King Philip School Committee Hears From State Officials

State Sen. Richard Ross and State Rep. Daniel Winslow stop by the King Philip School Committee for a discussion on local aide and Race to the Top.

The King Philip School Committee discussed state budget issues with State Sen. Richard Ross and State Rep. Daniel Winslow on Monday night and how the state fiscal landscape could affect the schools. The short version? It’s too early to tell. “We’re just one weekend into session of this two year thing, our legislations not due until Jan, 18 in the house and nobody knows what the budget seems like yet,” said Winslow. “We just need to see what [quarter 1] looks like in 2013 to see how the budget process will shape up.” Ross said there has not been much support for cutting aide to schools or local aid. He added that instead of cutting, raising taxes and finding new sources of revenue would be a more likely course. “There hasn’t been in the …

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Winslow Calls for End to Boston Resident Toll Deal

State Rep. Dan Winslow is looking to end discounts for near-Boston residents.

State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) is calling for an end to the toll deal for commuters from East Boston, Charlestown, Chelsea and other towns in the immediate Boston area. According to Winslow, the deal shifts about $7 million onto the commuters from farther-flung towns. He has filed a budget amendment to end the deal. "A resident of East Boston has a choice of subway, bus or boat to commute to Boston, but if they ignore all these public transit options and get into their car to drive into the city, MassDOT gives them an 87 percent discount on their tolls in the tunnels or over the bridge," Winslow said. "That discount shifts added costs onto everyone else who already is paying $3 per trip.  Everyone should pay their fair share." …

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Winslow: State House Budget to Keep Norfolk Prison Open

State Rep. Dan Winslow said the state House of Representatives budget would keep Bay State Prison in Norfolk open.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives budget drafters have rejected a proposal to close the Bay State Prison in Norfolk, according to a release from State Rep. Dan Winslow's office. Winslow said Gov. Deval Patrick had proposed the facility's closure. Winslow had opposed the closing, citing the potential loss of local jobs and prison overcrowding. "With prisons in Massachusetts at 143 percent over capacity, it made no sense and posed a public safety risk to correctional officers, inmates and the public to close a prison," Winslow said in a statement. "We spend more than $42,000 annually per inmate and have a 60 percent rate of recidivism in Massachusetts." "We need to put 'correction' back into the department of correction and use the …

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Rep. Winslow Files for Re-Election

State Rep. Dan Winslow will seek to retain his seat.

State Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) filed papers on Friday to seek re-election to the legislature. According to a release from Winslow's office, the papers included 600 signatures, far more than the 150 required to run for the seat. Voters from every town Winslow represents - Plainville, Medfield, Norfolk, Millis, Walpole and Wrentham - were included in that total. "I am so thankful to my volunteers for helping me to meet so many voters and to the voters for giving me a chance to appear on the ballot for the 2012 election," Winslow said in a statement.  "I am lucky to have so many people willing to donate their time and effort to help me finish the things that I've started on Beacon Hill." Winslow has been active in his first term, calling …

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State Rep. Winslow Announces Green Energy Internships

Area students encouraged to apply for internships.

State officials have launched this year's clean energy internship program, and are encouraging students and recent graduates to post resumes and cover letters to: ma.cleanenergyeducation.org. In 2011, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Program helped place more than 117 individuals at paid summer internships, with 70 clean energy companies. According to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the New England Clean Energy Council, 20 students gained full-time and part-time employment as a result of last year’s program, and more than 70 students are being considered for future employment. Companies are eligible for two interns and receive stipends of up to $12 per hour, or $4,800 for up to ten weeks for each intern.  -Courtesy State…

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Poll: State Rep. Winslow Urges Local Oversight of Utility Line Maintenance

Wrentham's state representative, Dan Winslow, sends model bylaw for town meeting consideration.

Wrentham's State Representative, Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk), has sent a model local bylaw to the Massachusetts Municipal Association that, if adopted by local town meetings or city councils, would allow municipalities to require better maintenance of utility lines by utility companies to reduce the risk of extended power outages from tree damage after storms.   Wrentham experienced significant power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Irene this past August and the Snowtober snowstorm. "The utilities have spent millions on lobbyists at the State House to block pending legislation which would increase competition or create incentives for better management of our power grid," said Winslow. "But lobbyists have zero influence at a local town …

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Wrentham Selectmen Vote Against Casino

Selectmen take vote against Foxborough plan.

The Wrentham Selectmen voted at their meeting Tuesday night against supporting the possibility of a Foxborough casino. Board Chairman Joseph Botaish said many Wrentham residents had sent in emails on the subject. "I don't see any benefit to this," he said. "I think the burden it will put on the town will be tremendous." Botaish said the Connecticut town in which the Mohegan Sun casino is based saw a substantial increase in crime since the casino's construction. "In terms of the jobs it will create, there are no casino managers living in Wrentham or Foxborough," he said. Selectman Stephen Langley agreed. "I think there would be some mitigation, but I cannot see any mitigation that would lead me to believe that a casino is in the better …

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Patch Facts

Week in Review: Snowtober, Power Outages and Football

Looking back at the week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 5.

1. The Snowtober snowstorm struck Wrentham this week, causing substantial damage and power outages throughout town.  2. In response to the prolonged outages, State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk) urged action on his proposed bill that would require power companies to provide rebates for outages. 3. Town Administrator William Ketcham spoke on Wednesday about the town's response to the storm, and how lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene helped. 4. Wrentham Patch celebrated its first anniversary this week. Thanks again to all our contributors, reporters and readers! 5. The King Philip Warriors football team defeated Attleboro on Friday by a score of 41-7. Senior running back Charles Ruffin scored six times in the game and ran for a two-…

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State Rep. Winslow Talks Outage Rebate Bill, Sen. Brown Endorsement

Sen. Scott Brown has endorsed State Rep. Dan Winslow's power outage rebate bill.

State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk) is getting attention for a bill he proposed that would require utility companies to provide rebates for long power outages. Winslow said he proposed the bill after the outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene. "It would require the utilities to rebate customers two days for every one day where they went more than eight hours without power," he said. "The utilities are a monopoly — they're not subject to competitive pressures." He said this bill would incentivize companies to aggressively trim tree limbs and upgrade their power stations. Winslow pointed to the town of Princeton, Mass. as an example. He said Princeton's municipal electrical department worked aggressively after Irene devastated its lines, …

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