Westport
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Sunday,
March 23, 2014
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Senior
Sweetheart Pageant of America to host local talent show.
Jack Baughan for Diman
Regional School Committee.
Board of Selectmen's Regular Meeting
Agenda for March 24, 2014
Westport police scholarships
for motivated students who are serious about their education.
Graduating
high school seniors from Dartmouth and Westport eligible for scholarships.
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Senior Sweetheart Pageant
to host local talent show. Applications available by
contacting Lenny Kaplan at 508.675.0249 or call or text Chuck Gregory at
508.493.2883. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 23, 2014 Got talent? The Ms. Senior Sweetheart
Pageant of America will host the Southcoast
Community Talent Show for all ages on Sunday, May 4th, at 1 p.m. at White’s of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport. Acts of all ages,
such as solos, duets, and troupes, are being sought. No bands please. The
cost is $5 per act. There will be
first, second and third place cash prizes of $150, $100 and $75. All single
contestants will receive a keepsake award. Troupes will be awarded a trophy
for their practice center or school. The three winners
will perform live on stage of the Ms. Senior Sweetheart Pageant to be held
Sunday, Oct. 26, at B.M.C. Durfee High School. Those interested
in an application should contact Lenny Kaplan at 508.675.0249 or call or text
Chuck Gregory at 508.493.2883. Checks should be made out to the Ms. Senior
Sweetheart Pageant and write “talent show” on memo line. The talent show
event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 each and will be available at
the door. Children under age 5 will be admitted for free. Jack
Baughan for Diman Regional School Committee. EverythingWestport.com Letter to the Editor: Sunday, March 23,
2014 My name is John
“Jack” Baughan of River Road, Westport, and I’m
running for Diman Regional School Committee. Having served on Westport
town committees for 23 years, many of you already know me. I chaired
the Finance Committee, the Capital Investment Planning Committee, and was a
founder of the Agricultural Open Space Committee. I contributed chapters on
Economic Development for both the 2000 Master Plan and the current update
project. In Fall River I
chaired Junior Achievement as well as the Salvation Army for many years. As a graduate of
West Point, a night intruder pilot in Korea, and a successful executive for several
large American Companies (Canadian Curtiss Wright, Leesona
Corp., and Rockwell International) I have learned the value of identifying
potential on which to build successful enterprises. I was Group Combat
Operations Officer for the 3rd Bomb Group of the 5th AF in Kunssn, Korea, operations to the Yalu
River and flew with the AF 13th Sqdn, the oldest
combat squadron, formed in France during WW1. I proudly hold the DFC. In rebuilding
underperforming business organizations identifying leadership personnel is
the main key to success in my opinion. In every culture from Hong Kong
to Russia the same instincts were vital in achieving assigned goals.
Teams are built around such people. Proper
educational backgrounds were a considerable part of that selective process,
and working in that environment helped me conclude that educational
achievements were at least predictive in certain ways regarding future team
successes. It is even more essential in the fast pace of today. This is the value
I see in Diman and their educational process of
developing hands on leaders. Learning the basics under competitive
disciplines is evident in Diman and rewarded by
successful employers. An unfortunate
four-town charter agreement in 1963 limits Westport to 5% of the students at
any one time, whereas Fall River gets 75%, and Swansea and Somerset get 10%
each. I would like to
work to change that. We also pay the highest per pupil tuition and
thousands more than similar WPHS cost to our taxpayers. I seek a
charter fair to all concerned. The Diman Regional School Committee is defined as one member
each from the three small suburbs, with Fall River receiving three seats as
appointed by the mayor. For the better
part of 12 years the current representative from Westport, who works for the
city of Fall River, has voted with Fall River interests making the board a
four to two board for the mayor. I will try hard to open up that charter for
renegotiation as quickly as possible. This will require assistance from
the State regulatory agencies now entrenched with the original formula.
Meanwhile I pledge to vote for Westport interests only. Westport also
needs better communications with our committee representative in keeping town
residents informed of the committee’s actions and future direction, a process
that is now missing. What do you really know about Diman? I am willing to
make the necessary effort if elected. The cause is fair and the fight
worth it for Westport students. John
"Jack" Baughan Board Of Selectmen's Regular Meeting Agenda For
March 24, 2014 EverythingWestport.com Monday, March 24, 2014 6:00 PM Public Hearing – RE: Road Layout Acceptances for Estrela Lane,
Romano Village Drive and Paul Drive. Appointments Action Items
Question and Answer
Period
Board Members
suggestion of items for future agenda discussion and or action
Executive Session
pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21 to approve
Executive Session Minutes of 02-24-14 & 03-03-14 & 03-24-14.
Correspondence
Requiring Action 1. A
request was received from State Road Auto Sales, Inc. for a change name on
licenses so licenses will match what is recorded with the Department of
Revenue. 2. A
notice was received from MA State Lottery Commission regarding the
application for “Keno-to-Go” by Lees Market. Town Administrator's
Report Since the Board's last meeting on March 10, 2014, I have attended the
following meetings and worked on the following major projects/issues, as well
as, day to day Administrative matters. March 11th – Finance Committee March 12th – Personnel Board – Candidates Night RE: Explanation of Financial Condition of Town and
Ballot Questions 1 & 2 March 20th – Business to Business Breakfast Meeting to explain Town's
Financial Condition and Ballot Questions 1 & 2 – Beach Avenue Meeting w/ Tony V. & Tim Coe & Mary Ellen W.of the Coast Guard RE: Proposed turn-around at end of
Beach Avenue
1. Horseneck Beach Trust Fund Spending Plan for
the Summer of 2014 – Attached you will find an explanation prepared
by Police Chief Pelletier in consultation with Fire Chief Legendre and
DCR's Administrator. The Chiefs and Senator Rodrigues will be at the meeting
at 7:00 p.m. on Monday to discuss the Plan and secure your approval. 2. ACE
Landfill Project and Borrego Contracts – This matter is also on the
agenda. As you know, American Capital Energy (ACE) tried hard to get the
project approved by the State before SREC-1 ran out. The Selectmen signed the
agreement in an attempt to expedite the project at ACE's request, but
time ran out and we got an email indicating that ACE was not going to
execute the Agreement. Recently, we learned that the Agreement was signed and filed away by an
ACE employee that was leaving their employ. Copies were never filed with the
State agencies as required, however. ACE was still looking at the numbers,
anticipating what the new SREC-2 requirements would be, when we began our
discussions with Borrego. In discussing the ACE project with Town Counsel
Richard Holland, we recognized that the failure to complete the contract
execution and filing with the State Agencies raises issues of staleness of
the procurement. This led us to conclude that the best course of action would
be to agree that the ACE contract was “null and void” and to recommend that
we go back out to bid for a “Lease Only” solar project on the Landfill
(anticipating that ACE would be submitting a proposal), and negotiating with
Borrego on the two SREC-1 projects that we were presented by them (one in
Freetown, the other in Carver) for Net Metering Solar Credits against our
electric bill. The two Borrego projects would represent about 80% of the Town's
electrical power needs, and would generate very significant savings to the
Town. Tony Connors, Chairman of the Energy Committee, prepared the attached
estimate of the savings (see attached). In a phone conversation with ACE
Representatives, we discussed this approach and they agreed to sign-off on
the Landfill project. Attorney Holland prepared the attached sign-off letter.
I asked if the Board should be signatory as well, and he said it was not
legally required but he would leave that to the Board. He will be here Monday
night to discuss all these matters. Please review the letter and decide if you would like to be a
signatory. Also, carefully review the red-lined copy of the Agreement
currently being negotiated and be prepared with any questions you have so
that our discussion with Attorney Holland can be productive. If you review
this over the weekend and could forward questions to Attorney Holland before
the weekend is over, his email address is: RHolland@k-plaw.com. We would like
to work toward finalizing the Agreements and take a vote on the Borrego
Contracts next Monday, March 31st. 3. Time
Cards/Pay Grades/Personnel Records & FLSA Audit – I have been
auditing the pay records of all three clerks that hold full-time
positions and work as Recording Clerks as well to determine what we owe them
in order to comply with the FLSA standards and to conform with the hourly
rates they should be paid. I should complete the audit and review of time
cards this weekend, and will report in more detail on Monday night. For now,
I want to report that the Board of Health has voted to correct their payment
to reflect the actual hours worked rather than the eight hours pay for each
meeting. The CPC submitted a bill reflecting the Principal Clerk rate. The
Accounting Office, at my direction, reduced payment to the $16.28 Recording
Clerk rate. However, we researched the Personnel Board minutes and the CPC
minutes and Town Meeting records and could not find a record of the CPC
hiring a Clerk, but they have had a Clerk paid at the Principal Clerk rate
back to 2006. Similarly, we can find no Personnel Board records of Personnel
Board discussion of presenting the CPC Recording Clerk at the 2011 Annual
Town Meeting either (see attached report). This means that when the Recording
Clerk and pay rate was approved by the ATM, the CPC had for many years
already been paying at the higher Principal Clerk rate and there was,
apparently, no discussion of a reduction in the pay grade of the CPC's Clerk
before, during or after the Town Meeting action. Denise Bouchard explained to
me that she and Eileen Sheehan, Chairperson of the Personnel Board reviewed
the Personnel Plan and noted that the Recording Clerks for the CPC, Landing
Commission and Finance Committee are not a part of the Plan, so they proposed
to add them. Despite the fact that the CPC and Landing Commission positions
were being paid at Principal Clerk rates, no one questioned the change. Police
offer scholarships for motivated students serious about their education. In
the past, the police union has given preference to college bound students who
are focused in the criminal justice field. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 23,
2014 The Police
Officers of Westport Alliance (POWA), also known as the police officers’
union, is once again seeking applicants who are interested in an annual
scholarship program. Any high school
student who is a resident of the Town of Westport and is planning on
attending a college program in the Fall of 2014 is eligible. “In the past, the police
union has given preference to college bound students who are focused in the
criminal justice field. As always, however, any student may apply who
is committed to furthering their education. We are seeking motivated
students who are serious about their education.” As part of the
scholarship process we may contact school references while making the
decision about any donations. Historically, the police union has made
similar scholarship donations during Awards Night at the Westport High
School. Last year the
police union awarded three $1,000 scholarships to residents who were in
financial need of assistance and headed to college. The police union
is also asking for donations either financially or to donate gift
certificates, or any item that could be used as part of a raffle for another
annual event called the (Westport Police) Sergeant Dan Sullivan Memorial
Scholarship Program. The police union
hosts a yearly golf tournament in honor of Sgt. Sullivan as part of their
fundraising effort. Proceeds from the raffle and golf sponsorships
assist in funding the high school scholarships. Applications for scholarships
can be obtained at either the Westport High School Guidance Office or the
Westport Police Department. Anyone interested
in mailing a donation may send it to Post Office Box 3051, Westport, MA 02790
located at the Adamsville Road US Post Office. Anyone interested
in additional information is asked to contact either Lieutenant John Bell or
Sergeant Chris Dunn at 508.636.1122. The Police
Officers of Westport Alliance Graduating high school seniors from Dartmouth and
Westport eligible for scholarships. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 23,
2014 Graduating high
school seniors from Dartmouth and Westport are urged to apply for a number of
scholarships now available through the Community Foundation of Southeastern
Massachusetts (CFSEMA). Except where
noted below, these scholarships must be applied for online at www.cfsema.org/scholarships.
Students from both Westport and Dartmouth can apply for the following
scholarships: The Freitas-Rebello Fund awards a minimum of a $1,000
scholarship for tuition assistance to students of Portuguese descent
attending an accredited college. Applicants must be residents of the Greater
New Bedford area and enrolled seniors at either Bishop
Stang High School, Dartmouth High School, Fairhaven
High School, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School or
New Bedford High School. The application deadline is April 27. The Thomas S.
Hathaway Scholarship is awarded to students residing in Acushnet, Dartmouth,
Fairhaven, New Bedford, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, or
Westport, who have been accepted or are currently enrolled at Harvard
University. Scholarships are based on financial need and academic excellence.
Awards can range from $350 to $4,100. Current Harvard students should contact
the financial aid office or download an application form later this spring.
The online application deadline is July 5. The Ladies'
Branch of the New Bedford Port Society Scholarship provides scholarships for
the education high school seniors who have one or more of the following:
documented family ties to the sea, have received an acceptance letter from a
Maritime Academy, or will major in maritime science. First consideration is
given to families of descendants of seamen. Applicants must be residents of
New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Marion
or Rochester. Please contact your school's guidance office for details and an
application. The Charles J. Lewin Interfaith Scholarship Fund was established to
provide scholarships to returning students and graduating high school seniors
of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth counties. The fund provides
several scholarships ranging from $700 to $2,000. Scholarships are granted
for one year only, although recipients may reapply annually. The criterion
for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 30% on academics and
20% on personal circumstances. This is an online application process only,
due on April 27. The Samuel and
Solomon Rusitzky Entrepreneurial Education
scholarship was established at the Community Foundation in 2007 by Louis Rusitzky to honor the memory of his father and uncle. The
scholarship seeks to support area workers majoring in an area of business or
in higher education related to their employment attending Bristol Community
College or UMass Dartmouth. Scholarships range up to $1,000. For Dartmouth students only: The Half Marathon
Scholarship awards college scholarships to graduating seniors who are runners
participating in track, cross country or a related interscholastic athletic
program from New Bedford High School, Dartmouth High School and greater New
Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. Scholarship recipients are
selected by the high school coaches and/or athletic directors. Awards can
range from $700 to $1,000. Contact your school's athletic director for
details. The Padanaram Foundation Art Scholarship Fund provides two
$250 scholarships annually to art students at Dartmouth High School. One
scholarship is awarded to a junior to attend a summer art program; the other
is awarded to a graduating senior to attend a two- or four- year post high
school program. Contact the guidance office for details and an application. For Westport students only: The Luther B.
Bowman Scholarship is available to Westport High School graduating seniors
who plan to attend a two- or four-year college, business school, trade
school, secretarial school or a technical school. The scholarship recipients
will be selected by the Westport School Committee. Awards range from $500 to
$3,600. Contact the school's guidance office for details and an application. The Jim Haskins
Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of long-time Lakeville
resident Jim Haskins. Jim was well known in his community as an avid
volunteer, he was active in numerous organizations. The Jim Haskins
Scholarship awards at least one scholarship annually to seniors graduating
from either Apponequet
Regional High School, Bishop Connolly High School, Case High School, Diman High School, Durfee High
School, Somerset High School, and Westport High School. Contact your school's
guidance counselor for details. © 2014 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |