Water rates will not increase in FY20...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 20, 2019 By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — Water Superintendent Mark Clark had good news to share with the Select Board Monday night on his recommendation for the town’s water rates for FY20. Water rates will remain the same as the current year. Clark explained to the board during the annual required public hearing to set the water rates for the coming year that there is no need to increase the water rates because they have healthy reserve funds that had been built up over the past several years in anticipation of the possible transition to the MWRA rates had the town needed to stick with that plan if the Andover plan did not materialize. But one year after the two towns agreed to the 99-year lease and with North Reading’s transition...

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Town meeting wraps up its business...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 20, 2019 By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — This year’s installment of the Annual Town Meeting June 10 moved along quite efficiently as the 121 voters present dispensed with all 29 articles in just under two hours. With the exception of the general bylaw change to create a plastic bag ban at retail checkouts in town under Article 27, there was little debate concerning the bulk of the town’s business for FY20. As reported in last week’s Transcript, the bag ban carried on a voice vote following a spirited 50-minute discussion. It is due to go into effect Jan. 1, 2020 as a delayed implementation will enable retailers to go through their stock. The town’s operating budget was voted under Article 15 in two separate motions: The first motion was approved by...

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NORCAM to hold annual meeting amid threats to local access TV...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 20, 2019 By MICHAEL GEOFFRION SCANNELL NORTH READING — NORCAM will hold its Annual Meeting next Thursday, June 27 at 6 p.m. in the NORCAM Studio at the Damon Tavern, across from the Flint Memorial Library, in the midst of real risks to continued local television. The purpose of this meeting is for members to elect the organization’s Board of Directors for the upcoming year, discuss recent accomplishments, and plans and goals for the future, including lurking dangers facing all local access TV. Anyone interested who is not a current member is welcome to join. NORCAM, or North Reading Cable Access and Media, is PEG (Public, Educational and Government) access television that provides equipment, training, facilities and channel air time to members of the community-at-large. According to NORCAM Executive Director Rob Carbone,...

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SC: Schools have a great leader in Tremblay...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 19, 2019 By DAN TOMASELLO LYNNFIELD — The School Committee commended Superintendent Jane Tremblay’s job performance during a June 11 meeting. As part of the state-mandated educator evaluation, School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman recently distributed evaluation forms for committee members to use in order to evaluate Tremblay’s job performance. After collecting each member’s evaluation, Hayman created an evaluation instrument that gave an overview of Tremblay’s job performance. Hayman noted former School Committee member Dorothy Presser completed an evaluation form as well as newly-elected member Stacy Dahlstedt. “The consensus on the School Committee is that we are very fortunate to have a superintendent of the caliber of Mrs. Tremblay,” said Hayman. Summative evaluation In the summative evaluation component of the job review, the School Committee gave Tremblay a proficient rating. “Proficient practice is...

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Library kicks off Summer Reading Thursday...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 19, 2019 By AVA FIGUCIA LYNNFIELD – The Lynnfield Public Library’s “A Universe of Stories” encourages children to read this summer through attending group events and setting personal reading goals. The theme of this year’s Summer Reading program, “A Universe of Stories,” is sponsored by the Lynnfield Public Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The program events run from June 24 to August 16. To kickoff the summer, the library is hosting a read-a-thon on Thursday, June 20 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The read-a-thon offers 20-minute slots for people to read books, magazines or graphic novels from personal collections or from the library. People may sign up for as many 20-minute sessions as they choose by contacting the Circulation Desk or...

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SC honors system’s retiring educators...

Jun 20, 2019 by

Published June 19, 2019 By DAN TOMASELLO LYNNFIELD — The School Committee honored seven retiring teachers on June 11. High school special education teacher Andrea Knight, Huckleberry Hill School physical education teacher Mary Robertson and elementary reading specialist Mary Vardaro appeared at the school board’s meeting in order to be recognized. Middle school physical education teacher Elisa Burns, high school English teacher Sue Carroll, seventh grade English teacher Gail Piccinni and Lynnfield High Math Department Head Marylou Sambatakos were unable to attend the meeting due to scheduling conflicts. “These teachers have over 160 combined years of dedication to Lynnfield Public Schools,” said School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman. “It’s always nice to recognize teachers who have been here and have dedicated themselves to kids and families.” Superintendent Jane Tremblay agreed. “I would like to thank...

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