LONGTIME PLANNING BOARD CHAIRMAN NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION?
Candidates have until 5 p.m., this afternoon to submit their nomination papers, but it appears longtime Planning Board Chairman Wayne Smith will not seek reelection. Smith has not made an official announcement; however as of Monday at noon he had not pulled nomination papers. Instead there may be a 3-way race for that seat. Russell Lane resident Richard Shepherd has submitted nomination papers, along with Michelle Kearney, of Adams Street, and John Warner, of Highland Road. Smith, who is known as the smiling face often manning the Abington Lions grill at community events, is believed to currently be the town’s longest serving elected official, having been on the Planning Board for more than four decades. The Planning Board itself has not had a new member since 2014, with each member successfully running for reelection at least once.
ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE THIS SUNDAY
It looks like Mother Nature and the pandemic is going to cooperate this coming weekend to help welcome back the Abington St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade starts at 1 p.m. in Abington Center and will proceed down Washington Streetm turn on Adams, and finish up in North Abington Center. The last two editions were quasi-cancelled, with St. Patrick secretly making the annual voyage accompanied by a few close friends and family members.
DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS LOCKDOWN
The Abington High School Drama Club will present a one-act play titled LOCKDOWN this Thursday and Friday. The production looks at what goes through a high school student’s mind during a lockdown situation during class. The club advises that the production contains strong language and mature subject matter and isn’t recommended for younger students. Performances start at 7 p.m., in the HS auditorium and tickets are $5.
SUMMER STREET 40B HEARING THURSDAY
No St. Patrick’s Day reveling for the Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday. Instead they’ll get elbows deep in the review process for the 40B development off Summer Street. WP East Acquisitions wants to build 236 units on eight acres next to the MBTA commuter rail station. The units would be located in three 4-story buildings. The zoning board is working with a consultant specializing in 40B for the technical review. Because less than 10 percent of Abington’s housing stock is considered “affordable,” the town doesn’t have much latitude to demand concessions from the developer.
AMES NOWELL COMMITTEE TO MEET
The group charged with putting together a strategy to improve Ames Nowell State Park will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. to review a draft of its final report. The committee formed three years ago but held limited meetings during the pandemic. It hopes to finish up its work soon, make its recommendations to state officials, and switch to an advocacy phase.
BENEFIT FUND SET UP FOR FAMILY OF COHASSET OFFICER, ABINGTON RESIDENT
A fund has been set up to benefit the family of Mark Jenkins, a Cohasset police officer who died unexpectedly last week. Jenkins lived with his wife, Maria, and daughter in Abington. The fund has so far raised more than $37,000.
RECENTLY BROADCAST ON ACAM
Planning Board 3/7 – https://youtu.be/mGOE2XGSyk4
Conservation Commission 3/8 – https://youtu.be/MuY2uACJEiQ
Affordable Housing Trust 3/8 – https://youtu.be/F87ErZaSwYo
Finance Committee 3/9 – https://youtu.be/v1de3JZoqb0
Zoning Board of Appeals 3/10 – https://youtu.be/Xa4jxewKosY
Charter Review Committee 3/10 – https://youtu.be/Okxzczm-y30
Town Manager’s Corner w/ Jolanta Briffett – https://youtu.be/coh7SyUpzUo
MEETINGS
MONDAY
Griffin’s Dairy Farm Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on the community gardens, an upcoming work day, and an update on capital projects
Board of Health, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes announcements from the Health Department and a review of microblading regulations.
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes possibly reopening the Town Meeting warrant to add articles, reviewing articles already on the warrant, and welcoming new police officers Vanessa Miranda and Raymond Emery.
TUESDAY
Open Space Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions on the town’s Open Space plan, the Center School property, and possible conservation land off Diane Circle.
Council on Aging, 6 p.m., Senior Center. Agenda includes a report from the director, and a discussion about TRIAD.
WEDNESDAY
Housing Authority, 6 p.m., 71 Shaw Ave. Agenda includes a report from the chief executive, and approval of bills and meeting minutes.
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a review of the FY ‘23 budget and recommendations for Town Meeting warrant articles.
Ames Nowell Master Plan Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on park conditions and a review of the draft master plan.
THURSDAY
Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Only agenda item is the 40B proposed off Summer Street