In the two contested races in the March 25 town election, Select Board member Jennifer Glass defeated Frank Clark to win a third term, 64%–36%, while Gary Taylor bested Sarah Postlethwait to retain his seat on the Planning Board, 58%–42%. The ballot question on funding for the community center, which required a simple majority, passed…
Community center approved at Town Meeting, ballot box
Although the community center vote played second fiddle at the March 23 Town Meeting, voters approved design and construction of the $24.02 million facility on the Hartwell campus by a margin of 81%–19%, easily clearing the two-thirds threshold required. But the margin was much closer at the March 25 election, where a simple majority was…
My Turn: DeLisi’s version of HCA amendment events
By Lynn DeLisi Editor’s note: DeLisi, a member of the Planning Board, originally posted the following as a comment on the March 25 Lincoln Squirrel story headlined “HCAWG, RLF were surprised by rumored amendment to zoning motion” and is being reprinted here with her permission.) None of what is being reported here was shared with…
Contentious HCA rezoning measure squeaks by, 52%–48%
At one of the longest and most controversial Town Meetings in recent history, voters on March 23 narrowly approved the Housing Choice Act zoning amendments by a margin of 52% to 48%. The community center funding measure, which needed a two-thirds majority, was approved easily. Knowing that the meeting would be heavily attended, town officials…
HCAWG, RLF were surprised by rumored amendment to zoning motion
The Housing Choice Act Working Group first learned on the morning of March 14 that an amendment to the rezoning motion would be proposed on the floor of Town Meeting to reduce the density of allowed housing at the mall. Group members at that morning meeting (which the Lincoln Squirrel did not attend but watched…
My Turn: On the fairness or unfairness of the procedures at Town Meeting
By Edward Young Although the moderator said that none of the controversial procedures followed at [Saturday’s] Town Meeting should be considered as precedents, they raise questions that should be addressed when the town considers Town Meeting procedures comprehensively later this year, if not sooner. Here is how the moderator regulated who spoke, when and where….
Correction
News acorns
Learn about greener water heaters, HVAC How much is your old water heater costing you? It accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy usage. Replacing an electric resistance water heater with a heat pump water heater can save you money. Join us on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. for “Get Pumped about Water…
A few more things to know about Town Meeting
Water Department seeks $2.2 million in bonding At Annual Town Meeting on March 23, the Water Department is hoping to begin a multiyear process of replacing an aging and leaky town water main by asking for $2.2 million in bonding to fund the first segment. Article 26 on page 22 of the Motions list outlines…
Anonymous mailbox flyer argues against Housing Choice Act
Ratcheting up the tension even further, one or more people left unsigned anti-Housing Choice Act flyers in mailboxes around town on the night of Tuesday, March 19, stirring disgust and police complaints by some of the recipients. “It got to the point that multiple people were calling,” said Acting Police Chief Sean Kennedy. He cited…