The December 17 article headlined “Board tackles vacancies and staff positions, postpones Town Meeting incorrectly noted that it was unclear whether residents will be allowed to vote by absentee ballot in the town election in March 2021. In fact, absentee voting is always allowed for municipal elections in cases where voters will be absent from…
government
Board tackles vacancies and staff positions, postpones Town Meeting
The Board of Selectmen appointed several residents to fill vacancies on boards and in the Planning Department and also voted to postpone the Annual Town Meeting normally held in March. Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie is the new Director of Planning and Land Use. She has been the acting director since the leave and then departure of Jennifer…
Investigation into allegations against Higgins is closed
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to close its investigation into the conduct of Town Administrator Tim Higgins, who was accused of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation by former Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney. Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira, who oversees human resources issues for town employees, said on November 24 that Burney…
Third SOTT looks at electricity aggregation, road safety, South Lincoln
Residents heard updates on electricity aggregation, road safety measures, and planning for South Lincoln’s future at the third State of the Town meeting on November 19. Electricity from renewable sources Almost three years after voters authorized the Board of Selectmen to start developing the program, the Green Energy Committee is nearing the finish line for…
My Turn: Congratulations to Rep. Katherine Clark
By Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee congratulates our Congresswoman, Katherine Clark, for her election to the role of assistant speaker, making her the fourth-ranking member in the chamber. This position makes Katherine Clark the most powerful Congresswoman in state history as well as the second-highest ranking Democratic woman in the…
Residents discuss town diversity issues at second SOTT
A centralized town group would be helpful in fostering more diversity of all types in Lincoln, participants in the second 2020 State of the Town meeting agreed. The November 18 session focusing on diversity, equality inclusion, and antiracism (DEIA) recapped the three roundtables on this topic that were held earlier this fall (click here for…
Covid-19 colors reports at first State of the Town meeting
(Editor’s note: the slide decks from the November 17 and 18 State of the Town forums will be posted on the town website on November 19. The Lincoln Squirrel will publish an addendum to this article with the web address when it becomes available.) In the first of three State of the Town meetings this…
Water Dept. superintendent leaving as town considers future plans for water supply
Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser has resigned as of Jan. 1, 2021. The change will mean another recruiting push for the embattled department, which has seen budget and personnel turmoil resulting in substantial capital spending and water rate increases. Wiser said she was retiring in her letter of resignation she sent in September to the…
State of the Town updates to span three evenings
Lincoln’s annual State of the Town meeting will be split into three online meetings from 7–9 p.m. on three consecutive days next week. Topics and dates will be as follows. Click here to register for any or all of the sessions. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Public health update Lincoln Covid-19 web page Town Meeting preview School…
News acorns
Two virtual events from the Walden Woods Project The Walden Woods Project is sponsoring two upcoming events. “A Virtual Lyceum: Writing Toward Resilience” on Friday, Nov. 6 from 7–8:15 p.m. will bring writers, scholars, and teachers together to examine the way society and individuals like Henry David Thoreau and Toni Morrison have protested and resisted…