PFAS in the drinking water. Local taxes and spending. Zoning and development. Union contracts. Improving town ballfields. A location for a new fire station. Road paving projects.
These are a few of our favorite things to discuss, kvetch, complain, and argue about. And they will all be up for debate one week from tonight at the Special and Annual Town Meetings.
The meetings will start at 7 p.m., on Monday, April 4, in the Middle/High School auditorium.
Here’s the warrant (agenda) for the Special Town Meeting.
Here’s the warrant (agenda) for the Annual Town Meeting.
Moderator Shawn Reilly and Abington Community Access & Media has produced a Town Meeting preview video
There’s also a number of Finance Committee meetings from the past couple months available on YouTube.
Abington News will publish its own Town Meeting preview later this week.
SELECTMEN TO DISCUSS LOWERING QUORUM MONDAY NIGHT
Towns are still allowed under a pandemic-related state law to lower their quorums for Town Meetings, and Abington selectmen will discuss exactly that Monday night. The current quorum is 150 registered voters. The board will discuss at its meeting whether to temporarily lower it to 75. That doesn’t mean only 75 people will be allowed into Town Meeting; all 10,000 voters in Abington can attend if they want to. Instead, it means that the meeting can start once 75 registered voters check in. Based on the comments section on social media there should be more than 75 people eager to show up and discuss how to improve the town.
WATER COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS SYSTEM CAPACITY STUDY
The long-awaited capacity review of the Abington/Rockland Joint Water Works system is done and will be discussed at the board’s meeting Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Water Works last April imposed a freeze on permits for new hookups while it evaluated system-wide storage and capacity concerns. The system was nearing its state-approved water withdrawal limit, but the department wanted to see just how close it is. The shift to more residents working from home full or part time has also raised issues. While the study was being conducted, the department received a $2.2 million state grant to help bring a fourth well online at the Myers Avenue wellfield to provide water for a dozen or so new unnamed developments.
MCAS TESTING STARTS THIS WEEK
Everyone’s favorite annual assessment test starts this week and will continue into May. Here is a partial schedule:
Grade 3 ELA – March 28 & 29
Grade 3 make-ups – March 30 & 31
Grade 4 ELA – April 5 & 6
Grade 4 make-ups – April 7 & 8 –
Grade 5 & 6 ELA – April 6 (Session 1) & April 7 (Session 2)
Grade 7 & 8 ELA – April 12 (Session 1) & April 13 (Session 2)
Grade 5&6 Math – May 3 (Session 1) & May 4 (Session 2)
Grade 7&8 Math – May 5 (Session 1) & May 6 (Session 2)
Grade 5&8 Science – May 10 (Session 1) & May 11 (Session 2)
HALF DAY THURSDAY
A reminder to parents: Thursday is a half day for all students so teachers can take part in professional development.
Dismissal times are:
High School – 10:45 a.m.
Middle School – 11:10 a.m.
Woodsdale – 11:40 a.m.
Beaver Brook – Noon
HS COURSE SELECTION UNDERWAY FOR GRADE 8 STUDENTS
Grade 8 students this week will start to meet individually with AHS guidance counselors to review their level placements and select their Grade 9 electives. Here is a link to the Program of Studies for the 22-23 school year. And here are the Grade 9 offerings. Please contact Mrs. McDermod carolinemcdermod@abingtonps.org with any questions about the Abington High School course selection process.
JUNIOR PROM TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY
Tickets to the junior prom go on sale March 30 and are available in the main office before and after school. The gala will be held April 29 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., at The River Club in Scituate. Tickets cost $85 per person and include mandatory bus transportation. Deadline to buy tickets is April 5.
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY
Parents of children who turn 5 on or before August 31, 2022 can now sign up their child for kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year. More information is available here.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Municipal meetings (March 21-25) and video coverage links produced and provided by Abington Community Access & Media.”
Conservation Commission – https://youtu.be/-WywJD_PFeg
School Committee – https://youtu.be/arUn_Hyiopg
Finance Committee – https://youtu.be/s_3YVW5FdbY
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – https://youtu.be/DGmUFpXpuo4
Town Meeting Preview – https://youtu.be/jgZuIUtx8yU
MEETINGS
MONDAY
Board of Health, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes announcements from the Health Department, and discussions about microblading regulations and noise regulations
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about water department articles at Town Meeting, a proposal to reduce the Town Meeting quorum, updates from Abington Celebrates, food truck events, and the Beaver Brook Playground Committee, and a presentation on draft guidelines for multifamily housing around the MBTA station. The meeting will start in executive session to discuss unnamed pending collective bargaining or litigation.
TUESDAY
Board of Water Commissioners, 3:30 p.m., 366 Centre Ave., Rockland. Agenda includes a review of the system water study, a report from the superintendent, and interviews for assistant superintendent