Bryan Cole ⋆ Milford, MA

Starting tomorrow, the Milford public schools (along with other districts across the commonwealth) will launch a remote learning program.  Until schools reopen, students will be expected to go online to receive instruction and complete assignments.

I was relieved to read, in Principal Otlin's letter to MHS families, that there are accommodations available for those students who will not have reliable internet or computer access during this time.  But it prompted a couple questions for my friends running for school committee (and/or those already on it):

1. Given that almost half our students are classified as "economically disadvantaged," how many students do not have a reliable way to access the internet?  

2. Given the importance of the internet to a modern education, has the district explored any longer-term programs to provide internet and computer access to disadvantaged families?  What would you propose, if elected?

Ahead of this month's TMSIC meeting, I wanted to send over a quick update to my earlier spreadsheets re: town meeting member attendance. The attached spreadsheet includes all town meetings from May 2012 through October 2019.

This graph shows a histogram of town meeting members by percentage of meetings attended since they were first elected. To my surprise, it looks like the problem is not so much "people who never show up" as it is "people who show up about half the time." Only 14 TMMs attended less than a third of meetings, but 82 TMMs attended between one-third and two-thirds of meetings.

As someone who lives off Purchase St, the Dilla St/Purchase St intersection is a perpetual aggravation.  Dilla St is the primary way to get to and from 495 for a large percentage of Milfordians.  So in the mornings, cars are backed up on Purchase St waiting to turn onto Dilla St (and consequently backed up on Fountain St waiting to take a left onto Purchase St).  And then in the afternoons, cars are backed up on Dilla St waiting to turn onto Purchase St.  This backup is especially annoying, as it can stretch the entire length of Dilla St, spilling into the Rt. 85 intersection and thus arguably impacting flow on and off 495.

This is not a new problem.  The town's 2003 comprehensive plan identified this intersection as one of seven areas in need of improvement, saying:

During the afternoon peak, the signal timing functions opposite of traffic needs.  Although the westbound traffic volume is often double the northbound or southbound volume, the signal timing provided to the westbound movement is approximately half of that provided for the north/south movement. Additionally, many northbound vehicles take a right onto Dilla Street but the current pavement markings make them share a lane with through traffic which increases vehicle delay on all approaches.  One recommendation is the re-striping of the northbound approach to provide a dedicated right turn lane and through lane.

However, since that time little has been done to address these issues.  When the casino was under discussion in 2013, Foxwoods agreed to a number of traffic improvement projects, including at Dilla St/Purchase St:

Prior to Operations Commencement, at the intersection of Purchase Street and Dilla Street, Developer shall complete the design, permitting and construction of  (a) pavement marking modifications at the Dilla Street approach to remove the yellow hatched island and replace it with white extension lines (which improvement is expected to increase the  left turn lane storage by approximately 100 feet and allow more right turning vehicles to by-pass the left turn queue) and (b) improvements on Purchase Street to create a  dedicated northbound thru lane and right turn lanes at the intersection.

As we know, Milford voters rejected the casino and so most of those improvements never happened.  But in 2014, the highway department did complete some of the proposed work.  At that time, highway surveyor Scott Crisafulli told me, the left turn lane on Dilla St was extended, allowing more cars to take a right onto Purchase St.  But, according to former police chief Tom O'Loughlin, the highway department did not add a right-turn lane to Purchase St, saying that the road was too narrow to add that extra lane safely.  Widening Purchase St to accommodate this extra lane would require land takings, similar to what the town had to do to improve the Rt. 16/Rt. 140 intersection (over by the hospital).

The other improvement suggested in the comprehensive plan relates to changing the signal timing.  Right now, the signal timing is the same all day because the traffic light controller is an older model that doesn't allow for different timings in the morning and the afternoon.  As a result, if you make the green light for Dilla St longer (to alleviate traffic in the afternoons), you have to shorten the green light for Purchase St (making traffic worse in the mornings).  Chief O'Loughlin's back-of-the-envelope estimate of the cost of a new controller was "more than $50,000, because there is no doubt you would have to change out the light systems."

A few months ago, I put together a survey to get a sense of people’s attitudes about local issues and elections.  I collected 100 responses: 69 from people who had voted this April, and 31 from people who hadn’t.  Now, with Election Day right around the corner (okay, right around the corner in some towns), I’ve finally compiled the results in this report. 

Pulling out a couple of interesting results:

Proportion of correct responses to the question, “When is the town election?”

And finally, from the open-ended section.

A number of reforms were proposed (and defeated) at this spring’s town meeting in Milford.  Now seems like a good time to recall the 1970s effort to approve a charter for Milford, and see what we can learn from it.

All info comes from the Milford Town Library, either their microfilm archive of the Milford Daily News, or their online archive of annual town reports.

It has been fifty years since we last examined how our town is governed; are we due for a re-examination?

TEXT OF PROPOSED CHARTER

TIMELINE

October 1969: Town Government Study Committee supports home rule charter commission March 2, 1970: Town votes, 3937 - 1439, to elect a charter commission. (Also vote to discontinue fluoridation.)  More than 7,000 people voted. March 18, 1970: Appropriates $12,000 to charter commission for consultants. October 30, 1970: Charter Commission preliminary report printed in Milford Daily News January 4, 1971: Charter Commission delivers final report March 1, 1971: Town votes, 3807 - 2744, to reject the proposed charter.  More than 7,600 people voted. 1975: Board of Selectmen reappoints Charter Study Commission to allow it to prepare town meeting articles based on its proposed charter. April 25-27, 1977: Town meeting votes on multiple articles from Charter Study Committee. 

Article 45 -- to combine Highway, Tree, Sewer, Cemetery, Parks, Planning, and several other departments into a single department of public works -- fails by a voice vote.

Article 46 -- to expand Board of Selectmen from three to five, pending approval from voters at the next town election -- passes by a vote of 98-69.

Article 47 -- to reduce the number of town meeting members from 215(?) to 105, eliminate at-large members, require recording of attendance and votes, establish standing committees, and publish rules of procedure -- fails by a voice vote.

April 3, 1978: Town votes, 2881 - 1692, to reject the proposed expansion of the Board of Selectmen.  Fewer than 5,000 people voted.

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SOURCES https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1969milf_0/page/236 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1970milf_0/page/18 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1970milf_0/page/22 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1971milf_0/page/28 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1975milf_0/page/124 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1976milf_0/page/42 https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1977milf_0/page/38

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Report of the Town Govt. Study Committee (1970 ATM)

The Town Government Study Committee (T.G.S.C.) is a committee appointed by the Selectmen. Its assigned function is to study local governmental structure. On June 18, 1969 the T.G.S.C. held its organizational meeting and elected new officers. In order to obtain a broader representation of our community the committee requested, and on July 14, 1969 the Selectmen approved, the expansion of the committee to twenty-nine members.

Since that time the T.G.S.C. has been addressed by several guest speakers. All are considered prominent authorities in Municipal government. The speakers included Atty. William Leonard an authority on the Home Rule Amendment and Chairman of the Northboro Charter Commission. John Cronin, Executive Secretary of Milton. Mr. Robert O’Hare, Director of the Bureau of Public Affairs at Boston College. Michael P. Curran, Former Chairman of the Home Rule Implementation Committee and presently associated with Municipal Consultants Incorporated.

On August 29, 1969 the T.G.S.C. distributed a questionnaire to our public officials to obtain their opinions on our governmental structure. This survey indicated that many town officials felt a need for further study. As a result of these addresses, the survey and the research of our subcommittees, the Town Government Study Committee on October 29, 1969 unanimously endorsed the establishment of a Home Rule Charter Commission.

Our petition drive to secure the 1489 valid signatures to place the question of a Charter Commission on ballot was successful and as you know the voters of Milford approved the formation of a Charter Commission by a three to one margin.

As stated previously the purpose of the Town Government Study Committee, an appointive committee, is to study local governmental structure. The purpose of the Milford Charter Commission, an elected body, is also to study local governmental structure, and to draw up a charter for Milford. I have discussed the future role of the T.G.S.C. with several of its members and consequently I feel that it would be wise to request the Selectmen to suspend the activities of the T.G.S.C. until the Milford Charter Commission completes its study.

Respectfully submitted,

DAVID P. HAYES Chairman T.G.S.C.

Members of the T.G.S.C. are:

Harris M. Tredeau, Vice Chairman; Julie A. Rizoli, Secretary; George F. Belforti, Edward C. Carroll, Richard B. Carter, Fred W. Clarridge, Atty. Anthony N. Compagnone, Salvatore P. Cimino, George F. Daniels, F. Michael DeManche, Jr., Mary A. DiBattista, Stanley Jones, Joseph P. Fopes, Roy Fovell, Jennie Macchi, Samuel J. Mancuso, Harold E. Marcus, Atty. William F. McAvoy, Paul F. McCormack, Dr. Nicholas F. Micelotta, Michael J. Noferi, Robert F. Pagnini, John A. Pilla, John P. Pyne, Albert C. Sayles, Jean M. Shores, John N. Smith, Mary M. Zacchilli.

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REPORT OF THE MILFORD CHARTER COMMISSION

Board of Selectmen Town Hall

Milford, Massachusetts

January 4, 1971

Gentlemen:

The nine member Milford Charter Commission was elected at the annual election last March for the purpose of drawing up a Charter (Constitution) for the Town of Milford. The Town Meeting appropriated $12,000 to assist us in our work.

Since the election of the Charter Commission in March, the Commission has conducted fifty meetings. One of our initial decisions was to engage Municipal Consultants Inc., a leading authority in the state in the field of home rule. During the ten month period since its election, the Commission has conducted two public hearings, interviewed town officials, studied the various alternatives open to us and finally drafted the preliminary report which was published in the Milford Daily News on Friday, October 30, 1970.

The final report is the result of nearly three years study by both the Town Government Study Committee and the elected nine member Charter Commission.

Briefly stated, the most significant changes to our present system of government included in the charter are as follows:

(1) It establishes the position of town administrator, appointed by the Board of Selectmen, and responsible for the day to day administration of town affairs.

(2) It provides for a new fiscal management procedure including a capital improvement program for long-range planning. Also provided for are centralized purchasing, inventory control and continuing supervision for all departmental budgets.

(3) It provides for a new consolidated department of public works. Under this department the responsibilities of the present highway, sewer, tree and other departments concerned with maintenance will be merged.

(4) It increases the membership of the Board of Selectmen from three to five members to broaden the base of its authority, and it increases the membership of the School Committee from six to seven members.

(5) It provides many improvements relative to the Representative Town Meeting, such as a continuous meeting; recording of votes; a standing committee system; publication of rules of procedure, and the appointment of a deputy moderator. It also establishes that voters in each precinct will be required to elect only seven town meeting members from each precinct each year for three year terms, for a total membership of 105. Chapter 43B of the General Laws requires that a Charter Commission must submit its final report to the Board of Selectmen within ten months after its election. Chapter 43B further states that the Board of Selectmen shall provide for the publication and distribution of the Charter and for its submission to the voters at the next annual town election. If the Charter is approved by a majority of the vote then it shall go into effect as stipulated in the Charter.

We of the Charter Commission are confident that we have framed a charter that is truly tailor made to the needs of our community. We strongly feel that it represents the convictions of the vast majority of our citizens, and that it presents a very positive approach to the management of our governmental affairs.

Respectfully submitted,

Hey all, wanted to share some news on the proposed Fino Pool renovations.

The parks department has completed the feasibility study they commissioned last fall.  New features being discussed include lanes for lap swimming, a "zero-depth" beach entry, a concrete deck around the pool, and a spray deck for younger children.  The proposed revamp covered not just the pool itself but also the area surrounding it, including a playground and adding insulation and fencing to supporting buildings (like the current bathhouse) so that they could be used in the spring and fall, when the pool is closed.  Total costs are estimated at $3.4 million, well under the $5.5 million listed in the town's most recent five-year capital plan.

The next step is a presentation by the architects before the entire finance committee on Tuesday, August 13 (time and place TBD).  After that, there will be a community forum, probably in Town Hall.  Both of these meetings are opportunities for us as citizens to show our support for this proposal and advocate for this mainstay of our town.

I've included some diagrams from the study so you can get an idea of what's being discussed.   The whole feasibility plan is available here. More supporting documents can be found here.

Just started going over the voting records from Milford’s 2019 town election, and wanted to share a bright spot I’ve found.  This spring, 32 of the 172 18-year-olds registered to vote actually turned out in April.  That sounds kind of pathetic -- 18 percent -- but remember: townwide turnout was only 13 percent, so in fact the high schoolers voted at a higher rate than the town as a whole. More fun facts:

Those 32 voters were the highest number in any town election in my database (going back to June 2013).  Yes, that includes the casino referendum (27 18-year-olds voted) and the marijuana referendum (14).

The 172 registered 18-year-olds is the highest number of registered voters in this age group outside of a presidential election; 185 18-year-olds were registered for the 2016 presidential election.

That 18.6 percent turnout rate was the highest for any age group under the age of 65.  No other age group under 60 was even within three percentage points of that number.  (Next highest: 46-year-olds, with 15.5 percent turnout.)

During his re-election campaign, Mike Walsh constantly stressed the importance of Milford’s water supply.  Now, in the board’s first meeting after his re-election, Mr. Walsh will vote whether or not to sell town-owned land in our "surface water protection zone.”  My letter to the selectmen, below:

### Dear Sirs,

I am writing in response to the proposed sale of two town-owned properties (parcels 16-0-2 and 29-0-4) on the agenda at tonight's meeting.

As I'm sure you know, the Planning Board identified these parcels as belonging to the town's surface water protection zone, unanimously voting to oppose this sale at their February meeting.  These parcels play an important role in the town's water supply, allowing our ground water to recharge.  

During his recent re-election campaign, Chairman Walsh stressed the importance of taking control of our water supply.  The town's limited water supply already means regular water use restrictions during the summer.  As the town continues to grow and water demand increases, the town may have to dig additional wells, potentially resulting in further rate hikes on town residents and businesses.  Selling these parcels, and losing their ability to recharge our water supply, will only exacerbate this problem.

I believe protecting this vital resource is far more important than the small amount of money this sale will raise.  And I believe most Milfordians agree with me: According to the 2003 Comprehensive Plan, 94 percent of Milford residents said that protecting our town's air and water quality was "very important" or "extremely important."

For these reasons, I urge you to reconsider the sale and protect this land, thereby preserving the town's water supply and open space for all of us.

Sincerely,

If you wanted to become a town meeting member this spring, but didn't get enough signatures, good news: There are way more available seats than candidates for them, so you can easily run a write-in campaign and get on that way.  Any registered voter is eligible to be a town meeting member, and the total time commitment is two or three nights a year.

Here's some advice on how to run a write-in campaign, adapted from an old Citizens for Milford blog post:

- First, figure out what precinct you're in, and how many seats are open in your precinct from the ballot. - Next, tell people you're running.  They will need to write in both your name and your address on one of the write-in lines, and then fill in the little oval to the right of that line.   - Make sure people know how to spell your name and address, either by giving them a business card or slip of paper with your name on it, or by texting/emailing it to them.  If they get the spelling wrong, those might not count. - Tell people to bring a pen, since the markers they have in the booth are too thick to write in the little spaces. - Before the election on April 2, call the town clerk’s office at (508) 634-2307 or send an email ([email protected]) to let them know you're running a write-in campaign. This will help the staff count the write-in votes faster at the end of the night. - Obviously go out and vote for yourself on April 2.

There are 84 seats up for election this year and only 63 candidates.  Someone is going to get on town meeting with two or three votes this spring; why not you?

[unrolled from Twitter] Today is #WorldWaterDay, something of a sore subject in Milford. As the water company purchase winds its way through the DPU and the courts, what are we doing as a town to ensure that we have the quantity and quality of water that we deserve?

The availability of water will drive future development in town. Right now, 50% of our water supply goes to residential use. This article from the Behavioral Insights Team gives suggestions for how to help residents conserve more water. (Having said that, according to the 2003 comprehensive plan, as much as 17% of our water supply is unaccounted for[!]. As our rates skyrocket and our water supply dwindles, this seems like a natural place for improvements. )

Then there's quality issues -- beyond just the chlorine smell and the brown water. According to this Environmental Working Group report, our water contains high levels of 9 contaminants. Compliance with bare-minimum regulations is not enough. We can and must do better.