Maynard, MA - Tonight at 5 PM, the Town of Maynard Recreation Department will debut a new way to travel the Assabet River: Kayaking!  A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned, according to this announcement on the Town's web site:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=1056&month=7&year=2023&day=25&calType=0

We hope to have a report here on this news page, including photographs, of this event, in the coming days.

The latest rates are documented on the Public Works Department web page:  https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/213/Public-Works-DPW
Under the heading "New Water/Sewer Rate Information" there are 5 links to various documents, but only the first one "Attested Copy ..." is in the form of a PDF document, and easiest to view on any computer.  For simplicity, a copy can be downloaded here below.

The increase in rates depends on a number of complex factors, many of which are described by the Director of Public works in a memo sent to the Select Board previously, back in February.  On the  web site, it's in Microsoft Word format, but I have converted it to a PDF file, again for easier viewing, here.

The memo is 8 pages long, and lays out detailed reasons for the increase.  It's quite a lot to read and digest, but from what I can gather after a quick review, there are at least three main reasons:
• Inflation has increased the cost of labor, energy, and materials needed by the water department.
• The infrastructure is aging and repair and replacement has been underfunded in the past, so we are playing "catch up" to prevent serious problems that could be caused by breakdowns and failures.
• The town is close to the limit of capacity - we currently use almost all the water available to us.  If the town wants to encourage any new development, such as more businesses or housing, more water will have to be made available before such development can go ahead.
Years ago, for a variety of reasons, Maynard did not join the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the MWRA), the agency that supplies water and treats wastewater for many cities and towns in the greater metropolitan area, here in Eastern Massachusetts.  In addition, negotiations with other adjoining towns to combine systems also did not prove fruitful. Therefore, we have a "stand alone" water and wastewater system, and must cover the full cost of operating it with income from water bills here in town.

When I first moved to Maynard, in 2019 and got my first water bill, I had trouble figuring out how the totals were calculated, based on the rate chart in the lower left corner.  When I finally understood it, I made a short video to explain how it works.  There is a link to it on the Energy Stories web site, but you can jump directly to it with this link, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkLAP1TmI4
It's just under 8 minutes running time.

Maynard residents may be able to save water and reduce their bills by locating possible water waste in their homes.  Contrary to popular belief, this may not involve any particular sacrifice (such as taking shorter showers). Merely finding leaks and appliances or fixtures that are wasting water could make a big difference.  I have started a series of "how to" videos to help with this on my Energy Stories web site.
https://energystories.org
For example, even a toilet that doesn't leak can still waste significant water if it over-flushes.  That is, if it uses more water per flush than it says on the label.  This is surprisingly common and yet is something most people haven't ever considered.  The problem is caused by the mechanism in the tank being serviced with the wrong replacement parts or from incorrect adjustment.  I plan to post a video soon, to explain the details, and how to make repairs yourself for very little cost.
Another example is low flow shower heads.  They got a bad reputation decades ago when they were first introduced, but now there are plenty of models available that can conserve water, yet provide a comfortable showering experience.  You can easily use your water meter to calculate how much water your shower uses, per minute.  For details on how to read a water meter, see the link on the Energy Stories web site or use this link, here:
https://vimeo.com/775387384

To most of us, water is a simple matter.  Just turn on the tap, flush the toilet, or run a laundry and the water necessary is there when we need it.  Just as convenient is that fact that once we use that water, the wastewater that results disappears down the drain, almost always without a problem.

And yet, water is vitally necessary for our lives.  Imagine how you'd feel if you turned on the tap and nothing came out.  Or if you flushed the toilets and nothing went down.  Yuk!
This situation leaves us with very few options.  To keep the system running we have to pay the price of maintaining it and save money to cover emergencies or possible hazards, such as ground water pollution from new unanticipated causes.
For many years, water has been very inexpensive, so traditionally, most people have gotten used to just ignoring all this and get on with other things in life. Water from the town is still a bargain at roughly 1 cent per gallon.  (Compare that with bottled water at the convenience store, which is about 10 cents per ounce, or well over $10 per gallon!).

Maynard MA - Many volunteer community groups face a hidden hazard when it comes to their online presence. Often, small organizations depend on one or two individuals to maintain their group’s domain name, web site, e-mail, or social media accounts.  However, one simple factor is often overlooked: Making sure that more than one member has saved the “keys” to these accounts, such as names of vendors, account names, passwords, and methods of payment, if any.
With today’s complex password requirements, two factor authentication, and personal security backup questions, trying to recover from a loss of such information can be a daunting task!  The Friends of the Assabet River Rail Trail is a recent example of what can go wrong.  Within a single year, two members of the group passed away.  Soon, things stopped working and none of the remaining members had the information to log in.  They are still in the process of trying to bring everything back up.  Even now, the group’s official web site, arrtinc.org, brings up a “403.14” error message, instead of the group’s web page content. Fortunately, their facebook page still appears, but the most recent post is from May of this year.
Perhaps this may seem to be an extreme example (the passing of two members in a single year), but other problems such as computer crashes, lost cell phones, or other unexpected events can cause a similar scenario.

These days, the “cat and mouse game” between legitimate users and cyber attackers keeps getting more and more sophisticated, as vendors try to protect their clients’ access to their own data!  All the more reason for group members to take appropriate measures before the next crisis occurs.
It’s easy to add levels of security when a vendor asks you to, but it’s not as easy to remember to keep track of the changes you just made and share them with the others in the inner circle who manage your group’s affairs.  Having two or even three people keep careful up-to-date records seems prudent.
One of the current board members of the ARRT reminded me of how important it can be for community groups with mostly elderly members to put some work into bringing younger people in.  There are a number of reasons for this, including the fact that new members often bring in fresh ideas.  Younger people may have a better idea of how to connect the group with more people of different age ranges in the community, as the world of communication and cultural norms has changed so much in the last few decades.  If new members begin to share some responsibilities when older members need to step back into more of an advisory role, the organization can stay vital and functioning.

Maynard, MA - I just found this web site, from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.  It's called Recycle Smart:  https://recyclesmartma.org
There is a search feature on the site where you can enter the name of an item and it will tell you whether you can recycle that item in Massachusetts.  Often it has helpful information as to why various items can or cannot be recycled.
Note: I believe that not all cities and towns go by the same standards, so I plan to gather more information on that question, as well as other questions I'm researching, soon. I plan to expand this story with what I learn.

Maynard, MA - Although you can order almost anything delivered to your door these days, it’s nice to know that some traditions will always be with us.  Take the roadside lemonade stand, for example. 

Their “facility” was decked out with custom painted furniture, a choice of two different beverages, cups of various colors, as well as a variety of snacks, all protected by a canopy to shield the vendors and their guests from both sunburn and raindrops.  The lemonade was dispensed from a clear decanter with a spigot at the bottom and real lemon slices floating on the surface inside.

We were glad to see such an effort and attention to detail, overall.  The whole experience seemed to convey a “welcome home to Maynard” sentiment, and we were glad to have stopped by.

These days, I think it’s easy to end up with a sense of dread from reading or watching the latest news.  One of the best ways to lift one’s spirits, in spite of all that, is to spend some informal time with neighbors or friends.  Stopping to enjoy a little lemonade gave us a chance to meet neighbors we wouldn’t otherwise meet while driving around in an air conditioned car with the windows rolled up.

Back in June, I contacted the Maynard Police Department, and, according to the representative I talked with, there was no “grace period” during the pandemic; drivers were expected to put money into parking meters as always.  However, the position of parking enforcement officer has been unfilled for some time by now, so enforcement has not been consistent.  I was told that police personnel may occasionally issue tickets for parking violations, but when they do, their focus is primarily in the afternoons, or at other times when most or all of the spaces along Nason and Main Streets are filled.

Parking policy in Maynard is set by the Town’s Parking Authority.  I checked the Parking Authority’s web page, https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/285/Parking-Authority and everything seems to be in order, but there’s a catch. When I talked with the town’s Planning Director, Bill Nemser, a few weeks ago, he informed me that the Chair of the Authority, Megan Zammuto, has now left the position of Town Assistant Administrator to take another job.  As that position is currently vacant, Parking Authority meetings are suspended until someone else can be hired, who can then chair the meetings again.

All this means that things will stay the way they are for now, but it's not certain what will happen next, after those positions are filled.  Nemser told me that there are numerous issues that the Authority will likely have to deal with, related to parking in general, once it starts meeting again.  Historically, the issue of parking meters in town has been highly polarized, with some residents wanting to do away with parking meters altogether, while others are adamantly opposed to that, insisting instead that parking meters continue to be used and enforced.

If anyone is hired to fill either position, I intend to report about it, as soon as I can get reliable information.

The issue of parking and parking meters may seem to be a minor one when it comes to town government, but in fact, how parking is managed can have a significant impact on life in the town.

Ideally, anyone parking anywhere in Maynard would free up their parking space as soon as possible, after completing their errands.  But in reality that doesn't always happen.

If the position of parking enforcement officer is filled, people parking in the downtown area will be fined if they don't use the parking meters, unless the town's parking policy is changed.  If there is no change in policy, many issues will arise, such as:

This all begs the larger question: What kind of parking management do we need, if any, and if so, what are our alternatives?  Is parking congestion in Maynard unavoidable but also rare enough to do away with meters completely and leave parking to a "first come, first served" basis?
If we attempt to better popularize Maynard as an attractive destination for people from other towns to  shop here, eat at our restaurants, or enjoy the art and entertainment options we have to offer, will we end up with a parking problem if our efforts are successful?  Can we find a way to manage parking without using meters or "pay by numbered parking space" kiosks?
If we decide to continue to use parking meters, we should replace what we have, but the cost of doing so is significant.  New "smart" parking meters can cost up to $500 each and would pose new challenges for maintenance and repair. They also need electricity to operate, as they are essentially little computers mounted on a post.
If we try to recoup the cost by raising parking rates, or increasing parking violation fines, we could easily discourage parking in the downtown area and entice even more businesses to relocate elsewhere where parking is free.  In general, parking does not work as a revenue source in most municipalities.

In the Town of Hudson, for example, they eliminated meters years ago.  However, they have a very active parking enforcement officer and cars parked for over two hours are often ticketed.
This irritates some residents because the nature of downtown retail has changed over the years.  Many small shops, grocery stores, clothing stores, etc. have been replaced with hair salons and restaurants where visitors are likely to need more than two hours.  At least in Hudson, they have some parking lots near their downtown area, with an additional supply of spaces, so there are some alternatives.  But Maynard is experiencing the same kind of changes in the mix of retail establishments in our downtown area, so the two hour limit may not be a good idea going forward.

Maynard has the reputation as being a very “walkable” town in that the downtown area is within walking distance of many of the surrounding neighborhoods.  However, there are many reasons people still need to park downtown.  Some folks have difficulty walking.  Others may combine trips with destinations out of town, so they cannot continue their trip without a car.  Bicycling is an alternative, but many roads in town still do not have good bike lanes, and inclement weather or the need to carry bulky items can render bicycle travel or walking difficult.  We have no public transit system in town, so that's not an alternative.  Ride sharing (such as Uber or Lyft) may be an alternative, but it can be expensive and the supply of available drivers may be unreliable.

There are some in Maynard who are actively trying to promote the town as an attractive destination, partly in order to increase tax revenue and help to better balance our town government budgets.  That's a reasonable idea, but part of that effort should include a thorough review of our parking policy before going ahead.  Otherwise, we will be left trying to handle a crisis, rather than avoid it by preparing properly ahead of time.