Free by request to residents of Webster, Dudley and the Oxfords SEND YOUR NEWS AND PICS TO [email protected] Friday, June 26, 2020 Firefighter statue Dudley voters debuts in Dudley approve budget BY JASON BLEAU enterprise funds. The uses in their projects, CORRESPONDENT budget was considered essentially allowing for a conservative spending residential-only develop- DUDLEY – More than plan taking into account ments on a case-by-case 90 Dudley voters turned the current circumstanc- basis. Applicants would out for the town’s 2020 es under the COVID-19 need approval from the spring annual town meet- pandemic and received Board of Selectmen and ing on Monday, June no vocal opposition from Planning Board to affirm 22, where the proposed voters making it one of such a waiver under the 2021 fiscal year budget the easiest votes of the bylaw changes. received overwhelming night. The proposal had vot- support but a proposal A more controversial ers split down the mid- to amend a zoning bylaw subject however came dle with some seeing it as pertaining to the mill immediately after the an opportunity to loosen conversion overlay dis- budget vote as residents restrictions to allow for trict proved to be more were asked whether or a wider range of uses for divisive topic. not to approve an amend- the mill while others felt Residents voted 72-18 ment to the zoning bylaw it was being proposed to approve a $21,081,882 for the mill conversion specifically to satisfy town budget that includes overlay district to allow one company, Camden $8,863,480 in the gener- for developers of the prop- Partners, who are plan- al fund and $9,895,971 erties within the district ning the redevelopment in education spending. to seek a waiver through of the Stevens Linen Mill The budget also includ- a special permit exempt- on Mill Street into 164 ed a combined $2,147,663 ing them from having to for the water and sewer include non-residential Turn To DUDLEY page A9 Oxford voters to decide on select board race, debt exclusion BY GUS STEEVES Because of Covid- help keep the taxes from CORRESPONDENT 19, polling hours have going up, up, up.” While OXFORD – On Tuesday, changed, although the he said he supports bring- June 30, Oxford voters locations – the Middle ing more small business who haven’t yet voted by School and Chaffee School to town, the only specific mail will get their chance – have not. They’re now thing he’d like to see the to decide two key aspects 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all town pursue is “at least of local democracy. voters must wear a mask one more” recreational Courtesy Atop the ballot, there’s of some type. marijuana shop, since it’s a three-way race for two approved only one of the The new Dudley seats on the Board of three the bylaws allow, Fire Department Selectmen, with incum- RANDY MOODY he said. Memorial statue. bents John Saad and “I’m new getting into Additionally, he’s con- Meaghan Troiano being politics,” Moody said of cerned that the roads are challenged by newcom- in bad shape, but opposes BY JASON BLEAU gear preparing to make put a statue out there to his run. “Nobody was er Randy Moody. At the the ballot questions on entry into a building. The dedicate to past firefight- running against them, CORRESPONDENT ballot’s bottom, a major a tax basis. When asked $15,000 memorial was one ers of Dudley honoring and I thought it was time question asks whether how else he’d fund them, DUDLEY – Those pass- of several B-list projects their sacrifice and ded- for a change.” the town is willing to he said “I would have to ing by the Dudley Fire that was planned as part ication to the fire ser- When Moody says accept a debt exclusion see the numbers first.” Department on West of the fire departments vice specifically,” Chief he’s new, he means it. for $15 million in road He said the same thing Main Street may have renovation and expan- Kochanowski said. “This Although he’s lived in repairs over the next 15 when asked about where noticed a new addition, sion that concluded in is a dangerous job, and we town 49 years, this is the years. he might cut the budget a bronze statue commem- 2019. Dudley Fire Chief put ourselves out there to first time he taken any Between them are if the economy and state orating the firefighters Dean Kochanowski said help people. We thought interest in a town com- four uncontested can- aid don’t improve. who have and will serve the statue was always those who came before us mittee.His background is didates: September Overall, though, Moody the town of Dudley. part of the original plan and those who will come as a construction worker. Forbes for School promised to listen to peo- Dubbed the Dudley Fire but was only intended to after us deserved to be “You can’t make a dif- Committee, Russell ple. “By myself, I can’t Department Memorial, be added to the property honored.” ference if you don’t try,” Rheault for Moderator, do that, but together we the statue depicts a kneel- if the budget allowed. he noted. Ben LaMountain for Bay can,” he said. “I will lis- ing firefighter in full “We were going to Turn To STATUE page A6 To Moody, the crucial Path School Committee issue is “keeping taxes ten to the people, bring and Harry Williams III down,” which means Turn To OXFORD page A6 New faces join Webster boards for Library Trustee. he’ll support “anything to the town.” He termed the schools “one of the biggest driving forces to revital- ize a community,” hopes to promote increased par- ent-teacher involvement, better MCAS scores, more school use of the town library, and more technology in the system. Both of the other write-ins were also familiar faces to local government observers. Recreation Director Carole Marchand col- lected 70 votes to win Gus Steeves a five-year seat on Seated poll workers log out two voters as they cast their the Redevelopment ballots. Authority, and incum- bent Board of Health chair Iwona Miller kept BY GUS STEEVES 305, while Linda Perno CORRESPONDENT her seat despite not filing got 210. papers to run again, col- WEBSTER — Super- A third available seat lecting 69 votes. low turnout of just 4.8 on that board was taken When asked by email percent put two new faces by Nick Adamopoulos, why she sought her new on the School Committee with 82 write-in votes. seat, Marchand thanked and one on the Board of The attorney and former her supporters and Selectmen last week. Finance Committee chair wrote, “Redevelopment In the highest-profile will serve a one-year Authority works with ballot race, incumbent term opened by the fact the Office of Community School Committee mem- appointed member Mike Development. I think I ber Kelly Seddiki retained Makara declined to seek am a good fit for the posi- her three-year seat, but election. tion as some of those proj- actually received fewer Adamopoulos said he’d ects are directly related to votes than long-time recently resigned from Parks and Recreation. I teacher’s union presi- FinCom when he saw am also a lifelong resident dent Linda Millet, who the available seat and of Webster and a small was also elected. Millet thought it was “a great business owner. Other collected 314 to Seddiki’s way to still volunteer for Turn To ELECTION page A6 2 • THE WEBSTER TIMES • Friday, June 26, 2020 www.StonebridgePress.com Bay State Savings Bank hosts fundraiser for NEADS World Class Service Dogs WORCESTER — Bay State raiser to help support NEADS, that trains highly-skilled Savings Bank is excited to a nationally recognized, ADI Service Dogs to help people announce a month-long fund- Accredited 501 c(3) nonprofit who are deaf or have a physi- cal disability. The fundraiser is in honor of the Bank’s mas- cot, Benjie, celebrating his first birthday. During this time of quaran- tine, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing brought on by the pandemic, it has become even more apparent just how vital NEADS World Class Service Dogs are to the safety and well-being of their owners, many of whom are without the Courtesy human assistance and support Benjie the Bay State Beagle, official mascot of Bay State Savings Bank, they might otherwise have. is celebrating his first birthday on Saturday, June 27. To celebrate, we are Covid-19 has altered many of hosting a month-long fundraiser in support of NEADS World Class Service the existing fundraising strate- Dogs, based in Princeton, and matching all donations, up to $3,000. gies organizations like NEADS depend on, such as road races, Savings Bank will match every truck pulls, fairs, etc., which is Donations are tax-deduct- donation, dollar for dollar, up to one of the many reasons why ible, and all funds raised will $3,000. Donations can be made Bay State Savings Bank decid- be used towards training and by visiting support.neads.org/ ed to step in and help support placing a dog with an individu- baystatesavingsbank. the organization. al in Massachusetts. 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