Friday, May 18, 2012
Bostik and federal safety officials have settled on $600,000 in fines for the explosion that rocked the Middleton adhesives plant in 2011.
Federal safety officials announced Thursday they had reached a settlement with Bostik for $600,000 in fines for the explosion that rocked the Middleton adhesives plant in March 2011 and injured four workers. The Boston Road plant is located right across from the end of Russell Street in West Peabody and right near the town lines on Main Street in Lynnfield and with North Reading -- the Sunday evening explosion rocked nearby houses and was heard and felt across the North Shore. Bostik was originally fined last fall for $917,000 after a six-month investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found numerous safety violations, but that fine has now been reduced. OSHA cited Bostik for violations of federal safety …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A GOP poll that showed Richard Tisei in the lead may have not been what it seemed, and Team Tierney is calling foul.
Congressional candidate Richard Tisei released polling results to the media this week that showed the Republican challenger with a 7-point lead over incumbent Congressman John Tierney. But that polling data, compiled by GOP pollster John McLaughlin, may not be accurate. As it turns out, the poll dramatically over-represents Republicans. The same poll had Sen. Scott Brown with a 24-point lead over Elizabeth Warren (in most other polls statewide those two are in a statistical tie). Blue Mass Group took to Twitter with their suspicions. Then McLaughlin himself reportedly admitted to the Salem News that his pollover-represents Republicans and under-represents Democrats and independents. Tisei’s pollster admitted in an interview published today…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Joe Maney, Director of Lynnfield Initiatives For Elders (LIFE) told selectmen this week the organization needs to raise home prices for first time in five years.
The LIFE (Lynnfield Initiatives For Elders) program that provides housing for town senior citizens will be raising prices, reported director Joe Maney at this week's selectmen's meeting. The organization runs the Essex Village and Center Village housing developments, and will also have 48 units of senior housing in the forthcoming Market Street at Lynnfield project. Maney reported to selectmen that along with investment income and the $30 per month that each resident places into a replacement fund, LIFE also derives revenue by splitting the profits of home sales with residents who move. With no price increases in recent years, LIFE was starting to feel some pressure on its revenues. "We had been adjusting the price of units every three to …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Town also set to get 7-acre parcel of land for LIFE housing in September.
The site work that many Lynnfield residents have noticed at the site of the future Market Street development will continue for about four more months, with building foundations expected to start appearing in the fall. Appearing at Monday night's selectmen's meeting, Ted Tye, managing partner of National Development, reported that workers are clearing and leveling the site and preparing to build the berm that will be located near Walnut Street. "The next four months will be very heavy site work," said Tye, noting that work will also begin on the site's utilities and loop road. The first stage of Market Street at Lynnfield will feature almost 300,000 square feet of prime retail space, about 15,000 square feet of office space, with work on …
Send letters to the editor and Lynnfield-related opinion pieces to william.laforme@patch.com.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, May 8
The following is an opinion piece from State Senator Katherine Clark: Last week the Massachusetts Senate passed the Valor Act, new legislation that will expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military members and their families. The bill was sponsored by Senator Mike Rush (D, West Roxbury), a lieutenant in the United States Navy, who returned in December from a 10-month deployment to Iraq as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. As a community, we share a responsibility to honor the tremendous sacrifice and courageous service of our veterans, our servicemen and women, and their families. And, as a Member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, one of my most solemn …
Funding for one-year motorcycle lease paid for with help from Kelly Automotive Group.
The town's new police motorcycle has been delivered and lettered and is expected to be unveiled to local media and others later in the week. At Monday night's selectmen's meeting, Police Chief David Breen reported that "the bike is in, it's been lettered... we're going to use it for traffic enforcement and other purposes as well." In late January, the police department announced a deal with Kelly Automotive Group where town residents purchasing a vehicle from the company would have $50 donated to a fund to pay for a year-long motorcycle lease. The motorcycle is also likely to appear at the town's various schools in the coming months. "I know any time you want to get a message out to children, a motorcycle opens up the opportunity to talk…
Friday, May 4, 2012
Regional pension system moving to fully fund obligations over next couple of decades. Lynnfield currently has $18 million in unfunded pension obligations. One possibility may involve borrowing to take care of it early.
Earlier this week at town meeting, one topic that came up for discussion at one point was the town's unfunded pension obligations - which currently amount to about $18 million. Lynnfield's non-school personnel (school personnel are part of the state system) contribute to the Essex Regional Retirement System (ERRS), which oversees pensions for 19 towns and numerous other entities in Massachusetts. On Monday night, Gustus, with help from ERRS Executive Director (and Lynnfield town meeting voter) Joe Maney, explained that a funding schedule is now in place that calls for fully funding the system's pension obligations by 2035 (assuming at least an annual 8.25% rate of return). According to the ERRS website, its system-wide unfunded actuarial …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
State Senator addressed representatives from various animal protection organizations last week at State House.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, May 3
The following is an announcement from the office of State Senator Katherine Clark: Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) was recognized by the MSPCA for “advocating for animals and her sponsorship of humane legislation” today as part of the Humane Lobby Day 2012 at the State House. “I am delighted to receive this recognition,” said Senator Clark. “I am proud to partner with MSPCA to advocate for the humane treatment of animals.” Senator Clark addressed over seventy-five representatives from the MSPCA, HSUS, ASPCA, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Mass. Animal Coalition, the Animal Control Officers Association, and animal protection organizations about her advocacy for animal rights at the State House on Thursday. At the well-attended …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Committee Chair Dorothy Presser read members' evaluation of Lynnfield School Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Jefferson at meeting on Monday evening.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, May 2
Soon before town meeting on April 30th, the Lynnfield School Committee held a meeting in the Middle School Library. At one point in the meeting, Chairwoman Dorothy Presser read an evaluation prepared by school commitee members of Superintendent Thomas W. Jefferson as he prepares to wrap up his first year in the district. Below is the full text of the committee's evaluation of Dr. Jefferson so far. Goal Area 1: Communication Overall Rating – Proficient Committee members commended the Superintendent for being visible and available in the schools and the community and for representing the schools well. The Superintendent is encouraged to continue his visibility in the schools, both announced and unannounced. Members found the newsletter …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Along with budget, warrant articles included $2,700 appropriation for medical bills for fire lieutenant who suffered heart attack during a 2010 service call.
Lynnfield voters approved a $41,832,191 budget at Monday night's town meeting, while also backing warrant articles dealing with everything from routine financial matters to the proposed athletic fields complex to medical bills for a fireman who suffered a heart attack in the line of duty. This year's spring town meeting concluded before 10 p.m. and while there was spirited debate about the budget from some citizens, the event had a different feel to last year when numerous teacher jobs were on the line due to a large budget deficit. Newly-elected Town Moderator Arthur Bourque presided over his first town meeting and made his way through the budget line items with relative ease. At one point early on, a resident made a motion to eliminate $…
Gail Sanfilippo
11:27 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012
Isn't Lynnfield getting ENOUGH? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Gail4000@aol.com more ›