Links of my audio clips are being crossposted to a couple sites on FB.
No attribution of course, but the audio includes mention of Warren Shaw, the host of the show being presented, and DracutForum.com in the link.
Its just interesting to see the lack of ethics…
Todays BACKTALK in the Lowell Sun had two items regarding the School override question in Dracut:
SENIORITIS: The Dracut School Committee must think seniors have an abundance of money trees growing in their yard. How about doing something to help us out?
Dracut
DOUBLE DEBT: We used a “debt exclusion” to upgrade the Dracut High School facility. Will we have two “debt-exclusions” on the books, or will the one for the high school end before a new one is initiated?
Dracut
Now the first shows the continuing discussion around town regarding the many people who don’t believe they can afford another tax increase. This is a fair discussion to have.
As to the second, I believe the choice has been made that this would be a tax override (or two tax overrides), not a debt exclusion. As to the answer to the question, the school debt exclusion would continue, and other tax overrides would be put on top of that (actually, on top of the tax levy — the exclusions are separate from taht).
Cathy Richardson returns to the Lowell Sun Politcal gossip column this Sunday morning:
“DESPITE THE heavy baggage she will carry into the election, Dracut Selectman Cathy Richardson
may still seek to retain her seat on the board.
Reached before the beginning of her trial in February — she faces five counts of animal cruelty — Richardson said that she had not yet made up her mind on whether she would run for another three-year term. Her trial has been postponed until April.
Richardson pulled nomination papers on Wednesday. She said Saturday she still may not run.
Richardson will still have to face a jury before the May 2 election, but the March 14 deadline to return nomination papers is fast approaching.
Unlike last year, when only two candidates vied for a single selectman’s seat, this year boasts a robust field.
Selectmen Chairman Tony Archinski is the only candidate so far to have returned completed nomination papers. Housing Authority Commissioner Jesse Forcier and Permanent Building Committee memberPhil Thibault, who narrowly lost to Selectman Joseph DiRocco Jr. last year, round out the candidates for two selectmen seats.
When Richardson last ran in 2013, she came in second behind Archinski by less than 100 votes. In that race, she edged out incumbent selectmen George Malliaros,who coincidentally is back on the ballot this year, albeit as the sole candidate so far for town moderator.”
Tony Archinski and Joe DiRocco joined us on 980 WCAP Saturday morning live this morning to discuss the tax override question options. Click on this post to see the link to the audio.
EDITORIAL, Lowell Sun
If Dracut’s one town, endorse joint override
Dracut’s long history of struggling for sufficient funds to run the municipal and school side of government could be described as this town’s version of death — and dare we say — taxes.
It’s the only thing residents can count on. That, and the continuing crusade by some to pit one interest against the other. And the next chapter of that story currently involves how to frame a Proposition 2 1/2 override question for the May 2 town election.
The Board of Selectmen and School Committee both seek roughly $550,000 apiece to address serious shortcomings.
Selectmen would use these funds to hire and train six police officers and three firefighters. Structural deficiencies aside, the lack of public-safety staffing seems obvious. Currently, only three police officers patrol town at any given time, while some Fire Department engines operate with only two firefighters.
With that same sum, the school board would upgrade the district’s Internet system to include fiber-optic cables and wireless capacity. According to School Superintendent Steven Stone, that amount triggers roughly $230,000 in federal government rebates in the first year alone, with which he’d hire needed staff.
It appears that a majority of both boards want these overrides combined into one $1.1 million request, which would cost the average residential taxpayer approximately $100 a year.
However, one selectman, former town Fire Chief Joe DiRocco, remains adamantly opposed to a joint override. DiRocco apparently still wants to make the school board pay for giving the superintendent a $12,000 raise and allocating another $37,000 for salary increases split among six school prinicpals and three administrators.
Yes, we agree the school board’s timing — no matter the reasoning behind it — couldn’t have been worse.
But why, Selectman DiRocco, hold the 3,800 students in the Dracut school system hostage while you settle your political score? Voters can validate or reject the School Committee members’ decision at the polls. That’s fair game — not the entire school system.
Presently, as the town counsel prepares language for both a joint and separate override, time is of the essence. In order to appear on the May 2 ballot, selectmen must endorse one or the other at their March 8 meeting.
No one likes paying more taxes — especially in Dracut — but public safety and education are the bedrocks of every desirable community.
Selectman Tami Dristiliaris, in dismissing separate overrides, insisted on a joint question. “This is not a divided town,” Dristiliaris said. Well, it’s time for Dracut to prove it. Selectmen should back a combined $1.1 million override, and let the voters decide them on their merits.
Candidates Allison Volpe, Betsy Murphy and Tim Woods joined us on 980 WCAP Saturday morning live this morning to discuss school department issues, and their campaigns for school committee.
