Good Morning, Burlington!
The race for a seat on Burlington’s Housing Authority is contested this year. BCAT yesterday released their Housing Authority Forum interview between News Producer Sydney Boles and candidate, Eileen Sickler, and you can also read Eileen’s responses to BCAT’s Candidate Profile Questionnaire alongside responses from her opponent, recent appointee Walter DeCost.
After you’re finished looking through the wealth of candidate materials that are available on BCAT and the Buzz, head down to Common Craft Saturday or Sunday for their O’ Everyone’s Irish St. Patty’s Day celebration. There will be live music, Irish step dancing performances, and more! See below for more details.
Deadline Approaches for Housing Lottery
The time to apply for the affordable housing lottery for the single-family home at 119 S. Bedford Street is nearing a close. This home was purchased by the town and renovated for sale to a qualified buyer with an income less than 80% of the median income for this area. Learn more information and see if you meet the requirements, and be sure to get your application in by next Thursday, March 21.
Please be sure to fill in the entire application and submit the required information for every adult age 18 and over in your household; otherwise you’ll need to resubmit their application, and what a headache that is. The lottery will occur on April 10. Good luck!
What Does Town Meeting Do Again?
Candidate Profiles for Town Meeting are now published and ready for you to take a look. Each precinct has 6 or more open seats for Town Meeting, and you get to vote for who will best represent your precinct.
But what is Town Meeting, and how do the actions of these 126 citizens affect your life on a daily basis?
Broadly, the charge of Town Meeting is to manage the town’s finances and bylaws. As the town’s legislative body, Town Meeting approves changes, additions, and deletions to the town’s general and zoning bylaws, and they also have to approve every aspect of the town’s operational and capital budget.
Should the town pay for a new music room floor in the high school? A sun shade at a local park? Upgrades to the schools’ security system? Town Meeting votes to answer questions like these.
Should the town change the zoning bylaws to allow fitness centers larger than 5,000 square feet, or change the stormwater management bylaws or dimensional requirements for digging a foundation? Town Meeting is responsible for deciding these kinds of things, too.
Many consequential decisions come out of Town Meeting, and the 126 representatives who are elected to represent our 7 precincts fit all that work into three Town Meetings each year, plus committee meetings if they’re on one. The time commitment isn’t as intense as some other Boards and Commissions in town, which is often used as a selling point to encourage candidates to run.
Learn more about Town Meeting below, and read all about your 2024 candidates. If you’re a candidate who hasn’t yet filled out your profile, don’t forget to do that ASAP so your constituents know who they’re voting for!
Today in Burlington
Municipal Meetings and Community Events
Friday, March 15
9:00 AM – Ways & Means Local Education Subcommittee will discuss the FY25 budget and a warrant article establishing a stabilization fund. (Shawsheen Technical High School)
9:00 AM – Ways & Means Public Safety Subcommittee will talk about operating and capital budgets for EMS, Fire, and Police. (Town Hall Main Hearing Room)
10:30 AM – Toddler Story & Craft – children ages 18-36 months come listen to a story and play. (Burlington Public Library; Register)
11:30 AM – Preschool Story & Craft – stories and crafting for kids ages 3-6. (Burlington Public Library; Register)
7:00 PM – Wine and Diamonds – Join MIB store owner, Laurena, have a glass of wine and create a couple pieces of shiny art. (Made in Burlington; Tickets)
8:00 PM – Court-Martial at Fort Devens – an important play about three Black Women’s Army Corps members during WWII who stood up to authority after being demoted without cause. (Arlington Friends of the Drama, 22 Academy Street, Arlington; Tickets)
Saturday, March 16
10:00 AM – Weaving Class – get crafty with Jen and select which spring time item you’d like to make when you register. (Made in Burlington; Tickets)
8:00-11:00 PM – O’ Everyone’s Irish St. Patrick’s Day celebration with live music, step dancing performances, and more. (Common Craft)
8:00 PM – Court-Martial at Fort Devens – an important play about the Black Women’s Army Corps members during WWII who stood up to authority after being demoted without cause. (Arlington Friends of the Drama, 22 Academy Street, Arlington; Tickets)
Sunday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day – Learn more about this holiday. How will you celebrate? Tag us on social media #BurlingtonBuzz
10:30 AM – Kid’s Bunny Crafts age 4+ – make two very cute bunny crafts with Lisa. (Made in Burlington; Tickets)
1:00-4:00 PM – O’ Everyone’s Irish St. Patrick’s Day celebration with live music, step dancing performances, and more. (Common Craft)
1:30 PM – Academy Award Afternoons: Barbie – relive your childhood with a twist and some popcorn! Grab your friends and head on down to the library to watch the Oscar-nominated movie. (Burlington Public Library; No Registration Required)
3:00 PM – Court-Martial at Fort Devens – an important play about the Black Women’s Army Corps members during WWII who stood up to authority after being demoted without cause. (Arlington Friends of the Drama, 22 Academy Street, Arlington; Tickets)
Friday Funny
Pi Day was yesterday (3/14, 3.14, get it?)—a completely made-up holiday embraced by mathy-types like me and those who just enjoy a tasty slice of sweet goodness.
Did you know: pi (π) was independently explored by mathematicians in many different countries, including Babylon, Egypt, China, and Greece, and represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference (the distance around it) to its diameter (the length of a line segment from one side to the other, passing through the center), which is constant for every circle in the world!
That’s it for today! Hive members tomorrow will get Bill Boivin’s latest Column about how he and his wife cultivate a Certified Wildlife Habitat in their yard. Upgrade now so you don’t miss it!
Nicci
