School Funding a Hot Topic at Easton Town Meeting

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.…

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Town Meeting Warrant Available on IPhones, Tablets

Check out this year's Annual Town Meeting Warrant in Enhanced .pdf format

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.

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Planning Board Looks For Moratorium on Establishing Marijuana Zoning Guidelines

Town Meeting Voters will be asked to vote on a temporary ban.

Town Meeting voters will decide on May 20 whether or not to place a temporary ban on Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers until Town Officials have more time to establish zoning and health regulations. The moratorium, which is illustrated in Article 38 of this year's draft Town Meeting Warrant, will be in effect until June 30 of 2014 or until it is lifted. "We’re looking to create a temporary moratorium so that we could address this at Special Town Meeting or next year’s Town Meeting," Planning Board Chair Greg Strange told Selectmen Monday night. Selectmen agreed to recommend the moratorium. "I think as a town it makes sense to get our ducks in order," Strange added. Strange said the Planning and Zoning Board, which was charged with …

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Muscato Stadium Light Fixture Funding Up For Vote at Town Meeting

School officials will ask for funding for new light fixtures at Muscato Stadium at this year's Town Meeting.

The Easton School Department will ask Town Meeting voters for funding to replace the light fixtures at Muscato Stadium this spring. The School Committee allowed Superintendent Michael Green to write a warrant article for Town Meeting that could ask for up to $100,000 for the task. The decision came after OA Athletic Director Bill Matthews presented the school committee with a list of "needs, wants and dreams" Friday. Needs included lights, safety netting for lacrosse and improvements to OA's tennis courts. "Wants" and "dreams" ranged from replacing OA's turf field and wrestling mats to a new equipment storage shed and more field space behind the high school. Matthews said light fixtures were imperative because after 25 years they are …

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Did You Know...

DID YOU KNOW: First Town Meeting

When was Easton's first Town Meeting.

DID YOU KNOW that on March 2, 1726 the first official Easton Town Meeting was held with Josiah Keith as moderator.  Mr. Keith's home on Bay Road is the oldest in existence in Easton built in 1717.  (This year's Town Meeting is May 20th.) DID YOU KNOW that on March 2, 1852 at 11 P. M. the Ames Shovel finishing shop on the Island "took fire" and the shops adjoining it burned down.  One thousand dozen finished shovels stored there were also burned.

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Watch Easton's Annual Town Meeting in its Entirety

Easton Community Access Television's Broadcast of Annual Town Meeting

Easton's Annual Town Meeting was held on Monday, May 21. For a synopsis of the night's events, click here. Click above to watch Easton Community Access Television's broadcast in it's entirety. You can see all of ECAT's broadcasts by clicking here.

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Budgets Passed and Bylaws Amended at Easton's Annual Town Meeting

Amendment to Smoking Bylaw Generates the Most Discussion.

Over two hours and 10 minutes, Easton voters either approved or dismissed 49 warrant articles at Monday night's Annual Town Meeting. No articles were voted down by town voters, and most articles passed unanimously or overwhelmingly. One article, Article 33, which amends Easton's smoking bylaw to ban smoking in town-owned outdoor places with the exception of sidewalks and public ways, was discussed far more than any other article. In the end, though, the warrant article was approved by a vote of 69-39. The amendment split voters into those who felt the government was over-reaching their bounds against those who felt second hand smoke was a viable risk and the amendment promotes public health. The Board of Health brought the warrant article …

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Easton Annual Town Meeting LIVE

Follow the Town Meeting live, here!

Can't make it to Oliver Ames for the Annual Town Meeting tonight? No worries. We've got you covered. Follow our live blog and see how the town votes on the 49 articles in this year's Town Meeting Warrant. Just click on the black box above. If you have a question or comment, feel free to enter it in the comment box.

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Community Preservation Funds Could Be Used to Restore Three Historic Easton Buildings

Voters will determine the use of Community Preservation Funds at Annual Town Meeting

Three historic Easton buildings are looking to get a face lift with the use of Community Preservation money this year. Articles 24, 25, and 26 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant call for the use of Community Preservation money to fund rehabilitation projects for the Ames Free Library, Easton Children's Museum and Easton Town Offices. Community preservation funds are a product of the Community Preservation Act: a 3 percent property tax surcharge adopted by the Town of Easton to help fund affordable housing, open space initiatives and historical preservation. Article 24 calls for $70,000 towards the rehabilitation of the roof over the Ames Free Library children's wing. The money would fund a third of the project. Library directors are aiming…

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