I feel that Massachusetts does a pretty good job, either thru grassroots organizations or towns saving money, in providing recycling opportunities to the local residents.

Ashland Recycling Program Info

Framingham Recycling Program Info

Holliston Recycling Program Info

Hopkinton Recycling Program Info

Medway Recycling Program Info 

Milford Recycling Program Info

Millis Recycling Program Info

Natick Recycling Program Info

Sherborn Recycling Program Info

Check out the previous posts regarding related sites:

Hazardous Waste Dates

Asbestos Removal Article from 2008

I hope you find these links as a useful source of information whenever you are searching out information on your town’s recycling program.

Holliston Aquaduct?

In reading the Holliston TAB the other day I came across the following article:

Five of Six Holliston Wells Have Significant Problems

As a citizen in town who likes to keep up with how the town is managed, I was amazed to hear this news.

Even more disappointing was the early quote in the article from Larry Weise, Chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners.  Mr. Weise was reported to say the town has two issues threatening the town’s water supply:  Quantity and Quality.

WHAT?  That sums up water supply… Quantity and Quality!  There is nothing else.

For several years I have followed the water supplies in the Metrowest region as perhaps a “more informed Layman”.  I don’t pretend to understand the geology of aquifers, but I certainly understand that there is science behind the water supplies.  I understand that even private wells pull from a common source.  

On the flip side, homeowners generally don’t follow this stuff.  They hate water bans during 2 weeks of rain showers.  Townspeople hear high levels of X in the water supply and immediately start showering in Poland Springs.  I swear, Ashland residents still think water is contaminated from the old Nyanza paint factory.  Fact is…  water wells are upstream from the site and Hopkinton even buys some of their water from Ashland wells!

One thing that I DO know as a taxpayer, I would much rather deal with water wells than ignore them.  The Holliston Water Commissioners have obviousily ignored the problems.  5 years ago it would have been a lot easier to make the case for taxpayer money to go to well improvements.  Little tougher now!

Medway just is fighting thru the terrible situation of waiting too late for replacement/repair of a well.

Medway MA Master Water Plan 11/09

The Town of Holliston presented an all-around State of the Town recently and here is the presentation:

Holliston Plans of the Town 11/09

The latest report I could find regarding the Report on the town’s water was the Annual Report for 2008:

Water Report for 2008 -  Issued 6/09

On September 3rd  2009, the Water Department issued a notice because the DEP required it.  The town had discovered some level of surface water getting into one of the town’s wells.  The DEP regulations required that they notify the residents.  In this notice, they also stated:

We are currently completing a Master Plan of the entire Holliston Water System evaluating the best approach for cost effectively continuing to meet all federal and state regulations and provide all our residents with the highest quality water.

Upon searching for this Master Plan for the Water System, no mention of it on the town’s website or thru a google search.  I will keep hunting for it.  I am also interested as to why the last meeting minutes posted to the town site for the Board of Water Commissioners is from 8/26/09??

As a Realtor selling Holliston real estate, Buyers get access to all the press and reports on the internet, and we will have property values affected negatively if we don’t get our act together.  The town needs to feel confident about water Quality AND Quantity, and this is a non-negotiable!

Ed Daniels is a local Holliston resident and taxpayer, concerned citizen over water supplies in the region, and a Realtor hoping to sell many homes to families moving to Holliston.  To talk about everything regarding Holliston Real Estate, or other Metrowest homes, call 508-341-7880.

Below are results from each Metrowest MA town and the vote counts for either Scott Brown (R) or Martha Coakley (D):

Town    -    Winner   -   Vote count

Ashland            Brown     3467 vs 2897

Bellingham    Brown     4090 vs 2179

Framingham     Coakley     10329 vs 9149

Franklin            Brown     8828 vs 4470

Holliston          Brown     3725 vs 2921

Hopkinton       Brown     4123 vs 2600

Marlborough     Brown     6817 vs 5037

Medway            Brown     3641 vs 2044

Milford             Brown     5432 vs 3561

Millis              Brown     2430 vs 1383

Natick          Coakley     7208 vs 6954

Northborough     Brown     3816 vs 2486

Shrewsbury      Brown     7867 vs 5242

Southborough     Brown     2689 vs 1845

Upton              Brown     2125 vs 1138

Westborough     Brown     3822 vs 2996

Results for other towns not posted here can be found by

 clicking this link.

Good luck to Scott Brown as he heads to Washington to help all citizens of Massachusetts.  The people have spoken with their votes and now it is his job to take care of us!

Ed Daniels of Re/Max Executive Realty is a local Realtor and home owner in Metrowest Boston.  

He can be contacted at 508-341-7880 for help in learning about the Metrowest area and buying/selling a home.

In attempting to find the government office that would have the actual deleading certificates of compliance, I got the expected runaround.  First, all sites that referred me to the lead paint programs had a disconnected phone number.  When I reached somebody, they put me into a voicemail system where I left a message.  I am on day 2 with no phone call returned.

The deleading programs in Massachusetts are some of the strictest created, and the federal guidelines followed this state’s lead.  But as usual, the implementation of a good idea falls on its face when put in the hands of government.  Budgets have to get cut, they slash these types of departments!

Well, at least the website has good records of dates and inspectors.  I hope this will be enough for my buyer, because I am not expecting a call back from the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)!

State Site for Deleaded Properties

I am a trained Moderate Risk Deleading Owner after an 8 hour training class, so if you have any questions regarding lead paint, please feel free to call me at 508-341-7880.

The purpose of the bylaw may be reasonable on its face, but it wouldn’t make as much sense if it was affecting you directly.  The basics on this new law is:

1.  
   1. Landlords must register their multi-family home with city hall.  $50 per unit cost.
   2. A fee is required for each unit, and it is measured and inspected by the city.  $15 per unit annually.
   3. Penalties could be $300 per day if you fail to comply.

The stated purpose of the bylaw is to help in the increased issues with overcrowded rental units and unsanitary conditions.  Noble idea, but there are already laws regarding this!

Here is the Boston globe article on the subject.  Click here.

I am a landlord of a 14 unit building in Shirley, MA.  I am regulated by the State Sanitary Code.  It covers the gap that is allowed in a window, the temperature that the building needs to be at different times of year, railings, screens for windows, etc. etc. etc. 

See the 35 pages of Sanitary Code here.  I need another regulation like a hole in the head!

As a resident, your town hall officials are going to have more work to inspect and document all of the town’s multi-family housing stock.  As a landlord, you are opening your doors to a city official to pick apart your investment.

I hope that my tenants keep their place in the same condition I keep my own home, but the reality is that they do not.  Most of the rental units are very poorly maintained.  We are talking about cleanliness and care of the property.

Early in my experience as a landlord, a tenant who did not want to pay for their rent decided to unleash the Board of Health on me.  I spent several inspections where the tenant pulled off the smoke detector and broke a pane of window glass prior to the inspection so that I would fail.  I had to have the inspector come over right after I installed the glass for the 3rd time and I put up a new smoke detector while the inspector watched.  It was the only way to pass the health code.

Additionally, there are town by-laws that regulate many different areas that naturally regulate the number of people who generally live in a unit.  One example is parking.  Residential zoning in Milford requires 2 off-street parking spaces per unit.

OK, I admit that after researching the section  of town bylaw, Fire Marshall Code, and State Building Code, I have not been able to find a clear defination of how many persons can live in a residence.  I expected 2 per bedroom, or 2 per 500 sq ft, or something like this.  It is tough to define, and maybe that is why it has not been defined.

Milford residents: your town hall officials are going to have more work to inspect and document all of the town’s multi-family housing stock.  As a landlord, you have additional fees each year and now open your doors to inspection.  That is bad for every landlord.

Finally, we ask who gains from this new by-law?  Renters cannot share costs living with “overcrowded” living situations and will have to figure out how to live with more money going towards rent.  Renters will most likely bear the additional fees being put onto landlords shoulders.  Citizens will most likely experience more city costs with managment of this program and legal fees to enforce it.  Neighbors to these overcrowded residences may be the only winners, even though they could have complained to the Board of Health prior to this by-law.

Bad idea Milford!

Ed Daniels – full time Realtor for The MAhome Team of Re/Max Executive Realty welcomes your comments about this local issue.  The Team would be happy to counsel you regarding anything about the local real estate market.  Ed is also an owner of a 14 unit apartment building.  The MAhome team can be reached at 508-341-7880.

As you may recall, the gap between the Finance Committee’s guideline of -1.72% and the School Committee’s voted budget of 4.69% left a gap of $1.7 million and change. As more information has become available, the Fin Com has informed the School Committee that they have reviewed the revenue projections and they are able to provide an additional 460K.

This brings the Fin Com guideline down to 0.00%, which is wonderful news, but still leaves a gap of $1.252 million.

This gap is a difference between what the Finance Committee says we can afford and what the School Committee believes we need. Two boards, two different perspectives

Here is the article in the Metrowest Daily News on Friday: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x907489551).

To further discuss this gap, there are two important dates of which to be aware:

This Monday, March 24 at 8:00, the School Committee will be meeting with the Board of Selectmen in Town Hall. This is a public meeting and a chance to weigh in on the situation.

In addition, we have called a special School Committee meeting next Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 (most likely in the High School Library) to further discuss what the scenario might be, should we not be able to close the gap.

Overall, the School Committee’s philosophy is markedly similar to Superintendent Jackson’s, with the exception of fees. In a challenging fiscal year, fees are on the table.

I very much hope you will put these dates on your calendars and make it a point to attend these meetings. As of right now, an override is not on the ballot and the Board of Selectmen must make this decision by April 1.

They need to hear from you. I urge you, whatever your decision, to make it an informed one.

Again, if there are any questions, please don’t hesitiate to call School Committee members or the Superintendent’s Office.

Kindest regards,

Erica Plunkett