Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Tuesday,
January 31, 2012
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Quick
Article Index . . .
Ballot questions are the centerpiece of this year's April election.
Westport Firefighters' Rally at Town
Hall.
Sisters of the Wool, one year old
today.
Classical artist will exhibit at The Russell Gallery.
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Ballot
questions are the centerpiece of this year's April election. EverythingWestport.com Thursday,
March 29, 2012
The
biggest and by far the most important is a $3.2 million Proposition 2 1/2
override needed to pay PCB remediation costs for Westport's Middle School. Should
this question get defeated, town officials would have to pare an additional
$400,000 from the town's annual budget, a budget that is already suffering
from anemic revenues, for the next 20 years. +enlarge
Questions 2, 3 and 4 are non-binding
questions, and are only meant to guide town officials on how
Westport's town electorate feels about these three issues. This is our take on the pros and cons of
the four ballot questions Westport voters will face on April 10th: Question
1: Shall
the Town of Westport be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition
two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued
in order to pay costs of environmental remediation at the Westport Middle
School, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto? A YES
vote would add $400,000 to Westport' annual tax base for a period of 20 years
that would pay the principle and interest on a 20-year bond that would pay
approximately $3.2 million in Westport Middle School PCB cleanup costs. Town
budgets would not be affected. Taxpayers would see an increase in their
annual taxes. A NO
vote would require the town to take $400,000 per year for 20 years out of its
existing annual town budget, putting a strain on town departments and require
spending cuts. Question
2: Shall
the Town request the Board of Selectmen to place a warrant article on the
Annual Town Meeting to begin action to repeal the Community Preservation Act
in the Town of Westport. (This question is non-binding. A vote of town
meeting followed by a vote at the 2013 annual election would also be
necessary to repeal the Community Preservation Act.) A YES
vote would be in favor of repealing Westport's participation in the
Community Preservation Act that, if approved at Town Meeting and the 2013
annual election, would remove the 2% tax levy on a property owner's annual
real estate tax bill. Proponents of this questions claim that taxes based on CPA money
would be better spent on improving services in town and help provide better
education and services for seniors. They claim too much property is being
removed from the tax base, and that the money is being spent on projects for
which it was never intended. They point to the reduced level of state
matching funds from 100% to 25% as a state losing interest in the program. A NO
vote would be in favor of preserving the town's participation in the CPA
program. Opponents of this question reference the many properties
protected from development, and the preservation and restoration of many
historical buildings as well as completed projects like the dredging of
Westport Harbor's boating channels. Question
3: Shall
the Town of Westport want its water ways, rivers and streams to be designated
a Wild & Scenic river way under the provisions of the Federal Government? A YES
vote would be in favor of including the Westport River, its branches and
estuaries in the Federal Government's National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System. It is the policy of the United States that
certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate
environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational,
geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values,
shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their
immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of
present and future generations. Proponents of Wild and Scenic claim the extra level of protection
would better assist local efforts in cleaning up and protecting the Westport
River. A NO
vote would NOT be in favor of including
the Westport River, its branches and estuaries in the Federal Government's
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Opponents claim there are already too many local and state
organizations including the Clean Water Act protecting the Westport River,
and that the Wild and Scenic designation would add another layer. They say it
will put control of the river into the hands of special interest groups, and
severely restirct the rights of property owners who abut the river. Question
4: Shall
the town vote to change the schedule of town meeting and hold two Annual Town
Meetings on Saturdays, one in the fall for mostly planning and non-monetary
articles, and one in the spring for mostly setting Town Budgets. Most would agree that splitting the town
meeting into two sessions, holding them on Saturday mornings, and separating
the financial from the non-monetary articles, would encourage more registered
voters to attend, thereby giving broader voter representation to Town
Meeting. Westport Firefighters' Rally at
Town Hall. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday,
March 28, 2012 Keith Nickelson,
President Westport Permanent Firefighters Local 1802, announced today that on
Monday, April 2nd, 2012, there
will be a rally held at the Westport Town Hall beginning at 5 p.m. Westport
Fire Department members are asking for your support in helping them, help
you. Everyone is welcome to attend and show their concern over the loss of a
firefighter/paramedic position and the safety issues that have been
surrounding our fire department for years. According to Nickelson,
"on April 1st, the Westport Fire Department will lay off one permanent
full time firefighter/paramedic. This action is a direct result from years of
continuous budget cuts and a recent contractual salary increase of 1%
approved by the Board of Selectmen." Nickelson added that "the results will be an increase in
response times for fire, ambulance, and all other emergency related calls
especially those residents living nearest to the station with the unmanned
ambulance. I can assure you that the Westport Firefighter/Paramedics will do
everything in their power to get to an emergency quickly and safely, but with
the added response times their job becomes much more difficult to provide the
care and services the town deserves." Sisters of the Wool, one year old
today. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, April 01, 2012 Click here to read about the beginnings of Sisters of the Wool.
The "yarns-r-us"
retail store has made quite an
impression on the local fiber arts community.
Many from in and outside the area came by
to meet Ann, and have their books signed. And accomplished spinner, dyer and artist Chrystee Governo of
Play at Life Fiber Arts stopped by
with a trunk full of her yarns for sale, and demonstrated how to knit with
her silk roving hankies. Inset:
Author Ann Hood signing a copy The Knitting Circle for a visitor. "Chrystee is
an accomplished spinner and dyer, and
produces some of the most exquisite colorways
we have ever seen," said Pat Brost of Sisters
of the Wool. Chrystee brought a large selection of her yarns for sale,
modeled garments to inspire visitors, and demonstrated how to knit with her
silk roving hankies. Sound intriguing? You should have been there. Stop by and wish Pat and her crew a happy
anniversary. Sisters of
the Wool 782 Main Street (Village Plaza), Westport. Telephone: 774.264.WOOL (9665)
Left: Sister of the Wool's
Pat Brost pours through the collection of specialty
yarns brought in by accomplished spinner, dyer and artist Chrystee
Governo of Play at Life Fiber Arts while Suzanne
Alden looks on. Right: Pat Brost with local author Ann
Hood.
Above: Happy Anniversary
Pat!
Above: Accomplished spinner,
dyer and artist Chrystee Governo of
Play at Life Fiber Arts
demonstrated how to knit with her silk roving hankies. Classical artist will exhibit at The
Russell Gallery. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, April 1, 2012 Art by Barbara
Leger For more information go to www.barbaraleger.com.
Select paintings from her 2012 collection
can be enjoyed at premier galleries in New England such as: The Vanderbilt in
Nantucket, MA., the Courtyard in Mystic, CT., and A-Z Gallery in Wesley
Hills, MA. For the Month of May Barbara is delighted to exhibit her brilliant
work at the Westport Rivers Vineyard in the Russell Gallery.
The paintings are signed............Leger. Westport
Rivers Vineyard & Winery Westport, MA © 2012 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
