Politics & Government

Wrentham Officials Gather For Leadership Forum

Members of town's elected committees met on Saturday to share ideas.

Members of Wrentham's town government met Saturday in a leadership forum intended to increase interaction between the town's boards.

The session took place at the town's senior center at 9am.

Representatives from the town's elected boards gave presentation on their board's mission and goals for the future.

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Among those present were Board of Selectmen Chairman Stephen Langley, Planning Board member Bob Cohen, King Philip School Committee member Matthew Gray, Wrentham elementary Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden and Town Moderator Keith Billian.

Langley said the meeting was partly aimed at getting new Town Administrator William Ketcham up to speed on the town's business.

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"Certainly, the fiscal meltdown has severely impacted business everywhere," he said. "Delivering a balanced budget in a cost-effective manner is a priority."

Those present discussed multiple revenue-generating possibilities, including taking gravel from the recently-cleaned Marra property.

"There's gravel there, but the first thing we have to do is make sure the property has a clean bill of health," he said. "[Gravelling is] potential revenue, not recurring revenue, but there's a lot we could do with one-time revenue."

Ketcham said the property will get tested soon, which will determine if the property has truly been cleaned.

Cohen said one issue that would affect the town in the future is affordable housing, as the town falls below the state's quota.

"We need an affordable housing partnership," he said. "We can tap that committee in a way that satisifies the state."

"Right now, the economy is in tough shape, so there's probably not a lot of appetite to build apartments, but, when it turns around, they can impose it on us whether we want it or not," he added.

Those present also discussed the future development on the town, and noted that it was hard to guess what the residents wanted. Billian suggested that some non-binding questions be put out at the next election, to better determine the town's vision.

Maureen O'Sullivan, of the library's board of trustees, said the choice had to be explained to the townspeople in an understandable way.

"It needs to be made clear that, if they want to keep development out, it will cost money," she said. "They will have to pay for it, and taxes will go up."


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