Plug In at Robbins: Environmental documentary set for tonight

"To Which We Belong" is a 90-minute documentary film that highlights how farmers, ocean farmers and ranchers are abandoning conventional practices that are no longer either profitable or sustainable -- and making the switch to regenerative practices to address climate change.

This free event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Community Room in the Robbins Library, 700 Mass. Ave.

Preview the film here >>

 The film screening will be followed by a discussion on this question: What practical steps can we take to renew the Earth in our own neighborhoods and gardens?

 Wearing a mask is encouraged.

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School Committee tonight: AHS studies, strategic plan, goals, budget allocation

The School Committee has scheduled a regular meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in hybrid mode -- both in person at the usual location and also viewable remotely. 

Read the meeting agenda for the regular meeting here >> 

To reach the meeting on Zoom,connect here >>  

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Warrant open for '23 spring meeting articles through Friday

The warrant will be open for articles (agenda items) for the 2023 annual Town Meeting from 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, to noon Friday, Jan. 27.

Learn more and download the warrant-article submission packet here >>

The spring meeting is expected to open at 8 p.m. Monday, April 24.

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$206m town budget proposed; override decision tied to state aid

• budget

Town Manager Sandy Pooler has announced his proposed budgets for fiscal 2024 and the capital plan through fiscal 2028. Proposed for the general fund is $206,253,646, an increase of $8,501,122 (4.30%) from the current budget.

In a statement dated Jan. 13 and addressed to the Select Board and Finance Committee, Pooler wrote that the proposed budget is "built on a foundation that is both stable and potentially volatile. Property taxes remain a stable source of revenue and make up three-quarters of the town’s budget. As the largest source of revenue, property taxes increase steadily each year, but that revenue growth is limited by Proposition 2½ and is insufficient to keep up with rising costs."

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AHA widens communication effort to 5 groups, rejects energy grant

• housing

“I think these associations . . . need to understand that every single person should have a voice in this."
                                                                                 -- Brian Connor, AHA board chair

The Arlington Housing Authority board this month addressed Menotomy Manor's tenants' plea for improved communication by assuring them that tenant groups at all five of AHA's buildings would agree with a memo previously proposed by Menotomy's tenants' association president -- though the president herself seemed pessimistic.

In other action at its most recent meeting, the AHA board firmly rejected the present version of a $21,700 grant for the manor's deep-energy retrofit, saying that grant-condition requests from LISC, a prominent community development organization, seek too much oversight.

At the previous meeting, in December, differences appeared wide between the board's position and the Menotomy tenants' president's stance -- part of a yearslong push by residents for better treatment.

The tenants' association formed in 2021 to seek a voice within the authority. In December, association President Jen Hernandez expressed frustration over what she described as AHA’s inaction and poor communication. She asked the AHA board to sign a memorandum of understanding -- a binding document outlining specific ways of handling Menotomy Manor tenant requests -- but AHA Board Chair Brian Conner said the board wouldn’t do so.

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Leone seeks Select Board; 2 newcomers for School Committee

UPDATED Jan. 17: The annual town election is set for Saturday, April 1, and seven seats are open. After six incumbents took out nomination papers on Dec. 8, two new names have emerged. They are:

• John D. Leone,who lost last year's election to be Town Meeting moderatorafter serving since 2007 and seeks to challenge a Select Board incumbent; and
• Laura B. Gitelsonand Jill Kristin Krajewski, who have taken out papers for School Committee.

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Ex-inspectional chief Byrne violated conflict law, Ethics Commission alleges

• inspections

 UPDATED, Jan. 16: Former Inspectional Services Director Michael F. Byrne repeatedly violated the Massachusetts conflict-of-interest law by allowing his plumbing company to do work in Arlington without permits or inspections, the state Ethics Commission says.

In a Jan. 12 news release, the commission’s enforcement division alleges that Byrne, who retired from town employment in 2021, created fraudulent permits for plumbing work his company performed without permits, inspected his own company’s work, issued certificates of occupancy for properties at which his company had performed work and issued a certificate of occupancy for a property owned by a developer who had lent him money.

Read a copy of the full complaint >>

Byrne, who owned Trademark Plumbing, was director of the Town of Arlington’s Inspectional Services Department from 1997 to 2021. As director, Byrne was responsible for enforcing state building, wiring and plumbing codes within Arlington.

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2 dog-on-dog-attacks spur hearings, turn personal

• public safety

Sue Sheffler's Athena, right, with a service dog. / Sheffler photo

Two rottweilers pushed open the side door of their home and ran toward Leslie Oringer as she walked her own two dogs, Rocky and Tyson, on Rhinecliff Street, according to a police report. The rottweilers attacked Oringer's dogs, leaving Rocky — a gray poodle-Wheaten — with several bleeding lacerations on the second day of the new year.

Though rare, dog attacks happen — to people and to animals — and they can be fatal. 

Last November, Sue Sheffler was walking her 15-year-old terrier mix, Athena, at the Arlington Reservoir. When Athena casually approached a nearby pitbull, wrote Sheffler in a letter, the pitbull lunged at Athena, biting her neck and severing her cervical spinal cord. Athena was sent to Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital but did not survive the night.

"We had raised Athena since she was a puppy," wrote Sheffler, a former member of Arlington's School Committee."Losing her this way was an emotional blow, not only to me, but [also] to our whole family."

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Disabled veteran's truck nabbed by thieves found; fund-raiser tops $13.3k

• police

UPDATED Jan. 23: Life is tough enough for a disabled veteran in East Arlington, but thieves have made it tougher.

John Versackas wants to know how he can keep going after his truck and specialized walker-wheelchair were stolen. His understandable concerns are now being answered to some extent by those responding to a current online crowd-funding initiative.

Channel 5 reported that Versackas has lived for 25 years on Gordon Road and had always felt safe there until now. That feeling was shaken after his blue 2006 Honda Ridgeline, which was parked in the front driveway, was stolen early Saturday, Jan. 14.

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Proposed Brattle Square plan addresses environmental issues, and the public comments

• zoning
• public comment

Proposed condos and retail space at 1021-1025 Mass. Ave. / Harrison Mulhern Architects

The Zoning Board of Appeals, continuing to consider a comprehensive permit for the proposed development at 1021-1025 Mass. Ave., heard updates Jan. 12 about wetlands and stormwater, followed by a mix of views from residents.

Supporters and opponents addressed environmental issues. So did the developers' representatives dcuring a meeting on Zoom for two hours and 10 minutes attended by as many 40 people.

Christian Klein, ZBA chair, said that because this is a 40B development, the process is expedited, and the board has the power to grant waivers for local statutes. The proposed development is a five-story, 50-unit residential building with 13 affordable units and with retail space on the bottom floor.  

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