In Memoriam
Doug Avery, BHS’87, was a neighbor of mine growing up. Doug passed away this October after a long battle with head and neck cancer. Doug was described by his older brother John as a Renaissance man, and it fit him perfectly. While many in Town will remember Doug for his athletic accomplishments, the professional world will remember him as a gifted writer, producer, and director. Some of his work can be seen here : https://rsafilms.com/us/directors/douglas-avery. Doug leaves behind a wife Pascha and children, Dalton, and Lily. Rest In Peace Doug.
Belmont Authors…
In the 70’s and 80’s, it was not unusual when paths crossed that occasional fights would break out between Belmont, Watertown, and Cambridge youth. In June 1989, one of these fights turned deadly. “Speak for Me, Mom” is a memoir written by Belmont author Christine Wolf, the mother of Andreas Dresp. Andreas, BHS’88, was stabbed to death and died later that night. As Christine recounts the events of the night there were so many times when one wonders “if only”.
Belmont’s Kevin Cunnigham is out with an AI thriller. “Deep Fake: a tale of Love and Copyright” available on Amazon. When two teenage hackers use deepfake technology to make parodies of an aging movie star, the star’s final comeback attempt is threatened by an unprecedented competitor- her younger self. This sounds good and is on my list.
Mitt Romney, failed US Presidential nominee and current US Senator from Utah, and former Belmont resident has a new book out called “Romney: A Reckoning”. A biography.
Kudos to Belmont High Football
The Marauders won their first Middlesex League title since 1964. This is an amazing accomplishment. Strong Senior led talent on this squad and a baby-faced assassin at DB. The Boys lost in the playoffs to Wellesley but have a chance to make amends by crushing Watertown on Turkey Day.
Trinktisch
It’s official they will be closing shop in Belmont Center December 31st. I am beginning to think that once I find a place that meets my cold beer requirement, it closes.
Anti Semitism vandalism in Belmont
Posters showing the names and photos of Americans and Israelis kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas have been torn down by antisemites in Cushing Square. Haven’t heard about video surveillance of the perp as it occurred in front of the UPS store.
The Belmont Human Rights Commission joins the Belmont School Administration in failing Americans and Israelis by refusing to call out and condemn the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas on October 7th.
Belmont COS calls for Cease Fire in Israel
How else can Hamas restock their munitions and rockets while under relentless attack? A cease fire makes perfect sense…. NOT. Never Again COS.
Elizabeth “Lovey” Dionne
The new face of the Select Board is letting loose in a big way taking on the Belmont Police, Floyd Carman, and whoever crosses her way it seems. She is the new muscle behind Patrice it seems.
Liz wants Belmont out of Civil Service, so she sends me (as a Town Meeting member from P7) an email. However, it’s filled with contradictions and inaccuracy. Judge for yourself. This is from the email Liz sent…
“The single best source of information I have found on Civil Service in Belmont is in the 2022 Report from Belmont’s Structural Change Impact Group: “Recommendations to Improve Belmont’s Finances and Operations”. Anne Helgen’s report on “Idea #33—Civil Service” is balanced and thorough. During her 12 years of service on the Warrant Committee, Anne has demonstrated absolute integrity and impressive financial expertise. She is a reliable narrator. There is no one whose judgment I trust more.”
So as a responsible TMM, I read the SCIG section, and it says this on page 53…
“While the SCIG recommends withdrawing for both the Police and Fire Department, the implementation of the recommendation requires negotiating separate collective bargaining contracts and it may be more practical to withdraw the Police Department independent from the Fire Department, as other communities have done. • The SCIG recommends that, prior to an annual town meeting vote on withdrawal from Civil Service, the Town conduct a cost/savings analysis for each of the departments to fully understand the impact on the General Fund Budget. Such analysis would include.
o Collective bargaining terms to be negotiated. Union support is preferred for successful withdrawal. o Estimated overtime costs/savings from Civil Service vacancies over time
o Initial impact of expected turnover among personnel who wish to remain in Civil Service.
o Estimated cost of recruiting candidates and administering an alternative program as stand-alone town”.
Seriously… do people not research things before commenting on them?
Meanwhile, I get multiple emails from the Public Safety and Police Officers Association stating leaving Civil Service was never negotiated in any contract. I also get an email from fellow TMM’s across the political divide encouraging me to vote NO because of the lack of involvement by the Unions.
Liz isn’t done though… in an act disguised as pertinent she goes onto post the 25 highest paid Town employees which includes several Police employees. She leaves out that those incomes include catch up pay from the prior years as the Town dragged out contract negotiations. She also leaves out that most of those employees worked significant overtime and details (above and beyond) a standard job. So, all I can think is this is Liz acting as the muscle for Patrice. This was done intentionally to fool conservative voters into thinking this is a money grab. Reminds me of how poorly our Town employees were treated during SprayGate and contract negotiations. Apparently, nothing has changed.
Liz slams Floyd Carman on way out.
In Liz Dionne’s “Better Belmont vision”, provided to the Belmont Citizens Forum she credits Belmont voters for moving to an appointed Treasurer and then goes on to criticize Floyd Carman’s department for the lack of timely or accurate revenue reports from September 2022 on. Floyd retired in April 2023. Floyd’s work has been considered exemplary by most across both sides of the aisle so take the criticism for what its worth.
Liz wants to fill our schools with illegal immigrants…
Ok, this one is a stretch by me, but Dionne wants Belmont to have multiple Hotels. Woburn and Concord are currently struggling with being forced to house illegal immigrants in Hotels in their City and Town. Belmont dodged a huge bullet when the Pleasant street Hotel building permit was rejected.
Please buy my house
It’s still available for $1.7m and then I am long gone. Now that Liz wants an appointed Board of Assessors, I can count on my property tripling in assessment. I am sure the new BOA will find oil or something underground and jack up the assessment.
Liz isn’t always wrong…
She made sure the voters don’t blame the Select Board for horrendous decisions by the building committees. Once appointed the committees have complete control and she is correct. Why the same people are being appointed over and over after disastrous results is the problem. Stop appointing these people!!!!!
She supports PILOT taxes. She supports greater commercial development and a change in how the Belmont Retirement system is managed and she is disappointed in the School Committee’s embrace of DEI recommendations which promote mediocrity over challenging all students at their own levels. Still in the big picture she is more of the same and seems money adverse, so she gets a D for now. Repeal the CPA Liz.
Interesting tidbits from my friends at CFRB (Citizen’s for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont)
(All data below is sourced from the Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Department of Revenue)
- In 2023, Belmont is the 9th most expensive place to own a home, outranking 342 other communities, and representing a jump from 2022.
- In 2023, the average homeowner now pays 16.79% of their per capita income on local real estate taxes, which have increased to $16,450 annually for that household, also a jump from 2022.
It’s worth noting that the increases described above are BEFORE the additional tax burden to come from the debt exclusions for the library and the rink. Those debt exclusions will increase the average homeowner’s tax bill by 7% for the next 30 years.
Halloween
We had several groups of well-mannered children this year and my new addition of Smarties was a hit. It was good to see the kids getting in a little fun. Unfortunately, as in every year, there are stories of HS kids who had to kill the spirit by emptying unattended bowls of candy. Kudos to Hillcrest for keeping the Tradition going and yes many of us realize the inconvenience and even cost you incur. It is right up there with the side by side Pleasant street homes Christmas light displays. It’s good karma and makes a difference.
Belmont residents Retirement Savings at risk.
Governor Healey gave her thumbs up to allowing municipalities to charge an exit fee on the sale of your home up to 2% of the value above $1m. Many people treat their home’s equity as a major funder of their retirement and this new tax would hit the average SF homeowner as much as $10,000 on top of the existing 0.47% transfer fee. The funds would go to affordable housing.
November Town Meeting Articles (Starts this week)
Community Preservation Funds
(I will vote NO on all three as a protest vote. The Select Board is calling our Town’s financial situation “Fiscal Armageddon” with a current $7.2m budget shortfall projection yet consistently fails to even discuss pushing for a repeal vote on the CPA which in effect would be a $1.57 million tax cut).
That $335,868 be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the
Community Preservation Fund for the Community Path Phase 1 Design.
That $160,000 be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the
Community Preservation Fund for the Town Hall Retaining Wall.
That $200,000 be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the
Community Preservation Fund for the School Administration Building Roof
Restoration.
Stabilization Fund
(Yes, although I would have preferred more)
That the Town raise and appropriate and transfer the amount of $727,500
into the General Stabilization Fund.
Security at Schools
(Yes… very important giving the mental health status of Americans today)
That the Town raise and appropriate the amount of $160,000 for security
cameras at the Wellington and Chenery schools.
Article 6 Restaurant Bylaw amendment
Yes.
Article 7 Off Street Parking
Leaning against
Article 8 Removal of Police from Civil Service
No, something is rotten with this aggressive push by the Board. I am more concerned with keeping our existing fully trained officers and this seems counterproductive.
Article 9 Home Rule Legislation: Exemption 61B
Yes. The Country club tax break debate. Belmont needs more revenue and non-profits are crushing us.
Article 10 Removed (Angus Abercrombie petition to weaponize the BOA)
Article 11 Opioid Settlement Distribution
I would like to see the money go toward providing Narcan at various sites throughout Town.
2023…
Belmont is in a rough spot financially. It’s a combination of not enough Commercial tax base, excessive spending on buildings, a lack of transparency, and a failure of leadership. Unfortunately, we are at an inflection point… we can reject the upcoming override (TBD but likely $8m-$10m) and suffer some painful cuts but then force the Town to recalibrate a broken system or we can accept the same garbage in garbage out excuse of give us the money and we promise to make the changes we have promised the last decade or two. It appears Liz Dionne will try to put lipstick on that pig of a sales pitch.
US Military
The US is in a proxy war with Russia. Is now in a proxy war with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood over Gaza and can’t afford to let China invade Taiwan. Our Military is grossly understaffed and while they don’t want a draft re-instituted… it is being discussed because of this foreign policy nightmare against the Axis of Evil. Men between the ages of 18-25 are required to sign up for Selective Service.
The Draft Lottery
Should the draft be instated…
The lottery would establish the priority of call based on the birth dates of registrants. The first men drafted would be those turning age 20 during the calendar year of the lottery. For example, if a draft were held in 2024, those men born in 2004 would be considered first. Men turning 21 in the year of the draft would be second priority, men turning 22 would be third, and so on until a man turns 26, at which time he is over the age of liability. Younger men would not be called in that year until men in the 20-25 age group are called.
Looking forward
We are about to enter a time of celebration. Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, Chinese New Year etc. The near future is not looking good which is even more reason to enjoy these celebrations. I would add that Festivus should take priority over all celebrations.