Needham Sen. Denise Garlick to Host Seminar on Senior Tax Credit Program

The Circuit Breaker tax credit is open to eligible taxpayers age 65 and older.

Sen. Denise Garlick will join fellow legislators next week for an informational seminar on the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit.  The seminar will be held at the Stephen Palmer Senior Center on Monday, Feb. 25 at 11:30 a.m. Garlick will be joined by Senators Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham) and Michael F. Rush (D-West Roxbury) and Brian Lynch of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. "This seminar is one of the many ways we demonstrate that seniors are valuable members of our community," said Representative Garlick in a press release. The Senior Circuit Breaker is open to seniors (65 and older) whose property payments exceed 10 percent of their annual income. Eligible seniors receive a credit on their state tax return for every dollar their…

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Transportation and Budget Focuses for Mass. Legislators in 2013

Needham State Representative Denise Garlick reports on her work for the past year, and previews the 2013 legislative session.

  State Representative Denise Garlick returned to Needham to report on her work for the past year, and give a short preview of the year to come. Selectman Daniel Matthews noted that she is one of the few Representatives who comes to town for such a report. The meeting brought about 80 people to Town Hall on Monday night--residents of Needham, town officials, and some of Garlick's family and staff. "In my head, I am one of 160 Representatives." Garlick explained her legislative thought process: "But in my heart, I am the representative for Needham, Dover and Medfield." She added that, while she examines every bill from the larger context of the whole Commonwealth, she always looks for what they mean for her constituents.  Among her projects…

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Letter to the Editor: State Rep Denise Garlick Reports to Needham

State Rep Denise Garlick writes in to report

Dear Neighbors, As your State Representative I serve with deep respect and a strong sense of responsibility toall members of our community. In my role, there are a myriad of responsibilities, duties, and functions, which include assessing legislation, engaging in the budget process and providing constituent services. In this spirit of respect and responsibility, I would like to take this opportunity to invite every member of Needham to the “Representative’s Report – 2012 the Year in Review and 2013 the Year in Preview.” The Report to the Community will be held on Monday, February 11, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Needham Town Hall. 7:00-7:30 – Reception 7:30-8:00 – Report 8:00-8:30 – Questions and Discussion Throughout my service…

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Letter to the Editor: NSTAR, Officials Agree on DeFazio Park Tree Removal

After negotiating with NSTAR about several trees in the area, five have been marked for removal.

Below is a letter to the editor from officials involved in last July's summit with NSTAR about utility right-of-way and trees at Defazio Park: We are pleased to share that the proof of the coordinated, positive, proactive work of the Town of Needham, concerned residents, and the State Representative with NSTAR on the concerns related to vegetation management along the transmission lines has resulted in good communication and a targeted approach to address five (5) trees which threaten the integrity of the transmission lines at Defazio Park. This week, representatives from NSTAR requested a meeting with the Parks and Forestry Superintendent, Ed Olsen and his staff to discuss two areas of concern along NSTAR’s transmission lines at DeFazio …

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Needham Officials Submit Concerns to NSTAR

A letter sent Friday, July 27 outlines questions and issues about the company's tree removal project as raised by local representatives at a meeting held last Thursday.

A letter Needham officials submitted to NSTAR last week asks that the electric company "make a good faith effort" to ensure that every property owner has adequate notice about the tree removal work that will be done in the area in the coming weeks. The letter, sent on Friday, July 27, outlines nine requests raised at a summit meeting held on Thursday, July 26 and attended by local legislators and representatives from town departments and state agencies. "The town asks that NSTAR make a good faith effort to assure that every property owner has actual notice of the type of work planned on or adjacent to his or her property, as well as the approximate date that the work will be performed," states the letter, which is addressed to NSTAR …

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Needham, NSTAR Reps Discuss Tree Removal

Requests outlined at the July 26 'summit' meeting will be submitted in writing to the electric company, with work on hold until NSTAR responds.

Needham officials met with NSTAR representatives Thursday morning to further review the company’s plan to remove trees in the utility right-of-way and to request that workers proceed with caution. The July 26 "summit” meeting was organized by State Rep. Denise Garlick, a Needham resident who voiced several concerns about NSTAR’s plan to remove trees at a public meeting held July 10 at Needham Town Hall. Board of Selectmen chairman Jerry Wasserman and vice chairman Dan Matthews were present at the latest meeting, as were Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and department heads from Park and Recreation, Conservation, Police and Fire, Schools and Public Works. Also attending were representatives from the MBTA, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch’s office, …

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Needham Asks NSTAR to Halt Tree Clearing Plan

Selectmen, state legislators and local residents voiced serious concerns Tuesday night about an upcoming project that would remove hundreds of trees from the right of way.

Needham residents, selectmen and legislators asked NSTAR representatives to slow down plans to clear hundreds of trees and vegetation from the public right-of-way at a meeting held Tuesday, July 10 at Town Hall. The meeting comes a few weeks after similar plans in towns such as Sudbury and Wayland resulted in public outcry from residents there. Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick said NSTAR representatives were open to the idea of coming to talk with Needham residents before crews arrive in town in an attempt to answer questions and address some concerns. “It’s our obligation to our customers to ensure the most reliable electrical service we can deliver. It’s also our obligation to you to be the very best corporate neighbor we can be,” said …

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Photo Gallery: Senior Center Groundbreaking

Officials celebrated the start of construction for the long-awaited town building.

Needham Breaks Ground on New Senior Center

State and local officials, volunteers, seniors and others from around town gathered on May 3 for a ceremony marking the start of a long anticipated construction project.

A little rain and mud didn’t keep people from coming to see the first ceremonial shovel of soil lifted on the site of the Senior Center Thursday morning. More than 50 people—including state officials, selectmen, Senior Center staff and members of the Council on Aging Board, Friends of the Needham Elderly and the former Needham Senior Center Exploratory Committee—stood on the edge of the former MBTA lot at the corner of Hillside Avenue and West Street at 9 a.m. to celebrate the start of a construction project that has been about 20 years in the making. “I think it’s a wonderful testimony to how excited everyone is, to see how many people showed up on a very nasty day and how many people walked over, and that people took time out of their …

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Got Something To Say About The MBTA Proposals?

Additional hearings scheduled in Waltham, Brighton; public comment can be submitted by e-mail through March 12

If you missed the Needham Transportation Committee's public hearing on Monday, Feb. 27, there are still a few opportunities to have your voice heard. At the hearing held at Needham Town Hall, state legislators Sen. Richard Ross and Rep. Denise Garlick both said they felt the Massachusetts legislature was listening to residents' concerns and would not support either of the MBTA's two scenarios, which attempt to address a $161 million budget gap in fiscal year 2013. The NTC's public hearing was not officially on the record for the MBTA but served as a local forum to help the NTC develop its recommendation to the Needham Board of Selectmen as to how to proceed on the matter, committee chairman Richard Creem said. Garlick said she had spoken …

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