Dudley selectmen consider proposed $400,000 budget override

Appoint Gould to aging council

By Charles Kelleher Harris
Patriot correspondent

DUDLEY— David Gould, who has spent much of his life in the public service of the town, has been missed. But now he is back and ready for action.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night to accept Gould’s appointment to the Dudley Council on Aging.

“I believe an additional male voice on the Council would be helpful,” Gould said.

“Welcome back,” said Selectman Peter Fox, “We’ve missed you… [and your] expertise.”

“I think this is important because some of the [current Council on Aging members] don’t show up for the meetings,” Gould told the board adding, “Quite frankly there are a lot of nice people down at the senior center. I only wish more elderly would go down there and make use of it.”

On Monday night the board also heard from two local residents rousing support for a good cause.

The first was a member of the Dudley’s Women’s Club, which will be hosting its annual fundraising fashion show at Point Breeze on April 7. Monies from the show and luncheon go toward providing college scholarships to three female students in Dudley. People interested can visit dudleywomansclub.net.

Nichols College student Michael Kowal came before the board to ask support for cancer awareness 5K Family Fun Run that he is organizing, also on April 7.

Kowal explained that he was working on the project as part of his sport event management class.

Kowal said that he is partnering with the non-profit organization the 15-40 Connection to help raise awareness for early cancer detection in people ages 15-40.

“We’re looking for volume of participants not funding,” Kowal explained.

Kowal said that he had already arranged for a detail with Police Chief Steven Wojnar. Kowal also asked permission to advertise around town for the event.

Selectmen also voted to open the Annual Town Meeting Warrant Monday night and close it on March 22. The warrant must be posted by May 6.

The board also began talks about a proposed override ballot question for $400,000 presented jointly by the Dudley Charlton Regional School District, Dudley Fire, Dudley Police and Dudley Highway Departments.

“We need something to cover deficiencies and keeping our costs as low as possible,” explained Chief Wojnar.

Selectman Paul Joseph said that he would support the approval of the ballot question under the condition that none of the involved departments would ask for more than 2 ½ percent budget increase next fiscal year and that each department head use a format to thoroughly explain the specific use of monies.

“That puts me in a pickle,” said Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski, “Because I’ve already approved per diem shifts which go above 2 ½ percent.”

“You aren’t necessarily in bad shape,” said Joseph, “[If you spend] above 2 ½ percent you just have to cite the source.”

Selectman Jonathan Ruda said that the matter could be discussed further in a public hearing which was scheduled for the next meeting on March 18.