The Bellingham Bulletin March 2009-DEL : Page 1
T Bulletin Bellingham’s “Good-News Paper” for Over 14 Years! Visit our website: www.BellinghamBulletin.com Postal Patron Bellingham, ma 02019 Since 1994 Bellingham Bulletin Thanks for Delivering To: Volume XV, Issue 6 Bellingham’s “hometown” newspaper since 1994 Library services invaluable During tough Economy It is an unfortunate fact that, when times become economically tough, many town and state legislative bodies think right away of cutting funding for libraries (see related article below). But it is a fortunate fact for Bellingham that this town has legislators who realize that the tougher the times the more that people need and rely on libraries. At a legislative breakfast held at the Bellingham Public Library on February 13, the theme was “Libraries Now More Than Ever.” State Sen. Richard Moore, State Rep. Jennifer Callahan, and Town Administrator Denis Fraine were all at the breakfast to show LIBRaRy SERVICES–continued on pg. 21 Town Administrator Denis Fraine Bulletin photo by Florence Ames town Budget reduction Proposal unveiled Town Administrator Denis Fraine un- veiled his proposal for the reduction of $1.3 million from the FY 2010 budget to the Bellingham Board of Selectmen at their February 9th meeting. The budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year (which begins on July 1, 2009) include cuts of up to 20% from many town departments. Chief Financial Officer Marilyn Mathieu noted that “the significant reductions are necessary due to declining local receipts, as well as reduction in state aid.” Fraine said that budget cuts at the state level translate to $650,000 less in state aid to Bellingham next year. In a letter from Fraine to the Selectmen outlining the budget-cut proposals, he says that “significantly falling permit fees, excise taxes, and investment income have put us in the same position as every other community Drunk Driving simulator sobering Experience for BHs students story & photo by Dr. Florence Ames, Bulletin editor What a great idea—take an ordinary car, equip it with certain kinds of sensors, and let young people simulate the experience of driving under the influence of alcohol with- out their having had a drop to drink. This is what happened at Bellingham High School for a full school day in mid-February. Sponsored by Students Against Destruc- written by lynn s. Ulsh, Bulletin reporter in that we must now make deep reductions in spending.” Fraine went on to say, “The number could be reduced if the governor’s meal and hotel tax increases are approved. For planning purposes we have not included this funding since it will not substantially change the bottom line of our $50 million budget.” In a letter to the people of Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick said that “to main- tain the current level of commitment to ex- isting services and programs would require an additional $1.2 billion of spending cuts.” After the first round of reductions is factored in, the total budget cuts are over $2.5 billion. Patrick noted that this is necessitated by a decline in tax revenue in the current fiscal year of nearly $1.9 billion, with no growth expected in fiscal year 2010. BUDGET CUTS - continued on pg. 15 tive Decisions (SADD), two facilitators from Professional Encouraging Educational Reform Statewide (PEERS) brought their car, which can be used like a normal car, and their computerized program to give as many students as possible a semblance of what it feels like to drive while intoxicated. Erik Wilkin and Bobby Kellar explained how it works. They take out the starter relay so that the car won’t actually start and attach sensors to the accelerator, the brake, and the steering mechanism. The steering is also made to be extra sensitive, so that a small movement of the wheel can make a big difference in the car’s response. The brake is set to be de- layed because reaction time is slower under intoxication, and a certain amount of visual impairment commensurate with that which one might experience “under the influence” is set into the program. The “drivers” wear virtual-reality gog- gles, through which they see a roadway, random other traffic, and traffic lights. The facilitator in charge selects from about 35 different scenarios, involving the number of drinks a driver has had and over what period of time, whether the driver is male or female, the age group into which the driver fits, and the driver’s body size (small, average, or 2009 March 2009 ~ Page PRST-STD U.S. Postage P A I D Bellingham BULLETIN Permit No. 107 Bellingham, MA Free! BHS senior James Abbot experiences “driving under the influence” large). The computer calculates the blood alcohol content. As one puts on the goggles and tries to drive the car, the resulting sense of being at least partially out of control is a “sobering” experience. Many--perhaps most--of the student drivers’ stints at the wheel result in a crash. Besides their own attempt to drive under the conditions set up by the facilitators, the students are also asked to watch a DVD showing the impairment of people who have been drinking and some of the horrendous crashes that have occurred as a result of drunk driving. The students are also asked to sign a pledge that they will not drink and drive. “We’re trying to get the message out to as many students as possible to keep them from making destructive decisions and stay as safe as possible,” said SADD advisor Melissa Newman. “The more things we can DRUNK DRIVING - continued on pg. 2 Don’t let the recession get you down! 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Library Services Invaluable During Tough Economy
Florence Ames
It is an unfortunate fact that, when times become economically tough, many town and state legislative bodies think right away of cutting funding for libraries (see related article below). But it is a fortunate fact for Bellingham that this town has legislators who realize that the tougher the times the more that people need and rely on libraries. At a legislative breakfast held at the Bellingham Public Library on February 13, the theme was “Libraries Now More Than Ever.” <br /> <br /> State Sen. Richard Moore, State Rep. Jennifer Callahan, and Town Administrator Denis Fraine were all at the breakfast to show Their support for this library and for libraries across the commonwealth.<br /> <br /> When Michael Carr, Chair of the Bellingham Library Board of Trustees, introduced Moore and Callahan as speakers, he referred to each of them as “a true friend of the library.” In other remarks Carr said, “Our town has been really good about supporting our library. These are troubling times, but we’re all in this together, and we can get through this.” He noted that more and more people are coming to the library because they can’t afford the cost of DVDs, books, magazines, and other materials. “And we have to do more with less,” he said.<br /> <br /> Quoting Cicero, Sen. Moore said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Might one extrapolate upon that and say that a town without a library is like a body without a soul? As he spoke of the difficulties of our current economy, Moore said, “The fat in the budget is in the eye of the beholder; one person’s fat is another person’s necessity.” As he continued and spoke of the “cost-effective benefits of a library,” it was clear that to his way of thinking money in the budget for libraries is not fat but necessity. He referred the group to a new website, www.WorkingTogetherForMass. com, which he has created to “provide citizens with the opportunity to post their suggestions for dealing with the drastic drop in state and local revenues and for making government more efficient and responsive.” He encourages his constituents to visit the site and make their views known.<br /> <br /> State Rep. John Fernandes of the 10th Worcester District and a member of the Library Caucus at the State House noted that every day people are asking that funding for their organization or group not be cut and that the governor relies on money that may not appear—last year, casinos; this year, the federal stimulus package. “I’m here to support you,” he concluded.<br /> <br /> Nancy Rea, Deputy Director of the MA Board of Library Commissioners, recalled the opening of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities—“it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” She said that people are relying more and more on libraries and that the number of materials being borrowed just keeps increasing. “When times are tough,” she said, “people come to us for help, like writing resumes or for help with the Internet. We like to think of ourselves as instruments of recovery.” She spoke of the strong regional and state library system in Massachusetts and said, “Who wants to move to a community that doesn’t have a strong library? The poorer the community, the stronger the library needs to be.” She used as an example of a library’s efficacy a story of an immigrant woman who in just five years gained her citizenship, opened a small business, and learned to speak English well—because of the help offered her by her library.<br /> <br /> Rep. Callahan looks to the future with optimism and said, “We may need to help our libraries by making shortterm adjustments and waiving some of the standards for a while.” She praised the town of Bellingham for having a “great library.” Massachusetts has nine library regions across the commonwealth.<br /> <br /> Joan Kuklinski, Executive Director for CWMARS (Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resources Sharing, Inc.), Bellingham’s region, noted that it is the largest region, with 147 member libraries and “vast resources available to people that they wouldn’t find in their own libraries.” “But we need help,” she said; “the demand keeps building up.” Bellingham sixth-grader Nicole Cavossa, avid patron of the library and a member of the library’s Young Adult Advisory Board, spoke of how important the library has been to her over the years. “I grew up here,” she said, “and my little brother’s going to grow up here also.” The advisory board confers with Young Adult Librarian Leslianne LaVallee about what they would like to see, read, and do at the library. One project dear to Nicole’s heart is “Movie makers,” whereby teens do video shooting and work with the local cable channel to actually develop what they have shot into a movie. “The kids really get into it and enjoy it,” said Library Trustee Sue Garten.<br /> <br /> The final speaker, Carolyn Noah, Administrator of CMRLS (Central Massachusetts Regional Library System), talked about the need for libraries in a democracy. When we realize the need for an informed citizenry and for transparency in government at all levels, we realize how vital our libraries are to our democratic way of life.<br /> <br /> “Libraries Now More Than Ever”—the theme of the day and a truth that needs to be acknowledged by all those who have anything to do with funding these important institutions for all of our towns and cities.<br /> <br />
Town Budget Reduction Proposal Unveiled
Lynn S. Ulsh
Town Administrator Denis Fraine unveiled his proposal for the reduction of $1.3 million from the FY 2010 budget to the Bellingham Board of Selectmen at their February 9th meeting.<br /> <br /> The budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year (which begins on July 1, 2009) include cuts of up to 20% from many town departments. Chief Financial Officer Marilyn Mathieu noted that “the significant reductions are necessary due to declining local receipts, as well as reduction in state aid.” Fraine said that budget cuts at the state level translate to $650,000 less in state aid to Bellingham next year.<br /> <br /> In a letter from Fraine to the Selectmen outlining the budget-cut proposals, he says that “significantly falling permit fees, excise taxes, and investment income have put us in the same position as every other community in that we must now make deep reductions in spending.” Fraine went on to say, “The number could be reduced if the governor’s meal and hotel tax increases are approved. For planning purposes we have not included this funding since it will not substantially change the bottom line of our $50 million budget.” <br /> <br /> In a letter to the people of Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick said that “to maintain the current level of commitment to existing services and programs would require an additional $1.2 billion of spending cuts.” After the first round of reductions is factored in, the total budget cuts are over $2.5 billion. Patrick noted that this is necessitated by a decline in tax revenue in the current fiscal year of nearly $1.9 billion, with no growth expected in fiscal year 2010.<br /> <br /> Patrick noted, “Our economy faces its most significant downturn since the Great Depression. Tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts have lost their jobs as business activity slows down. Thousands more have lost their savings or home equity to turmoil in the markets. Credit is tightening, and foreclosures are rising. People are anxious about the future.” <br /> <br /> Patrick went on to say, “In partnership with the new Obama administration and our congressional delegation, we have been working hard to help shape a federal economic stimulus package. While it will not be enough to avoid all the hard choices we as a commonwealth have to make, we anticipate significant federal resources to jump-start our economy and cushion some of the personal and fiscal impacts of the recession.” <br /> <br /> Bellingham has several fixed costs that can not be cut because of contractual obligations, insurance premiums and the cost of water, sewer and utilities. However, the proposed budget plan will cut $658,240 from the budgets submitted by the heads of the various town departments. These cuts include $150,000 from the Police Department, BUDGET CUTS continued from page 1 $99,978 from the Highway Department, $70,000 from the Public Library, $60,000 from the Fire Department, $49,418 from the Board of Health, $20,000 from the Zoning Board of Appeals, $10,000 each from the Assessors Office and the Planning Board and $2,850 from the Town Clerk’s Office.<br /> <br /> Fraine noted that the higher reductions in some of the departments are due to positions that were vacated this year that will not be filled in the next year. He said that there will be no change in the hours of operation at the Municipal Center, but there will be a reduction in the level of services. The cuts in the Municipal Center, DPW, Library and Senior Center will likely result in reductions in some positions, probably part-time staff, according to Fraine. He noted that $50,000 in work hours would be eliminated at the Municipal Center.<br /> <br /> Mathieu stressed that this proposal is not the final budget. The town must negotiate with the unions regarding much of the cuts to employees.<br /> <br /> Fraine stated that the town is trying hard to provide service while keeping costs down, “to be the least impactful to our shareholders, our citizens, as we can.”<br />
Drunk Driving Simulator Sobering Experience for BHS Students
Dr. Florence Ames
What a great idea—take an ordinary car, equip it with certain kinds of sensors, and let young people simulate the experience of driving under the influence of alcohol without their having had a drop to drink. This is what happened at Bellingham High School for a full school day in mid-February.<br /> <br /> Sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), two facilitators from Professional Encouraging Educational Reform Statewide (PEERS) brought their car, which can be used like a normal car, and their computerized program to give as many students as possible a semblance of what it feels like to drive while intoxicated. Erik Wilkin and Bobby Kellar explained how it works.<br /> <br /> They take out the starter relay so that the car won’t actually start and attach sensors to the accelerator, the brake, and the steering mechanism. The steering is also made to be extra sensitive, so that a small movement of the wheel can make a big difference in the car’s response. The brake is set to be delayed because reaction time is slower under intoxication, and a certain amount of visual impairment commensurate with that which one might experience “under the influence” is set into the program.<br /> <br /> The “drivers” wear virtual-reality goggles, through which they see a roadway, random other traffic, and traffic lights. The facilitator in charge selects from about 35 different scenarios, involving the number of drinks a driver has had and over what period of time, whether the driver is male or female, the age group into which the driver fits, and the driver’s body size (small, average, or large). The computer calculates the blood alcohol content. As one puts on the goggles and tries to drive the car, the resulting sense of being at least partially out of control is a “sobering” experience. Many--perhaps most--of the student drivers’ stints at the wheel result in a crash.<br /> <br /> Besides their own attempt to drive under the conditions set up by the facilitators, the students are also asked to watch a DVD showing the impairment of people who have been drinking and some of the horrendous crashes that have occurred as a result of drunk driving. The students are also asked to sign a pledge that they will not drink and drive.<br /> <br /> “We’re trying to get the message out to as many students as possible to keep them from making destructive decisions and stay as safe as possible,” said SADD advisor Melissa Newman. “The more things we can bring in to make them realize the dangers, the more we serve our purpose.” <br /> <br /> The two PEERS facilitators said that they’re out every school day at a high school or college. The program cost SADD $1600 plus the charge for a hotel room for one night for the facilitators. Where did the money come from? SADD won a National Activity of the Year award last year, which netted them $500; and they also won an award for $1000 from the Allstate Insurance Foundation for their mock crash program. To keep from depleting their treasury, they also sent letters to the community to ask for help.<br /> <br /> The BHS chapter of SADD will also sponsor a mock car crash in May.
