Tag: Select Board

I’m Just A (Belmont) Bill! A Simple Change To Make Town Meeting Work Better.

I’m Just A Bill!

Remember that cartoon bill in the Schoolhouse Rock! video? Sitting up on Capitol Hill, singing about the long, long journey to reach Congress? Belmont doesn’t have Congress. But it does have its own legislative body: Town Meeting. Town Meeting is…

Make Hybrid Town Meetings Permanent in Belmont

Belmont Moderator Michael Crowley

Belmont Moderator Michael Crowley details a new citizens petition asking Town Meeting to authorize the Select Board to seek special state legislation that would allow Belmont to hold hybrid and remote Town Meetings on a permanent basis.

IF I MAY: Keeping Belmont’s Democracy Alive

Viglirolo Rink

In her latest If I May opinion piece, Judith Feinleib calls out the town’s political leadership for what she describes as efforts to dismiss contrary voices and opinions. Feinleib calls on residents to speak up.

My Advice On The Rink? Skip It!

Select Board Caught In The Net

The needlessly long and toxic debate over the rededication of the ice rink is sowing anger, discontent and distrust in the Town’s leadership when they can least afford it. The solution to the rink problem? Skip it!

Opinion: Select Board Town Meeting Decision Oversteps Boundaries

George Washington thumbs down image

In a blatant display of the dangers inherent in concentrating power in the executive, the Select Board eliminated hybrid town meetings for both the May and June sessions citing misleading information, and silenced one of its members, writes Town Meeting Member Judith Feinleib.

Belmont Educators: Speak Up To Save Our Public Schools

Belmont Middle School

Editor’s note: the following blog post was submitted to Blogging Belmont by Belmont Public School educators. In it, the educators update readers about the financial challenges facing the school, identify some important, upcoming meetings where those challenges facing the school…

We’re Voting “NO” On Leaving Civil Service. Here’s Why.

thumbs down

Our research into Article 8 convinces us that the arguments made by the Town Administrator, Police Chief and Select Board for exiting the Civil Service are not supported by the facts. We’ve listed our main reasons for voting “NO” here, with further explanation provided below.

If I May: Civil Service Redux

Puck Civil Service

In her latest “If I May” opinion piece, Town Meeting Member Judith Feinleib argues that the Town’s proposal to have Town Meeting withdraw the Belmont PD from the State’s Civil Service program leaves lots of questions unanswered.

This We Agree On: Vote Epstein To Prevent Crippling Cuts To Belmont’s Schools

Paul Roberts and Ralph Jones

Closing an elementary school? Laying off 120 teachers? Those are the choices we’d face if a Select Board candidate makes good on his promise to cut $10 million from the Schools’ budget. Don’t let that happen.

Select Board Should Act On Remote Meetings

remote meeting

COVID special orders will eventually end. Our Select Board should vote now to allow Belmont committee members to deliberate remotely.