Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Here are the unofficial results from Tuesday's town election.
Here are the unofficial results of today's town election: The Board of Selectmen had two open seats, both for 3-year terms. Elected were Matthew Strauss with 1,676 votes and John J. Callahan with 1,289. Charles Patsios garnered 730 votes while Patryk Januszewski finished out of a seat with 472 votes. On the School Committee, two seats were up for grabs, both for 3-year terms. In a surprise, incumbent Jaren Landen lost. Here are the numbers in that race, in which challengers Amy L. O’Connor and Carin T. Marshall won seats. Swampscott Patch will have more on tonight's town elections, so check back with us.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The four candidates appeared at a forum Monday at Swampscott High School.
Four candidates for the Board of Selectmen fielded questions including those on flooding, ZBA appointments and the state of local government at a forum Monday. Matt Strauss, Patryk Januszewski, John J. Callahan and Charles Patsios are competing for two open selectmen seats, both for 3-year terms. Swampscott voters will elect two of them on Tuesday, April 30, barring a tie. On Monday, at Swampscott High, they took turns responding to questions from a panel of Swampscott Reporter and Marblehead Reporter journalists. Asked how important it is that the town find a solution to drainage problems, and the extent to which the candidates would invest in that solution, Matt Strauss said he favors a step-by-step approach. He said the town should …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
David Van Dam and other Selectmen clash over renewal of liquor licenses for bars and restaurants that owe the town money.
The Board of Selectmen approved the renewal of 18 liquor licenses Wednesday night, despite complaints from Vice Chairman David Van Dam that some of the restaurants and bars may owe the town money. Town Administrator Thomas Younger said state law requires only that the license holder be current on taxes and water bills by the end of 2011. He said as of two weeks ago two license holders were behind in paying their water bills, but he did not disclose the identities of the license holders. Van Dam said he would like to have the names of the license holders when the board meets again in two weeks. "It is disappointing for me," Van Dam said. "Not having this information is bothersome." He said businesses have two weeks to pay their bills or …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Average homeowner will pay $165 more next year.
Despite threats of irate taxpayers armed with pitchforks showing up Wednesday night at Town Hall for the Board of Selectmen's meeting, the town again raised the property tax rates for next year. Homeowners and businesses will pay the town about 2 percent more next year in property taxes. Homeowners will pay 1.97 percent more, while businesses will pay 2.05 percent more. On an average valued home, which in Swampscott is $453,328, homeowners will pay $165 more in 2013. Home values have dropped on average 2.64 percent or about $12,309 in value since last year. So the actual property tax bill may not be much higher than last year, members of the Board of Selectmen said. The 2013 budget was approved by Town Meeting last May. The selectmen, …
42.47002
-70.917193
Swampscott Town Hall
22 Monument Ave, Swampscott, MA
/articles/tax-rate-raised-to-help-offset-lower-home-values
771753
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
It is the job of the Selectman to lead not only by vote but by example as well. Resigning because he did not "get his way" demonstrates anything but leadership.
I was disappointed to read about the recent resignation of Selectman David Van Dam as liaison to the Recreation Committee. It is the job of the Selectman to lead not only by vote but by example as well. Resigning because he did not "get his way" demonstrates anything but leadership. In fact it is akin to the child who refuses to play in a game unless they are granted the position of their choice. I was even more disappointed to learn that Selectman Van Dam has not been present for a number of recent Recreation Commission meetings. What message does that send to those who serve on the Commission? That their time and votes do not count unless they coincide with Selectman Van Dam's point of view? These are volunteers who give up their free …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Selectmen met for 45 minutes in executive session on the new Police Station, but only five minutes in public.
Like the proverbial iceberg, the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator met in executive session Wednesday night for about 45 minutes on the police station building construction for what the agenda stated was "discussing strategy with respect to litigation." The public presentation lasted about five minutes. Patrick Jones, the chairman of the Police Station Building Committee, turned the public presentation over to Gregory Carell with The Carrell Group Architects and Sean Burke with PMA Consultants, who said the construction on the building is progressing. Carell said the new building at 531 Humphrey St. should be fully enclosed by January. Windows and the roofing for the building will be installed in the next few weeks. Burke said …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Selectmen on Wednesday broadened the Athletic Field Study Committee's charter to allow it to consider various options for new athletic fields.
The Board of Selectmen Wednesday night voted unanimously to expand the charter of the Athletic Field Study Committee to allow its seven members to consider installing new natural grass for the field as well as artificial turf. The committee was appointed after last spring's Town Meeting voted down a proposal to install an artificial surface to improve playing conditions and relieve stress placed on overused fields. Selectman Glenn Kessler, who serves as liaison to the study committee, proposed the expansion in the charter because the committee members felt they were limited to studying only artificial field options. The committee's recommendations are scheduled to be presented to selectmen on Valentine's Day. The field would be paid for …
42.46837
-70.90059
Phillips Park
Humphrey St & Pleasant St, Swampscott, MA
/articles/school-field-can-be-artifical-or-real-grass
1776318
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
Traffic Advisory Committee will review short-term, less expensive redesign of intersection at Humphrey, Burrill and Monument.
Before sending the issue off to the Traffic Study Committee, the Board of Selectmen and town administrator made it clear Wednesday night there was no appetite for building a million dollar rotary to reduce traffic congestion and accidents at one of its most dangerous intersections. The troublesome intersection at Monument Avenue, Burrill Street and Humphrey Street was one of two in Swampscott that town planner Peter Kane asked the Boston Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization to look at. The other was also on Humphrey at Eastern Avenue. The MPO chose to study the Monument/Burrill/Humphrey intersection and sent a team of traffic experts in March to count the number of cars passing through the intersection during the morning and …
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Residents near Paradise Road want $40,000 study done now. Town Administrator wanted to wait to use funds for townwide study of flooding problems.
Town Administrator Thomas Younger wanted to delay a study of storm water flooding on Paradise Road, but the Town Meeting had approved $40,000 for the study last spring and the residents wanted it done now. Younger, calling flooding "the major issue for the community," could read the handwriting on the wall as a crowd of residents, led by Julia Arsenault of Swampscott Avenue, packed the Selectmen's meeting room to argue that they needed the town to begin now to work on the flooding issues. "We were promised a year ago that this study would be done this year," Arsenault said. She and other residents painted a frightening picture of how often their homes are flooded. "Last night we sat up watching the storm trying to decide, 'Do I have to …
42.475253
-70.912467
29 Swampscott Ave, Swampscott, MA
/articles/selectmen-tell-administrator-to-move-ahead-with-flooding-study
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
Selectmen split two to two on proposal for town to pay $17,000 for one third to one half of costs of collecting condo trash.
The Board of Selectmen could not agree on whether it was fair that more than 600 condominium owners should pay both town property taxes and condo fees that includes a fee for private trash collection. Board Chairman Richard Malagrifa proposed that the town pay $17,656 to collect some of the trash at four condominiums -- Crown Point, Summit Estates, The Glen and Hawthorne's Crossing. The proposal failed to get a second with Selectman Barry Greenfield joining Malagrifa in support of picking up trash at the condos. Board Vice Chairman David Van Dam and Selectman Glenn Kessler opposed the measure. Selectman Jill Sullivan recused herself because she owns a condo, but she left it open that she might seek a legal opinion on whether that …
William R. DiMento
11:57 am on Saturday, April 27, 2013
It is unfortunate that John Callahan has sued the Town to prevent the development of the old Middle School on Greenwood Avenue. His position on funding the flooding study and his demeanor suggest he would be a good public servant. I just hope stopping the condos on Greenwood Avenue is not the only reason he is a candidate. I am the lawyer representing Tom and Dave Groom on a great project and am … more ›