Shrewsbury – After several years of decreasing levels of local aid from the state and irregular commitments of funding from the state level, Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen will consider next Tuesday evening whether to organize a regional effort to spur a focus on local aid, educational aid and ending unfunded mandates.Board Chairman James F. Kane will ask the selectmen at their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, March 20 to sponsor a regional meeting of the Boards of Selectmen, the School Committees, Finance Committee members and City Councilors April 18 at 7 p.m.”It has become clear that local officials need to organize and speak with one voice and that it is no longer good enough to speak as one Board of Selectmen,” Kane said. “We need to speak with a regional voice. Although our Representative and Senator have supported and pursued the policies we have asked them to push on Beacon Hill, they can's do it alone. I think is clear that in order to be effective at the state level, we need to work collectively with our neighboring elected officials to ensure state support for our communities.”Given the recent budget discussions of the elected and appointed officials at the Tri-Board (selectmen, School Committee, and Finance Committee) meeting last week and the Legislative Workshop attended by the same boards, as well as the elected state officials, held the first Saturday in March, Kane expects to receive support from Shrewsbury officials and looks forward to working with neighboring town and city officials.Kane will ask that Leicester, Millbury, Worcester, Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Marlborough, Boylston, and West Boylston be invited initially.
