Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The MBTA faces a budget deficit heading into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
After all of the talk, public hearings, and protests over the past three months, the MBTA Board voted Wednesday afternoon to boost fares 23 percent and cut back service in an attempt to close a projected $159 million deficit in the next fiscal year. Board members approved a plan in a 4-1 vote that would raise most subway fares by 30 cents, bus fares by 25 cents, and commuter rail fares by at least $1.25. The fare hikes/service cuts start July 1. Meanwhile, some cuts in service -- mainly involving bus routes, The Ride, and the commuter rail -- were also approved. The cuts do not impact Winchester directly. Many people showed up at today's hearing and were given a chance to talk during a one-hour "public speaking" session before the vote…
Friday, March 2, 2012
Residents voiced their displeasure of having freight trains stopping in their neighborhood.
Even with the snow, Winchester residents showed up in force Thursday night at Town Hall to discuss the freight trains that are stopping the their neighborhood. According to Winchester resident Susan Busher, a railroad switch has been established by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) at Cross Street at the request of Tighe Trucking, Inc. A railroad siding was also installed, allowing freight trains to come off the commuter rail for the delivery to the backside of Tighe Trucking at 45 Holton Street. Cynthia Scarano Executive Vice President of Pan Am Railways attended the meeting and informed residents that there is little her company can do because they are a common carrier. “We’re obligated to deliver to them because we’re a …
42.46935
-71.13371
45 Holton St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-residents-discuss-freight-train-stops
/locations/6496478
Thursday, March 1, 2012
It will cost Winchester residents more to get their vital records.
It will cost Winchester residents more money to get a copy of their birth certificate. The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to approve an increase in fees at the Town Clerk’s office, which include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and building permits, among other forms and permits. “The town will be able to generate approximately $40,000 in additional revenue,” Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon said. “While I believe the increase will assist the revenue estimates for Fiscal Year 2013, an affirmative vote of the board this winter will allow the town to generate the revenues during FY 2012.” According to Lannon, the town looks at its fees every couple of years to make sure they’re in line and they make adjustments…
42.453143
-71.133841
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
/articles/wichester-to-increase-record-fees
1301615
/locations/6487745
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
In an interview with the Boston Globe, State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey said the state is scrambling to raise enough revenue so that proposed service cuts can be scotched.
In a departure from proposals that would raise T fares and slash services to balance the T's budget, the state's top transporation official says his agency aims to raise enough revenue to avoid service cuts. Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey made the remarks to the Boston Globe. The about-face comes after thousands of people have turned out a public meetings to denounce the proposals. Under the proposal, there are two scenarios – the first would include a fare increase of 43 percent, and the second a spike of 35 percent. For example, Winchester riders who pay $4.25 for a single ride could pay $6.50 per trip under the first proposal and $6 under the second. Both scenarios would mean cuts or eliminations to commuter rail services. …
The School Department could see its 2013 budget increase by five percent.
After voting against an override last year, Winchester residents may not have to make that decision again this year. Town Manager Richard Howard submitted his proposed 2013 budget last week to the Finance Committee and said that an override is not needed. However, according to Howard, while there won’t be an override vote this year, one may be needed in the next year or two in order to prevent service cuts. “There are very few fields of expenditures where substantial savings can be achieved without cuts to departmental personnel,” Howard said. “The town, at some point in the near future, will have to face the question of authorizing additional revenues or insisting on cutbacks to existing programs and levels of service.” According to …
42.453143
-71.133841
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-residents-avoid-override-vote
1301615
/locations/6418704
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The first train rolled into town Thursday night.
Freight trains have begun stopping at Tighe Trucking in Winchester, making deliveries. According to Winchester resident Susan Busher, the first freight train rolled into town last week. She said that the cars idled next to Tighe Trucking for about an hour before residents spoke with the conductor who said they were there to pick up a box car. “The freight activity has begun,” Busher said. “We alerted the town in October to the switch and now trains are coming into town.” According to Busher, a railroad switch has been established by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) at Cross Street at the request of Tighe Trucking, Inc. She said that a railroad siding was installed that will bring freight trains off the commuter rail for the …
42.46935
-71.13371
45 Holton St, Winchester, MA
/articles/freight-trains-begin-making-stops-in-winchester
/locations/6389777
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The board is discussing an incremental increase in water and sewer rates.
It’s too early to say for certain, but Winchester residents may soon see an increase in their water and sewer bills. According to Mark Abrahams, the Department of Public Works has enough retained earnings to avoid an increase for the next 18 months. The fund has $1.2 million in cash and $747,931 in retained earnings as of June 30, 2011, which should be enough to maintain the current rates for the next two fiscal years. “The water and sewer team believes that the budget should be sufficient to finance FY 2012 and FY 2013 operations debt and capital without a rate increase, assuming no major water or sewer issues happen though June 30, 2013,” Abrahams said. However, Abrahams informed the Board of Selectmen that he doesn’t foresee a surplus …
42.45688
-71.138865
Town of Winchester Public Works Department
15 Lake St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-residents-could-see-increasing-water-rates
317151
/locations/6379267
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
More than 400 people turned out for the MBTA public hearing Monday.
The proposed MBTA fare hikes fall disproportionally on the elderly, disabled, student and low income population, many people said at a packed-to-capacity public hearing Monday night. Following an Occupy Boston rally at Copley Square hundreds of people - many of them college students - flowed into the Boston Public Library. They filled the 342-seat auditorium and 110-seat overflow room by 6:05 p.m. "Some people got here at 4:30," a library worker said. Officials began turning away at least 100 people lined up inside the foyer, and promised to add more public hearings to the already lengthy list. "If we try to raise the fare the way we are now, there won't be more money," said Back Bay resident Elliot Laffer. "There will be a failed …
42.453143
-71.133841
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
/articles/protesters-rally-against-mbta-cuts-pack-meeting-03692c1c
1301615
/locations/6378829
The board elected to put a "Do Not Enter" sign at the corner of Forest Street and Brookside Avenue.
The residents at Brookside Avenue and Forest Street can expect to have a slightly different traffic pattern this spring. On Monday night as residents from the area filled the Board of Selectmen meeting room, the Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the installation of a “Do Not Enter” sign on the corner of Brookside Avenue and Forest Street. The sign, according to Town Engineer Beth Rudolph, will prevent cars from turning onto Forest Street from Cross Street and continuing to drive straight across to Brookside Avenue. “This is not intended to stop all the problems in the neighborhood,” Rudolph said. “This is a very complicated area.” Rudolph recommended to the board that the town do a traffic study in the area in order to better help the…
42.46782
-71.1293
Brookside Ave & Forest St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-selectmen-attempt-to-fix-traffic-problem
/locations/6374833
42.4672
-71.1303
Forest St & Cross St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-selectmen-attempt-to-fix-traffic-problem
/locations/6374834
42.46742
-71.12538
Forest St & Washington St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-selectmen-attempt-to-fix-traffic-problem
/locations/6374835
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The School Department met with the Board of Selectmen Monday night.
The Winchester School Department is asking the town to increase its budget by 7.36 percent, which would equate to a $2,628,367 increase, making the 2013 school budget $38,349,537. However, in order to attain that increase, Superintendent William McAlduff admitted that residents would have to support an override. “I believe so strongly in this budget,” McAlduff said. “In order to go forward with this budget, we know we need to have an override.” Under Town Manager Richard Howard’s budget proposal, the school department would get a 5.2 percent increase, which is not enough, according to School Committee chair Chris Linskey. “We need to eventually get money for these things,” Linskey said. “People will not tolerate diminished services. With […
42.453143
-71.133841
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
/articles/school-department-selectmen-debate-need-for-override
1301615
/locations/6328614
John Johnson
9:17 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Come on.....a couple of deliveries a week are ruining your lives and destroying your property values???? Find something else to complain about. Get some ear plugs. more ›