Sunday, March 17, 2013
The transportation bond bill would provide funding for modernization and maintenance of the transportation system.
Gov. Deval Patrick filed a transportation bond bill Wednesday that will finance an ambitious 10-year plan to overhaul the state’s ailing transportation system. The bill would invest $13.7 billion over 10 years in The 21st Century Transportation Plan “The Way Forward” if it is accepted by the state’s legislature, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The funding would address a backlog of deferred maintenance and strategically improve the state’s transportation system by reducing congestion on roads, curbing delays and minimizing crowding on trains and buses, according to the press release. “These investments will create the jobs and opportunity today that will build a stronger Commonwealth for tomorrow,” Patrick said in …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Andover officials haven't begun a discussion regarding medical marijuana dispensaries but the attorney general is saying that, if the town does take some action, it better not be to ban them.
On Wednesday, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley ruled that cities and towns cannot ban medical marijuana dispensaries, according to BostonHerald.com. Municipalities can, however, use zoning rules to keep dispensaries in a certain area, and that is a discussion that is expected to take place in Medford in the future. The Andover Board of Selectmen have not yet started the discussion surrounding the possibility of a marijuana dispensary moving into Andover. However, selectman Alex Vispoli said that he expects the board to tackle the issue at some point in the near future. According to Wakefield Patch, Coakley ruled that a zoning ban on medical marijuana dispensaries approved at their Town Meeting last year conflicts with state …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
State Rep Daniel Winslow, former US attorney Michael J. Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel E. Gomez discussed a wide-range of issues in the hour-long debate
The quest to become the "Washington outsider" representing the Republican Party in this year's Massachusetts special senate election was underway at Stonehill College Tuesday night when GOP candidates met in their first primary debate. "Electing either of the Democratic nominees would be a sign of 'surrender' that we have given up," State Representative Daniel B. Winslow (R-Norfolk) said in his closing statement referring U.S. Congressmen Ed Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston). Winslow, former US attorney Michael J. Sullivan, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel E. Gomez discussed a wide-range of issues in the hour-long debate, including Roe vs. Wade, gun control, immigration, social security, and the economy. The debate was …
State Sen. Barry Finegold provided the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee with an update about the levels of financial aid the state will be providing the town in fiscal 2014.
State Sen. Barry Finegold met with the Andover Tri-Board, selectmen, finance and school, and discussed the status of the state budget and what Andover should expect in terms of financial assistance from the commonwealth. First off, Finegold said that the town must be conservative with its state revenue estimates, as the town of Andover does every year regardless, because the information coming down from the top about the state budget is not likely to be accurate. “I would not rely on what the governor says in his budget,” said Finegold. Finegold said that he expects the general local aid that goes to Andover each year from the state will remain as it was in fiscal 2013. Finegold said that the town can expect a two to three percent increase…
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Andover spent a total of $2.2 million last week.
Each week the town spends money approved in the annual budget for everyday expenses and, each week, Andover Patch will be running a new feature, highlighting a handful of these expenses for our readers' perusal. This past week Andover cut 174 checks to various vendors with a grand total of $2,202,276.92. Check out how Andover spent your money last week.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Andover Special Town Meeting voters approved $5.8 million to fund the further construction of the Bancroft Elementary School.
With the Bancroft Elementary School now 25 percent complete, Special Town Meeting Monday night gave the green light for spending $5.8 million more on the $44.6 million school project. The town needed more funding for the school project in order to cover unanticipated legal fees as well as higher than anticipated costs for certain stages of construction. The Town is receiving $16.7 million from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the project in the form of a grant. Largely being funded through a debt exclusion, the $5.8 million approved Monday night should increase the average residential taxpayer's bill by $24, with the entire school project costing a $181 increase in the average residential taxpayer's bill. Several residents …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Andover Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski suggested a uniform increase for both town and school departments.
The town budget process for fiscal 2014 has begun and Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski is starting the discussion with the school department. Stapcynski is asking that both the town department budget and the school department budget be kept to 3.3 percent increases. But the school department officials would not commit to a budget number because the 3.3 percent increase does not represent a budget that would work for the school, according to an article in the Eagle Tribune. The Town Manager presented a $156,849,349 fiscal 2014 budget, which represents a 6.9 percent increase over the last year's budget of $146.7 million. Read the full article on the Eagle Tribune website.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Andover spent a total $3.5 million of last week.
Each week the town spends money approved in the annual budget for everyday expenses and, each week, Andover Patch will be running a new feature, highlighting a handful of these expenses for our readers' perusal. This past week Andover cut 205 checks to various vendors with a grand total of $3,544,345.34. Check out how Andover spent your money last week.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Andover spent a little over a $1 million last week.
Each week the town spends money approved in the annual budget for everyday expenses and, each week, Andover Patch will be running a new feature, highlighting a handful of these expenses for our readers' perusal. This past week Andover cut 241 checks to various vendors with a grand total of $1,098,840.45. Check out how Andover spent your money last week.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Andover spent a little over $1 million last week.
Each week the town spends money approved in the annual budget for everyday expenses and, each week, Andover Patch will be running a new feature, highlighting a handful of these expenses for our readers' perusal. This past week Andover cut 133 checks to various vendors with a grand total of $1,007,333.05. Check out how Andover spent your money last week.
Tom
11:53 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Barry - high speed to Boston? There is only one track most of the way, too many curves and the bridges are too low. I was on the Acela yesterday from NYC - top speed 140 mph....average speed from Providence, 50 mph The GOv proposal of trains to the Berkshires and trains to New Bedford, Fall River are a joke. Not enough ridership and guaranteed operatign deficit from day one. BUT - I am sure he … more ›