All posts by daveg

Results of Maynard Drinking Water Source Sampling

General Information, Public Health and Safety Updates

This summer, the MA Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency sampled Maynard drinking water wells to test for per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals that include PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. The federal limit of these chemicals in drinking water is 70 Parts Per Trillion (PPT). The MA Department of Environmental Protection is considering decreasing the limit in Massachusetts to 20 PPT.

Results of the Maynard sampling ranged from 4.1 to 9.4 PPT, significantly below the federal limit, and the proposed state limit. Based on these results, the Town Administrator’s Office agrees with the town’s water engineering firm Stantec, that PFAS/PFOA at the current drinking water sources is not a concern at this time.

Town Seeks Volunteers for Capital Planning Committee

General Information, Participate

The Town Administrator’s Office is seeking volunteers to be considered for an appointment by the Board of Selectmen to the town’s official Capital Planning Committee.

The committee is meant to help the town assess its needs and fiscal capabilities regarding capital planning. Per Town By-Laws, the committee is composed of five (5) members. They would work closely with the Town Administrator’s Office, the Finance Director, and all town departments, and meet regularly to develop a capital improvement plan to submit as part of the overall town budget.

For more information on the tasks of the committee, please see the Town Charter’s Section 6-7.

For questions, please contact the Town Administrator’s Office: gjohnson@townofmaynard.net

DPW: 2019 Fall Paving Program

DPW, General Information

The Town of Maynard has contracted with Massachusetts Broken Stone Company to reconstruct six (6) roadways within the Town of Maynard in the fall of 2019. The following streets will be repaved this fall:

  • Acton Street
  • Brown Street
  • Great Road
  • Mockingbird Lane
  • Nason Street
  • Mill Street

Roadway reconstruction efforts will begin around October 23, 2019 and will continue for about 5 weeks.  Construction activities will include mill and overlay of existing roadways and full reconstruction of Mill Street.  All roads will remain open, but at times may be subject to alternating one-way traffic. Temporary detours may be employed in order to reconstruct the existing roadways. Temporary No Parking Bans may be required on certain streets. Police Details will be deployed.

We will make every effort to notify residents of any substantial schedule changes.  If you have any questions please contact the Maynard DPW at 978-897-1317 or dpw@townofmaynard.net.

Request for Proposal: Audit Services

General Information, RFPs

The Maynard Contributory Retirement Board is seeking proposals for Audit Services. Responses to this Request for Proposal will be accepted until Tuesday, November 5, 2019 before 4:00 p.m. EST. Complete packets of the conditions of the request for proposals are available from the Maynard Retirement Board, 195 Main Street, Maynard, MA 01754. A contract will be awarded and stated in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 32 Section 23B and Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2011. Any questions related to this proposal, please call the Retirement Office at 978-897-1820 or email at maynard.retirement@gmail.com.

Drainage Infrastructure Inspections

DPW, General Information

The Town of Maynard Department of Public Works has contracted with VHB to complete investigations on Town of Maynard drainage infrastructure. The existing drainage infrastructure may be located within the Town’s roadway layout, or on properties for which the Town has drainage easements.

Work began the week of September 23, 2019 and continues through October 2019, during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Activities will include visual observations, photographs, and water quality sampling, primarily at drainage pipe outlets into ditches and waterbodies. In some cases, VHB staff will need to cross private property or existing drainage easements to reach the existing drainage pipe outlets. Project staff will be wearing Town DPW or VHB safety vests.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Maynard DPW at 978-897-1317 or dpw@townofmaynard.net.

2020 Tax Classification Hearings – Nov 19th

Legal Notice, Participate, Public Meeting Notices

As required by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 56, the Maynard Board of Selectmen will hold their annual fiscal year 2020 Tax Classification Hearings on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:20 PM in the Michael J. Gianotis meeting room (#201) at the Maynard Town Building.  The purpose of the hearing is to determine the percentages of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of real property. The public is welcome to attend.

MHS Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony – Nov 23

General Information

The Maynard High School Athletic Hall of Fame (MHSAHOF) Board is excited to announce its 8th Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2019, 6 PM to 11 PM at the Maynard Lodge of Elks, 34 Powder Mill Road, Maynard.  The past seven events have been huge successes and have sold out!

We are proud to announce the 8th set of inductees to the Maynard High School Hall of Fame: Stephen Curry (1994), Nancy Jarvinen Justason (1967), Frank Murray (1903), Richard Sluyski (1955), James Stanford (1975), Herb Symes (1964), Burt Taylor (1961) and Robert Taylor (1961).

The teams that will be inducted are the 1987  4 x 110 Women’s Relay Team (Renee Dakis Giunta, Kelly Gilligan Bandini, Marsha Mullin Smith and Cindy Uglevich Campobasso) and the 1991 MHS Football Team.  Additionally, James Fairweather will receive the Black and Orange Award.

It is always a great evening of celebration and a great opportunity to see friends and classmates of Maynard High School.  The festivities will include a cocktail hour (with cash bar), followed by a buffet dinner from 6:30 PM to 8 PM, followed by the Induction Ceremony and ending with a social.

Continue reading MHS Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony – Nov 23 →

Mosquito Control Treatment Planned – EEE Risk

General Information, Public Health and Safety Updates

Update: 16-Sep-2019

Aerial Spraying was completed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources in the Town of Maynard on September 14th. For more information on the aerial spraying, visit Mass.gov.

  • Treatment of Crowe Park, Reo Park and Rockland Avenue Field was completed on September 14th by East Middlesex Mosquito Control.
  • Treatment of all school fields will be  completed the evening of September 16th, 2019.
  • The pesticide that will be used is Mavrik Perimeter, with active ingredient tau-fluvalinate EPA# 2724-478.
  • The treatment will target large vegetation surrounding the fields. This product leaves a residue that can kill mosquitoes for multiple days as they land to rest. The product was applied to the perimeter, not the fields. No precautions need to be made.

EEE Risk

Based on recent Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) activity and/or positive mosquito detection in the area, Massachusetts Department of Public Health has raised the EEE risk in some towns.

Residents are encouraged to take personal protective actions to avoid mosquito bites (see details below).

Please refer to the mosquito results website to view risk levels.

The Town of Maynard is currently at a high risk threat level from the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Although EEE virus has not been isolated in Maynard at this time, the virus has been found in several towns surrounding our community. As such, it is vital that residents take all steps necessary to avoid mosquito bites, whether at home or when visiting communities with elevated EEE risk. The threat is expected to remain elevated until the first hard frost of the year, which typically occurs in October. All residents are strongly urged to follow the recommendations listed below to protect themselves and their loved ones from illness caused by mosquitoes. The following recommendations are being made to reduce potential exposure:

  • Wear mosquito repellent: Products with 30% DEET, Permethrin, Picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are the most effective
  • Be aware of peak mosquito hours: Mosquitos are most active from dusk to dawn
  • Drain standing water on your property: Mosquitos lay eggs in standing or stagnant water
  • Wear long sleeves and long pants: Covering skin will limit potential exposure
  • Avoid outside areas with obvious mosquito activity

The East Middlesex Mosquito Control and Suffolk County Mosquito Control is a great resource, visit https://sudbury.ma.us/emmcp/

Click here for fact sheets related to EEE published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

The Town of Maynard contracts with East Middlesex Mosquito Control for larval mosquito control through helicopter and ground applications, catch basin larval control, and adult mosquito surveillance.

Maynard Cultural Council Seeks Funding Proposals

General Information, Participate

Would an arts and culture grant help you or your organization? Consider applying for the Maynard Cultural Council Local Grant program. Proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs are being accepted from now through October 15.

These grants can support a variety of projects and activities in Maynard — including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, performances, workshops, lectures, etc.

The Maynard Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

This year, the Maynard Cultural Council will distribute a total of approximately $6,300 in grants, which will be divided into individual grants ranging from $50 to $1500, to support arts, humanities, and science programs benefiting the Maynard community. For more information on the Council and local guidance for this grant program, contact Jeff Swanberg at culturaldistrict@townofmaynard.net.  Application forms and more information about this Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org and at https://www.mass-culture.org/lcc public applicant guidelines.aspx.

Continue reading Maynard Cultural Council Seeks Funding Proposals →

DPW: Sidewalk and Pedestrian Crossing Improvements

DPW, General Information

The Town of Maynard has contracted with McIver Bros. Construction to reconstruct sidewalks and provide new pedestrian crossing equipment on Summer Street in the vicinity of the Fine Arts Theater and at the intersection of Summer Street, Main Street and Waltham Street.

Sidewalk reconstruction efforts will begin between September 16-30, 2019 and will continue for about 8 weeks.  Construction activities will include reconstruction of existing sidewalks and updating of pedestrian equipment at the locations indicated above.  All roads will remain open, but at times may be subject to alternating one-way traffic. Temporary pedestrian detours may be employed in order to reconstruct the existing sidewalks. Police Details will be deployed.

We will make every effort to notify residents of any substantial schedule changes.  If you have any questions please contact the Maynard DPW at 978-897-1317 or dpw@townofmaynard.net.

MA announces aerial spraying for mosquitos (EEE Risk)

General Information, Important, Public Health and Safety Updates

State Officials Announce Additional Aerial Spraying for EEE in Critical and High Risk Communities

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is scheduled to begin aerial spraying evening of Tuesday, September 10th and continue into next week in parts of Middlesex, Worcester, and Norfolk counties. While aerial spraying is weather and equipment dependent, above-average evening temperatures this week are likely to permit the application. The Town of Maynard is entirely within the spray zone.

MDAR Spray Map

For the latest spray updates, please refer to the MDAR Aerial Spray Map:  https://massnrc.org/spray-map/  

  • The map will display a polygon representing the areas to be sprayed. The map is searchable by address—residents can enter their address to determine if their address is in the spray zone.
  • The map will be updated each day to reflect the last evening’s spray area. Please note map preparation takes time and may result in some delays in posting.

Questions

Click here to read the full press release related to this action.

Also, please read our post providing more information about the EEE threat and how to protect yourself.

Further Information:

DPH contact: Ann Scales
Ann.Scales@state.ma.us
(617) 624-5006

MDAR contact: Peter Lorenz
Peter.Lorenz@mass.gov
(617) 626-1106

Request for Volunteers: Fire Station Building Committee

General Information, Participate

The Board of Selectmen seek volunteers to work with the Maynard Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, and the community to explore and recommend an appropriate financing program for construction of a new Maynard Fire Station.

Click here for more information about this Committee.

For questions, please contact Town Administrator Greg Johnson at gjohnson@townofmaynard.net

To be considered for appointment, please submit a resume or short bio to Board of Selectmen Administrative Assistant Becky Mosca at bmosca@townofmaynard.net