Town voters will get to settle three races at the ballot box on April 30.
There are three competitive races this year: School Committee, Planning Board, and Board of Health.
Pond Street resident Nicole Emery is challenging Danielle Grafton, of Mountain Laurel Lane, for a seat on the School Committee. Grafton is going for her second term on that board.
With longtime Planning Board Chairman Wayne Smith deciding to retire after nearly 50 (!) years, a three-way race has emerged for that 5-year position. Former board member Richard Shepherd, of Russell Lane, is running, as is Highland Road resident John Warner, and Adams Street resident Michelle Kearney.
And there’s three people running for a pair of 3-year seats on the Board of Health. Current Chairman Aaron Christian, of High Street, is seeking re-election. Jami Pinola, of Loganberry Drive, and Katie Vannest, of Colonial Road are also running.
All other candidates are unchallenged. Clay Kelly, of Jean Carol Road, will take the 2-year Board of Health seat, and Liza Bezanson, of Randolph Street, will take the 1-year Board of Health seat.
Abington News will be conducting Questions of The Week for the contested races. Email ideas for questions to abingtonnews@gmail.com
TOWN MEETING ON APRIL 4
Abington’s legislative body will gather Monday, April 4 to debate the budget, proposed zoning changes, consider capital spending, and other needs.
The Special Town Meeting agenda (which usually deals with issues that need to be resolved this fiscal year) includes requests to pay $580,000 in snow removal costs, allow the Fire Station Building Committee to study the public works yard as a possible building site, and spent $40,000 from Community Preservation Act funds to repair the exedra (the momument in the middle of the rotary on Gliniewicz Way).
The Annual Town Meeting (which typically handles matters for the fiscal year that starts July 1) includes discussions about the town operating budget, the capital budget, more community preservation projects, and zoning changes. The warrant is just 18 articles long, making it one of the briefest in recent memory.
The Finance Committee has discussed the budget and each of the articles in detail in recent weeks.
March 9 Finance Committee meeting
March 17 Finance Committee meeting
SUMMER STREET 40B BEFORE CONCOM TUESDAY
The 268-unit 40B proposed for the land next to the MBTA commuter rail station will make an appearance before the Conservation Commission Tuesday night. While the zoning board typically handles all local permitting needs for 40B projects, they still need to seek out approval from the Conservation Commission, which enforces state environmental protection rules. The 80-acre parcel off Summer Street has some wetlands on it. A previous housing development proposed for the site planned on replicating areas of wetland elsewhere on the property. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., at Town Hall.
RECENT MEETINGS AND ACAM SHOWS
Municipal meetings (March 14-17) and video coverage links produced and provided by Abington Community Access & Media.
Board of Health 3/14 https://youtu.be/yGDvgpkpvS0
Board of Selectmen 3/14 https://youtu.be/Iwf9n2hTvYc
ACAM Board of Directors 3/15 https://youtu.be/5Wgh1Qwp9wY
Ames Nowell Master Planning Committee 3/16 https://youtu.be/axAB9-tvyGY
Finance Committee 3/16 https://youtu.be/CSo4L-9HRdM
Zoning Board of Appeals 3/17 https://youtu.be/R3YOmaQr80s
Town Manager’s Corner feat. Sonia Hodge, Finance Director & Treasurer-Collector https://youtu.be/HrQTueZZYQM
MEETINGS
TUESDAY
Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about the Summer Street 40B, 75 Dale Street, 154 Brockton Avenue, and the Central Street bridge.
School Committee, 7 p.m., M/HS Library. Agenda includes reports from the superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions on any special or annual town meeting warrant articles, as needed.
Parks & Recreation, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an update on summer programs and the Beaver Brook Playground.
THURSDAY
Beaver Brook Playground Committee, 7 p.m., 350 Summer Street. Agenda includes a discussion on fundraising activities, and meeting with ChildScapes on a design for the playground.