Sustainable Milton asks Selectmen to tap an alternative

Board of Selectmen with members of Sustainable Milton

Board of Selectmen with members of Sustainable Milton

At the most recent Board of Selectmen’s meeting Daryl Warner and Sustainable Milton gave the Selectmen some early holiday cheer in the form of stainless steel bottles. If you have ever attended a Selectmen’s meeting or watched one on TV you will no doubt have seen the board members drinking bottled water. (Note the bottles on table in pic above).

Sustainable Milton has initiated an effort to educate folks about the environmental consequences of bottled water (not to mention health and financial) and is encouraging using these nifty reusable bottles which can be filled from the tap instead.  The Selectmen are proudly holding them and look happy to have them.  For more information on this effort, please see our previous post here.

These bottles are available for sale.  The bottles are made by Klean Kanteen and to purchase one (or receive information on how to benefit your own fundraiser), please email Daryl Warner .

$500,000 bail posted for man accused in Quincy shooting

from Wicked Local Quincy

Robert O’Connell, charged in the Saturday night shooting of an off-duty Milton firefighter, has been released from jail.

O’Connell’s $500,000 cash bail was posted Thursday afternoon, a day after he pleaded innocent to attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm near a dwelling. (Read the full story here.)

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Related article from The Boston Globe

Bail set at $500,000 in Quincy road rage case

A judge set bail at $500,000 today for the son of a prominent developer who allegedly shot an off-duty Milton firefighter during what police have described as an incident of road rage.

Robert P. O’Connell, 40, is accused of shooting Joseph Fasano, 30, in the abdomen on Saturday night with a .45-caliber handgun after the two men pulled over on Commander Shea Boulevard to exchange words. (Read the full story here.)

Road rage suspect surrenders to Quincy police

Suspect arrested in road rage incident in which Joseph Fasano, a Milton fireman was shot and is in critical but stable condition at Boston Medical Center.

from the Patriot Ledger

A member of one of Quincy’s most powerful families was arraigned today on charges he shot and critically wounded an off-duty Milton firefighter during the weekend.

Robert O’Connell, 40, the son of Marina Bay developer and former mayoral candidate Peter O’Connell, walked into Quincy police headquarters with his lawyer, John McGlone III of Quincy, at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday. (Read the full story here.)

from NECN


Milton Academy to raise $35M in bond sales

from The Boston Business Journal

Milton Academy, still smarting from a reported $39.4 investment loss in fiscal 2009, is preparing to raise roughly $35 million in two separate debt offerings, according to financial disclosures.

The prestigious prep school, located in Milton, Mass., said the separate bond issues aim to raise $25.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, and will be used to pay down existing debt and fund the construction of a 39,000-square-foot science building, among other uses. (Read the full story here.)

Car impounded, person of interest in road rage shooting

Following is the latest report from New England Cable News regarding the road rage incident involving Joe Fasano, a Milton firefigher. Mr. Fasano remains in critical but stable condition at Boston Medical Center.
from NECN





Christmas and American history, his favorite things

from The Patriot Ledger

Christmas and American history blend together in Peter Gacicia’s entrepreneurial venture. Gacicia is the founder of Milton-based Friends of the White House, a business that designs and sells collectible Christmas ornaments featuring a hand-painted portrayal of a historical event within each president’s administration.

“There are just so many interesting things that have occurred in our American history,” said Gacicia, 55. “What I thought was, why not combine these two passions – Christmas, and my fascination with the White House and the presidents?”(Read the full story here.)

Investigation continues as Milton firefighter recovers from gunshot wound

A Milton firefighter remained in critical condition after he underwent surgery Monday after being shot in an apparent road rage episode in Quincy.

Joseph Fasano, 30, had surgery near the upper right side of his abdomen and is recovering at Boston Medical Center, Milton Fire Chief John Grant said. (Read the full story here.)

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Police are looking for the public’s help. Anyone with information can contact Quincy police at 617-479-1212.

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from NECN



Meeting Notes: Planning Board 12.10.09 – Ground rules established for hearing on Temple Shalom zoning

The Planning Board met on December 10th and discussed but did not limit conversation to the following:

  • The board confirmed that there will be two days for public hearings on the zoning overlay article that will appear in the Warrant for Special Town Meeting on 2/21. They discussed the following guidelines. Bill Clark, Planning Director will post final guidelines to the Planning Board’s town web site prior to the first hearing. They agreed to:
  1. allow each attorney (Corcoran for Coffman Realty and Upton for Neighbors Against Commercial Development) to speak for 10 minutes
  2. Selectmen and state officials will also be given up to 10 minutes for their remarks
  3. Citizens, including town meeting members will be given up to 5 minutes for remarks
  4. comments will end at 10:00pm on December 21rst and continue on January 4th.

Their will be flexibility and discretion exercised. Jackson said “We won’t cut anyone off in mid-sentence.” To this observer there was some confusion as to whether 1) they would allow citizens to speak more than once 2) allow any attorney up to 10 minutes to speak 3) entertain rebuttals from Corcoran and Upton at the close of citizen remarks and 4) the Planning Board would address questions during the hearings. These issues may be addressed when Clark posts the guidelines online.

  • The Warrant Committee will hear arguments at their December 16th meeting regarding the zoning overlay. The respective attorneys will each speak for 10 minutes as will two citizens. The Warrant Committee is not expected to give an opinion until after the public hearings. The meeting will be at 6:30pm at the Council on Aging. Peter Jackson and Emily Innes of the board will be present. Jackson invited other members of the Planning Board to attend also.
  • Gene Sullivan from the Milton Landing Condominium Association appeared before the board to discuss the DCR project to connect a path on the Dorchester side with the walkway on the Milton side at Wharf street. THe DCR requires an easement from the condo association which they have not granted. Mr. Sullivan said that they were waiting for a feasibility study in which they were to be included to be done. The study would inlcude analysis of safety issues among other things. Mr. Sullivan is waiting to hear from the DCR on this. “We are not being obstructionist.” Mr Sullivan said.
  • The Hendries building is still waiting on a site plan proposal. Mr. Clark noted that there will be more parking available based on what he say. Mr. Whiteside noted “That’s hardly what the problem was,” with the original plan which he said, “stunk.”

Teachers’ test-linked bonuses overruled

Milton teacher’s union among those speaking out against merit pay for AP teachers

from The Boston Globe

An attempt by Boston school officials to pay teachers bonuses for students who do well in college-level courses – a highly contentious move opposed by many teachers – violates the city’s teacher union contract, according to an arbitrator’s ruling that was obtained yesterday by the Globe. (Read the full story here.)