Clearly there was a lot of anger out there – and maybe the “YES” campaign misread it, or maybe there was nothing to be done. In an environment in which so many private sector employees are losing their jobs, maybe some folks will find it cathartic to fire some public sector employees, so their families can suffer, too. That’s a mean sentiment, but I don’t doubt it exists. As for the services those employees provide…there will be fewer of them. Like what, you ask? Well, school for one — Belmont High is shortening extracurricular courses from full year to half year — part of a trend that has seen BHS eliminate 19 class sections in just the last two years to try to live within budget constraints.
Author: Paul Roberts
Override – Voting YES for Belmont’s future
Belmont votes today for a $2 million override of Proposition 2 ½. I’m going to be voting yes and I encourage you to, also. I’ve been deeply involved in the YES campaign, OneBelmont, and there’s much that I could say about why I think its critical to for Belmont to start to correct its structural budget deficit and pass this override. Even if this override passes, there will be deep cuts to services, as the Town struggles to find $1.5m in savings from an already lean budget.
More town meeting liveblog
OK – I’ve been here for almost an hour so – just to catch you up: we’re moving through Article 4: the Budget appropriation after something of a slow wind up as the various committee and board heads provided preludes…
Town Meeting live blogging…
Getting up to speed… Well, its budget night at Town Meeting at long last. And, as any family who has sat down to do their books in the last year can attest – budgeting in the middle of a recession…
How we get over(ride)…meeting tonight
With a vote on a proposition 2 1/2 override due on the ballot on June 14, its time to get organized and make sure that the override passes. There’s an important meeting of the Warrant Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectman on Wednesday and an organizational meeting tonight for those interested in joining the campaign in support of a Proposition 2 1/2 override vote. Check it out!
Monday vote brings clear choices
Monday, April 5 brings an important vote for Town Meeting and a raft of town-wide offices including Clerk, Selectman and two School Committee positions. With less than a week before the vote, I thought I’d weigh in on my picks (and BloggingBelmont’s endorsements) for the various offices.
About that School Committee race…
In which Paul un-declares himself from the upcoming School Committee contest.
Running for re-election? You bet!
It hasn’t even been a year since I was elected to a one year term on School Committee. But with time flying by, its time to ramp up and run again – this time for a full three year term. This is my official notice to the BloggingBelmont readership and the public: Yes, I’m running for re-election!
Recommended listening: education, democracy and the meaning of intelligence
NPR’s Speaking of Faith featured a great discussion with UCLA Prof. Mike Rose this week. Rose asks the big questions: “What is the role of education in a democracy?” “Why do discussions about education tend to fall into the same ruts?” “How do we balance a need for accountability with a definition of education that goes beyond test scores?” Check it out.
Town Meeting wants you!
Town Meeting is a great (and low-stress) way to get involved in town politics. Interested? The League of Women Voters is hosting an information session on January 14 at 7:30PM to talk about what it means to be a Town Meeting member and provide tips on running.