LOCAL MEETING ROUNDUP.

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COLUMN: LOCAL MEETING ROUNDUP

Spencer

Teachers blast remarks by school board member

SPENCER - A first-grade teacher last night told School Committee members she's troubled by their lack of action after one of their members portrayed teachers in a negative light on his blog.

Tara Balunis, a 10-year veteran teacher at Lake Street School, said she would not speak to School Committee member Robert C. Cirba, who had offended her last week at a budget meeting when he said "that we don't care about our students."

She also objected to comments he made on his blog.

"I understand how easy it is to type words onto a blog, but I hope Mr. Cirba understands that the individuals he is talking about are real people who do care about how they are portrayed in the public eye," she said.

She invited School Committee members to visit her classroom and view the collection of letters she has from grateful parents. She chastised other committee members for not "reining in" their blogging committee member.

On the blog, called Spencer Coffee Club, Mr. Cirba writes that he is an advocate for "the kids and the taxpayers." He complains that School Superintendent Ralph E. Hicks warned him about using unfair practices with the union, and he suggests that union president Mark James and the union "can kiss my white Irish ass."

While the blog has inflamed teachers, School Committee Chairman Peter D. Rock said the only way to fix the problem would be to change the First Amendment.

A crowd of teachers gave Mrs. Balunis and special education teacher Deb Lavallee a standing ovation after they spoke to the committee on similar issues.

Mr. Cirba declined to speak with a reporter after the meeting.

- Kim Ring

Millbury

Street damage helps put snow budget in hole

MILLBURY - The melting snow is revealing another byproduct of winter - potholes and other street damage.

"We have gone from one nightmare to another," Town Manager Robert Spain told the Board of Selectmen last night.

Mr. Spain asked residents to be patient as the Department of Public Works has been out patching potholes and repairing other damage that has been hidden under the snow.

"We did take on some definite damage over time," Mr. Spain said, adding the damage has not been confined to the roads. The Town Common will also need significant repairs; the snow broke a fairly new fence on the perimeter of the common as well as damaged some shrubs. There is also residual sand and asphalt that is being left behind by the melting snow.

Mr. Spain also told selectmen he is expecting the total winter deficit not to exceed $200,000. While he has put that estimate into the budget, the final amount won't be known until May or June.

- Donna Boynton

Charlton

Selectmen accept busy official's resignation

CHARLTON - Selectmen last night accepted the resignation of Karen Gauvin, an elected and appointed official who held the posts of recreation commissioner, conservation agent and assistant emergency management director.

Ms. Gauvin was hired by the town in May 1988 and tendered her resignation on Feb. 7.

The Conservation Commission recently received selectmen's approval to hire an interim conservation agent for 15 to 19 hours per week at $25 per hour. The interim position was filled last week by Todd Girard of Dudley, who also serves as conservation agent eight hours per week for Webster.

Selectmen's draft fiscal 2012 budget reduces the 30-hour-per-week agent role to 17 hours for an annual budget savings of $10,250...