Easing back into things...

Welcome back!

Sudbury started 2024 rather quietly. While many people were possibly experiencing lingering regrets involving champagne and awkward attempts to lip-sync the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, the Town Calendar was merciful this week. Just a handful of municipal meetings eased us back into the weekly rhythm.

But next week looks daunting. Six committees will meet on Monday and four will meet on Wednesday. Many are working on possible articles for the Town Meeting warrant, as the deadline to submit approaches.

Meanwhile, candidates for the upcoming Town Election were able to start pulling papers yesterday… and pull papers they did! Campaigns don’t really heat up until February, then they get more intense in March. But one thing is for sure: local election season has officially begun in Sudbury.

Let’s get into it!

Local Election: Who Is Running

By The League of Women Voters of Sudbury

Four potential candidates have filed their intention (“pulled papers”) to run for local office: Janie Dretler for Select Board, Karyn Jones for Sudbury School Committee, Catharine V. Blake for Moderator, and Laurie Eliason for Park and Recreation Commission (see complete list below).

Dretler, Blake and Eliason are candidates for re-election. Jones currently serves in an appointed role as a member of the Commission on Disability.

The period for potential candidates to file their intention to run is from Thursday, Jan. 4 to Wednesday, Jan. 31. Nomination papers (“signatures”) must be returned by Feb. 2. Any Sudbury registered voter may run for office. Potential candidates do not need permission from a board or committee to run.

According to the Town Clerk’s office, as of 12:00 p.m. Jan. 5, the following people have filed their intention to run:

Select Board (2 seats, 3 years): Janie Dretler

Moderator (1 seat, 3 years): Catharine V. Blake

Board of Assessors (1 seat, 3 years):

Goodnow Library Trustee (2 seats, 3 years):

Board of Health (1 seat, 3 years):

Park and Recreation Commission (2 seats, 3 years): Laurie Eliason

Park and Recreation Commission (1 seat, 1 year to fill a vacancy):

Planning Board (2 seats, 3 years):

Sudbury Housing Authority (1 seat, 5 years):

Sudbury School Committee (2 seats, 3 years): Karyn Jones

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (2 seats, 3 years):

Goodnow Library Digitizes Yearbooks, Looks to Electrify

By Kevin LaHaise

On Tuesday the Trustees of the Goodnow Library met for their first meeting of 2024. Two items stood out as noteworthy for residents.

First, the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and Ephraim Curtis Middle School yearbook digitization project is complete, and all the yearbooks are available here. As their meeting packet noted: “Not only are the yearbooks scanned, but the text is also fully transcribed.” Here’s a sampling of cover art therein:

The Goodnow Library worked with the Boston Public Library to complete the project. The fine folks at the Boston Public Library encouraged the Goodnow Library to send additional digitization projects their way, so there’s a possibility the community could see more additions to Goodnow’s digital archive in the future. We got in touch with Esme Green, Director of the Goodnow Library, to provide more background on the genesis of the project and what we might expect to see in the future:

Next up, we turn from digitization to electrification. A grant to fund a portion of the cost to install electric vehicle charging stations at the library fell through last year. The Trustees reviewed a draft warrant article that would seek to fund the installation and completion of the project, citing multiple possible funding sources including the Solar Energy Revolving Fund, Free Cash, and the Town Manager’s Capital Budget:

During the meeting, the Library Director, Esme Green, noted that she spoke with Town Manager Andy Sheehan, and relayed that he felt the article might be a hard sell given how many grants are available for projects like this. (13:39)

During their discussion, several Trustees agreed that they felt the library was a uniquely compelling location for a charging station, noting that the library is a good place to spend time while charging an electric vehicle. Another Trustee mentioned that the Dunkin' Donuts was nearby as well. The chair of the Trustees, Katina Fontes, told Sudbury Weekly:

There will be plenty of discussion among boards and committees about warrant articles and capital projects in the weeks and months ahead. For now, the Trustees made some minor edits, approved the article, and agreed to send it off to Town Counsel for review.

SudburyWeekly.com News Digest

Here’s some of what you can find on the site this week:

FY25 Community Preservation Articles Take Shape

Check out the latest from the Community Preservation Committee. They’re close to finishing their work for this cycle, and we have the latest on which applications they have recommended for approval at Town Meeting.

Run for Local Office – It’s Your Right!

The League of Women Voters of Sudbury has a fantastic overview of what residents need to know if they choose to exercise their right to run for local office. Their article includes easy access to essential resources for anyone who chooses to run.

Check It Out!

Here’s what we’re reading from other news sources this week, with quick summaries about how they relate to Sudbury.

MBTA rapid transit communities adopt zoning changes for law compliance

This Massachusetts Municipal Association article talks about the latest developments as communities seek compliance with the MBTA Communities legislation. Sudbury is currently working through the zoning discussions to produce an article for Town Meeting in May 2024. Sudbury Weekly’s recent story on this issue is here.

Representative Gentile to Hold January Virtual District Office Hours

WaylandeNews has the details on the January 22 office hours with Sudbury’s State Representative, and Sudbury resident, Carmine Gentile.

Domestic Violence Roundtable Collects Valentine’s Day Donations for Families in Shelter

Another good story from WaylandeNews. Students from Sudbury Extended Day participate, and there are several ways for the community to donate or lend a hand.

Public education, forum planned in wake of STM voting difficulties

Lincoln held a Special Town Meeting and the voting process was a bit too onerous for some. They’re now talking about potentially implementing clickers, much like Sudbury did in 2023. The Lincoln Squirrel has a great story about the developments in Lincoln.

The teacher whose Great Barrington classroom was searched for 'Gender Queer' book is taking a temporary leave of absence

This incident quickly made national news, but the Berkshire Eagle has been covering it closely every step of the way. As book challenges continue to increase across the country, a bill is making its way through the MA legislature that would give professional librarians the authority to determine what books are age appropriate, and could also prescribe a standardized process for challenges. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for January 10.

Sudbury Weekly recently checked with Sudbury Public Schools and the SPS administration reported that no written book challenges have been received this school year. They also told us that the librarians have not removed any books from circulation this school year.

Parting Thoughts

Get ready for a big week next week. But before that gets here, we have some serious snow in the forecast for Sudbury. It was oh-so-hard to see the kids head back to school after winter break this week. We’re assuming most parents are thrilled to have this weather event headed our way, ensuring that they all get some much needed quality time with the kids. There’s no place like home!

On a more serious, and seriously helpful, note… the Sudbury Department of Public Works has posted useful information about their snow removal operations, as well as tips for sustainable approaches to snow removal. If you want more detail than you bargained for on how the DPW plans for storms, the anti-icing materials they use, and suggestions for how you can minimize how much snow gets plowed back into the end of your driveway, jump over to the DPW Facebook page here.

Onward!