Author Archive

When is a “Cut” Not a Cut via email from “Do The Math Man”. Marlborough’s BOE mobilized its political allies (including the leadership of the Democratic Town Committee) and parents to vote “no” on the town budget on May 11th. In the course of this campaign they cited “draconian” cuts and the detrimental effect...
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Did anyone notice that the sign in the center of town still has the May 11th date on it for the Town Meeting? Wouldn’t you have thought that it would have been updated by now to reflect the June 1st date for the next vote? Why the delay in updating the sign? After the...
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Survey of tax increases for neighboring towns. Marlborough 3.56% Glastonbury 2.5% Lebanon 2.09% Hebron 1.2% Colchester 1.13% East Hampton 0.38% Andover 0% If all else stays the same, the tax increase will be 5.75 to 7.25% for the 2010 (next years) budget vote. If we assume this year’s 3.56% passes and next year’s increase...
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The Marlborough Board of Education has approved a budget for the 2009/2010 year. The budget totaling $6,996,117.00 was passed unanimously. Dr Sal Menzo announced he received a letter of resignation from a teacher on 5/18/09. By replacing the experienced teacher with a new teacher the BOE expects to save $20,600 a year. Additionally by...
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Via email from “Cut The Budget” Can’t Blame Parents I think that the worst thing that has come of the budget debate in Marlborough is the way the BOE and its supporters have torn the community apart to achieve a purely political goal.  It’s very important to realize that the BOE wanted an additional...
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Via email from the “Education Mom”. Hello- I am confused by this website, but, I would like to post this to all the readers. I would love to hear their input. Is that possible or do I just have to comment? If so, I don’t know where to comment. I don’t agree with extreme...
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Special Board of Education Meeting – Monday, May 18, 2009 6:00 p.m. Choral Room This special meeting is scheduled for the Board of Education to discuss the revised budget decided upon by the Board of Finance at its meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.  The revised Board of Finance budget provides for an additional...
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Unfortunately due to a simple math error made by the BOF, the decrease in the tax increase I reported on last night has been rescinded. The 0.23% decrease in the increase in taxes is no more.  The tax increase is now back up to 3.56%. The increase in BOE funding of an additional $20,000...
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The Marlborough Board of Finance on a 4 to 2 vote approved a new town budget to be presented to the town for vote on June 1st. By decreasing the Board of Finance’s undesignated reserve account from 7.5% to 7.4% the board was able to move $20,000 to the Board of Education budget and...
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Letter to the Editor from Mike Appleton. I would like to first thank the BOF for its tireless and largely unappreciated efforts this year. On Monday, it was quite clear that roughly 50% of the Town was in favor of your proposed budget. Of the 50% opposed, roughly 2/3 of the voters, (120 people)...
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Dear Mr. Clarke: Needless to say, I and other Board of Finance members are disappointed in the budget defeat. This budget process has been the most difficult in all my years on the BOF; primarily due to the economic downturn and resulting economic hardships. Tomorrow the Board of Finance is holding its May meeting beginning...
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Posted by the editor for Kenneth Hjulstrom Originally the Board of Finance had asked the Board of Education to reduce its budget by $350,000 and the Board of Education indicated that such a reduction would cause them to reduce teaching staff in the upper grades and to increase class sizes.  This drew a lot...
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I have been asked if I would do a website poll. I have given this great thought and I have run polls on other websites I run. I don’t think it is appropriate in the setting.  For one and the major reason is many senior citizens are not internet savvy. I don’t think a...
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Subject: BOF Input – Poll the Residents about the Revised Budget Dear BOF Members:  Please forward on to Cathi Gaudinski and other BOF members  - I don’t have their e-mail address. I read on Bob Clarke’s blog that during the special BOF meeting on Monday 5/11 the BOF was reading and categorizing the comments that residents wrote...
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Yesterday, the 11th of May, the day of the town vote, this website received over 1,500 unique hits. For a town the size of Marlborough this is incredible traffic. I will continue to provide timely Marlborough related info via these pages. If you have factual information you’d like out there, feel free to email...
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