Daniel Schemer
MIDDLEBORO The Spring Annual Town Meeting will be happening on Monday, April 26, beginning at 7PM, at the Nichols Middle School Auditorium.
A list of 32 articles will be decided. Articles 2-5 will focus on the FY22 operating budget, the Enterprise Funds, and related funds and accounts for the Town.
Before the Annual Meeting will be small Special Town Meeting with an additional eight articles focused on mainly fund transfers, previous year expenses, and one big borrow.
One of the articles for Special Town Meeting is related to the new DPW Building nearing completion. The first is to borrow an additional $250,000 to cover all contingency costs that couldn’t be covered in the original bid.
School district tries to recoup expenses for cancelled student trips
Daniel Schemer
MIDDLEBORO Last year, the Middleboro school district, like most across the nation, had to cancel student travels due to the pandemic.
One year later, the district and families are still trying to get back all the deposit money, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, that was given and lost.
The 2020 Senior Class Trip to Disney World in Orlando was cancelled last April when both Massachusetts and Florida closed down. Families spent $2,150 per student for this trip. A list of 57 families have reimbursement claims.
High School Principal Paul Branagan explained at the March 8 Select Board meeting that around the time the state was preparing to close down he worked with families to try and secure travel insurance policies for them should the Senior Trip be cancelled.
BSU vaccine site could offer convenient option for Middleboro residents
Daniel Schemer
MIDDLEBORO The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted March 1 to be a member in a partnership with Bridgewater State University’s Regional Vaccine Center.
Several weeks ago Governor Charlie Baker announced the state will stop distributing vaccines for COVID-19 to local municipal clinics in order to supply mega and regional sites run by the state.
These plans don’t affect agreements with pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, which will continue to offer the vaccine at select locations, depending on supply.
The state’s decision to streamline everything by prioritizing vaccine stocks for established high-volume regional and mega sites, like Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park, has been met with disapproval and ire from towns across the Commonwealth.