Politics & Government

Stoughton's What to Watch For in 2014

As we turn the page to 2014, there are several stories that are left over from 2013 that will bear watching this year.

In no particular order, these are some of the stories to follow:

STOUGHTON TEACHERS' CONTRACT When the Stoughton Teachers Association met with the administration and the school committee representatives in December, no progress was made toward getting a contract in place. Teachers have been showing up at school committee meetings to state their case for a new contract.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT SOUTH COAST RAIL?
The debate here is whether to continue to fight the South Coast Rail coming through Stoughton, or to follow what other towns have been doing and looking to get what they can in improvements to their town and the rail. The town of Stoughton is looking to hire a lobbyist to represent their interests on Beacon Hill. Any hopes of a new governor changing the direction of the South Coast Rail doesn't seem likely. The declared Democratic candidates have said they support the rail, while Republican candidate Charlie Baker was against the South Coast Rail, but he says now he is studying it.

IS A NEW HIGH SCHOOL ON THE WAY? The school administration and school committee are waiting to see if they are on the agenda for the January meeting of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The school has put together their request and gotten the support of the town's senator, Brian A. Joyce, and state representatives Louis Kafka and Bill Galvin. Not making it on the January agenda wouldn't mean the end of the process. They will hope to get on the next agenda.

TOWN ELECTIONS There are rumblings that it's going to be an interesting election season in Stoughton. George Dolinsky and Deborah Sovinee's terms are running out in April on the school committee side, while Stephen Anastos and current chairman John Anzivino have expiring terms as selectmen.

WILL A MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITY BE BUILT IN TOWN? G2-New England is going through the process of getting approval from the state to build a facility in Stoughton. This is a state-mandated program, which doesn't leave the town any room to dispute it, except for zoning it into a certain area. The Stoughton Police Department, Stoughton Fire Department and OASIS (Organizing Against Substances in Stoughton) have all said they are against the town having such a facility.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT DOWNTOWN? This will be a big question in 2014. In 2013, more businesses left, leaving more storefronts empty. A key redevelopment will be restoration of the old State Theater, which is expected to be the centerpiece of a new downtown.


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