three dent with similar interests. what state budget numbers coming increase over last year’s spending hooked,” she said. meals a day and spend time with “My goal is to match the students in would look like — but this year, plan. The budget, he said, increases In order to host a child, Sullivan them during evenings and some with host families they will have that’s not the case. the tax levy by 1.25 percent out of said families must “open their heart weekends. Sullivan interviews each Officials said they are “confident” the 2.5 percent allowed by Turn To EDUCATION FIRST, page A16 that the numbers they have for Proposition 2 1/2. Town Meeting, Thursday, May 6, at “So, we’re not taxing to the max,” Auburn High School at 7:30 p.m., are Kazanovicz said. final. The 1.25-percent increase, However, if the Kazanovicz said, A RIBBITING adjustments do need would allow for to be made, Acting $733,000 in excess, EXPERIENCE Town Manager AUBURN which is a “good Charles O’Connor thing.” The excess said they would ANNUAL TOWN funds, Kazanovicz revisit the warrant said, would be used in the fall. MEETING for roadway construc- “Things have to tion and $300,000 for finally be adopted by Thursday, state-mandated the state, but we feel stormwater fees. pretty confident May 6, Board of Selectmen about what the Chairman Robert state’s issuing even Grossman said that though they have yet 7:30 p.m. with the money that to vote,” he said. has not been expend- In O’Connor’s Auburn High ed in 2010 and 2009, original proposed the total money being budget in February, School used for roadway con- the deputy chief ’s struction and position and a police stormwater improve- patrolman position that was vacant ments is around $2 million. Over the were eliminated from the budget. past couple of years, Grossman said Due to increased numbers from the the board has been “cautious” with state, the town was able to recom- expenditures regarding contracts mend reinstatement of those posi- and litigation. He said the money Teresa A. Franco photo tions. savings is a “step in the right direc- Town Accountant Edward tion.” AUBURN — A lucky girl got a visitor on the top of her head when Matthew Gabriel, of Stoughton-based Animal World Kazanovicz said that the recent Experience, visited to the Auburn Public Library Thursday, April 22. For more photos from the event, turn to page 4! numbers from the state are “almost Turn To MEETING, page A17 E E CALENDAR ........A12 AYFS SUMMER THE INSIDE OPINION.............A6 PROGRAMS ARE SENIORS ............A9 TRACK OBITUARIES ......A12 READY TO ROLL PAGE A10 SPORTS ...........A10 PAGE A3 INSID 6 56525 10391 9 INSID 2 • THE AUBURN NEWS • Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Ten hopefuls in play for town manager post ALMANAC QUOTE OF THE WEEK SELECTMEN PUSH FOR PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES “There are 16,000 people in this town, so there are a lot of BY TERESA A. FRANCO NEWS STAFF WRITER ideas out there that are not AUBURN — Several town manager candi- getting communicated … dates will soon be revealed. On Monday, April 26, the Board of I think we need to get a Selectmen agreed to have three to five candi- better way to voice our ideas.” dates announced before the board in the near future. Selectman Timothy Hicks, who is the - Board of Selectmen election candidate Steven Board of Selectmen’s representative on the Simonian, talking about his campaign. Town Manager Screening Panel, said he could bring the candidates before the board as soon as the next meeting, Monday, May 10, if all goes according to plan. “I’d be happy to acknowledge the panel and OPEN TO CLOSE the candidates,” Hicks said. Selectman Nicholas Hammond said he AUBURN TOWN HALL would prefer that the candidates be presented to the board in open session, as opposed to Board of Selectmen (832-7720) executive session. Monday-Friday . .8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “I want this process to be completely trans- Town Clerk (832-7701) parent,” he said. Once the candidates are presented, Hicks Monday-Friday . .8 a.m. to 4 p.m. said the process of scheduling interviews will begin. He said there are currently 10 candi- AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY dates for town manager and that the panel (832-7790) plans on narrowing down the number of can- Monday, Wednesday10 a.m.