Carrasco Challenges State LGBT Law

Southbridge Town Council Chairman, Esteban Carrasco, is among the pastors of four Massachusetts churches filing a lawsuit in federal court. The suit, filed Tuesday against state officials, alleged the pastors are being forced to open church changing rooms, shower facilities, restrooms and other “intimate areas” to people based on their perceived gender identity, and not their biological sex. 

Southbridge Town Council of the Whole - August 25, 2016

Beware The Bomb-Throwers

Clearly the issue of well contamination in Charlton has resulted in frayed nerves and serious health concerns.

However, the use of this issue as a means of attacking Casella, the operator of the Southbridge landfill, has reached absurd levels.

Foremost to blame for this irresponsible behavior is local “activist” John Pulawski. 

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - August 22, 2016

Southbridge Town Council of the Whole Meeting - August 11, 2016

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - August 8, 2016

Consultant: Landfill not source of well contamination in Charlton

By Brian Lee
Telegram & Gazette Staff

No available information points to the landfill as the source of contaminated private wells in the area of H. Foote Road in Charlton, the town’s consultant on landfill matters, Tighe & Bond, told councilors Monday.

Last fall, Casella announced 1,4-dioxane was detected in 21 wells in Charlton, with eight exceeding the state drinking water regulation. The state later named Casella the potential responsible party.

Jeffrey Arps, an environmental expert for Tighe & Bond, told the council that groundwater doesn’t travel uphill, and the impacted homes are 80 feet above and northeast of the landfill. Groundwater is flowing in the opposite direction, he said.

Hires Proposed For Landfill Expansion Hearings

Brian Lee

Worcester Telegram 

The lawyer for the Board of Health has proposed hiring a hearing officer and a new consultant for hearings for Casella Waste Systems' push to enlarge one of the state's biggest landfills.

Southbridge Recycling & Disposal Park, a Casella subsidiary, wants to expand the landfill by about 20 acres and to create of a new disposal area encompassing about 14 acres. Casella would build earthen berms up to 60 feet high around the existing landfill. The design change would be considered "a major permit modification." The landfill's most recent alteration, in 2008, was considered a minor permit modification in that it changed the operation to allow disposal of up to 405,600 tons of waste per year. The size of the landfill stayed the same eight years ago.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - 7/25/2016

Southbridge Town Council Agenda - July 25, 2016

Town Council Meeting

MacKinnon Council Chambers

July 25, 2016

7 PM


Agenda

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - July 11, 2016

Southbridge Town Council Agenda - July 11, 2016

Town Council Meeting

MacKinnon Council Chambers

July 11, 2016

Immediately Following Swearing-In of Newly Elected Councilors


Agenda

The Reality Of Southbridge's Pension Commitments

Ken O'Brien

Recent discussions on this site have related to issues confronting Southbridge's finances in the context of real estate taxes.

One area of concern is the town's commitment to financing the long-term costs associated with its retirement obligations to town employees.

This area is frequently overlooked when addressing the town budget. In large part this is a function of the fact that the complexity of the issue is beyond the grasp of many.

As I pointed out in a comment on an earlier post:

 According to the town’s most recent bond offering “The total actuarial liability applicable to the entire system [Southbridge’s retirement plan] at January 1, 2014, was $67,505,108; the unfunded liability of the system was $33,179,035."
In addition other post-employment benefits amounted to $47,599,891 based on the latest actuarial analysis completed July 1, 2013. “As of June 30, 2015, the balance in the OPEB Trust was $513,606.”

The 9% Factor

Ken O’Brien

Congratulations Southbridge! The results are in.

You’ve officially given up on your town.

I can remember when a good friend of mine lost his race for school committee. At the time he got over 1,100 votes – and he lost.

In our most recent town election the winners got 900 votes or less.

Less than 10% of the town’s registered voters bothered to turn out to vote. 

Apathy has triumphed.

Remember The Line About Chickens Coming Home To Roost?

Just imagine what'll happen if you succeed in your efforts to close the landfill!
(Maybe you should have listened to me a year ago. 
See Reset The Tax Levy Limit)

DESE Issues Southbridge Turnaround Plan

Southbridge Public Schools Level 5 District Turnaround Plan 
(Click on above link to view plan document)

By Brian Lee 

Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester is at Charlton Street Elementary School this morning for a press conference to unveil a turnaround plan that will guide changes in the chronically underperforming district of about 2,200 students.

The comprehensive 70-page plan includes priorities and strategies to accelerate student achievement and benchmarks connected to student outcomes.

The plan said that the district's state-appointed receiver has the right to lay off teachers and staff, and reorganize, consolidate, or abolish departments, positions or school functions, and create new ones, but does not specify how that would materialize. 

A Business Idea For Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

After watching the candidates for Southbridge Town Council “debate” I remain essentially unimpressed.

As they have for years they all decried the town’s reliance on landfill revenues and proclaimed their opposition to steadily rising property taxes. The solution according to all of them was to stimulate new business that would expand our tax base as well as provide employment for town residents.

However, not one of them has put forward any kind of plan for such a business or a practical means for enticing any such business to locate in Southbridge. 

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - June 20, 2016

Southbridge School Committee Candidates - June 6, 2016

Southbridge Town Council Agenda - June 20, 2016

Town  Council Meeting

MacKinnon Council Chambers

June 20, 2016

7 PM


Agenda