Two local senior citizens have qualified for a program that lets them work for the town in return for property tax abatements, according to Council on Aging Director Liz Pettis, who organizes the program.
They work at the council on Tuesday mornings, one helping with computer entry and general office assistance, Pettis said, and the other is Pettis' bookkeeper.
"I have two more senior residents approved for the program and will be placing them in town departments in August," Pettis said.
The local program hopes to help as many as 20 senior citizens with a $500 rebate on their property taxes if they're willing to volunteer to work about 70 hours for the town.
The program is restricted to those individuals earning no more than $45,000 per year and with $150,000 in assets, or married couples earning $55,000 and $200,000 in assets.
The tax work-off program was approved by Town Meeting in 2001 and implemented in December of 2007, when Pettis ironed out the regulations. The program is meant to give local senior citizens living on small fixed incomes a way to deal with rising property taxes, allowing them to stay in their family homes.
Seen as a win/win situation for the residents and the town alike, the program could become very helpful for the town in light of its recent layoffs, which reduced the number of town employees and hours they work.
Town Meeting approved a maximum of $10,000 in tax abatements per year for the program, with a maximum individual benefit of $500 per property owner. Applicants must be 60 years old by Jan. 1 or any year to qualify.
For more information, contact Pettis at Hilton Senior Center office of the Council on Aging, 978-462-2412.
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The Salisbury Charter Review Committee will hold a public hearing in the Colchester Room at Town Hall on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend, hear the committee's recommendations and offer comments and suggestions.
The proposed changes to the charter will appear on Salisbury's Web page prior to the hearing (www.salisburyma.gov). Copies will also be available in the Salisbury town clerk's office, located on the first floor of Town Hall.
Questions may be directed to Bob Carroll, chairman of the review committee, at racarroll5@yahoo.com or 978-463-0867.
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Town Moderator Ron Ray has appointed two residents to vacancies on the Warrant Advisory Committee, which reviews every warrant article prior to town meetings and also acts as the town's financial watchdog on budgetary matters.
Appointed to the committee were residents Ron Guillmette, a former Massachusetts state trooper, and Al Peterson, former president of the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association.
There is still a position open as an alternate to the committee, and those willing to volunteer should send a letter of interest to Ray care/off the town clerk's office at Town Hall.
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According to Chamber President Maria Miles, the board of directors of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce is currently working on the upcoming year's events, meetings and mixer schedule. The board is interested in hearing from its members, Miles said, and urges those with suggestions to forward speaker recommendations, locations or agenda ideas to salisburychamber@aol.com.
The Chamber's first meeting will be in October.
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Recently a error was made in the announcement of the time of a golf tournament sponsored by the Friends of the Salisbury Public Library. Correct information for the Glow Golf Tournament at Captn's Corner Miniature Golf is 8 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Captn's Corner Miniature Golf at the corner on Route 286 and Main Street in Salisbury.
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Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com or at 978-462-6666 ext. 3271.
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