The Song's The Same At Second Charter Hearing

Residents once again voice opposition to giving up their right to vote directly on budget, other issues at Open Town Meeting.

While the number of participants was slightly lower, the second public hearing on proposed changes to the Town Charter bore a striking resemblance to the first, one week earlier. Just over 30 residents turned out at Town Hall for the second hearing, hosted by the Board of Selectmen, on Feb. 7. A vast majority of the residents who spoke steadfastly maintained their opposition to replacing Open Town Meeting with a nine-member Town Council form of government, as recommended by the Special Act Charter Committee. However, many expressed thanks to the members of the SACC for their hard work over the past two-plus years. And many acknowledged that Tewksbury's Open Town Meeting structure was flawed. But they said needed repair, rather than …

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Residents: Don't Get Rid Of Town Meeting

More than 60 residents pack Town Hall Auditorium for hearing on Town Charter proposal.

More than a dozen residents, including many who sit on town boards and committees, spoke at a public hearing Tuesday night regarding proposed changes to the Town Charter. Most delivered the same message: Open Town Meeting may need fixing but abandoning it in favor of a town council is not the way to do it. Perhaps the most poignant words of the evening were spoken by resident Jae Gray, who said her first experience in politics involved Thomas Dewey -- not when he ran for president in 1948 but when he ran for governor of New York. "In all these years, I've realized the importance of voting," she said. "And switching to a town council from an open town meeting means I will be doing less voting." Kevin Donnelly, past chairman of the Finance …

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billvill

9:56 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Sun's take: http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19866757?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com   more ›

2012 Tewksbury Municipal Election

Possible Four-Man Race For Board of Selectmen

Ken Miano takes out nomination papers, joining incumbents David Gay and Scott Wilson and challenger Ed Sullivan.

It's looking like a four-man (at least) battle is brewing in the race for two seats on the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen. Ken Miano became the latest candidate to take out nomination papers, joining challenger Ed Sullivan and incumbents David Gay and Scott Wilson. Also taking out papers this week was incumbent Shawsheen Tech School Committee member Peter Downing. He is seeking re-election to a three-year term. Chris Castiglione has pulled papers for a three-year seat on the Library Board of Trustees. Incumbents Patricia Pino and Paul Fortunato are up for re-election but neither has pulled papers as yet. The School Committee race remains uncontested, as incumbent Dennis Francis and challenger Jamey Cutelis, chairman of the High School …

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Compare/Contrast Charter Document Released By Selectmen (POLL)

Document was prepared by Selectwoman Anne-Marie Stronach and Selectman Scott Wilson.

Attached you will find a printable PDF version of a Powerpoint presentation on the recommendations and report of the Special Act Charter Committee. This document was prepared by Selectwoman Anne-Marie Stronach and Selectman Scott Wilson as a primer for residents in advance of the public hearings scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. The stated purpose of the document is to provide a comprehensive but easy to understand report on the work of the SACC and their findings relating to three different forms of town government. Hard copies of this document are available at Town Hall, the Senior Center and the Public Library.

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Live Blog: Lunch With ... Selectmen Scott Wilson

Join the conversation and ask questions of the chairman of the Special Act Charter Committee.

Welcome to our Lunch With ... Selectman Scott Wilson. This is the first in a weekly series of live chats with community leaders and people making news in Tewksbury. And the best part? You get to participate. Log in and join the conversation. Ask questions and make comments. Remember, keep things tasteful and respectful. Vulgar or libelous comments will not be posted.

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Bill Gilman

7:31 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dan, as Shaun mentioned we did post on the site and on facebook and twitter. I'm planning on this being a weekly feature. right now the plan is for every Wednesday, 12-1 p.m. We'll definitely give folks a heads up as it comes close, because we'd love to have as much participation as possible. We've got commitments from several folks to participate as guests.   more ›

Sullivan To Challenge Gay, Wilson For Board Of Selectmen

Sill plenty of time for candidates to step forward during nomination period.

A battle is brewing for the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen as three candidates have taken out nomination papers for two available seats. Selectmen David Gay and Scott Wilson are both up for re-election and both settled any question as to their plans by taking out nomination papers on the first day. They have now been joined by Edward Sullivan. You may recall that Sullivan was part of a spirited thre-way battle for selectman in 2011. That race was eventually won by incunbent Doug Sears≥ For Board of Health, incumbents Edward Sheehan and Mary Ellen Fernald have both taken out nomination papers, as has Kathleen Brothers. Brothers was defeated in a bid for the BOH last spring. Dennis Francis has taken out papers to run for re-election to the …

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(UPDATED) Selectmen Schedule Public Hearings on Proposed Charter Changes

Two hearings scheduled. Board remains divided over emotional issue.

(Editor's Note: At 2 p.m., we added new documents relating to the proposed charter changes, provided by SACC Chairman Scott Wilson. These include the most recent version of the proposed charter, an index and a sheet comparing the existing charter with the proposed new document.) By a 3-2 vote, the Board of Selectmen approved a motion to schedule a pair of public hearings to discuss the changes to the Town Charter being proposed by the Special Act Charter Committee (SACC). The hearings are scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The hearings will be broadcast on public access television. Selectmen Doug Sears and David Gay, who have been steadfast in their opposition to abandoning the Open Town Meeting form of government in …

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Karyn

12:31 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012

Bob K.....it is SO nice to hear your voice of reason again. Only wish this issue would "re-activate" you on Town matters (though I'm sure your blood pressure has dropped a few points since you left!) Rest assured you are missed. I read your piece in the Crier and it was noteworthy...hope it is shared on this website. I too see the similarities drawn between this and past issues. I totally agree …   more ›

Selectmen Won't Schedule Special Town Meeting On Charter Changes ... Yet

Board instead votes to schedule two public hearings on the proposed charter changes in January.

It's rare when the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen is genuinely divided on an issue. But such was the case last night _at Town Hall,_ regarding the issue of_ proposed changes to the Town Charter._ The board voted, 3-2, against a motion to set a tentative date in March for a Special Town Meeting for the purpose of considering changes to the charter. The motion had been _made by Chairman Todd Johnson_ and was supported by Selectman Scott Wilson, who also serves as chairman of the Special Act Charter Committee, which is recommending the proposed changes. Johnson expressed concerns that denying the request by the SACC to schedule a Special Town Meeting after nearly two years of work might discourage residents from participating on such committees…

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Charter Committee Presents Report, 'Final' Draft Of Proposed Changes

Selectmen take no action yet on SACC request to schedule Special Town Meeting.

It's out there. Now what? That's the question facing the Tewksbury Board of Selectmen now that the Special Act Charter Committee has submitted its final report and "final" draft of_ proposed changes to the Town Charter (see PDF attachment). The SACC presented its findings at Tuesday night's BOS meeting, along with a request that selectmen schedule a Special Town Meeting to give Tewksbury residents the chance to vote on the proposed changes. Selectmen unanimously voted to table that decision pending further discussion. Highlights of the SACC recommendations include: "We really wanted to minimize the number of changes from what we have now to what we might have in the future," said Selectman Scott Wilson, who serves as chairman of the SACC. …

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