Special Town Meeting, Monday, Nov. 30th, 7:00 pm

Articles for Special Town Meeting, 11/30/2009

Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $47.58 from the Town Report account to the Prior Year Bills account for the purpose of paying a prior year Cemetery bill, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $75.00 from the Town Report account to the Prior Year Bills account for the purpose of paying a prior year Police Department Expenses bill, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $18.76 from the Town Report account to the Prior Year Bills account for the purpose of paying a prior year EMS bill, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $50,199 from Free Cash for the purpose of paying the FY10 budget shortfall as a result of the reduction in State Aid, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: Approved Disapproved √ No Action

Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $54,340.82 from Free Cash for the purpose of paying the FY09 deficit created by the unreimbursed costs of the December 11, 2008 ice storm, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $750 from the Collector Expenses account to the Assistant Collector Wages account for the purpose of paying assistant collector wages, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: Approved √ Disapproved No Action

Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to approve the Treasurer’s borrowing in anticipation of State Aid for an amount not to exceed $495,000 that has been approved by the Department of Revenue Emergency Board, for the purpose of paying bills and payroll, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: Approved √ Disapproved No Action

Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to rescind its May 5, 2007 Annual Town Meeting vote on Article 24 allocating the sum of $142,025.40 from the Stabilization Fund to pay for the Town’s portion of a Small Town Road Assistance grant pursuant to 720 CMR 11:00 contingent on receipt of said grant, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $500.00 from the Town Report account to the Highway Regular Overtime account for the purpose of paying Highway overtime wages, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $2,930 from Free Cash to the Technology and Systems account for the purpose of paying for computer equipment and services, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $5,900 from Free Cash to the Highway Wages account for the purpose of paying highway wages, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: Approved Disapproved √ No Action

Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to accept Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 143, Section 3Z allowing a part-time building inspector to perform construction work in the town in which he is inspector, or take any action thereon.

Finance Committee action: √ Approved Disapproved No Action

H1N1 Flu Vaccination Dec. 3rd for Priority Groups

Please follow this link or paste the web address into your browser to view the notice. This vaccination clinic is restricted to high priority groups.

http://ci.ashby.ma.us/boardofhealth/ashby%20clinic%20info.pdf

Clinic to be held Dec. 3rd at Ashby Elementary School from 4:00 - 7:00 pm.

Selectmen's Agenda for November 24th

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, November 24, 2009


1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of November 10, 2009

3. Selectmen Approve and Sign Payroll Warrant W21P in the amount of $43,587.77 and Vendor Warrant 22B in the amount of $116,910.14

4. 7:15 p.m. – Selectmen hold Tax Rate Hearing (Harald Scheid)

5. Request for Selectmen’s Granting of Exemption for Police Officer Fred Alden from MGL 268A, Sections 19(b)(1) and 20(h)

6. Request for Selectmen’s Input on Boundaries of the Proposed Sewer District (Alan Pease)

7. Request for Selectmen’s Consideration of Lowering Liquor License Fees (Bill Arnold)

8. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on 2010 Class II and Class III Motor Vehicle License Renewals and accompanying Conditions for P&S Trucks & Parts, Inc.

9. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on 2010 Motor Vehicle License Renewals (including Class II Conditions) for:

v B&Z Enterprises Class II
v Tip Top Motors Class II
v Tracy’s Auto Body and Sales Class II

10. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Letter of Engagement to Melanson Heath Auditors

11. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of Resignation of Linda Sanders as Town Administrator effective December 31, 2009

12. Request for Selectmen’s Acceptance of Resignation of Florence Bryan from the Ashby Historical Commission effective December 31, 2009

13. Town Administrator’s Report

14. Public Comments (if any)

15. Adjourn

Public Auction of Real Estate Taken for Taxes

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN OF ASHBY
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER
NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION

To Whom It May Concern:

You are hereby notified that:
Real estate taxes levied by the Town of Ashby remain due and unpaid upon the following parcels of property:

Parcel: Fort Hill Rd, Map 11, Parcel 126, Lot 0; 0.47 acres
Former Owner(s): Richards, Phillip
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 32896, P 165
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $2,500.00

Parcel: Fort Hill Rd, Map 11, Parcel 121, Lot 0; 0.05 acres
Former Owner(s): Brown, Ruth
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 31112, P 394

Parcel: Spring Hill Rd, Map 11, Parcel 122, Lot 0; 0.23 acres
Former Owner(s): Brown, Ruth
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 31112, P 395
The above two parcels will be auctioned together. Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $2,000.00

Parcel: Fort Hill Rd, Map 11, Parcel 125, Lot 0; 0.44 acres
Former Owner(s): Brown, Ruth
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 31112, P 396
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $2,000.00

Parcel: Turnpike Rd, Map 5, Parcel 88, Lot 0; 1.100 acres
Former Owner(s): Foote Construction Co.
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 46144, P 452
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $1,000.00

Parcel: Lower Wright Pond, Map 14, Parcel 23, Lot 0; 0.15 acres
Former Owner(s): Ethier, Jeremy.
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 50380, P 144
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $600.00


Parcel: Lower Wright Pond, Map 14, Parcel 25, Lot 0; 0.19 acres
Former Owner(s): Ethier, Jeremy.
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 50380, P 145
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $600.00


Parcel: Lower Wright Pond, Map 14, Parcel 33, Lot0; 0.28 acres
Former Owner(s): Ethier, Jeremy
Instrument of Taking: Middlesex S.D. Reg. Deeds B 50380, P 146
Minimum bid approved by the Board of Selectmen: $600.00


Buyers should be aware that the Town of Ashby does not warranty or guarantee these properties to be in conformity with existing zoning by-laws or other applicable codes or regulations. The Treasurer is selling the properties “as is”.

Under the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 60, §77B, on Saturday, December 12, 2009
at 10:00 a.m., at Town Hall, the Treasurer of the Town of Ashby will conduct a public auction for the purpose of assigning the Town’s tax title in and to the above-referenced parcel of land to the highest bidder provided that the Treasurer may reject any bid which she deems inadequate.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
1. The successful bidder at said auction shall be required to deposit with the Town Treasurer a security deposit in the form of a Bank check in the amount of $500.00 at the time of auction, payable to the Town of Ashby
2. The balance will be due and payable to the Town Treasurer via a Bank check within 14 days from the date of the auction.
3. Failure to pay the balance in full within 14 days from the date of the auction will result in the forfeiture of the sale.
4. A $125 Bank check made payable to the Commonwealth of MA / Middlesex County Registry of Deeds is required for the recording of the Treasurer’s Deed.
5. The successful bidder shall pay Pro Forma Taxes at the closing, which would be calculated from the closing date through the end of Fiscal Year 2010.
Upon receipt of the full bid amount, the Treasurer shall execute and deliver on behalf of the Town an appropriate instrument assigning the subject tax title.


Dated:________ _____________________________________
Kate Stacy, Treasurer

Flu Clinic Finder, Seasonal & H1N1

Links to the Flu Clinic locators on this site are provided as a public service to assist individuals in finding vaccine clinics. The Town of Ashby does not control nor can it verify the information provided by these sites.

Please note that some flu clinic locations may only be providing vaccines to specific priority populations like pregnant women or small children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines on who should get seasonal influenza, here, and on who should get the H1N1 vaccination, here. Check with your healthcare provider about which vaccine is appropriate for you. 

Massachusetts Public Flu Clinic Finder, public clinics only

Google Flu Clinic Finder, includes both public and commercial clinics

American Lung Association Flu Clinic Finder, appears to be similar to the Google Finder.

For more Information go to http://www.flu.gov/
If links in this feed do not work go to www.ci.ashby.ma.us and follow links there.

Special Town Meeting 11/30/09 at 7:00 pm

A Special Town Meeting is called for November 30, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Elementary school. Warrant

Selectmen's Agenda for November 10th

SELECTMEN’S MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

1. 7:00 p.m. - Selectmen Open Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

2. Selectmen Approve Minutes of October 28, 2009

3. Selectmen Approve and Sign Payroll Warrant W19P in the amount of $37,170.94, Payroll Warrant W19P1 in the amount of $1,165.00 and Vendor Warrant 20B in the amount of $678,843.07

4. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $112.20 to the Finance Committee Expenses Account

5. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signature on Request for Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $25.81 to the Historical Commission Expenses Account

6. Request for Selectmen’s Approval and Signatures on ABCC Liquor Licenses Renewal Forms

7. Request for Selectmen’s Signatures on November 30, 2009 Special Town Meeting Masters (5)

8. Request for Selectmen’s Signature on Letter to the DHCD to comply with the Additional Special Condition to Accomplish Energy Efficiencies and Own Cost Savings

9. Request for Selectmen to set December 1, 2009 as Closing Date for Police Chief Applications (Police Chief Search Committee)

10. Request for Selectmen’s Exemption of Police Officer Fred Alden Pursuant to MGL Chapter 268A, Section 20 by Appointing him as a Special Municipal Employee to allow him to be a Voting Member of the Police Chief Search Committee (Fred Alden)

11. Request for Selectmen’s Input on Revisiting obtaining the Engineering Plan for Tying Town Hall’s Failed Septic into the Elementary School’s Septic (Bruce Adams)

12. Selectmen Update on Right of Way to Jones Hill Road Tax Title Property (Andrew Leonard)

13. Request for Selectmen’s Discussion on Minimum Bids for the 8 Parcels to be Auctioned (Kate Stacy)

14. Selectmen Update on Two Portable Classrooms available from North Middlesex School District (Linda Sanders)

15. Town Administrator’s Report

16. Public Comments (if any)

17. Adjourn

Highway Department Job Openings

The Highway Department is seeking applicants for the following positions:

Equipment Operator/Truck Driver/Laborer

Equipment Operator/Laborer during the winter months

Job Description

Applications must be received by the Highway Department by 11/23/2009 at 3:30 pm.

Draft Open Space Plan, Comments Needed

The draft plan is based on comments received at a public forum on June 15, 2009. We are now taking comments on this draft with special focus on the sections on the Goals and Objectives and the Five Year Action Plan.

A second public hearing will be held on December 1, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Ashby Town Hall, first floor to hear additional input. Comments can be emailed to landuse@ci.ashby.ma.us or sent by mail to Land Use Agent, 895 Main St., Ashby, MA 01431.

All files in pdf format.

Draft Open Space Plan, complete with maps, 5.4 MB

Draft Open Space Plan text only no maps, 425 KB

It's Up to You to Stop the Flu

Northeast Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council (NERAC)
As millions of Massachusetts children and teenagers returned to school this month, at the start of a serious flu season, the Northeast Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council (NERAC) has an important health message: "It's Up to You to Stop the Flu."

Funded by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant, this public information campaign provides ways to stay healthier, including:

-- Get the flu shot
-- Wash your hands or sanitize often
-- Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your sleeve
-- Stay home when sick
-- don't bring the flu bug to work or school.