Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today. Thursday, March 21

Bits of Knowledge to help make you the smartest person at the watercooler.

Here are 5 pieces of information designed to get your Thursday started on the right foot and to help make you the smartest leaf on your family tree. 1. Your 3-Day Local Weather Forecast: 2. Reader Comment of the Day: "She is an alumni of the awesome Wilmington High School Choir & Theatre. I could listen to that girl sing all day. Great job Lauren and great job WHS Hockey Team!" Reader Maureen Stevens, commenting on the story, "Lauren Azevedo Performs Anthem in Front of TD Garden Crowd." 3. It's Happening Today: It's going to be a busy night in Room 9 of Town Hall. The High School Building Committee is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. and the Finance Commitee is set to meet at 7 p.m. 4. Do Not Go Shopping Today!: Well, not until you check out…

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Selectmen's Notebook: Delays Won't Put High School Project Over Budget

Results of Yentile Farm Survey are revealed.

While the new high school building project will cost more because of several lawsuits and appeals, it is still projected to come in under budget. Michael Newhouse, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, told fellow board members at the Feb. 11 meeting that delays in the project would likely tack on an estimated $1.5 million to the overall cost. Included in that is an extra $458,000 in the cost of steel. However, Newhouse said the additional costs have been offset by prudent decisions. These include going with "non-trade" bids for construction, foundation and demolition, according to Newhouse. He also explained that taking an "at-risk" approach to the project resulted in an additional several hundred thousand dollars reimbursement by the state…

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Bids Unsealed for Parts of High School Project

Town Manager Jeff Hull said it's too early to categorize whether the town will opt to use the winning bids.

Town officials unsealed bids for the high school project late last week, though it will likely take several weeks of research before they decide whether or not to accept the winning bids for portions of construction work on the school. Wilmington Town Manager Jeff Hull unsealed bids following the deadline to submit on Thursday. Hull said the qualifications of winning bidders are being reviewed before any decisions can be made. “The early read here is that there were certain categories where the bids came in significantly higher than anticipated,” said Hull. “Others came in more in line with what we anticipated, in some cases a little lower. Generally speaking it’s a mixed bag and (the town’s consultants) need to go through the numbers and …

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Town Estimates School Appeals Cost $1.75 Million to Date

The Board of Selectmen opted to move forward with the bid process on January 24 following a vote on Monday night.

For the first time during the appeals process, the Board of Selectmen quantified the impact of the appeals process. Selectmen discussed at Monday’s meeting whether or not to go forward with the bid process for work on the high school despite the school currently before Superior Court. Chairman Mike Newhouse said that when trade bids are unsealed after they come in by January 24, the town is estimating there will be an additional $1,755,000 that is attributed to the appeals. He added that the last six months will prove to be especially costly, counting for about $1,060,000 alone and the numbers will continue to climb the longer the town waits. “In round numbers, we are expecting that if we put off the work that we contemplate, it’s likely …

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Student X

3:38 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Even if they've allowed taxpayers to be gouged out of hundreds of thousands, you've gouged taxpayers out of millions, Mr. MacDonald. Just saying.   more ›

Town Officials Prepare to Move Forward With Gym Demolition

Town and school officials discuss the decision to begin work at the school, and what impact it'll have.

Though the appeal of the high school project remains at Superior Court, Wilmington officials are preparing for a major first step towards making the project a reality as Superintendent of Schools Joanne Benton announced Wednesday the gymnasium will be demolished in February. Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse said he and his fellow selectmen will discuss the gym demolition in executive session during Monday’s meeting. Once regular business begins, members will then hold a public discussion and a vote that would mean the town is officially going forward with the demolition. “The ultimate goal is to deliver what the residents have appropriated the money for and have supported,” said Newhouse. “And that’s to have a completed state of …

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UPDATED: Superior Court Deadline Just Over One Week Away

Appellant Kevin MacDonald did not comment on whether or not he has filed to take his appeal to the next level.

Updated at 3:20 p.m.: Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that as of today, no appeal to Superior Court has been filed with just over one week remaining until the deadline. Newhouse said the town is continuing its efforts to prepare the project to be ready to continue as soon as possible in the event that no appeal is filed. "Based on the fact that no appeal to Superior Court has been filed as of this date, the Town is moving forward with plans for the construction of the new high school," said Newhouse. "Specifically, in accordance with the Final Order of Conditions issued by DEP, the Construction Manager has scheduled a pre-construction meeting with Mass DEP for early December, and the Town’s design…

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High School Appeals Will Continue After Latest Motion

As expected, the petitioners filed a motion for the DEP Commissioner to reconsider his decision to dismiss the appeals just before the Tuesday deadline.

The appellants of the Wilmington High School project filed their latest motion with the Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday, their final step before the project likely heads to Superior Court. Petitioners filed a motion to reconsider, hoping the DEP Commissioner will reconsider accepting Hearings Officer Tim Jones’ recommended decision to dismiss both appeals. Tuesday was the deadline for the motion, and petitioner Kevin MacDonald confirmed that the group did submit to DEP just before the 5 p.m. deadline. “We feel the dismissal was irresponsible and should not have happened,” said MacDonald. “We don’t feel justice was serviced, and we think the Commissioner should allow at minimum a hearing to be held. People deserve their …

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Matt Schooley

4:20 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012

Donna, I wasn't singling you out, instead just making a general request to all of our posters in an effort to get the discussion back on topic. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Matt   more ›

Hull Says Town Must 'Be Prepared for Any Outcome' With Appeals

Town Manager Jeffrey Hull said the town must be ready for the possibility of going to Superior Court.

Despite the threat of appellants taking the high school project to Superior Court, Town Manager Jeff Hull said he remains cautiously optimistic following the recent decision by the Department of Environmental Protection’s hearings officer. “The applicants have the opportunity to pursue things further, so we’re waiting to see if that’s something they’re interested in doing,” said Hull. “In the meantime, we’re doing what we can for preparations to the point that we can begin the project as soon as it’s possible.” Officials and appellants alike are waiting for the DEP Commissioner to rule on whether or not he will accept hearings officer Tim Jones’ recommended decision to dismiss both appeals. In the meantime, Hull said planning continues on …

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Kevin MacDonald

6:00 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012

http://www.businessinsider.com/wells-fargo-wachovia-bid-rig-2011-12   more ›

WHS Abutter's Attorney: 'That's Why We Have Superior Court'

The appeals process for the new high school appears to be far from over with the possibility of Superior Court looming.

The battle over the new Wilmington High School appears to be far from over. Department of Environmental Protection Hearings Officer Tim Jones released the report on his decision to dismiss both school appeals on Friday, the attorney for abutter Gerry O’Reilly indicated that his client will likely be willing to continue his appeal to the next level. “That’s why we have Superior Court,” said attorney Jeffrey S. Baker, when read a paragraph summarizing the report that claims the petitioners failed to raise factual issues in their appeal. “I have nothing else to say other than that.” According to Jones, the appeals were dismissed for a host of reasons. He said in his report that evidence was filed late by the appellants and many of the issues …

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MacDonald Says 'I Don't Think It's Over Yet' After Dismissal

Kevin MacDonald said he and others are weighing their options after the Department of Environmental Protection dismissed their high school appeals.

Though the Department of Environmental Protection dismissed both high school appeals, Kevin MacDonald said he does not believe it is the end of the road for himself and other residents who oppose the project. “I don’t think it’s over yet,” said MacDonald, who didn’t provide specific details as to what the next step may be. “We’re evaluating our options and talking to our attorneys. We feel as though the presiding officer has erred and made hasty decisions when we submitted documentation supporting our case.” Multiple attempts by Patch to reach Gerry O’Reilly, the other appeal spokesman, for comment on Thursday were unsuccessful. Upon dismissing the appeals, Hearings Officer Tim Jones said he will release a report by October 12 indicating …

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