[Fomp] Progress report on Morses Pond

[Barry Herring]

Dear Friends:

When I last wrote to you in January, the new weed harvester had just 
been ordered.  DPW now tells me that they expect delivery this month, 
and hope to be harvesting in May.  The 2007 Town Meeting has commenced, 
and the funding articles for Morses Pond are making good progress.  So 
far, TM has approved Article 8, which provides more than $100,000 for 
running the harvester and other operational activities, and Article 21, 
which authorizes $650,000 for dredging the north basin of Morses Pond.  
Article 21, however, still requires voter approval as a "capital debt 
exclusion" proposition 2 1/2 override.  Article 17, which authorizes 
$153,000 from Community Preservation funds for Morses Pond, is scheduled 
to come before TM on Monday, April 9.  This item has already been 
approved by the Community Preservation Commission, and was unanimously 
supported by the Advisory Committee, so we anticipate TM approval.  When 
all of the capital issues have been dealt with by Town Meeting, the 
Selectmen will bundle them into a single referendum, and schedule a 
town-wide vote in mid-May.  FOMP plans to collaborate with the school 
parents to form a campaign committee that will advocate for a "yes" vote 
on the May balloting.  When that campaign starts, I will send another 
email to let you know what to expect and how you can help.

Regards,
Barry Herring
FOMP Chairman