Chair: Selectmen to Open Door to Residents, Push for Tax Breakdown

Carmen Dello Iacono will serve as the Board of Selectmen chair for a second time.

  Facing re-election next April, Carmen Dello Iacono renewed his call for the Town of Dedham to produce a yearly report of how the town spends taxpayer money. "lf we just explain what the taxes are and why they are what they are, people will be more comfortable with it," he said in a phone interview. The selectman took over as chair at the board's April 26 meeting, his second term as chairman. Dello Iacono acknowledged that the board has put this on the goals sheet before, but even though it hasn't been done, he said he believes people need to see the justification for the tax rate. "I think that's owed and it isn't unreasonable," he said. Dello Iacono, who first won a seat on the board in 2004, also advocated for open office hours for …

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Arts Center in Sprint to September, But With Hurdles

The Mother Brook Arts and Community Center is full-steam ahead, but a couple things could derail the project.

  In the grand scheme of development projects, what members of the Mother Brook Arts and Community Center are trying to do is like an Olympic-speed 100-yard dash. Kids moved out of the former Avery Elementary School on April 23, and MBACC leaders want artists painting, sculpting and teaching by September. "This is something that could be so unique to Dedham and be so unique to [East Dedham] - part of the efforts we are involved in to revitalize this area," said Joe Heisler, a supporter of the project and Mother Brook Community Group member. MBACC, formed in early February as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is busy raising funds and in search of volunteers to move the project forward. Moving the arts center forward at such a quick pace would fulfill …

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Mother Brook Arts Group to Detail Plans Tuesday

The newly formed organization will hold a public informational meeting Tuesday at the former Avery School.

  The newly formed Mother Brook Arts and Community Center [MBACC] board will hold an informational meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the former Avery Elementary School at 123 High St. The group, which has filed for non-profit status, is preparing to launch its inaugural outreach and fundraising campaign, according to the organization’s co-chairmen. “We are building a foundation of support among like-minded individuals and community organizations committed to helping us to reach our goal of leasing the site, rehabilitating the facility, and creating a unique cultural resource that local artists, residents and the community all can use,” co-chair Robert Miller said in a statement. The organization will serve as the non-profit vehicle to raise the…

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Week in Review

Week in Review: Dedham Burns, Selectmen Halt School's MOU

A look back at some of the stories we covered this week on Dedham Patch.

  Brush Fire Dies Down After Scorching 20 Acres in Dedham A brush fire near the Manor and Greenlodge caused alarm for many not just in town but across eastern Massachusetts on Thursday. Reports say upward of 100 acres burned, but no injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. Dedham Selectmen Halt School's Conduct Agreement with Cops The Board of Selectmen started a sub-group that will take a look at the proposed memorandum of understanding between the schools and police that call for several changes to the current policy - including enforcement year-round and applying the rules to students in grades six through 12, as opposed to nine through 12. MBTA Solar Project Eyes Spring '13 Commissioning The MBTA released plans to build …

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MBTA Solar Project Eyes Spring '13 Commissioning

The MBTA is planning to build more than 8,500 solar panels at the Readville Yard.

  A once-contaminated field will soon produce electricity for the MBTA with a field full of solar panels at the former Readville Yard, a MBTA official said. The cash-strapped MBTA plans to install more than 8,500 solar panels, each about 15 feet tall on the 21 acres of MBTA property that sits in Dedham, said Michael Donaghy, MBTA's manager of energy efficiency. Donaghy presented his plans at the April 12 Board of Selectmen meeting. "The reason why we've identified this property for solar development is we aren't using it as much," said Donaghy. "There should not be any significant glaring that affects any of the abutters." Selectmen said the new plan to redevelop the rail yard is a major improvement over a previous plan to build almost 600…

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POLL: Your Thoughts on School-Police Agreement

Should the district enforce the policy 52 weeks a year.

  The Dedham Public School District is considering enforcing an outside-of-school conduct policy year-round. This includes alcohol and drug possession and use, but also includes bullying, cyberbullying, assaults and other incidents. Opponents have said it takes parenting power away from parents and gives more power to the school department. Where do you stand? Answer the poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

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Avon Barksdale

11:18 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The whole argument that this agreement is "taking away parenting power" is fairly ridiculous. The MOU has some phrasing/structural problems, it seems to overreach a bit, and it's unclear on how privacy/confidentiality will be safeguarded. Those are all legitimate concerns. But the "I will parent my child, not the school" is just a screeching bumper sticker slogan with no real meaning. If a child…   more ›

Dedham Selectmen Halt School's Conduct Agreement with Cops

A sub-committee will evaluate the current proposal and weigh changes.

  Dedham selectmen delayed a vote on a Memorandum of Understanding between the police and school departments that calls for, among other things, police to notify school officials of incidents involving students over the summer. A current policy holds students accountable for actions only between September and June. The School Committee passed the agreement on March 21 in a 4-3 vote. It cleared the policy sub-committee with a 3-0 vote before that, but since has met pushback from parents. On Thursday, selectmen joined the contingent to decry parts of the agreement. School Committee member Mayanne Briggs, who also serves on the policy sub-committee, said a driving force for switching to a 52-week enforcement is the growing trend of …

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anonomous

12:57 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

when did dedham turn into a police state...get the police out of the schools and hire some competent educators   more ›

Week in Review

Week in Review: Manor Bomb Scare, New Avery Opens

A look back at some of the stories we covered this week.

  VIDEO: 'Cornerstone' of East Dedham Opens Local and state officials opened the new $21 milion Avery Elementary School Thursday to a ton of fan-fare. Students will move into the new school following April vacation. Dedham Police Continue Bomb Scare Threat Investigation [PHOTOS] A suspicious package found on Sprague Street in the Manor neighborhood caused Dedham Police to bring in the State Police Bomb Squad to help investigate the package. It was deemed not a threat after two hours. No Opposition in Selectmen's Race an 'Honor' for MacDonald Outgoing chairman of the Board of Selectmen Jim MacDonald entered Saturday's election with no challenger and no public write-in campaign against him, making him as close to a lock for a seventh term as…

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No Opposition in Selectmen's Race an 'Honor' for MacDonald

Current chairman Jim MacDonald faces no competition for his seventh term on the board.

  With no opposition on the ballot - and no publicized write-in campaign against him - current chairman Jim MacDonald is ready to win his seventh three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. "It's an honor to run unopposed. I think I do a good job. I'm responsive to people, I listen and I'm fair," MacDonald said. MacDonald, the state's first deputy treasurer, won his first selectmen's race in 1994, and is the senior member of the five-person board. Looking to his next three years, MacDonald said he wants to help develop a strategic budget plan that maps how the town will spend money and collect taxes. "There is more demand than ever to, where we can, be cognizant of the fact that people are still hurting [financially]. Any increase on taxes …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 12

Today's weather, Board of Selectmen meeting and preschool storytime today.

  "Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 

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