The selectboard granted a permit for the Bass Angler Alliance fishing derby on August 30, 2009. The permit application is for 10 boats; the boats will arrive between 5:00 hours and 6:00 hours. The derby will start at 6:00 hours and will end at 14:00 hours.
Selectman James Wettlaufer made the following announcement: “We‘r very proud to announce that the town of Holland‘s web site has won an award! We won the 2009 ’e-Government award.‘” Wettlaufer thanked Kristin LaPlante, Nancy Talbot, and Linda Blodgett for the hard work to keep the web page current.
These “e-Government” awards were presented in a ceremony at the Statehouse on March 19, during “Sunshine Week,” an annual event created to increase awareness about open government issues nationwide. Holland did not make the top group of the 48 communities that qualified for “super star” status; Holland was in the group of the 117 communities who qualified for “star” status. To see the requirements to qualify and the list of communities who qualified for “super star” status, click here!
The official Holland town-webpage is not current. There is much outdated information on the web page; as an example I would point to the Meeting Schedule of the selectboard which is still posted as “September - June - Every Wednesday.” For quite some time now the selectboard meets on Tuesdays and not on Wednesdays and only twice a month and not every week. If someone trusts the misinformation posted and goes to the town hall on a Wednesday evening, she/he will be disappointed! More about the town‘s web page in a future piece on this blog.
The Central Region of Homeland Security Advisory Counsel is interested in setting up a reversed 911 system. The selectboard will set up a meeting with the local emergency management officers to discuss the matter.
A reversed 911 system is a system that works the other way. Instead of inbound communication reporting an emergency, the community is warned of a potential emergency by phone. To learn more about this Interactive Community Notification System, click here!
The Commonwealth appropriated $120,102 to the town of Holland from a total of $150,000,000 the Commonwealth has available in Chapter 90 funds.
Earl Johnson announced that the property values are expected to decline 8% for the year and that the town expenses will not decline. Johnson expects the town to be forced to raise taxes for fiscal year 2010.
Selectman Christian Petersen made the announcement about the charity golf tournament to be held on May 3, 2009 at the Hemlock Ridge Golf Course. The fee is $75 per person. Half of the $75 is payable no later than two weeks prior to the tournament. Checks need to be made out to the “town of Holland.” Teams are forming now. Please sign up as soon as possible. Up to 18 teams will be participating in the tournament. Holland Pizza is taking reservations for the tournament, call 245 9090. Earl Johnson will cook cheese burgers; there will also be a raffle with prizes. Proceeds will go to the Holland Youth 6th Graders Bornendale Recreation Fund.
Peter Frei