2011 Year in Review: Government News

Looking back at the last year in Wrentham government news.

As 2011 draws to a close, here's a look back at government news in the town over the year.

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Planning Board to Hold Public Hearing on Wrentham Crossing

Hearing on proposed changes to permit will be held Jan. 4.

The town planning board is set to hold a public hearing on the proposed Wrentham Crossing Development on Jan. 4. The development would be across the street from the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. The hearing is intended to determine whether the development's permit should be modified to allow one large building instead of three smaller buildings. "Original approvals allowed six standalone buildings, the largest being 37,500 square feet," the public hearing notice reads. "With the proposed modification, the applicant is seeking approval to merge three of the buildings (Buildings A, B and C) into one building of 84,800 square feet." Developers have said that tenants prefer a single, large building to three separate buildings, as the space…

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Patch Facts

Week in Review: Town Meeting, Flamingos and Technology

A look at the week of Nov. 13 - Nov. 18.

1. Wrentham held its Special Town Meeting Monday night and decided (among other things) to keep the Board of Health elected, to approve a generator for the town's senior center and rezone property near the outlets. 2. The King Philip boys ice hockey team started its second annual flamingo fundraiser, in which plastic flamingos flock from house to house in the hopes of donations to the program. 3. The Wrentham selectmen met Tuesday night and discussed the town's technology committee. They ended up appointing two new members to the committee. 4. The state unemployment rate was unchanged for the month of October, despite the addition of 10,800 jobs. 5. Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey announced a drug bust in the towns of …

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Wrentham Town Meeting: Volunteers of Year Recognized

Patricia Fogg, Eddie Cullinane and Samantha McPhee recognized as town's volunteers of the year.

Wrentham recognized three people as its Volunteers of the Year at its Special Town Meeting on Monday night. Patricia Fogg won the Volunteer of the Year award for those aged 18 and over, while the 18 and under award went to Eddie Cullinane and Samantha McPhee. Selectman Stephen Langley presented the award for adult volunteer of the year. "One of the nicest things we get to do is recognize the town's volunteers," he said. "The recipients receive a nice certificate, a plaque on the wall at town hall, and a variety of gifts from the Downtown Merchants Association." Langley said Fogg had done excellent work with the town's conservation land. "We are very proud of the natural resources we've protected in the town of Wrentham." he said. Selectmen…

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Wrentham Town Meeting: Generator for Senior Center Approved

Generator would help center house seniors in outages.

Wrentham citizens voted to approve a generator for the senior center as part of a capital spending article at Monday night's Special Town Meeting. The generator is intended to keep power at the center in the event of an outage, like the ones experienced after Tropical Storm Irene and the Snowtober snowstorm. Board of Selectmen Chairman Joseph Botaish made an amendment to remove the generator from the article, saying the town was looking to address its shelter needs more fully. "We would like to get a facility to be used in the event of an overnight emergency," he said. "We're looking at converting the school to an emergency shelter." Botaish suggested the town pay to wire the center for a generator, and simply rent a generator as needed. …

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Wrentham Town Meeting: Land Near Outlets Rezoned

The meeting agrees to rezone property near the outlets from residential to commercial.

Wrentham residents voted at Tuesday night's Special Town Meeting to rezone a tract of land on South Street from residential to commercial. The land borders the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. Planning Board Chairman Tom Wrynn said the article had been requested by the people living on the properties. "Citizens have reported feeling trapped in their homes," he said. "They've been unable to sell due to the commercial nature of the area." He also noted that non-residential development would likely result in higher tax revenue for the town. David Wluka, a Sharon real estate agent, spoke about the article. "Eight families came to me and said they don't want to live there, that they can't live there," he said, noting a map of the area that …

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Wrentham Town Meeting Liveblog

Follow along with the Wrentham Town Meeting tonight.

Wrentham will hold a Special Town Meeting tonight at the King Philip High School at 7pm. Follow along (and add your comments) as we cover the event live.

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Wrentham Selectmen Discuss Town Meeting Presentation

The selectmen talk about an informational session for town residents.

The Wrentham Board of Selectmen discussed the possibility of briefing town meeting attendees on the work done by town government. Board chairman Joseph Botaish raised the issue, saying it would be a good way to inform the townspeople. "I think we owe it to the people to give a five-to-ten minute 'state of the town' address," he said. "We would talk about the different obstacles or successes faced by town government." Botaish said several people had told him that they didn't know what the town boards did. "I think people need to hear from the governing boards, and not rumors on the street," he said. He said the briefing could take place during the annual town meeting, special town meeting or both. Selectman Stephen Langley said he agreed …

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