High School Reporters January 23, 2018
Hellos, Goodbyes, and “Oh, I Didn’t See You There’s
Ayer Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 23, 2018
Writer: Nicole Patano, ASRHS Correspondent
Hellos:
Say hello to the new Assistant Town Accountant and the new full-time Dispatcher for the Ayer Police Department. After reading through forty applications, there was no doubt in the Selectmen’s minds that Kerry Cooper was the only option for the Assistant Town Accountant position. She will be officially appointed on February 5th. Additionally, Danielle Priest is following in her mother’s footsteps and will be the new full-time Dispatcher. She is “no stranger to the job” or to public service and the police force.
Goodbyes:
The town of Ayer feels the loss of P.N. Laggis Men’s Clothing Store at the corner of Main Street. The Laggis family has had over one hundred years of contributions to the Town of Ayer. The Selectmen celebrated the Laggis family with a picture, which will hopefully last another one hundred years.
The DPW is working effortlessly to improve our already beautiful and historic town. Superintendent Mark Wetzel is putting old safety issues behind us this year. Say goodbye to any confusion or issues on East Main Street, to leaking or old sewer pipes, and to problems in the rotary. Ayer is achieving unprecedented swiftness in safety response, but we are still learning every day.
Oh, I Didn’t See You There’s:
A hearing will be held on February 15th to discuss the Zoning Bylaw that has been waiting almost a decade to be put into effect. Mark Archambault, the Town Planner, will present the new/old Zoning Bylaw, which deals with economic development, land use, natural resources, the environment, and housing.
With the high school’s $6.5 million field project on the way, it will take over fifteen years to get a new elementary school. Superintendent Dr. Malone and the School Committee will meet with the Board of Selectmen on February 13th to discuss the FY ‘19 Budget for the schools. A large portion of conversation will focus on the conditions at Page Hilltop, where the adults speak for the children. Jannice Livingston is correct in saying that “the sports are important, the field is important, however, so are the basic needs.” This meeting will be the deciding factor of what we, as adults and parents and teachers, view as most important for our students and children.