Town Council Regular Meeting, 7/1/19
The big issue was: Affordable housing! (And part two of my column on campaign finance reform.) Before I return to town elections, I want to salute the council for voting…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 6/17/19
The big issue was: Campaign finance reform! (This is part one of a two-part column.) The proposed campaign finance reform bylaw returned for a vote at tonight’s meeting. Put forward…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 6/3/19
The big issues were: The Percent for Art bylaw, and campaign finance reform! Not long after the meeting started, I moved from my usual seat in the back of the…
Town Council Budget Forum, 5/21/19
The big issue was: An affordable housing project (and not the budget)! The budget forum was hi-jacked by a group of concerned residents! Town Manager Paul Bockelman has submitted his…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 5/20/19
The big issue was: Appointments to the planning board and the ZBA! A small audience was once again witness to big drama when the council’s Outreach, Communications and Appointments Committee…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 5/6/2019
The big issue was: The power of council committees! It was clear that the town wasn’t expecting a big turn out for tonight’s meeting. There were only a few rows…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 4/22/19
The big issue was: the Community Preservation Act! When I arrived for the Council meeting, I was surprised to find the Town Room buzzing with the energy of a comportment…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 4/1/19
The big issue was: votes on the elementary school SOI & East Street School affordable housing project! Votes took place on both the Statement of Interest (SOI) for building a…
Town Council Regular Meeting, 3/18/19
The big issue was: political theater! Never have I seen the Town Room so crowded! Every seat was taken. People without seats stood around the edges of the room. Why?…
Town Council Budget Forum, 3/7/19
The issue was: public participation! (Not the budget.) In this post, I’m expanding my coverage to include the poorly-attended Town Council Budget Forum because it illustrates issues closely related to…