The tax increment finance agreement says that if Hamilton Storage leaves before the decade is up, the agreement ends and the next tenant will pay the normal rate.
"The benefit is that they are going to double their staff size," Councilor Matt Kelly said. "We're going to give them a little break, and those people are going to shop out of our stores, eat at our restaurants and stay at our hotels."
The deal is part of the town's economic development incentive plan to attract businesses such as Hamilton to the Forge Park area. The tax on the land itself, 3 Forge Park, won't change, but improvements to that land, such as buildings, will be taxed at a lower level initially and gradually rise over the 10 years, at the end of which the company would pay normal taxes.
"I think it's a good thing for our community," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, noting potential jobs and business brought to area hotels and restaurants through clients of the company. "What we lose in property tax, we hopefully will recover in hotel tax and meals tax."
 Charles River Watershed Association | ||||||
We have some some very exciting news to share: the Charles River is the 2011 winner of the International Riverprize, the world’s largest and most prestigious environmental award! The International RiverFoundation’s (IRF) Thiess International Riverprize, is awarded for visionary and sustainable excellence in river management. In the world of river management, this is akin to winning the World Series and it was made possible through the engagement, cooperation and hard work of hundreds of partners at the federal, state, local and grassroots levels, including: U.S. EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Conservation Law Foundation, universities, local boards and conservation commissions, engaged citizens, businesses, land trusts, river users, and all of you! This is a trophy for all of us who live and work in the communities that comprise the Charles watershed, and for everyone who loves this river.
CRWA's Executive Director Bob Zimmerman, Deputy Director Margaret VanDeusen, and Director of Projects Kate Bowditch accepted the award at the 14th International River Symposium in Brisbane, Australia earlier today. CRWA will receive a grant to share its river restoration expertise with a river organization in a developing nation. In 1965, when CRWA was founded, the Charles was an open sewer: tetanus shots and antibiotics were standard treatment for anyone unfortunate enough to fall in. Today, the Charles is heralded as the cleanest urban river in the United States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Riverprize recognizes and rewards this rejuvenation. International River Foundation CEO Matthew Reddy says "Charles River should be congratulated for their achievement; it joins the ranks of iconic rivers like the Thames, Danube and Mekong.” CRWA will use the prize money to continue to improve and protect the health of the Charles through fisheries restoration, water-sensitive design, and development of tools and practical solutions to watershed problems, including the growing problem of nutrients carried by stormwater to the river. Join us to celebrate this achievment and honor John DeVillars this Friday, September 30th at the Champions of the Charles gala at the Harry Parker Boathouse, Community Rowing, Brighton. To purchase tickets click here or call Alexandra Ash at 781-788-0007 x 200. | ||||||
| The River Current is published monthly (or as needed) by Charles River Watershed Association. CRWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dependent on philanthropic support. Editor: Alexandra Ash, aash@crwa.org Mailing address: CRWA, 190 Park Road, Weston, MA 02493 Phone: 781-788-0007 Fax: 781-788-0057 Web: www.charlesriver.org | ||||||
Mary Beth Frasermotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
Janet Norman
Judith Needell
Judith Prueitt-Prentice
Nancy Colemanmotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
Paula Mullenmotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
Following a salary freeze two years ago, raises for last year remained at zero, while raises for this year go up 1 percent at the beginning and 0.5 percent on the last day of the contract.
Negotiations for a new contract will have to begin soon, school officials said, but School Committee members say they are upbeat. Union leadership, they said, seems committed to a less confrontational approach than in the past.
"There is agreement by both sides to review the salary structure," School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said.
"It represents closure for me and a move away from the negotiation table," committee member William Glynn said of the brief hiatus between negotiations. "We don't often talk about the deep-seated problems, the systemic problems."
But the budget cuts that took effect July 1 caused the department to drop from 10 on-duty firefighters to nine. Three firefighters are left in the King Street station on a fire engine, but everyone else has been moved into the downtown station, which, Allen said, has caused problems already.
"Am I concerned? Absolutely. I continue to advocate the best system is an ambulance and an engine in each fire station," Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said at the Sept. 14 Town Council meeting. "We can't afford that right now, and we're doing the best we can with what we've got."
At that meeting, McCarraher said response times could be delayed, but he does not have conclusive evidence yet after going through less than two months of data.
"The simple, brass tacks are we have been cut year after year," Allen said. "We need the public to know that we are having a difficult time helping them."
