Public Service Alert
I was asked to share this message. Pedestrians, Joggers, and cyclists are highly advised to wear reflectors on their winter jackets/workout gear. Between the early nightfall and winter road hazards being seen could save your life.
Holiday Trees
Care to double your enjoyment from purchasing a Holiday Tree? The Belmont Lions club annual tree and wreath sale has begun. Not just any tree… these are legit Nova Scotia grown natural trees. This year’s “tip jar” beneficiary is Alex’s Team Foundation, started to honor the late Alexandra Miliotis, who lost her battle with leukemia at the tender age of 16. The Foundation fights childhood cancer by funding pioneering programs in pediatric oncology, research, and care.
SANTA is Coming to your house
The Lions club traveling Santa is scheduled for Saturday December 10th. Sign up form at BELMONT LIONS – TRAVELING SANTA (jotform.com). A $20 contribution per child (exceptions available) with proceeds going to this year’s beneficiary the CHILDRENS ROOM in Arlington MA (caring grief support for children, teens, and families).
School Street Emergency
Emergency services responded Thanksgiving morning to a home on School Street to put out a kitchen fire. TT was able to view the final stages of what was likely to be the households Thanksgiving meal being extinguished in the front yard. Another reason why Belmont Public Schools should re-introduce basic household living skills to the curriculum. Cooking, Plumbing and simple electrical for starters.
Concord Ave lane change claims another victim.
Add a cyclist injury to the list. No, the cyclist was not hit by a car. The cyclist was a student who apparently had a self-inflicted crash. No shaming the student who was probably eager to get to school. Just a lesson to cyclists that the new lane may provide a false sense of security and a feeling that one can travel at a faster rate of speed.
Tornadoes
In 1851, less than a decade before officially becoming Belmont, the Town was hit hard by a tornado. The cost of damage to the estates was estimated at $10,000. In the last 75 years, the closest we came (microburst don’t count) was in 1971 with a documented F1 hitting about 4.7m away.
Earthquakes
I have a friend who is sensitive to the earths movements and will infrequently say we had an earthquake or one nearby. Turns out Belmont has had 18 earthquakes since 1931. None of any significance. The largest nearby earthquake was 30 miles away in Boxborough Ma in 1985 registering a 3.0 on the scale. A 2.5 quake or less is not usually noticed but between 2.6 and 5.4 people will possibly notice the ground shake and some minor damage is possible.
Trivia
If you took Hill Street to Pequossete Hill what now covered body of water would you come across? Where is Hill Street?
NO TO FEAR MONGERING (Town Meeting this week)
Library Debt Exclusion (NO)
I tried to convince myself to support the Library Debt exclusion at Town Meeting this week, but I can’t. It would be rewarding “ends justify the means” campaigning that is below Belmont standards. The Ralph Jones letter in support of the library in which he calls the building a “fire hazard” sets Belmont back decades. Ralph is entitled to his opinion, and it shouldn’t be considered the opinion of the committee (why Ralph hasn’t contacted the Fire Department is odd). Take myself… I view the revised Concord Ave Lane design as a real and imminent danger. I contacted our Select Board and made my opinion known as they alone have the power to change it. Individuals can have opinions, but committees are expected to be held to a higher standard. The YES website stating “The signs are all there. The imminent risk of fire, flood and uninhabitable conditions is real” shows they embraced a fear mongering approach. Shouldn’t Town Meeting consider the veracity of such claims when voting to allocate funds if they feel such a statement was not in good faith? At minimum shouldn’t they inquire as to why the building is open?
Ask yourself the following
What responsible citizen or committee would allow a building to remain open with an “imminent” danger of fire without reporting it to proper authorities? Did they contact the fire department? If they did, why didn’t they share the remediation plan? See the highlighted section below. As Town Meeting members a YES vote endorses this behavior. A NO vote holds committees to higher standards. Here is how the Belmont fire code applies to Town Buildings…
“In general, violations of the fire code are identified during routine inspections of a building or following an investigation based on notification of a potential problem though other mediums. During business hours, the Fire Prevention Division can be contacted at 617-993-2207. Upon notification of a problem or potential issue, the Fire Prevention Division would conduct an investigation based on the report, working to identify potential violations of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code or Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 148. Outside of business hours or in situations perceived as an immediate hazard, Joint Public Safety Communications should be contacted at 617-484-1300. Under these circumstances, the on-duty shift commander would respond and take action as required.
Enforcement action would correlate to the seriousness of any identified violation. The Department would work with the building owner, public or private, issuing written requirements to comply with appropriate fire codes as necessary. Follow up investigations are then conducted to ensure compliance as specified within pertinent timelines.
In cases when a violation is egregious or there is imminent danger, the only option may be to close or limit access to a building.
It is honestly difficult to answer who would make that decision without knowing specifics. There is normally a collaboration between the Belmont Fire Department, the Belmont Health Department, and Belmont Community Development which encompasses building, structural, and electrical problems. If a violation is related to the Massachusetts Fire Safety Code or Chapter 158 of Massachusetts General Law, it is likely that the Massachusetts Office of the State Fire Marshall would also be consulted.”
The $1.65 million question?
In the request to Town Meeting for the Library Debt exclusion are funds to house the materials from the current building while the new one is under construction which makes sense. What about the $1.65m in salaries allocated to the library staff. In Spring 2024 the building will be demolished, and it will take a year or more to complete. The YES committee made no secrets that without this building there were no other alternatives and surrounding libraries would not allow borrowing privileges. So, does the library staff get a paid one-year vacation (while other departments struggle)? Will the committee miraculously find space in Town that allows borrowing privileges so they can justify paying the library staff? Projects should pass on their merit… did this project pass on its merit or a deceptive fear campaign as the library remains open and talks of borrowing books in town during construction make the rounds?
I could have waited to address this at Town Meeting Tuesday but there are a certain 2 or 3 Town Meeting members who quickly rush to terminate debate on all questions. Imagine that… the Town’s deliberative body at risk of not having voices heard because the less we know the better. Better to get it out now and make some people think twice before rubber stamping $35m.
Town Administrator appointed Treasurer (NO)
While I agree with some elements in the Collins report… this one is a NO. Yes, Floyd Carman has been an exceptional Treasurer and replacing him won’t be easy but there are 26,000 people in this Town. Over 17,000 voters. Hard to imagine none of them are competent. This doesn’t seem like the place to start as this check and balance is not a bad thing.
Civil Service Supper conversation
While some in Town complain it is our participation in Civil Service that is making hiring difficult… I would counter with… maybe we should focus on what is causing so many existing employees to leave?
Answer:
The Cambridge Reservoir (Payson Park Reservoir) sits on Pequossete Hill. Hill Street is known today as Washington Street.