from MetroWest Daily News
Facing a $2.6 million cut in local aid, Framingham used furloughs, reduced hours and attrition to eliminate the equivalent of 29 jobs. Milton is buying fewer flags for its veterans’ cemetery. North Attleborough officials laid off 78 employees – roughly 8 percent of the work force. Lowell may fire 150 to 200 city employees later this year. (read the full story here.)
Here is the recent debate for the office of Park Commissioner hosted by the Milton League of Women Voters.
A small item in the Community Briefing section of today’s Boston Globe South reported that Coffman Realty, the developer working with Temple Shalom on a proposal to build retail businesses on the Temple Shalom property is reconsidering the scope of development.
The proposal currently before the Planning Board consists of a pharmacy, a second building that could have additional retail businesses and offices, and a new, smaller temple.
The Globe reports that Ned Corcoran, an attorney with Coffman Realty, said the firm is considering dropping the second building from the development plan. No further information was available.
The Planning Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow night, April 13th, to resume review of the proposal. They are expected to make a recommendation regarding the proposal for the May 4th Town Meeting.
from Boston Globe
Milton’s superintendent of schools says the district is already showing results from her decision last fall to aggressively follow up tips about public school students who don’t live in town.
Superintendent Mary Gormley said she decided to devote the time and resources to enforcing residency requirements because of the budget crunch. (read the full story here.)
When it came time for us to meet, Janet Lorden could not get out of her garage.
The power had gone out on her street and the garage door opener wasn’t working. But Nstar sprung her free, and we eventually sat down at the new library to discuss her run for Town Treasurer.
Of the three candidates for Town Treasurer, Ms. Lorden is the one complete political neophyte. And she knows that, explaining “It will be an uphill battle and that’s fine. I’m knocking on doors and the reactions of people keeps me going.”
She moved to Milton in 1993 and lives with her husband and two children (twins!) on Brush Hill Road. Their children attend the Tucker School, which they love.
Janet Lorden
Raised with a strong sense of civic engagement, Lorden has a history of community service. She has volunteered with Training, Inc., a national network of local job training organizations that assist low income individuals to learn skills to achieve gainful employment. Here in Boston, Training, Inc. is sponsored by the Boston YMCA. Most recently, Lorden assisted a community effort in setting up a trust fund for the Revelus family: “Milton Cares: A Fund for the Revelus Family”.
She has worked in financial services for 20+ years; first with The Boston Company, followed by Eaton Vance, and then Fidelity Investments. And why financial services? Lorden says, “I love math. I love the logic of it, and I love the creativity of it.”
When asked why she is the candidate of choice, Lorden is clear. “The treasurer role is a role I know.” She believes that she is the only candidate who possesses a thorough knowledge of: tax reporting not only to the IRS, but to states and at times down to the municipal level; buying and selling investment vehicles as a licensed professional; and mangement of retirement products. And she believes this skill set is a requirement for performing the job well. This is an opinion she reiterated when we discussed whether the Town Treasurer should be an elected or appointed position.
All the candidates are on the record and in agreement that the office of Town Treasurer should be an elected one. However, Lorden thinks a better approach that would get a better result is one in which the candidates are recommended by a committee that puts forward candidates that are the best qualified. She questions whether the other candidates running for Treasurer have the necessary financial knowledge and experience. She suspects “they don’t understand the nuances and intricacies of investing. They don’t know the questions to ask.”
In addition, according to Lorden, “I know how to reduce costs and make things as efficient as possible.”
from Patriot Ledger
Two Quincy men were each being held on $10,000 bail after they were caught making off with loot stolen in an East Milton break-in, police said. (read full story here)
A new group, Invest in Milton, has formed here in town. They are a group of local residents “who want to preserve town services and protect their investments in their homes.”
Co-chaired by local residents, Jeff Cruikshank, Julio Varela, and Mary Ann Rule, they are advocating for a YES vote on the special town election to be held June8, 2009.
You can learn more about the group at their web site. Visit their web site here.
Here is the recent debate for the office of Library Trustee hosted by the Milton League of Women Voters.
Here is the 2009 Milton Election Treasurer Debate on Milton Speaks
The Suffolk Resolves House here in Milton will hold an open house in honor of Patriots Day. You can read the Suffolk Resolves here.
WHERE: The Suffolk Resolves House / 1350 Canton Ave / Miltn, MA
WHEN: April 19th from 1:00 – 3:00 PM