ntun {flefokeburrj - tttlmington 26TH YEAR • NO. 4 ■COPVRIGHT 1981 WllMINGION NEWS CO. INC WILMINGTON. MASS.. JANUARY 28, 1981 AIL RIGHTS RESERVED PUB NO. 635 340 6582346 32 PAGES Where will the Special mass at St. Thomas Library chairman A Mass of Thanksgiving for the celebrated on Thursday evening at axe fall first? release of the hostages will be soven o'clock at St. Thomas of Yillanova Church. issues statement Will Wilmington's ambulance Among the areas mentioned by Morris as vulnerable were rubbish service be cut because of Proposition The following statement was January 2. 1981, I received a memo 2'*? removal, library, recreation, am- In a dicsussion of possible cuts. bulance services, police specialties, submitted to the Town Crier by John from the town manager requesting family counseling, and possibly street McNaughton. chairman of the additional budget information. The Wilmington Town Manager Sterling memo reached me December 24. Morris Monday night told the lights. Wilmington Board of Library Morris said that probably 35 Trustees. Because of the holidays and other selectmen that he found the am- personal matters it was not possible bulance service "extremely positions would be eliminated, and Recent newspaper articles con- possibly another 15, just to pay for the to call an immediate meeting. On vulnerable." cerning the Wilmington Library are December 31, 1980, I telephoned the Morris said that the ambulance by unemployment costs. unfortunate and misleading. Finance Committee Chairman '—K board clerk and asked her to set up a state law must be manned by EMT's '. The role of the Board of Library meeting for Friday, January 2,1981 at (Emergency Medical Technicians) Walter Kaminski noted that the Trustees is to establish policy and discussion was "purely speculative. 2:00 p.m. to respond to the manager's and that many of these men would be C^ recommend to the town manager request. I received a call from Mrs. cut. He said that attempts would be In his remarks, Caira dismissed those resources needed in the way of many of Morris' predictions, saying Callan later that day to change the made to find a reasonable substitute, funds and personnel to maintain a meeting from 2:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. I in the form of a private ambulance that he didn't think many people had viable public library for the Town of to go. He said that he felt the impact called the clerk again and requested service. Wilmington. The director of the the meeting bg changed to 1:00 p.m. "Whatever it is, it will be of less would be felt for one year, and then library, on the other hand, ad- the revaluation would take effect, and It was Mrs. Callan who requested the service than what is provided," he ministers the day-to-day operation meeting be changed from 2:00 p.m. to said. some new buildings would come onto using the resources available and the tax rolls, such as the Com- 1:00 p.m. It is incorrect for her to Morris' remarks came during a within policy guidelines established state that she was given only a 15 discussion of cuts that may take place pugraphic building. by the Trustees. Catra also suggested ways to save, minute notice of the change. for Fiscal Year 1982, when At a meeting October 8, 1980, Mrs. I scheduled a meetng for January Proposition 2'2 takes effect on the such as reopening collective bargaining, offering the union a lower Callan challenged Mr. Meriam's 14, 1981 as the regularly scheduled town budget. management practices. Her remarks monthly meeting of the board. I Selectman Aldo Caira said that he percentage increase in exchange for a s*vfhg of some jobs. became part of the minutes of this called the clerk to advise that I was ill did not buy a number of things said by with the flu. However, I wanted the Morris. He asked how much money He said that town employees had had meeting which were to be approved the town received back in fees for salary increases of 60 percent in the by the board on December 10. 1980. meeting held since I had a statement ambulance runs. Morris looked up last 10 years, and that people could Prior to that I called all of the trustees for the Annual Town Report which I give up increases to preserve jobs. and suggested, for good reason, that wished the board to approve. The the figure and announced that it was her remarks be dropped from the clerk advised me that two other $4700 in 1978. Supt. of Schools Walter Pierce said that the Massachusetts Teachers minutes. Mrs. Callan objected since members of the board were ill and "It's time that we looked at it as she wanted them made part of the that a quorum was unattainable. I income," he said. He said that a Association has advised their people not to hold discussions on salary public record. 1 advised her that in all told the clerk to call the trustees and private ambulance service receives likelihood, the board would vote her advise them that I would schedule $70 for a run, and that Wilmington's freezes. Caira also recommended having statement out of the minutes. It did. another meeting. On hearing this, ambulance makes about 700 runs a Concerning an alleged incident in Mrs. Callan decided to call a meeting year. He said that the money the the cuts distributed among the departments by percentage, and the Children's Room, I was asked by of the Ad-Hoc Committee regarding ambulance could generate would pay Mrs. Callan to go to her home on the possibility of creating a volunteer for three employees. having the department heads make the cuts. One possibility he men- Friday night December 19, 1980. I group for the library. She notified Mr. In opening the discussion of possible took two other trustees with me and Fred Ryan, a member of the Ad-Hoc cuts, Morris said he was attempting tioned would be for the police on being informed of the incident, 1 Committee, but he declined since he to define what were essential services department to no, juy new cruisers immediately notified the police. As had nothing new to report. The other and what were expendable services. this year. far as I am concerned that should member of the Ad-Hoc Committee, have ended the incident insofar as the Mr. Bruce Conant agreed to attend. trustees were obligated. Further, Town meeting might since the young girl declined to press charges, the matter should have been I want to assure the townspeople of dropped. It continues to be the sub- Wilmington that we have an excellent delay budget until June ject of articles in the press. The in- library and that it is staffed with cident occurred two and one-half outstanding persons of experience Wilmington's annual town meeting valuation by 13 percent, allowed for "It reminds me of the blizzard of '78, when people weeks before I was informed by a and commitment to the patrons of may be deliberating on the town inflation. The additional increase, if , were really people," said one local man. third party in Mrs. Callan's home. I Wilmington. budget in June this year. Town granted, would be because of Celebrating Wilmington's reaction toihe release of the hostages have determined that the director, Trustees, Evelyn Norton, Esther Manager Sterling Morris Monday demonstrated price trends in the local hostages' mi enthusiastic, as could be expected. Yellow rib- who also was not notified for two and Russell, Bruce Conant and Frederick night gave a date of June 13 for a real estate market. bons were to be seen, both in the trees and on the one-half weeks, handled the matter Ryan, have devoted their time as a proposed date for the budget portion Morris said that he expected to hear freedom clothing of people around town. The trees in front of properly based upon the limited in- public service to their community, of the meeting. on Friday from the DOR whether they formation provided. and I know that they support me in the Wilmington Town Hall were decorated with 52 It is my understanding that the my efforts to see that our town con- The annual town meeting is will consider the second increase. yellow ribbons, and the flag flew at full mast. scheduled for Sat., April 25. Morris By delaying the town meeting vote young woman who reported the in- tinues to maintain a facility of ex- said that the meeting could convene on the budget. Morris hopes to take cident had intended to leave for a full- cellent quality and resources. on that date, and then postpone action advantage of any additional increase time job since she was employed part- JohnS. McNaughton on the budget until June. in the tax levy limit. time at the library. Everyone is Concur: The delay in the budget deliberation Finance Committee Chairman entitled to resign from jobs for Evelyn Norton whatever reason and to submit a Esther Russell relates directly to Proposition 2'z. Walter Kaminski said that he wanted Morris said that he hopes to receive the usual 90 days review period for the letter of resignation in that regard. Bruce Conant authorization from the State budget before the town meeting, after What is unfortunate is that this young Frederick Ryan woman has been the subject of a news Department of Revenue (DOR) to the town manager issues the budget. An editorial on the situation at the increase the valuation of real estate in School superintendent Walter article.