Thursday, May 23, 2013
Administrator Kenneth Feinberg is urging people to submit completed claims and offered help filling out the forms.
One Fund Boston administrator Kenneth Feinberger is urging Boston Marathon bombing victims to get claims in before the June 15 deadine. “You would be amazed at how people in grief, with all sorts of uncertainty about their lives, don’t file. File at the last minute. File claim forms written in crayon,”Feinberg told the Boston Herald. Funds are scheduled to start being distributed on June 30, with the three families who lost a loved one to receive around $1 million. Next, those who suffered double amputations or more would receive funds, then single amputees, then those who required an overnight hospital stay. The final protocol for dispersing funds can be viewed on the One Fund site. Downloadable claim forms are available through the …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The discussion eventually led to a motion to increase technology capital funding.
A discussion regarding school funding eventually led to a motion at Monday's Annual Town Meeting to increase the school technology line item in this year's capital budget. While the motion was shot down, Easton's schools were a hot topic throughout the evening. "I don’t see education as a priority in this town anymore," said Luis Marquez, the parent of an Oliver Ames student. "I’ve been here 17 years and I really worry about our education system." Marquez's comments came after a budget presentation made by Superintendent Michael Green, who outlined the school's $34.8 million budget (slightly more than half of the town's overall operating budget) and the district's position in relation to the rest of the state. While Easton spends $11,132.…
Outgoing lieutenant governor said recent controversies had nothing to do with decision to resign.
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said none of the controversies that have dogged him during his tenure on Beacon Hill contributed to his decision to announce his resignation. In a press conference at the State House Wednesday, Murray said his final day on the job will be June 2. The next day he will take over as president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce where his salary will reportedly be around $200,000. In January, Murray said he had no intention of running for governor when Gov. Deval Patrick's term expires in January 2015. "This has been a very difficult but empowering decision," Murray said. "It has been an honor to serve as lieutenant governor." Patrick called Murray an "outstanding partner" during his time in …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/murray-to-resign-june-2-patrick-calls-him-outstanding-partner
1465768
/locations/9409818
CBS Boston reports Murray has a new job lined up already.
UPDATE, 12:15 p.m.: The Massachusetts Republican Party was quick to jump on the reports about Murray's resignation, saying Murray is trying "to outrun the scandal that dogs him" in a statement on their website. MassGOP attempted to liken Murray's exit to that of former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, who was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2007. “History doesn’t always repeat itself, but in this case it looks like Tim Murray is following the same path as a previous, disgraced Democratic official,” said Nate Little MassGOP Executive Director in the scathing statement. “Only time will tell if Murray follows the Finneran playbook to the end, complete with indictment and guilty plea.” UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Boston.com has updated their …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/lt-gov-tim-murray-to-resign
1465768
/locations/9408680
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
All but two articles passed. One article was amended and two were dismissed.
Easton Town Meeting was dissolved after approximately four hours Monday night after there were not enough voters present to reach a quorum. Voters did not schedule another date to resume the meeting. As a result, the remaining articles (38-44) will likely be put on hold until a Special Town Meeting in the fall, town clerk Jeremy Gillis said. Residents still voted on 37 articles, however. Thirty two passed as written. Two were dismissed. One was amended and two (Articles 33 and 37) failed. Article 33 called for a change in the town charter in relation to the capital planning committee. The current capital planning committee consists of the town accountant, one member of the finance committee, one member of the planning and zoning board and …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Easton residents will meet at Oliver Ames High School tonight.
Easton residents will gather tonight at Oliver Ames High School to discuss 44 warrant articles at Annual Town Meeting. Articles range from changes to the town's charter, to planning and zoning bylaw changes, to financial items. The biggest number on tonight's warrant is in the amount of $69 million for the FY2013 operating budget. That item will be discussed in warrant article 17. Town Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oliver Ames High School's auditorium. Browse through the above posted warrant for all articles and explanations.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The state's Restaurant and Business Alliance said there was "no sign of opposition" at a hearing this week.
The Joint Committee on Revenue in the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing this week on the notion of a potential meals tax holiday for August and one supporting group liking its chances. According to the state's Restaurant and Business Alliance (R.A.B.A), the hearing held Tuesday for the Meals Tax Holiday Bill saw "no sign of opposition" to the measure. Twelve legislators have signed on to the bill primarily sponsored by Rep. Keiko Orrall of Lakeville and Sen. Michael O. Moore of Millbury. If passed, the legislation would go into effect from Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15. "We should offer a Meals Tax Holiday to benefit employees and small local business owners inside Massachusetts to help stimulate the economy," said …
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Friday, May 17, 2013
A curved hotel tower would overlook Routes 140 and 24, 10 miles from Easton border.
It is becoming more clear that an area casino is on the horizon for Easton residents. Questions still remain as to where it will be and who will be building it. In Taunton this week, the Masphee Wampanoag Tribe unveiled designs for their proposed casino, which would be on the corners of Route 24 and 140 - 10 miles from Easton's border. According to Boston.com, the renderings show a sparkling curved hotel tower. “There’s a lot of engineering, there’s a lot of traffic mitigation involved in that design, there’s a lot of environmental mitigation,” Cedric Cromwell, the Mashpee Wampanoag chairman, told Boston.com. “When you look at that architectural rendering, it speaks to many different fronts.” The Tribe, however, is still facing many legal …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Check out this year's Annual Town Meeting Warrant in Enhanced .pdf format
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, May 16
According to the Town of Easton, This year's Town Meeting warrant is also available in an enhanced PDF format for viewing on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Please click here for the E-Warrant, or view the warrant above.
Cecil Moore
9:04 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
Who me, I would like to correct your misinterpretation of US involvement in Viet Nam. I find offense in your writing "US may have sent aid...but hardly the same as actual combat". You do know that by March 1965, 487 US military personnel were killed in Viet Nam. I think you tarnish their memory with your trivial dismissal of their lives. Wikipedia: American military advisors arrived in what was … more ›