Taxpayers Likely on Hook for $2.6 Million Belmont Center Re-Do

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At first glance, Belmont appears to love the future look of Belmont Center.

The proposal including refurbished roads, new sidewalks, more parking, a new greens-space “common” and modern electronic parking plan was presented to 60 residents during a Town Hall meeting held Monday, Sept. 8 as town officials reintroduced the four-year Belmont Center Reconstruction Project.

“A lot of these improvements, besides being aesthetically pleasing, are really about creating a plan for Belmont Center … and something to be proud of,” said Belmont Board of Selectmen Chair Andy Rojas, praising the initial design that could begin early in 2015 with completion on Halloween of next year.

The public’s reaction to the presentation was upbeat – Town Meeting member Don Mercier did object to replacing “valuable parking spaces” with a small village common that will be located in front of Belmont Savings Bank on Leonard Street – with several suggesting “tweaks” to control traffic and pedestrian safety.

With utility and water infrastructure work completed around Belmont Center in the past two years, “the project is ready to go,” said David Kale, Belmont’s town administrator.

But while the project’s important features have been nailed down, the town’s blueprint to finance the $2.6 million project has come apart as anticipated money from Beacon Hill and the one-time sale of town properties failed to emerge.

“We will have to come up with a funding plan that will need to be shared and approved by the Board of Selectmen, the Warrant Committee and Capital Budget if we choice to get this project underway,” said Kale.

In the past year, a proposal to fund the project with a state grant and a predicted increase in highway funding never materialized due to budgetary constraints and alternative priorities.

“Our likelihood of receiving extra money for [state highway funds] is probably not likely,” said Kale.

No decision on “sold” town-owned parcels

At the same time, an alternative trial balloon to use the proceeds of town-owned land sold to the developers of a pair of high-profile building projects – the 186,000 sq.-ft. Cushing Village and luxury housing near Woodfall Road – has been derailed as each team has put on hold purchasing those parcels anytime soon.

“Those conversations and negotiations are ongoing and hopefully there will be a positive conclusion,” he said.

But Kale said he is not expecting either sale to be completed by the time the Special Town Meeting convenes on Nov. 17. The 290 member legislative body will need to determine how to finance the $2.6 million reconstruction project for it to meet the scheduled construction timeline.

“What we are doing tonight is allow you some time to ask questions … and show you what we are faced with in terms of funding sources,” said Kale.

The funding uncertainty had some asking aloud if the project should be presented before Town Meeting in its current state.

“I don’t see how we can talk about this project with no funding in place. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Joseph White of Maple Terrace.

It appears Town Meeting members will be presented with three funding scenarios, according to Kale: do nothing, partially funded from the town coffers or fully fund the project through the issuance of debt.

“No one believes nothing should be done,” said Rojas.

While Glenn Clancy, the town’s director of Community Development, said the stop gap plan is to place a new asphalt layer on the Center’s streets, Kale and the Board of Selectmen are moving towards crafting a funding plan for the project “that will shape Belmont Center for the next 30 year,” said Clancy.

“Right now, more than likely, it will be from reserves from a debt issuance or some appropriation,” said Kale.

“Basically float a bond for x number of years and amortized the cost of the $2.6 million” over that time period,” he said, with the possibility of using money in the “free” cash account – the town’s “savings” account – or procuring funds from the town’s pavement management program to reduce the debt amount.

Rojas admitted that structuring the financing for a “new” Belmont Center “is going to be a challenge” – the Special Town Meeting will also hear a report on the new $5.2 million Underwood Pool complex which is $400,000 over the low bid, resulting in a “lost” pool season next summer – “but this is about a vision for your Town Center and that is what we really want to focus on.”

Belmont X-Country Off To a Fast Season Start

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The 2014 cross country season got off to a fast start for Belmont High School Girls’ and Boys’ teams as both swept by visiting Stoneham High at Belmont’s Clay Pit Pond course on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

In the Girls’ race, Belmont junior Leah Brams remained undefeated for her career on her home course – and in Middlesex League competition – cruising to an easy wire-to-wire win while leading her team to a 17-44 victory, speeding over the 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) distance in a whippet-fast 19 minutes and 33 seconds.

Placing second was junior Sophia Klimasmith (20:37) and third was fellow 11th grader Meredith Hughes (21:02). Carly Tymm (23:09 in 5th) and freshman Camilla Carere (23:19 in 6th) rounded out the scoring.

Over at the Boys’ race, Belmont senior Ari Silverfine broke 18 minutes with a 17:57 to take top spot over the course that takes runners around the pond several times and through several Belmont High School athletic fields.

Seniors Charlie Smith (18:21) and Seth Altman (18:30) ran to place and show while sophomore Wilder Manion (18:57) and Noan Miller-Medzon (19:07) took 5th and 6th as Belmont defeated the visiting Spartans 17-44.

Coakley, Tolman, Ryan Takes Belmont’s Primary Vote

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Belmont voters came out in stronger than expected numbers in the 2014 Massachusetts state party primaries held on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

The election saw one in four Belmont voters – 4,619 of the town’s 18,066 registered voters for 25.6 percent – come out to cast a ballot which is a higher percentage then in 2012 (21.1 percent) and 2010 (20.7 percent).

Belmont voters gave a big 1,500 vote boost to home-town candidate and winner Marian Ryan for the Democrat nomination for Middlesex District Attorney in a bruising campaign against Mike Sullivan.

And while voters did select Warren Tolman over eventual winner Maura Healey (who filmed a portion of her campaign commercial at the Grove Street basketball courts) in the Democrat Attorney General race, it was by a very narrow margin – by just about 300 votes – considering the candidate had a great deal of name recognition through his brother, Stephen, who was the town’s long-time state senator.

And the race for Democrat governor was as close in Belmont as it was statewide with Maratha Coakley slipping by Stephen Grossman, 39 percent to 35 percent – about a 150 vote margin – with Donald Berwick getting a better than expected 26 percent.

Here are the results:

Democrat

Governor 

Martha Coakley          1,547      39%

Steven Grossman       1,371      35%

Donald Berwick          1,008     26%

Lt. Governor 

Leland Cheung            1,694     55%

Stephen Kerrigan          930      30%

Michael Lake                  444      14%

Attorney General

Warren Tolman             2,094    53%

Maura Healey                1,819     46%

Treasurer

Deborah Goldberg         1,355     41%

Thomas Conroy                999      30%

Barry Finegold                  919      28%

Governor’s Councillor 

M.M. Petitto Devane      1,728    57%

Charlie Shapiro                1,316    43%

Middlesex District Attorney

Marian Ryan                     2,530    71%

Michael Sullivan               1,032    29%

Republican

Governor

Charles Baker                      483     82%

Mark Fisher                          105     18%

Belmont Fire Log: Elevator Rescue on the First Day of School

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Did I forget to do something?
Sept. 1 – Just before 3:30 p.m., Engine 1 and the Ladder truck were dispatched to a Beech Street two-family for a report of natural gas inside the house. The second floor occupant said he could smell gas coming from the floor below. Fire crews could also detect the unmistakable odor. Since the downstairs neighbors weren’t in at the time, firefighters scrambled through an unlocked window. Once inside, they proceeded to the stove where they found the knob in the “on” position. The knob was turned off and the apartment was ventilated. The fire chief phoned the homeowner and left a message on their cell phone.
One final time

Sept. 1 – A minute before 8 p.m., Engine 1 was dispatched to a different Beech Street location for smoke coming from the back of a two family. Turns out it was a barbecue.

... and it all falls down
Sept. 1 – At a quarter to 10 p.m., a fire crew was sent to a Oak Street home after the homeowner called to say that the house was in danger of collapse. With firefighters at the ready, the town's building inspector determined that the structure - an old-style Colonial built in 1890 – was safe to be inside but two basement support columns needed to be repaired pronto.
Now that's hot
Sept. 2 – It was so hot on Monday that a smoke detector in a Country Club Lane garage activated simply due to the heat.

Summer sparks 
Sept. 2 – There was an impromptu light show at the corner of Lewis Road and School Street just after 8 p.m. when an electrical wire began shorting out and started a fire on the secondary wires. Belmont Light was notified.

Stuck on the first day
Sept. 3 – Just before 10:30 a.m., on the first day of school, the Ladder truck was sent to the Wellington School after two men became stuck in an elevator. How embarrassing! Fire crews rescued the men by shutting down the elevator and then rebooting the electrical system. The elevator company was notified.

Wild gas grill takes on wooden deckSept. 3 – At a quarter ’til 7 p.m.,  fire crews proceeded to Orchard Street for a gas grill gone bad. They arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the grill, located against the rear wooden porch. The grill was moved away from the house and the fuel source shut off. The remaining fire was extinguished by fire personnel.

Box truck totaled in blaze 
Sept. 5 – Just after 3 a.m., Engine 2 and the Ladder Truck made a middle-of-the-night run to Crestview Road where they discovered a box truck with its engine compartment completely on fire in a person’s driveway. Two water hoses were used to extinguish the fire which originate in the engine area and extended to storage area of the vehicle.

Good-bye summer
Sept. 6 – Just after 6:30 p.m., a final barbecue on Arthur Road produced so much smoke the fire department was called to investigate. Just the final throngs of summer.

Belmont Votes: All The Election Info You Need

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Today, Tuesday, Sept. 9, most, but not all, Belmont voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots in state party primaries to select the candidates who will meet in the General Election in November.

Time

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Who can vote

While legally registered to vote, not everyone can cast a ballot today, This is a political party primary which limits the election to those registered party voters. In Massachusetts, the two parties this election cycle are the Democrat and Republican. Unenrolled voters can vote by asking for one of the two parties ballots. Any one registered as a member of a minor party – the Pirate Party, for example – will not be allowed to take out a ballot.

You may be asked for ID

Did you fill out your town census form mailed earlier in the year? If you did not, then you are known as an “inactive” voter. Luckily, an “inactive” voter may still vote but first must provide adequate identification proving the voter’s identity and current place of residence. Usually a Massachusetts Driver’s License or State issued ID are sufficient.

Who’s running?

Find out here.

Transportation to the polls

The League of Women Voters of Belmont is offering rides to the polls from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 617-771-8500 to schedule transportation.

Questions about or during voting

Most questions – including who is eligible to vote in Belmont – that arise during voting can be answered by the precinct warden at the polling station. Other questions should be addressed to the Town Clerk’s Office at 617-993-2600. 

Where do I vote?

Don’t know where to vote? Call the Town Clerk at 617-993-2600, or read or download the handy map included on this web page that includes a street directory.

Polling Places:

  • Precinct 1; Belmont Memorial Library, Assembly Room, 336 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct 2: Belmont Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 455 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct 3: Beech Street Center (Senior Center), 266 Beech St.
  • Precinct 4: Daniel Butler School, 90 White St.
  • Precinct 5: Beech Street Center (Senior Center), 266 Beech St.
  • Precinct 6: Belmont Fire Headquarters, 299 Trapelo Rd.
  • Precinct 7: Burbank School Gym, 266 School St.
  • Precinct 8: Winn Brook School Gym, 97 Waterhouse Rd (Enter at Cross St)

Rookie Coach Leads Belmont Boys’ Soccer Over Powerhouse Watertown

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Brian Bisceglia-Kane is undefeated for his coaching career.

OK, he’s been in charge of Belmont High School Boys’ Soccer for just one game. But that contest was the season opener against two-time Div. 3 final-four participant Watertown High School in which Belmont took home a 2-0 victory.

Not bad for a rookie head coach.

“This was a good test of our play but then every game has its unique challenges,” said Bisceglia-Kane, who was Belmont’s JV coach for six years before moving up to the top spot this campaign.

“[Watertown] have many quality players; it was the first game of the season so we had a lot of nerves to start the game, and it was super hot (temperatures reached 90 degrees despite a 10 a.m. start time) so conditioning was a factor. Luckily those three things worked out for our team. Hopefully, we will keep progressing,” said Bisceglia-Kane, who played collegiately at Brandies.

Belmont’s victory Saturday, Sept. 6 at Victory Field, was constructed on top of the foundation of simply outworking their opponents – winning most of the contested ’50/50″ balls – and a willingness to emphasize team play over individual skills. While several Watertown players were adept in dribbling with possession – and enjoyed showing it – Belmont relied on the skills of each player on the field.

As commentators noted at the recent World Cup in Brazil while many teams were known for their superstars, Germany’s – the eventual winners – “star is their team.”

Saturday saw “Die Mannschaft” Belmont style.

“I just think we did the simple things right like possession of the ball and variations of passes,” said Bisceglia-Kane, who teaches third grade at the Butler Elementary School.

The first half was a back and forth affair with a few good scoring chance for both teams with Belmont’s senior goalkeeper Peter Berens making a one-hand save on a blistering dipping shot from Watertown’s Roman Davis.

“A couple of fixes at half time and I though we were more aggressive forcing them into mistakes,” Bisceglia-Kane said.

That push was rewarded when Belmont senior Danny Rizzo was fouled in the box in the 53rd minute with senior Charlie Frigo slotted the ball by Watertown’s goalkeeper Joe Keikian.

Belmont got its second score three minutes later after the Marauders took the play to the Red Raiders. After sophomore Marvyn Dorchin had battled to win procession deep in the Watertown end, the ball ended up off Luke Gallagher‘s boot which was parried into the air by Keikian. As the ball came down, Belmont’s senior forward Norman Kilavatitu out jumped a Red Raider and headed the ball over Keikian and into the net.

While he won his inaugural game of his coaching career, Bisceglia-Kane deferred any self-congratulation to praise his players.

“All the credit goes to them for the off season training for the hard work in the pre-season. They are probably the fittest group of guys I’ve seen in Belmont,” said Bisceglia-Kane.

Belmont’s next game is Tuesday, Sept. 9 against Melrose at 3:45 p.m.

Frosh Scores Five as Belmont Girls’ Soccer Blitz Watertown in Opener

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Wasn’t it once when high school freshmen were nervous types that were pretty much hopeless during the first week of school?

Someone from Watertown should have told Belmont High School’s Carey Allard that observation before the Belmont High School Girls’ Soccer season opener on Saturday morning, Sept. 6 as the 9th grader scored five goals (including the game’s first four in an eight minute stretch in the first half) and added an assist in the Marauders’ 10-0 blitz of arch-rival Watertown High School.

In the past two years, entering Belmont High School freshmen has made big impressions on their sports: in 2012 cross country’s Leah Brams and swimmer Jessie Blake-West while last year Annemarie Habelow in field hockey, Jalyn Hinton in basketball (who has since transferred to The Governors Academy) and Julia Cella on the track left their marks.

And it was a (hot) day to remember for the lanky frosh. While some will explain the score away as occurring against an inexperienced and undermanned Watertown squad – the visitors suited 13 players to 21 by Belmont – Allard proved quickly that she had a nose for the ball, scoring from the wing, in close, on the break and at the end of a pass.

Allard’s willingness to take a shot was the reason long-time Belmont Head Coach Paul Graham to select Allard as one of three freshmen on the varsity squad.

“[Allard] has got the speed to get to the ball, and that’s important,” said Graham in the pre-season.

While the headlines of the first game will be Allard’s to savor, the contest also unveiled a varsity that gained markedly in skill and poise over the past season, one which the Marauders miss the playoffs for the first time in 20 years and just a year after winning the Div. 2 North sectionals in 2012.

“I think the whole team is playing better,” said Graham, who is nine wins away from reaching 300 victories. “I’m very pleased today.”

With a back line anchored by senior Lucia Guzikowski and the midfield captained by fellow senior Lizzy Frick – two of the 11 12th graders on the team – the Marauders played effectively both a quick passing inside game in addition to laying the ball off to speedy wingers.

“Frick and [sophomore] Ava [Colasin] are doing a great job in the middle and getting the ball up the field.

In addition, Graham’s wish for more scoring opportunities this season has been answered as four Marauders other than Allard scored –Guzikowski, Flick, senior midfielder Alex Dionne and junior forward Kristin Gay.

“We’re crashing the goal something that we didn’t do last year. We got a goal on a scramble in front and from the corner. It’s encouraging,” said Graham.

Next game is Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Melrose, which lost to Winchester, 3-1, in its first game.

 

See the Future of Belmont Center Monday at 7 PM at Town Hall

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After nearly four years of discussion, meetings and designs, an overview of the Belmont Center Reconstruction Project will be presented to Town Meeting members and residents this evening, Monday, Sept. 8, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Town Hall auditorium at the corner of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue.

Documentation of tonight’s presentation can be found here.

The proposed $2.6 million project is seen as improving vehicle and pedestrian traffic in and through Belmont’s business hub. The completed design – set to be finished by the end of the year – is expected to call for a new street pavement, sidewalks and crosswalks, an increase of 10 parking spaces, a new green-space common in front of the Belmont Savings Bank as well as the implantation of a modern Parking Management Plan with electronic meter parking.

The current proposed plan calls for construction to begin by mid-April 2015 with a completion date of Halloween, Oct. 31, of next year.

Just how the project will be paid for remains up in the air with a proposed financial package made up of state grants and town funds. It’s anticipated the funding will be finalized at the Fall Special Town Meeting which is scheduled for this November.

Parking is available in the Town Hall lot, along Concord Avenue, Moore Street and Pleasant Street as well as in the Claflin Street Municipal Parking Lot in Belmont Center.

Residents, business owners and Town Meeting members can email questions in advance of the meeting to selectmen@belmont-ma.gov .

For more information, contact the Board of Selectmen/Town Administrator’s office at 617- 993-2610.

Need a Ride to the Polls? Call, E-mail Belmont’s League of Women Voters

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The Belmont League of Women Voters will once again provide rides to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 9 so residents can vote in the Massachusetts Primary Election.

Rides will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to any of the eight precinct polling stations in town. To arrange a trip, either call the league at 617-771–8500 or e-mail: Rides @ BelmontLWV.org

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are contested races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Representative in Congress Governor’s Councillor and District Attorney.

The Week Ahead: Election Tuesday, ‘The Butler’ at the Beech Friday

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• The Massachusetts State Party Primary Election takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You have to be a declared voter of one of the parties or unenrolled to participate. The Belmontonian will have all the information you need to vote on the site Tuesday morning.

• Besides the Belmont Board of Selectmen at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, the Community Preservation Committee  meets at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, while the Energy Committee will assemble at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The Historic District Commission is meeting on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

• Did you know that Isolina Gianino, an experienced tailor, does alterations, zipper replacements and other restorative measures at reasonable prices at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St? She’ll be there on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. until noon.

• The Belmont League of Women Voters will be holding a league meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• Local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites for little ones on Friday, Sept. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• The Senior Book Discussion Group will meet Friday, Sept. 12th at 11 a.m. at the Beech Street Center to discussed “Seize the Day” by Saul Bellow.

• The Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., will be screening the film “The Butler” at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. The film tells the story of an African-American whose 34 years of service as a butler in the White House reflects a period of unparalleled change in American history.