Ashburnham Board of Selectmen
Monday, Feb. 5, 2007
Compiled By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Top Story:

Selectman Jonathan Dennehy gained the support of this fellow board members for a resolution requiring revenue sharing between the state and towns.

The board voted 3-0 to support the resolution that was discussed at the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association's conference in January. The resolution is asking legislators to commit the same percentage of the state's revenue to the local cities and towns every year.

Town officials think this may be the way to cope with an increasing school budget because Chapter 70 funding - the state's contribution - is a decreasing percentage of the overall budget.

"I think we need to change our perspective on how we look at the school district budget," Dennehy said. "This is an alarming trend."

Dennehy thinks the only way to keep up with town and school services is to increase the percentage of money returning to the towns from the state and to get state aid to the towns sooner in the budget cycle.

"(The lower percentage) forces us to make up the difference by either passing an override or cutting programs," Dennehy said. "We have to fund our schools somehow."

Dennehy called the vote a symbolic one that he plans to ask Westminster's Board of Selectmen, the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee and other municipalities and school districts to support.

In other news:

+ Town Administrator Kevin Paicos has asked the state for a ruling on whether the Office of Dam Management and Safety can require the town to hire a professional engineer to evaluate Lower Neaukeaug Dam. The state wants to fine the town for non-compliance, but the town can't afford the study or the expected recommended repairs, he said.

"The bad news is we are going to lose," Paicos said.

But Paicos is hoping to make this a political issue that the legislature might review. Selectmen are supporting Paicos' decision.

+ Selectmen held the second part of a Community Development Block Grant hearing at the beginning of the meeting. During the hearing they approved an updated Community Development Strategy as well as a regional agreement with Lancaster, Lunenburg, and Townsend for a regional housing rehabilitation grant.