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Senator Spilka Advances to Majority Whip

BOSTON – Yesterday, Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) advanced Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) to serve as Majority Whip of the Massachusetts Senate. Previously, Spilka served as Assistant Majority Whip.

“It is an honor to once again be appointed by Senate President Murray to serve as a member of her leadership team,” Spilka said. “I look forward to taking on this new role as Majority Whip and remain steadfast in my commitment to being a responsible steward for the taxpayers and an advocate for working families across the Commonwealth. I am eager to work with my colleagues on continuing our efforts to bring about necessary reform, promote job growth and economic development, and support the important services and programs our most vulnerable citizens depend on.”

Senator Spilka was sworn in on January 2, 2013 to serve her fifth term as the Senator to the 2^nd Middlesex and Norfolk District, representing the Towns of Ashland, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway, and Natick. 

300 Mothers and Daughters Enjoy an Afternoon with Princesses at the HPLF 2^nd Annual Mother Daughter Princess Tea

February 1, 2013, Hopkinton, Mass. – The Hopkinton Public Library Foundation’s Second Annual Mother Daughter Princess Tea, held Sunday, January 27, 2013, brought together three hundred mothers, daughters, grandmothers and aunts for an afternoon with princesses while raising $7,500 for the restoration, renovation and expansion of Hopkinton Public Library.  

Congratulations to two special prize winners: Meghan Grady (photo, left) was the winner of American Girl Doll “Saige”, and Isabella Rottas was the winner of a Bitty Baby and starter kit.

The Hopkinton Public Library would like to thank all of the women and girls who attended this special event, as well as the many volunteers who made this event such a success.  Special thanks to the Princess Tea’s lead sponsor, The Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library; Silver Sponsor Main Street Pediatrics; Supporting Sponsors Sunshine Preschool and Hiller’s Cleaners; and the many local businesses and individuals who donated so generously.

About the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation

The Hopkinton Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in September 2011. Its mission is to raise private funds for the expansion and state-of-the-art renovation of Hopkinton Public Library.  In addition to the $4.5 million grant awarded to the Town of Hopkinton by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), private funds raised by HPLF will defray the Town’s cost of restoring, renovating and expanding the library’s historic building.  As of October 2012, Hopkinton moved up to #5 on the MBLC waiting list to receive library construction funds.  Following the expansion, HPLF will provide ongoing funding for long-term enhancements of the library.

Contributions to Hopkinton Public Library Foundation, Inc. can be mailed to P.O. Box 16, Woodville, MA 01784 or made online at http://hopkintonpubliclibraryfoundation.org/support-our-mission/

For more information, visit http://hopkintonpubliclibraryfoundation.org.

School Committee Votes a 4.4% Budget Increase

Votes to reduce some fees

by Muriel Kramer

February 1, 2013 — The School Committee voted last night to send forward a budget to the Town Manager that requests a 4.4% increase for FY’14, a total request of $35,585,384.  This budget accommodates an increase of $120,000 to address class sizes at the Middle School that had been projected to increase to 26 students per class for the seventh grade next year.  It also accommodates a decrease in fees for parents for transportation, athletics and parking.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Steven Hiersche presented the potential adjustments in a tiered fashion, so that the SC could decide where to draw their line and take a vote on the budget recommendations.  Additions to the budget included in his recommended 4.8% increase were $73,000 in eliminated fees, $120,000 for additional teachers at the MS to address the concern over class sizes and a correction that added $14,000.  Reductions in Hiersche’s top level recommendation included eliminating a duplication of $20,000 in cost for the new supervision and evaluation program, removing $65,000 for SPED transportation for a student that will now be kept in district, moving $20,000 in parking lot lighting and grounds maintenance costs to be addressed by the revolving funds from parking fees.

The second tier of proposed reductions in the increase requested for next year included putting off painting and maintenance due at the MS, not adding office air conditioning at Elmwood, reducing purchases of Social Studies texts at the MS and reducing the budget line item for professional development, as well as eliminating a management aid at Center School.

The discussion that followed the prioritized listing of additions and reductions called into question the wisdom of reducing fees for parents in a budget year that is also grappling with a large and expensive mandate from the state, the new teacher supervision and evaluation model that bumps the budget up by $271,000 in a single year.  SC member Jean Bertschmann wondered, “If the decrease in fee expense is worth the tradeoff.  I want to take this step forward, but I’m concerned we have reached the tipping point.”

SC Member Rebecca Robak held the position that it was not the time to reduce fees.  “In a year when we know we have to increase our budget because of the new mandated supervision and evaluation, it may not be the year to reduce fees.”  She also made the point that reducing fees largely benefitted parents of older students while the cuts contemplated affected all students.

SC Vice Chairman Scott Aghababian held the line that cutting fees was necessary this year.  “The savings to parents might be small but the goodwill gained will be great.”  He also held firm to a target of reducing the overall increase requested to 4%.

Dr. Hiersche added that from a budget perspective it would be helpful to look five years down the road to ensure that the approach initiated this year is sustainable.  SC member John Graziano waivered in his support for reducing fees this year because of all the pressures in the budget.  Having been a proponent for reducing the fees starting this year, he contemplated the value of holding the line and not increasing the fees this year and tackling reductions in the future.  In the end he voted with the majority to reduce fees beginning this year.  Aghababian, Graziano and Chairman Nancy Alvarez Burdick voted to reduce the athletic fees, parking fees and bus fees by 10% and eliminating the student activity fees at the MS/HS.  Bertschmann and Robak voted not to.

The final number voted by the SC representing a 4.4% increase over last year eliminated the planned painting and maintenance at the MS, air conditioning for the office at Elmwood, and a decrease in technology.  However, the committee wants to preserve a management aid at Center School, money dedicated to textbooks at the MS and professional development.  Aghababian was the lone no vote on that final number. 

The meeting continued with discussion on up to ten capital articles contemplated for Annual Town Meeting in May including 2 feasibility studies (Center and Elmwood), a joint telephone installation project, MS auditorium upgrade and loop road repair.

Gun Advocate Enjoys Letter

Dear Editor:

I was delighted with Nancy's article on gun control. It was well researched, thoughtful and educational, in my opinion.

I grew up with guns, and my father was an original founder of the Southborough Rod and Gun Club. He also was a firearms safety instructor and excellent skeet shooter as well.

While I don’t see the reason for assault rifles with more than 7 rounds to be owned by sportsmen or homeowners, I believe that new laws will lead to more new laws and on and on. I do believe law enforcement needs any firepower they can get.

Anyway, congrats to Nancy on a super article!!

Ralph A. Cram II

 

This year’s marathon team is made up of three Hopkinton runners, Ann-Michele Dragsbaek, Kyle Kelley and Jeanne Vumbaca and we have chosen to run in support of group of the some of the most dedicated people out there,

Project Just Because is a Hopkinton-based charitable organization that helps more people in need from more than 30 area towns in a variety of very personal ways. They supply adults and children with a variety of support by acting as a resource for items that families need (clothing, toiletries, gift baskets, career items, school supplies, blankets, toys, furniture, baby items, housewares) and creating an element of hope for a brighter tomorrow by educating families that want to help people but don’t know how. They also act as a food pantry for the town of Hopkinton. Project Just Because has amazingly low admin costs and therefore 97% of the money they raise goes direction to helping people.

Their approach to helping people is so refreshingly caring, infectious and personal that it is an honor for us runners to be associated with them. If you would like to know more about Project Just Because, please follow the link to their website: http://projectjustbecause.org/

Please help us in supporting this wonderful group of people.

~ Ann-Michele, Kyle and Jeanne

Contractor's Mistake Perpetuated

Hi,

This saga of incompetence, ineptitude, and lackadaisical attitude continues on the part of State and Town officials, now going on for over 20 years. Once upon a time this was a living vernal pool, teeming with spring-time choruses; now it's just a drainage pit.

These photos were taken this morning; I have many more.

Sincerely,

Ed Harrow

8 Spring Lane

January 31, 2013

EDITOR'S NOTE: Outspoken Woodville resident Ed Harrow sent out the letter above today to Hopkinton officials and some members of the press. Elaine Lazarus chose to respond in detail, below:

Response from Director of Land Use and Planning

Ed,

Thank you for your email regarding the condition of a portion of Whitehall State Park off Spring Street.  As you know, the conditions and concerns have existed since the early 1990's and solutions have been proposed and some have been implemented.  The White Oak Estates Stormwater Drainage Analysis prepared for the Town in 1999 by Environmental Science Services, Inc. evaluated the situation at that time and recommendations were made.  I have attached a scan of the text portion of the report.  It should be noted that prior to the Town's approval of the subdivision in 1986, the Dept. of Environmental Management had granted the developer the right to discharge stormwater runoff onto their property, after requiring some work to accommodate the increased flows.  The DEM's approval of the discharge of stormwater to a wetland was acceptable and standard practice at that time, and according to the 1999 report, pre-dated the adoption of the Wetlands Protection Act.  

Because of dissatisfaction with the resulting condition on the part of residents, Town officials and the state, possible mitigation measures were developed and discussed.  The 1999 study included several recommendations, and the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission and the DEM reviewed and discussed them extensively.  The Town required implementation of as much of the work as was possible given the available space, funding and land ownership issues.  The developer re-engineered the upstream detention basin, slopes were stabilized, and the Conservation Commission in cooperation with the state, determined that additional work on the State Park property should be completed that provided as much mitigation as possible without negatively affecting the open space values of the adjacent land.

Unfortunately, the developer was not able to perform all of the work required due to liability concerns raised by the DEM.  Eventually, the developer abandoned the subdivision and the Planning Board voted in 2012 to obtain the remaining performance guarantee funds.  The funding will be used by the Hopkinton DPW to perform needed improvements to the White Oak Estates subdivision, including maintenance of the detention basins.

The fact that stormwater continues to flow to the area doesn't mean that state and town officials like it or don’t wish that it could be different.  It also doesn't mean that we've stopped caring.  Perhaps the DCR and the Conservation Commission could renew discussions and consider whether any new stormwater technology might provide additional mitigation, and how and whether it can be accomplished.  I will ask the Commission to discuss the issue at one of their February meetings.  But the regulatory framework in place in 1985, the DEM's approval in 1985 and the Planning Board's 1986 subdivision approval set the stage.  The subdivision was built as designed under those conditions, roads and homes built, and the subdivision can't be returned to its pre-development state.  Town officials would still like better mitigation here, so we will still continue to monitor and evaluate options.

Elaine Lazarus

Directory of Land Use and Planning

January 31, 2013

Marathon Number Available

The Hopkinton 300th Anniversary Celebration Committee has an official marathon number and is looking for a runner to raise funds. If interested, please contact: hop300th@gmail. com Thanks!!

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Enough Gun laws Already

Dear Editor,

Recently I was asked to sign petition to support Obama’s gun control law. Instead of blindly signing it, I decided to research our present gun laws.  I am not a gun owner and I do not belong to the NRA. 

Automatic assault rifles are (already) illegal in our state. Unlike real military assault rifles, the "assault rifles" currently out there are really just knock-offs made to look like the real ones. These sport rifles are semi-automatic and most have 10 rounds before you need to reload.   The proposed law wants to make all semi-automatic guns with more than 7 rounds illegal. Any empirical evidence that we will be safer does not support this reduction. It's really just an attempt to make pretty much all guns owned by citizens immediately illegal unless there is a grandfather provision for the ones already owned.

If we truly want to increase public safety as opposed to simply restrict lawful gun owners, here are better solutions:

There should be stricter laws for those people who legally purchase a firearm then transfer it to someone who cannot legally own a firearm - a straw purchase. Back ground checks need to be more comprehensive.  No one with mental illness or a convicted criminal should be allowed to own a firearm. Incredibly today, illegal gun traffickers are only charged with mere paperwork violations.  There needs to be more agents to inspect gun stores and stiffer federal penalties for those who traffic firearms.

Federal law prohibits nine categories of people, including felons and those who have been judged seriously mentally ill, from buying guns.  But when ex-convicts attempt to buy guns, they are hardly ever prosecuted.  Although the FBI referred more than 76,000 such cases to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in 2010, Justice Department attorneys prosecuted just 44 of them. What good are laws if we don't enforce them?

As for the tragedy in Newtown, this young man’s mother was at fault for allowing her son to come anywhere near a gun. She was trying to share a hobby with him. Clearly this was a fatal lapse in judgment.  This boy was so disturbed he started his spree by shooting her first, the only person in the world who truly loved him. Because of this insane act, millions of responsible gun owners should be further restricted?

The findings of two criminologists - Prof. Don Kates and Prof. Gary Mauser - in their exhaustive study of American and European gun laws and violence rates, are telling:

Nations with stringent anti-gun laws generally have substantially higher murder rates than those that do not. The study found that the nine European nations with the lowest rates of gun ownership (5,000 or fewer guns per 100,000 population) have a combined murder rate three times higher than that of the nine nations with the highest rates of gun ownership (at least 15,000 guns per 100,000 population).

In my opinion, I believe we need to fix the laws that are in place before we put more out there.  

Here is a quote from Adolph Hitler:

“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized

nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our

police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the

future!”

~  Adolph Hitler, 1935, on The Weapons Act of Nazi Germany.

Nancy J. Barron

29 Tammer Lane

Hopkinton MA  01748

January 31, 2013

A Response from Representative Dykema

Last Thursday, the state Republican Party publicly questioned a vote I cast last week against an amendment  to post legislative committee votes online, a concept that I had supported during a pre-election debate.

As your legislator, it is my responsibility to explain any vote I cast on your behalf and I appreciate this opportunity to respond.

While I fully support the intent of the amendment to increase transparency, passing this type of proposal without understanding the practical resource requirements is not something I could support.

Unlike roll call votes, which are currently posted online and number in the hundreds each legislative session, there are approximately 6,000-8,000 committee votes taken in the same period.  Cataloging this quantity of information online is not a trivial task. In requesting support for the proposal, the amendment’s sponsor did not provide any basic information on resource requirements or planning, nor had they contacted legislative information services to request that such information be compiled.

This session I am co-sponsoring a bill (HD 3412) that, unlike last week’s amendment, will pass through the full committee and public hearing process allowing important details to be addressed. This will allow us to move forward with a more thoughtful and productive proposal.

As we continue to discuss ways to increase transparency in our legislative process, I appreciate the opportunity to highlight some of the progress we have made in recent years: 

·         All House and Senate roll call votes are available online.

·         Video of all House and Senate formal sessions are available online.

·         New House and Senate budget websites that allow citizens to track amendments in near real time as they are filed, debated and voted on.

·         Video of many committee proceedings are available in real time and are archived online. 

·         As part of the FY11 budget, the Open Checkbook website was launched which details state spending, payroll and pension information and tax credit information.

Thank you again for this opportunity to respond and, as always, please contact me at 617-722-2210 or carolyn.dykema@mahouse.gov if I can answer any questions.

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U. S. Army Offers Samples of Rations to Hopkinton Vets

Photo Credit: U.S. Army. Photo: Veterans from the small town of Hopkinton, Mass., recently got a taste of new military rations technology at their monthly veterans breakfast, courtesy of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center's Combat Feeding Directorate. Bob Bernazzani, with the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate, explains new combat rations technologies to Hopkinton veterans. ~U.S.Army

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry Confirmed as Secretary of State

Statement by Governor Deval Patrick:

“On behalf of the entire Commonwealth, I want to extend my congratulations to Senator Kerry on his confirmation as our nation’s next Secretary of State. In particular, I want to thank Senator Kerry for his decades of service to the people of Massachusetts. From his days as Lieutenant Governor to his nearly thirty years in the United States Senate, he has been our steadfast champion. I know that he will bring the dedication, intelligence, and passion to his new role that he brought to representing Massachusetts. We are sad to lose him as our Senator, but excited about and grateful for his service to the Nation on the international stage.” HopNews file photo