PRSRT STD PRSRT PAID US POSTAGE #35 PERMIT MA UPTON, 01568 TOWN CRIER UPTON & MENDON, MASSACHUSETTS July 6, 2018 | Vol. 26 No. 12 | www.TownCrier.us The Town Crier POSTAL PATRON POSTAL CAR-RT-SORT WS MA 01568 UPTON, is closed for The Upton & Mendon Town Crier Town Mendon & Upton The Inc. Crier Publications, Town Street 48 Mechanic MA 01568 Upton, Est. 1993 • Mailed FREE to all 5,800 addresses in Upton and Mendon. Vacation from July 11 to July 25 Mendon 1773, Underpinnings Upton Selectmen Discusses for the American Revolution Changes to Meetings Editor’s note: As we celebrate July 4th, we decided to reprint this article written by By Michelle Sanford Mendon Historian Richard Grady about the Staff Reporter/Columnist Resolves approved at the town’s March 1, During a June 19 meeting, Selectmen Brett Simas led a discussion on possibly changing the 1773 Town Meeting, which provided some start times of Board meetings as well as adding a public comment section to each agenda. of the ideas included in the Declaration of Simas said during his recent campaign for the Selectmen’s seat he’d heard from residents Independence written Thomas Jefferson about two possible changes regarding meetings. “One was the time of the meetings and the 242 years ago. challenges that some folks have making the meetings because they’re working or having to feed children in the evenings,” he explained. “Having a later time would make it easier for Mendon’s town meeting on March 1, them to participate and engage in a meeting that might be interesting to them.” 1773, at the Fourth Meetinghouse, was The town’s Selectmen meetings begin at 6 p.m. Simas suggested changing the start time one of the most important meetings in to 7 p.m. to see if that might benefit interested residents. “Obviously, we’re not going to have the town’s history. The outcomes had a huge spike in participation but I think it’s worth making these meetings as accessible as significant impacts, not only on the town possible,” he said. but on the 13 colonies under British Selectman Chair Gary Daugherty proposed a trial period beginning in September with rule. A group of six scholarly residents one meeting starting at 6 p.m. and the following at 7 p.m. to see if there’s an increase in eloquently proposed a document and participation. Daugherty noted that several other towns begin their Selectmen executive supported it with fiery orations that shook sessions at 6 p.m. “So town employees aren’t here until 10, 11 o’clock at night.” Following the rafters of the wooden building. The executive session, the regular meeting would then begin. In March 1773, Mendon voters spirited voters gave approval, and the Selectman Stephan Matellian agreed. “If this is something that will help to draw people to approved 19 resolutions that were the document gained the attention of Boston’s the meetings I’m all for it,” he said, suggesting a start time at 6:30 p.m. possibly. basis for many of the freedoms listed Committee of Correspondence and The second half of the discussion regarded adding a public comment section to the agenda. in the Declaration of Independence Sons of Liberty. The document helped to Simas reviewed other agendas of Grafton, Hopkinton, and Mendon and each have a public and the Bill of Rights in the United define and focus on the issues of colonial comment at the beginning of the agenda. “That allows for citizens to give us input to what States Constitution. To view all discontent with Great Britain, and it might be on the agenda so we can incorporate any feedback Upton Selectmen 19 resolutions, visit Dan Malloy’s became an influence on the thinking in the p 17 website, Hope1842.com – Mendon early days of the American Revolution. menu. Jane Bigda photo The purpose of the meeting was to respond to a letter that the town had received at a February 10 meeting, three weeks earlier. It was from Boston’s New Mendon Police Station Design Committee of Correspondence in regards to the punitive Acts of Parliament that had shut down the Massachusetts state government and closed the port of Boston. Voters at the February meeting created a committee to propose a Needed Due to Increased Costs response and present it on March 1. The committee included Joseph Dorr Esq., Edward Rawson, James Sumner, John Tyler, Lt. Joseph Johnson, and William By Michelle Sanford Torrey. The presentation was orated by their chairman, Joseph Dorr. It was in the Staff Reporter/Columnist form of 19 resolves or resolutions. The following are a few examples. The Mendon Police Station Building Committee provided the Board of Selectmen an “1. Resolved, that all men have naturally an equal right to life, liberty, and update on the latest costs for the new police headquarters showing an increase of $1.2 million property. 2. Resolved, that all just and lawful government must necessarily over the approved $5 million project. The Committee, along with the project’s architects, also originate in the free consent of the people. 3. Resolved, that the good, safety, put forward another design option during the June 18 meeting that is expected to bring those and happiness of the people is the great end of civil government and must be costs down. considered as the only rational object in all original compacts and political Analysis of the $1.2 million overages, known as the Option C design, were broken down institutions. 10. Resolved, that introducing and quartering standing armies in a before the Selectmen and included the unexpected discovery of unsuitable soils which free country in times of peace, without the consent of the people, is a violation of added an additional $100,000 to the original $5 million price tag. According to a PowerPoint their rights as free men. 19. … voted that the foregoing Resolves be entered into presentation, overall, site work and demolition costs increased $424,000, certain additions the Town Book , that our children in years to come, may know the sentiments of totaled an extra $344,000, and the Fire Station renovations increased $320,000. A more their fathers in regard to their invaluable rights and liberties.” detailed breakdown of the increased costs can be found on the Police Station Building Dorr served in the General Court (Massachusetts Legislature) during the Committee’s Web page at mendonma.gov. 1760s, and Rawson served during the 1770s. With their Boston ties, they were While the Selectmen agreed the unsuitable soil and certain market increases could not have closely acquainted with Sam Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Joseph Warren, been predicted, the other increases should have been accounted for. “It would seem to me that and other leaders of the revolutionary cause. Mendon had representation at all at least 75 percent of this was predictable and we should have had it in the original number,” meetings of the Committee of Correspondence and the Provincial Congress. said Selectman Rich Schofield. Clamors for freedom from tyranny from the radicals in Boston echoed off the The Selectmen were then presented with an Option E design which will bring down the walls of Mendon’s meetinghouse at the north end of Old Cemetery. Historian increased costs. The new drawings show a smaller footprint than Option C which means a William Cullen Bryant wrote that Mendon’s Resolves and Thomas Paine’s less impervious area to drain. In addition, the building’s basement will be built under the first “Common Sense” were the first writings that influenced Thomas Jefferson’s floor and the attic will not be built out but only constructed for future expansion or storage authorship of the Declaration of Independence. The town meeting on March 1, needs. No elevator will be needed but both levels will be ADA compliant. It also requires the 1773 was one of the most important in the town’s history. It not only influenced replacement of less unsuitable soil. Mendon Police Station Mendon, but to some extent, the early beginnings of the United States! Even though the $1.2 million increase is expected to lessen p 4 OVER 700 VEHICLES BRAND NEW WHOLESALE PRICING USED CAR OUTLET STORE ready for delivery. 2017 HYUNDAI Sonata SE MSRP: $22,785 SEDAN SPECIAL #H7346 BUY PURCHASE MERCEDES-BENZ FOR ONLY $47 9 CONVERTIBLES A WK. Must See! 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MAIN ST | RTE. 16 | MILFORD, MA | OPEN DAILY 9-9, SAT 9-6, SUN 11-6 Mendon News Miscoe Springs Building Discussed with Selectmen By Michelle Sanford Staff Reporter/Columnist The fate of the Miscoe Springs Bottling Plant structure was discussed at the June 18 Board of Selectmen’s meeting with members of the Historical Commission and Planning Board in attendance.