WENHAM — Rising health care costs are the bane of municipal budget-setters everywhere.
In July 2007, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a law aimed at helping by opening up the Group Insurance Commission, formerly available only to state employees, to municipalities across the state.
Selectman Larry Swartz told fellow board members Tuesday night the town could save up to $110,000 a year if it afforded itself of this option.
The key is, the law is written so that the move can only be made if the town's unionized employees approve. But that smacks of taxation without representation, since nonunion workers outnumber unionized employees in Wenham.
Nonetheless, Swartz said there would also be significant savings for employees and retirees who have their insurance through the town. They would also have access to greater variety of plans, Swartz said.
Meetings are planned with all town employees to discuss the issue.
Planning ahead
Town Administrator Jeffrey Chelgren told the Board of Selectmen about a service that is meant to make scheduling meetings and other events easier.
As things stand, Wenham, Hamilton and the Regional School District are scheduling in a bit of a vacuum, and conflicts arise frequently.
Plymouth Rocket Inc. offers a Web service that promises to shed a little more light on the subject by tying all three entities' calendars together, with no additional workload for local planners.
Chelgren said the hope is other community organizations such as the Wenham Museum will also get on the bandwagon so organizers and residents can have a broad overview of the lay of the land.
As with so many things in today's busy world, it's unclear whether the service will actually make life any easier.
"I suspect what they'll find is everything blacked out," Chelgren said after the meeting, meaning events are being planned so far in advance organizers may find it impossible to avoid conflicts.
Spiffy
Fire Chief Bob Blanchard stopped by to let board members know the department recently received a grant to help purchase forestry equipment. It isn't a lot of money, $1,158, but Blanchard said every little bit helps.
The chief also updated the board on the refurbishing of the former police and fire stations, which is being done by call firefighters on their own time.
Now that the interior of the building is shipshape, Blanchard said the boys have been spending the summer working on the exterior.
Keep on blinkin'
The yellow flashing light at the corner of Topsfield Road and Cherry Street is still flashing, weeks after new semaphores were installed.
Chelgren said the hang-up is new utility poles, which have to be installed so the existing overhead wires can be transferred to them.
Chelgren said he has his fingers crossed the project will be done by the end of the month and pointed out the original forecast was that it would take until Thanksgiving to finish up.
Feeling blue
We should know by the end of the day who will be on the blue-ribbon commission original proposed by selectmen Chairman John Clemenzi.
Made up of representatives of both towns and the school community, the commission will be charged with an exhaustive investigation into the perennial funding problems that have plagued budget-setters for years.
Step up
Selectman Harriet Davis called for volunteers to serve on the Finance and Advisory Committee and the War Memorial Committee. She also noted the town needs to appoint a representative to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
If you're interested in any of the positions, call the town administrator's office at 978-356-5570, ext. 2, or get in touch with any of the selectmen.
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