March News Notes

Town Building Repairs Could Cost Over $4 Million
An engineering firm hired by the town to evaluate the town hall and public safety building found that repairs to the buildings could cost over $4.2 million, according to an article in the Sun Chronicle. According to the 106-page report, repairs needed at town hall include improved handicapped access, renovated bathrooms, and new mechanical, electrical and fire suppression systems. Asbestos was found in floor tiles and other places in both buildings. The report also indicated that the water in both buildings would need to be treated in order to be safe to drink. A proposal to build a new municipal center was defeated at the polls last year. Selectmen reportedly said they would be considering options for fixing the buildings.

Bliss Dairy Makes Special Batch of Peach Ice Cream for Veteran
Earl Goff, a World War II veteran and former firefighter from Rehoboth, received a special treat thanks to his great-granddaughter Janessa Coburn. She wanted to get Goff some peach ice cream for because he recently entered hospice care. The flavor is Goff’s favorite, but it is only made in the summertime. Coburn put a request on social media to see if anyone might have the ice cream stored in their freezer, according to an article in the Sun Chronicle. No one had any. The request made it to Bliss Dairy and they checked, but there was none at the warehouse in Norton either. So Bliss agreed to make a special batch of the peach ice cream. Many people on social media said they would buy any extra ice cream. Bliss had to make 80 gallons, so if you see the summer flavor on sale this month, you have Goff and his family to thank for it.

Annual Town Election to be Held April 2
The Annual Town Election will be held on Monday, April 2, 2018 with the polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ALL THREE PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN. Precinct I is the Town Office Building at 148 Peck Street, Precinct II is the Gladys L. Hurrell Senior Center at 55 Bay State Road, and Precinct III is the South Fire Station at 102 Pleasant Street. The final voter registration date to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election is Tuesday, March 13th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office. Prospective voters may also register to vote by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or register online @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/. See articles on the Selectman and D-R School Committee races in this issue

Several Candidates Are Running Unopposed in the Town Election
The following candidates were nominated at the Republican Town Caucus on February 13 and are running unopposed in the upcoming election: Laura Schwall for a three-year term as town clerk; Susan Taylor for a three-year term on the board of assessors; Kenneth Abrams for a five-year term on the park commission; George Cardono for a three year term on the park commission; David Perry for a three-year term as stormwater officer and Robert E. Johnson for a three-year term as tree warden.

Two candidates were nominated at the Democratic Town Caucus on February 10. Longtime town moderator William Cute was nominated for reelection and Thomas Nicholson, also an incumbent, was nominated for a three-year term on the water commission.

Incumbent planning board member Tomas Ennis filed nomination papers for a five-year seat on the board and is running unopposed. There are also two open seats, one five-year seat and one four-year seat available on the planning board.