Weymouth Mourns Loss of 12-Year-Old Student in Tragic Skiing Accident
Community remembers Jack Murray for his active involvement in school and sports
WEYMOUTH - January 6 - The Town of Weymouth is grieving the loss of Jack Murray, a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Chapman School, who died in a skiing accident on Dec. 31 at Mount Cranmore Resort.
Town Council President Michael Molisse announced the tragic news during the Jan. 6 council meeting, describing Jack as an exceptionally active student.
"For a 12-year-old, what that kid had done was just unbelievable, he was involved in so much," Molisse said.
Jack was a member of the Chapman School Band and participated in Weymouth Youth Soccer, Chapman Wrestling, and the Basketball Team.
The council held a moment of silence to honor Jack and his family. Jack's grandfather and other family members have been involved in the Weymouth school system over the years.
In other council business, the town is moving forward with its Community Electricity Aggregation plan, initiating a 30-day public review period.
John Macleod, Director of Asset Management, presented the measure to the Council, stating, "The town of Weymouth take the next step in community electricity aggregation approval process as required by the Department of Public Utilities, consisting of a period of public review for at least 30 days for the Weymouth community electricity aggregation plan."
The public review period will run from Jan. 6 to March 3, with a public hearing scheduled for resident comments and questions.
Residents are encouraged to review the plan on the town's website at weymouth.ma.us/mayor. All comments and questions will be included in the plan filed with the Department of Public Utilities for review and approval.
Councilor Greg Shanahan expressed support for the initiative, saying, "I think it's been a long time coming, and I think it's going to be a good conversation for the town to have."
Macleod assured the council that representatives from Good Energy, the town's partner in this project, will be available to answer questions from committees, the Council, or the public throughout the process.
The Council voted to refer the measure to the Economic Development Committee for further review.
In infrastructure news, National Grid received approval to install a new prefabricated regulator station at the intersection of Columbian and Main Streets.
Mary Mulroney, representing National Grid, presented the petition to the Council, detailing the project's scope. "National Grid requests permission to install a new prefabricated regulator station with associated inlet and outlet piping valves, vent poles, traffic boxes, and associated telemetry apparatuses at Columbian Street and Main Street in Weymouth, replacing an existing regulator station," she said.
The project includes approximately 50 feet of 12-inch coated steel inlet piping and 160 feet of outlet piping.
Councilors expressed concerns about the project's impact on traffic in the busy area, particularly given its proximity to a hospital. Mulroney assured the Council that National Grid is working with the town's Engineering Department on a required traffic management plan.
"The Town of Weymouth Engineering Department, that's part of the permit application. We have to put in a traffic plan," Mulroney stated.
The Council unanimously approved the petition, with the understanding that proper traffic management measures will be in place.
In financial matters, the council accepted the town's audited financial statements for fiscal year 2023. Scott McIntyre from CBIZ, the town's auditing firm (through a series of acquisitions explained in the meeting), presented the report, highlighting a clean audit opinion and an increase in the town's unassigned fund balance.
McIntyre reported that the town's unassigned fund balance increased from $11 million in fiscal year 2022 to $13.9 million in fiscal year 2023, representing about 7.5% of general fund expenditures.
"We did not need to propose any significant audit adjustments," McIntyre said, indicating the town's books and records were in good order.
The council's next scheduled meeting will be held on Jan. 21 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.