03.25.11
A Kinder, Gentler American Idol | AmericanI Idol
I like the new American Idol judges. A lot.
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Archive for March, 2011
03.21.11
Remember how Mitt put the dog on the roof of the car while on vacation? | Mitt Romney's dog
by Barbara Anderson
Co-Director, cltg.org
If we must begin talking about presidential candidates, let me tell you about Mitt Romney.
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03.14.11
AARP files suit against HUD's reverse mortgage rules | Reverse Mortgate rules
by Ronald Wheatley, Esquire
ronald.wheatley@wheatleylaw.comcastbiz.net
Massachusetts Elder Answers reports on a reverse mortgage lawsuit against the government’s role in reverse mortgage rules, charging that reverse mortgage borrowers were caught in what amounts to a regulatory bait and switch, the AARP’s legal arm is suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on behalf of three now-deceased borrowers’ surviving spouses who are facing imminent foreclosure and eviction from their homes.
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03.08.11
A Brief History of Cat Dam by Susan Playfair
Environmental Author Susan Playfair, a Cat Dam neighbor, researched the history of Cat Dam and sent it to the Cohasset Conservation Commission in February. Although it is not in this article, Susan said Cat Dam got its name because it’s where farmers used to drown their unwanted kittens. This explains a lot of things.
Susan’s article
It’s relevant to point out, with respect to Cat Dam history, that my husband (Richard O’Connell) and I live in the 1870 barn originally built as part of what became known as the Sears estate. Charlie Butnam, a Cohasset native who pitched hay as a boy in our barn and whose uncle, Arthur Woods, was the caretaker for the estate, did a lot of work for us in renovating the barn, and he relayed the history of the area to me. Sadly, he died about nine years ago. I have since done research at the Cohasset Historical Society and the town library, and have found that everything Charlie told me appears to be correct and factual.
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Bob Thomas - Weymouth's Public Defender
Bob Thomas’ blog on the Patriot Ledger site is probably one of the most exciting blogs that newspaper hosts. And this week’s blog was no exception.
Thomas, who is running for Mayor of Weymouth this year, has been accused of raising havoc in an election season, which is really not true, as Thomas raises havoc all the time.
What is happening here, in an election year, is that former Weymouth Mayor David Madden is appealing his retirement benefits, for what is perhaps the third time since he retired almost four years ago. Thomas says “There is over $1.6 million at stake in the case; plus damages, perhaps. My bet is that it will be very costly for Madden when it is over.”
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03.07.11
3/10 Cat Dam Hearing Rescheduled to Thursday, April 14
On Monday, March 7 Cohasset Selectmen posted a meeting for Wednesday, March 9 for the sole purpose of voting to ask the Conservation Commission to reschedule its Cat Dam hearing slated for Wednesday, March 10. Reportedly, the self-styled Environmental 20 said they needed extra time to deal with the regulatory boards’ exhaustive responses to the Notice of Intent (NOI). Selectmen may well discuss pulling the NOI at their Wednesday session; it’s a real bummer when all regulatory agencies who responded said the selectmen’s NOI was un-permitable.
Conservation Commission Chairman David Farrag called the Gazette March 9 and said the E-20 group need not write a new NOI; his commissioners will consider the package and make recommendations based upon present information. He added that E-20 has provided new information in response to the regulatory boards’ material.
We’ve had several calls asking how the Gazette was able to obtain the regulatory boards’ responses. They are public record as soon as they arrive at the conservation commission; and we were waiting for their arrival as we planned to publish them in our March 9 newspaper. Concurrently, all selectmen’s mail is a public document upon arrival at the selectmen’s office, unless it’s an issue for executive session.
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03.04.11
Are new fees in Weymouth's future? by Anne Hilbert
Weymouth’s Ordinance Review Committee met Friday, March 4th at 10am for 35 minutes. Members attending were Diane Hachey, Police Captain Dan McCormick (chairman), Colleen Kelly, Bob Conlon, Ed Harrington and Town Solicitor George Lane. Not present: Jeanne Savoy, Chip Fontaine and Fire Chief Bob Leary.
The ordinances reviewed were nine, ten, and eleven.
The committee contemplated whether fees should be increased. It was noted that fees had not been increased in seven years. Harrington said he wanted to compare Weymouth’s fees with those of surrounding communities. Mr. Harrington wanted these words put in the minutes so that there would no misrepresentation. During the discussion of Chapter 11 members discussed treating late fees as a separate offense each day the fee was late.
After the committee votes on fees it will be forwarded to Town Council Ordinance committee, then to the Council for an up or down vote.
Cohasset CC Receives Regulatory Comments on Cat Dam NOI | Regulatory Comments, Cat dam
It doesn’t look good for the Self-styled Environmental 20, namely Little Inner Harbor abutters at Cat Dam who want to ‘pool’ the tides to the detriment of human and marine wild life.
It appears the Cohasset Conservation Commission hearing scheduled for Thursday, March 10 at 7PM will be rescheduled at the request of The Environmental 20. At the upcoming hearing the Cohasset Conservation Commission will consider technical reports from regulatory boards and commissions before making its final recommendation on the Notice of Intent NOI) submitted to them by the majority of the Cohasset Board of Selectmen who have endorsed the NOI presented to them by the Environmental 20, assisted by Harbor Engineering, LLC and Lucas Environmental, LLC.
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03.03.11
Cohasset Town Auditor Addresses Selectmen/Advisors
The last time the TOWN AUDITOR (TA) addressed the Cohasset Board of Selectmen was in 2003-2004. He told selectmen this week:
“It’s Important to take this document and read it, analyze it, correct it and move forward. A lot of these comments have been in these management letters and have been repeated throughout those years. Now, we need to turn the page and create and control a sound system.”
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03.02.11
Cohasset Selectmen Vote in Favor of New Access Road
The vote on the Bear Hill / Scituate Hill Water Tank Cell Tower Access Road (Pleasant Street through Reservoir Road access) was unanimous.
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