*

The New York Times has more.

Sharon Mercurio, the Council on Aging Senior Directer, answered a few questions:

BM: First things first: as the Director of the CoA, what do your responsibilities entail?

SM: As the COA Director I am responsible for running the Senior Center (budget, building, staffing, programs, Meals on Wheels) and any Elder Service issues. I enjoy the position. No two days are ever alike and the people I get to meet are incredible.

BM: So — Pepperell voted no. What’s your reaction? What do you think were the determining factors in the vote?

Also, you’re quoted in the Globe saying that seniors are terrified, and that since their SS payments weren’t going up, “A lot of them are fearful of losing their homes.” What have you been hearing from seniors since the vote? How would a “Yes” have affected them? How does the “No” affect them?

SM: I really wasn’t sure which way the vote would go. I don’t know how many people actually got to the polls to vote. I think a lot of folks didn’t really understand what it was all about and some actually thought that it was a done deal when it was voted on at Town Meeting to have an Override. The seniors seem relieved that the vote didn’t pass. We’re not quite sure what will exactly happen to our budgets since the override didn’t pass. I do know some of the seniors are planning to attend school committee meetings this year and try to become more involved with what is going on with their budget.

(Via UHub.)

The this? A car had just lodged its bumper beneath the bumper of an ambulance. They were the only two cars on the street.

A crowd gathered. There was an expectant hush. Everyone seemed okay, but what, exactly, had happened? And then it came, a clarion call, lifting us up, carrying us up, away, and through the rest of our respective days’.

“Hey, you’re a jackass!”

And just like that, we left, and most of the others did, too, seemingly — wonderfully — satisfied.

*

Reuters.

*

Interview /Profile with the Globe (May)

(Via.)

Previously: Ryles Jazz Bar, Relax, Peabody Fire, Bridge, Mandela Rally, Harvard, Charles, Trinity Church, BPL Courtyard, The Public Garden, Charlie’s Kitchen, The Coolidge, and the Longfellow Bridge.

Boston Metblogs: You wrote on your website:

There has been some dialog in the community about the ballot question, but for the most part it has been “quiet”. I have seen few letters in Enterprise or Independent (two local newspapers), some lawn signs out (most saying NO), and low attendance at public forums (not overflow crowds for a ‘pocketbook’ issue).

Why do you think it was “quiet?” Where do you think the other 75% of voters fall on the issue?* How would you like to see the community engaged for future votes?

(*A quarter of registered voters participated in the override vote.)

Joseph Gillis: It was quiet because many did not believe it a major enough issue to devote more than cursory time to it. There were and always will be people more deeply engaged in the topic, however the proponents never effectively framed the issue in a manner to engage the community.

BM: The Globe quotes Mildred Hasson as saying, “As far as I’m concerned, ‘a fiscally responsible override’ is an oxymoron.”

The Tauton Gazette quotes Keith Buhol as saying,

“This override addresses a lot of the ‘no’ issues from last year. To vote ‘no’ just because it is an override, and not based on any facts, is not fiscally responsible.”

Were there new objections? Do they … have a thing against schools?

JG: Mildred Hasson is engaged in the community, and willing to bring her issues forward. For that, she should be commended. People may disagree with her, but she is following the democractic process. Keith Buohl is also engaged in the community.

Not any “new” objections; more old objections – prove the case that the money is needed and will be spent
wisely.

While there will always be individuals who will frame the question on one particular group (like schools), it did not appear that the schools played any major part in the discussions.

BM: When you lose 26 teacher aides and two proctors, what happens? What changes in the classroom? What’s the change we’re looking at in class sizes? (What would they have been, had the money gone through?)

JG: This is all still ‘in discussion’. The School Committee will meet on Wednesday to review what has transpired, and vote on next steps.

BM: Anything else you’d like to talk about?

JG: Perhaps an intriguing question for voters, but “what is the breaking/tipping point?” Randolph had to sink pretty low prior to an over-ride passing there; what do the residents of Bridgewater believe is the tipping point on the matter? It is clear that through four over-rides, 3500-4000 have voted “NO”. The first and most rent both had 2000 “YES’ votes; obviously by nearly 2 to 1, the proponents did not make their case and convince voters to go and vote “YES”. So, is there a particular event or threshold for individuals?