Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Thursday, January 12, 2012
photos/EverythingWestport.com
Quick
Article Index . . .
Allens Pond Sanctuary announces
vacation week fun days.
The Westport Art Group proudly
presents: Winter 2012 Classes.
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EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Photos/EverythingWestport.com
Neighbor's complaints about motorcycle and
crowd noise outside the bar's front door coupled with what selectmen
perceived as a lack of signage to address the issue caused selectmen two
weeks ago to take no action on the business's yearly liquor license renewal. The conditions have been corrected, and
requirements to move motorcycle parking to the other side of the building
with appropriate signage will be observed, according to attorney Glenn E. Mauk. Troubling
financial times are ahead for Westport boards and departments, according to Town Administrator Jack Healey. Healey broke the ice at Monday's select
board meeting on possible overrides after a preliminary review of budget
submissions for the upcoming fiscal year. "Westport may need a "structural
deficit override," possibly up to $2 million to provide for the
essential services as wanted and indeed deserved by town residents,"
Healey told selectmen Monday night. “We will no longer be
able to support important services like those provided by the Council on
Aging and the library, and our infrastructure will continue to
deteriorate." Healey feels the
school system may worsen under current funding. Selectmen voted 5-0 to
form an exploratory committee to examine the projected budget deficits, and
consider a proposition 2 1/2 override of up to $2 million, an action sure to
meet resistance from taxpayers in light of a probably $3.2 million override
to fund long-term PCB remediation costs that will face voters at the ballot
box this year. And voter generosity
at December's special town meeting put the town in a hole for another
$400,000. Healey suggested a
permanent tax increase, pointing out that Westport has one of the lowest tax
rates for a single tax rate community among 233 similar communities in the
Commonwealth. "210 communities
have a higher tax rate than Westport," Healey said. "The average
was $12.56 per $1,000 in valuation, compared to Westport’s $7.05." A $2 million override
would add about .68 cents per thousand, Healey said. "It would increase
the average annual property tax bill by about $301.41" he said. Editor note: It is important
to note that many of those communities have town water and sewer, and many
provide trash pickup, very expensive services to fund. "We will need to analyze
the level of services those communities provide," Selectman Antone Vieira said. A tax increase may be
unpopular but so would a cut in the level of town services, especially the
Council of Aging and the library, Healey said. Registered town voters
would have to improve the override at the annual spring town meeting, and if
approved, a ballot question would be put before the town's electorate at a
special town election within 90 days. Healey expressed
concern that state aid to Westport would be flat at best, and hopes the town
can learn sooner rather than later the amount of the state's contribution, a
sentiment echoed by select board Vice Chairman Craig Dutra. Department budgets for fiscal
2013, which begins July 1, are in the early planning stages. The school budget, as
proposed by Superintendent Carlos Colley includes a school budget increase of
more than $1 million, or 7.1 percent, doubling the previous increase that
Colley proposed last month. The Fire Department
budget will rise by roughly $29,000 due to negotiated union increases. The Council on Aging
is requesting a 21 percent increase, and the veteran's services budget would
nearly double if approved, according to Veteran's Services Agent, Jerry
LeBoeuf. The select board on a
vote of 5-0 agreed that selectmen should and would review all budgets for all
town departments.
"Jack was a long-term and very
respected member of this committee," select board Chairman Richard
Spirlet said. "He will be missed." One other open position remains. Inset: Gordon Price (far left) interviews with
select board members before his appointment. Gordon H. Price, highly recommended by the
COA's Director Mary Ellen Gomes, was appointed by a vote of 5-0 to the board
overseeing the Westport Council of Aging. School Committee Chairwoman, Michelle
Duarte, notified the select board on the resignation of school committee
member Eric Larrivee, effective January 1, 2012.
Word is other resignations may be forthcoming. The Ponds
Committee received unanimous approval by selectmen to proceed with a free
evaluation by the Massachusetts Division of Wildlife and Fisheries to
quantify the status of projects under consideration by the committee.
"Trout Pond is not part of this project, and no dam construction is proposed,"
said member Claude Ledoux." A determination on whether the ponds
included in the proposed project are indeed vernal pools, and whether cold
water brook trout exist in the associated streams, will be made by Wildlife
and Fisheries. Either of those conditions could jeopardize the use of
dredging, specifically the Head Dam's mill pond, for use in filtering out
harmful contaminants before they reach the State
Representative Koczera of New Bedford (pictured left, center) accompanied by Westport Representative
Paul Schmid came before the select board to seek their support for House Bill
No. 00200, that will call for a change in the electoral process for selecting
delegates in presidential elections. Click
here to review the bill. The passage of House Bill No. 00200 will
elect the delegates by congressional district, a process seen as more in line
with a popular vote throughout the Commonwealth Allens Pond Sanctuary announces vacation
week fun days! EverythingWestport.com Thursday, January 12, 2012 Mass
Audubon Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary is offering
an exciting vacation week opportunity (2/20 to
2/24) for children in grades K-5 that encourages and activates a child's
sense of curiosity and love of nature! Each day starts with a discovery map,
charting the course for both the morning and afternoon program topics.
They'll start exploring each topic indoors with some learning games and
activities, then venture outside for more field investigation, winter fun and
ecological exploration! Participants will be going home with daily
projects and artwork to share with family and friends! Cost is $30/day
($15/half-day) for each participant with a 10% sibling discount. $5.00/day
per child for extended day option. Instructions and Directions: Drop off and pick up is at the Allens
Pond Field Station, 1280 Horseneck Road in Westport, MA. Registration is required. Register by mail: program
registration form. (PDF 66K); Register by phone: with a
credit card by calling 508.636.2437. For your own security, DO NOT
send credit card information via email. For more information, call or click 508.636.2437 or email: allenspond@massaudubon.org. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 1280 Horseneck Road, Westport. The Westport Art Group proudly
presents: Winter 2012 Classes. EverythingWestport.com Thursday, January 12, 2012 Fun Saturday Workshops for Kids 8 to 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (bring a snack).
All classes held at 1740 Main Road, Westport. $30 per class. Instructor:
Paula Becker Saturday,
February 11th “Starry Starry Night” Stars, Planets, Space & Dreams fill the
night sky! Inspired by artists Van Gogh, Miro and
your own imagination, draw, paint & create mixed media works of art!
Saturday
March 10th “Animal Safari” With pastels, paint and collage create bold
colorful safari animals & scenes inspired by the art of Matisse, Rousseau
and your own imagination! Saturday
May 5th For more information and to register please
call or click Paula Becker at 401.595.5928 or email: psbecker@cox.net. Paula
Becker Paula Becker is a freelance textile designer
for Regal Fabrics. She has also taught textile classes at Umass
Dartmouth and RISD. In her Tiverton home/studio, Paula weaves unique scarves
and one of a kind woven & mixed media art work that has been exhibited in
various galleries and art exhibitions nationally. Beginning Drawing
and Beginning Painting Classes for Adults Beginning drawing and painting classes are
now being offered and will be held at Westport Art Group, 1740 Main Road,
Westport. Classes meet once a week for 5 weeks
beginning January 27 (Drawing) and Jan. 28 (Painting). Cost: $160 ( To register, please call or click Nancy
Burkholder at 508.636.3039 or email: nannyaesop37@gmail.com. Note: the Saturday Painting course will skip February 18
but will continue through March 3 to fulfill 5 weeks. Beginning Drawing: Beginning Painting: About the Instructor The
Westport Art Group The Westport Art Group is a non-profit
organization that supports education in the arts with classes, art exhibits
and scholarships to high school seniors. The mission of the Westport Art
Group is to stimulate and promote the appreciation and encouragement of the
arts and crafts. Call 508.636.2114 or visit www.westportartgroup.com for more information. © 2012 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
