ORANGE The Orange Democratic Town Committee recently convened to elect convention delegates and committee officers.Alexandre Schwanz, Candi Fetzer, Tom Ziniti and Denise Andrews will be delegates at the Democratic State Convention in Lowell on Sept..
ORANGE The Orange Democratic Town Committee recently convened to elect convention delegates and committee officers.Alexandre Schwanz, Candi Fetzer, Tom Ziniti and Denise Andrews will be delegates at the Democratic State Convention in Lowell on Sept..
Residents express opposition to changing Orange town clerk from elected to appointed
Modified: 4/4/2021 3:41:03 PM
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ORANGE A proposal to change the town clerk’s position from an elected one to an appointed one is expected to be on the Annual Town Meeting warrant. But many who spoke at an information session this week expressed their opposition to the change.
Resident Ann Reed asked Selectboard members on Wednesday to consider backing off from this plan.
“There are two positions in town that absolutely stand by democracy, two positions in town only that oversee democracy and have for 200 years in this town those two positions are that of moderator and that of town clerk,” she said. “The mere idea that you would even consider removing democracy from the choosing of the position of town clerk is most disturbing.”
North Quabbin Notebook: March 3, 2021
American Legion Post 172 at 40 Daniel Shays Highway in Orange, pictured in September. Staff File Photo/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 3/2/2021 4:30:51 PM
Modified: 3/2/2021 4:30:47 PM
Orange using free cash to cover snow and ice deficit
ORANGE Town Administrator Gabriele Voelker informed Selectboard members last week that the town is deficit spending on snow and ice.
She said the town is looking at using $50,000 of free cash to keep roadways clear and safe.
“Before the weekend snowstorm, we had about $18,000 left in the general fund to pay for snow and ice. What people don’t realize is every snowstorm costs us between $20,000 and $30,000 to clear the streets,” Voelker said. “So we’ve had two snowstorms since this report . and the (highway department crew members) did a fabulous job with Monday’s (storm). They were up all night Sunday night, cleaning the streets. So, a shout-out to them. They have worked their tails off.”
Orange town clerk idea to be on 2021’s ATM warrant
Orange Town Hall at 6 Prospect St. STAFF FILE PHOTO
Modified: 12/18/2020 3:23:00 PM
ORANGE Municipal discussion will continue regarding the idea of converting town clerk from an elected position to an appointed one, and civic input and engagement is expected to be solicited by the Selectboard.
Chair Ryan Mailloux said he has heard from members of the public about this issue and the option will be placed on the warrant for next year’s Annual Town Meeting.
“There’s been a lot of citizen feedback and engagement since this topic has come up, both on social media, with me directly, and amongst employees in Town Hall,” Mailloux said at Wednesday’s virtual Selectboard meeting. “So what (Town Clerk Nancy Blackmer and I) think would be the best path to follow for that would be one that involves citizen engagement and gives us a lot of time to think it through and discuss it as a board, publicly.”