TOWN NEWS | SCHOOL NEWS | EVENTS AND CHARITY | SPORTS NEWS | JOURNAL ARTICLE
Have News? Email Snydersstoughton@aol.com
WATCH MARK ON YOU TUBE
Read YOUR LETTERS here
ALL CONTENTS (c) 2012 by PMPNetwork/Snyder's Stoughton
SNYDER'S STOUGHTON IS A MEMBER OF
Online News Association
-----------------------------------------------------
SNYDER'S STOUGHTON IS A MEMBER OF
Investigative Reporters & Editors
-----------------------------------------------------
SnydersStoughton.com Success:
OVER 10 MILLION HITS
in the past Seven Months
(details)
LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF!
NEW EXERCISE EQUIPMENT--EXPANDED WORKOUT ROOM--GET A TOUR & CHECK IT OUT!
Mention this ad and get a day pass for free
tot the STRIAR OLD COLONY YMCA - Enjoy the private indoor walking track, the clean, crystal clear olympic-sized indoor pool, the massive basketball courts, the state-of-the-art cardio and weight training area, group fitness classes, dance classes, educational opportunities, and a real community center! MORE THAN A GYM!
Are you determined to improve your health and well-being? With our wide range of facilities and services, you’ll have the tools to succeed!
Become a Member! Call Ellen Greene 781-341-2016 x262 or egreene@oldcolonyymca.org. Mention this ad and save $10 off registration fee! A fantastic place for YOUR family!
Use your Y Card at other Centers!
ADVERTISE FOR ONLY
$250 Per Month! Call 781-341-8332
The Most Effective Ad In Stoughton
reaches ALL the Movers & Shakers in Town
ALL CONTENTS ON THIS SITE (c) 2011 by PMPNetwork, Inc.
24 Hours A Day/Seven Days A Week---Stoughton's first 24/7 News Source
Who else works weekends???
All Stories On Snyder's Stoughton are (c) 2011 and may not be re-published or quoted without written permission and/or proper crediting to this Site.
South Coast Rail Economic Development & Land Use Corridor (here) (State Site)
(New EPA Letter)
GOLDEN OLDIE---The Downtown Plan from 1965!
FIND THE LOWEST GAS PRICES IN STOUGHTON
Statement of Interest (High School)
Statement of Interest (South School)
both passed unanimously by Selectmen and School Committee
PROPOSED 2013 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
with a message from Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr.
A Rebuttal of Mr. Crimmin's Message from Supt. of Schools Dr. Rizzi
SELECTMEN'S LETTER & ADDITIONAL 2013 BUDGET INFO
STOUGHTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SLIDE SHOW--See What THEY DO!
COMPARISON OF STOUGHTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NEARBY TOWNS
LETTER FROM POLICE CHIEF SHASTANY SEEKING COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MEET GREG YAITANES--EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF FOX TV's "HOUSE"
(son of Fred Yaitanes of Fred & Nadine Realtor fame)
YAITANES DIRECTING NEW CINEMAX SERIES
It's not a news flash that the municipal and school sides of town have been battling, especially in the two years that Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. has been in office. His slashing of the school budget by two million dollars in the last fiscal year might have been the start of it. Some of the strong letters written by the school committee certainly didn't sit well with him, either. So now, Crimmins has terminated his contract with the town, as of March 31, and he's going out like a lion, not a lamb. He has instituted many changes in his two years of service. He's made organizational changes, personnel changes, and certainly has made employees work a bit harder, and more focused. He knew there was a problem in purchasing on the town side, with many department heads doing their own thing. He worked at centralizing purchasing, hiring Lindsay Pope as Acting Chief Procurement Officer for the town. He was hoping to purchase for the WHOLE town, including the schools, through the his office, the town accountant and the CPO’s office.
Flash to a late addition to Tuesday night's (1/31) Selectmen's Agenda. It was the "Jones School Roof Contract". Town Meeting, you might remember, approved the design for the roof three years ago, after a warrant article was submitted by the School Committee. This past town meeting, money was approved for the roof work. The School Committee and Superintendent of Schools had explained that the water was invading the inside of the Jones School Early Childhood Center, which serves hundreds of students in special programs within its walls, as well as a relatively new Parents Center. In March 2011, the Board of Selectmen, with instructions from Town Manager Crimmins, announced a claim of control over all building design in the town, and with the hiring of Pope, the town wanted all purchases---for municipal and schools--funneled through her office and the town accountant.
Interestingly enough, Pope sent a memorandum to the Board of Selectmen, with a copy to Crimmins, on January 26 on the subject of Procurement Laws and Policies. In it, she said that bids for the Jones School roof--ranging from 400,000-600,000 dollars--were placed without notice to the town or the Acting CPO of the town (her). She also said a low bid was accepted on it. Superintendent of Schools Marguerite Rizzi said that simply isn’t true. “Bids are open. A low bidder has not yet been chosen. This project has never been under the purview of the town hall. They have never been part of the process. They need to leave us to do our purchasing, just as we have been doing since 1990, without incident, and under the scrutiny of yearly outside audits.” Pope continued in her complaint: "There have been multiple bids placed out, opened and awarded since the December memo (a procurement policy sent to all department heads on December 7, 2011 by Crimmins.) This is a problem because it is not legal to do so." Pope continued with specifics: "The examples of purchases in the past two months that have been placed out to bid range from janitorial, to roofing contracts, to supplies and services that are not included in the excluded curriculum and book categories. In the past, there have been procurements paid for without knowing because the school refused to furnish the town with contracts and bidding materials. The contracts are required by law to be held in the town accountant's office. This alone was a huge preexisting issue that makes the town non-compliant with state laws."
What she is saying seems to have a legal basis. I found some interesting information in a packet given to me by Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. One interesting note is that a day before Crimmins sent that memo to all department heads, December 6, 2011, Crimmins appointed himself, Lindsay Pope, and Town Accountant Bill Rowe as delegates of "Procurement Powers" in a filing with the Office of Inspector General. On that same date, he also sent the Inspector General a revocation of the Superintendent of School's and (Deputy) Fire Chief's procurement powers and duties, including supplies and services. Then, he sent another, on December 7th to the Inspector General giving Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi the ability for procurement, for items up to $24,999. It also states that those purchases need to have maintenance of records handled only by Rowe, Pope or Crimmins. Currently, all original records are maintained in Joel Harding’s office. The note to the Inspector General from Crimmins also specified that Rizzi must be MCPPO certified by January 1, 2014 or her powers of procurement would be terminated. Harding, who is Supervisor of Support Services for the Stoughton Public Schools, who has handled all of the bidding for years for the school department (and is MCPPO certified and has a School Business Manager license), was thereby taken out of the loop in this process. A warrant item to revoke all the changes Crimmins has made to the school department’s procurement policies is scheduled for the Annual Town Meeting. Rizzi said she was forced into some action: “Mr. Rowe is refusing to pay bills that he has been paying for years. This is a whole new way of doing business. We have never had a problem. They are just adding another layer of bureaucracy. It’s really a case of State Law vs. a Town Manager’s memorandum. Why did he step in when there was no problem? The Inspector General has said this is an internal matter. So, the question remains, why has the town manager trying to interfere with the school system doing business as they have for years, when there was never a problem? This has worked well for decades with never an incident of impropriety. The attacks have escalated. It is personal. The town manager wants to control everything. And, what he can’t control, he attacks. Hopefully, the selectmen will show some leadership, and give him some guidance in moving in a positive direction.”
So, as all this brings us to the last minute adjustment to Tuesday night's agenda. The School Department was never notified that the Jones School discussion would even be on the agenda. The two and a half page letter from Pope was never given to the school committee or the superintendent of schools prior to the meeting. They left the meeting without it. But, the town's counsel, Brian Riley, was there to advise the Board. Pope has worked to “stop the ability of the school department to advertise any new projects in excess of their designated thresholds through the Inspector General’s office and to try to move forward with an injunction through Town Counsel,” according to her written statement. Riley told me outside the meeting that in court he never would have proceeded without both sides having documentation, "but this wasn't court." From what was presented, there is certainly a problem, and technically it appears the schools may be in violation of some of the laws, after Crimmins’ changes of December 6 and 7. But, appearances don't always tell the full story. Laws can be interpreted differently.
Pope told me earlier she doesn't want anything to do with politics. She told Snyder's Stoughton, "I just go by the three rules of procurement, MGL Chapter 30B, Chapter 30 section 39m, and Chapter 149. I'm just here to see that all departments comply with all three laws. It may be a misunderstanding, but we have to follow the law and convert mistakes to compliance." When told that the school department has been making purchases for years, Pope said, "I'm not here to figure out what they did before. I do take issue with their current lack of compliance with the procurement laws. Hopefully, they'll be remedied. I stay away from politics. I do my job, and I'll address anything that comes in the way of lawful compliance." There were multiple reports that town hall called the Attorney General's office and the Inspector Generals, as well, to complain about the "illegal school purchasing." Pope said that "I speak to the Attorney General's office and the Inspector General on a daily basis. I call them with tiny problems and large problems alike. They're part of my day to day activity. They do training and answer questions. I have not reported anything to State authorities. But, if this continues, it could be problematic. It doesn't need to escalate any further," she told me several hours before the meeting.
Pope said she has a great respect for the taxpayers of this town. She told me, "What we do is a gift. People donate their hard-earned money and my job is to make sure we do not misuse a single penny. That's why I do what I do. I can't imagine being in a position where I could barely pay my taxes. This is not our money--it's theirs. We need to respect them and their contribution."
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi said the South School roof project predates the selectmen's March 2011 pronouncement by three years. "They can't retroactively apply their assertion of control. The money was voted by Town Meeting for the School Committee, and the SC followed all proper procedures and we will proceed. We have tried to work with Ms. Pope. Everything we've been doing has been slowed, and we've come to no agreement of the minds," she told me earlier in the day. Rizzi warned that the matter could end up costing the town some attorney fees, adding, "The right of the Town Manager to take the purchasing power from the schools could become a legal matter. The procurement of the Jones School project is Chapter 149. The Inspector General has no jurisdiction under this chapter. Whatever resolution between the schools and the town on Chapter 30B, these projects under Chapter 149 have always been under the jurisdiction of the school committee."
Selectman Steve Anastos loudly proclaimed Tuesday night that the schools were acting illegally. He is echoing what Mr. Crimmins has been telling all his department heads, as a way of reinforcing his December 7th pronouncement. Crimmins, a practicing attorney, and former Judge, knows his law. But there is always disagreement on legal matters.
In a March 2011 letter to Town Manager Crimmins, Attorney Riley, of Town Counsel Kopelman and Paige, wrote, "In general, the Town Manager has primary contracting authority, but the School Department does have more independent authority than other town departments, and the School Department was intentionally exempted from Chapter 47-6 of the General By-laws. All town departments are subject to the Uniform Procurement Act, however." In the four page letter, Riley also wrote, "The Town Charter has the same legal status as a special act with regard to the Town and takes precedence over the General Laws, in my opinion. The Charter provides that the Town Manager shall keep in repair the Town Library and all other Town buildings, excluding school buildings under the care and custody of the School Committee." In 2008, the Board of Selectmen approved a detailed procurement procedure manual proposed by the Town Accountant. It never mentions anyone from the School Department. Section 47-6 provides, however, that it applies to any contract for supplies or services "other than the school department." Section 47-4 also provides restrictions on borrowing for all capital outlay projects, according to Riley. Two of Riley's opinions seem conflicting, indicating the Town Manager is right, and so is the School Department. He writes, "Unless there is a valid and current delegation by the Town Manager to the Superintendent of Schools, the Town Manager has the responsibility to handle all supply contracts for the School Department (except school books.)" But, he also writes, "The School Department has, at a minimum, the authority over any service contracts needed for school facilities, and according to the terms of General By Laws Chapter 5-4 and 44-7 (and consistent with Chapter 30B), the School Committee is a "procurement officer" and is not subject to the purchase order requirement of 47-6." Meanwhile, the School Committee’s attorney, Bryan LeBlanc, wrote about the Jones School roof project, “It is true that Building Construction and Designer Services are services, they are exempt services that are not subject to M.G.L. 30B.” He adds, “Town Bylaws, Section 5-4 provides ‘Unless provided by a vote of Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee or Chief Procurement Officer designated pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30B is authorized to enter into any contract within his or her spheres of responsibility for the exercise of the Town’s corporate powers, on such terms or conditions as deemed appropriate.’ Therefore, the Stoughton Public Schools may procure Designer Services and Public Building Construction Services, irrespective of the delegation questions raised by the Town Manager.”
With Selectman Chairman John Stagnone attempting to play peacemaker, and Cynthia Walsh making a motion (supported by Stagnone and John Anzivino) to request that School Committee Chair Joyce Husseini, Stagnone, Crimmins, Rizzi, Riley, and Pope meet and try to iron out the mess before next Tuesday's meeting. Steve Anastos and John Anderson abstained from the vote. Anastos pointed out that one of the school’s warrant items for Town Meeting, was, in effect, designed to restore the purchasing for the schools back to Rizzi and away from Crimmins. He questioned why that was necessary if she still had legal purchasing power for the Jones School roof. At one point in the meeting, the discussion between Stagnone and Anastos got heated, that Stagnone attempting to gavel Anastos quiet. Cooler heads prevailed.
If the schools continue what they have been doing for decades very successfully, smoothly and seemingly-legally, it appears they risk legal troubles since those changes made by Crimmins on December 6 and 7. If they do comply with Pope, it is possible their purchases could be slower than they currently are, and that students, teachers and staff could suffer. The school department could also initiate legal action, to fight the way the process was done, and the interpretation of the law. Either way, I smell that precious taxpayer funding going out to more attorney's offices. Let's hope that in that meeting this week, the law is followed and that both sides win. Unfortunately, fairy tales only work in Aesop's books.
School Committe Chair Joyce Husseini, Supt. of Schools Dr. Rizzi, Financial Coordinator Jessica Denison, SC members Allan Mills and George Dolinsky.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi said, "Many things were said Tuesday night and we thought there was an urgency to respond. It's an Open Meeting. We called the AG's office and asked if we could amend the agenda and they said, 'yes'." Stoughton Public Schools Financial Coordinator Jessica Denison said that routine purchases---like a $22 bill from Home Depot, have been pulled by Acting Chief Procurement Officer Lindsay Pope, and are not being paid by Town Accountant Bill Rowe. In fact, Rowe hasn't paid the $1010 bill for Verizon, so the school's phones are in danger of being disconnected. Imagine the safety problems that would bring to students! Stoughton has also had a decades-long relationship with Garelick Farms, and belongs to a buying group, where the milk accounts of each town are audited each year. Rizzi said that they are now giving her trouble about the children's milk at Town Hall. A long-term relationship with a window repaircompany in the schools ($33,000), Apple Computer ($8307), a $544 laser cartridge bill, a $297 ad in the Patriot Ledger for the Jones School roof contract, and a Solartec software contract, have all been pulled and their bills not paid, according to Dr. Rizzi. The schools in yearly outside audits have always gotten very good commendations on their procurement practices, while the municipal side of government has not. This was the catalyst that Town Manager Francis T. Cimmins, Jr. used to try to improve procurement policies at Town Hall. He hired Pope, and worked to make ALL purchases townwide---including schools--go through Pope and Rowe. He also requested that all contracts, receipts and bid materials be stored in the Town Accountant's office. Crimmins allowed Rizzi to order items of up to $24,999. He eliminated the procurement authority of Joel Harding, an MCPPO certified Procurement Officer for the schools for many years. School Committee member Allan Mills said that Harding has "saved the school department nearly five million dollars on his bids through the years. That money has been returned to the general fund for the use of all departments in the Town."
School Committee member Deb Sovinee said, "Our Counsel has assured us that our procurement practices have been legal." Added School Committee member Tom Colburn, "Outside firms have done exhaustive audits and commended the schools on what we are doing. This interference from Town Hall has slowed down our efficiency. Our legal counsel is telling us everything we've been doing is completely above board and legal. Our legal counsel said all of our purchases have been proper and lawful and bills the should be paid by the town accountant." These are all bills that Rowe has been paying regularly for years. Why is he not paying them NOW? Rizzi added that, "We have been told by our legal counsel to proceed as we have."
Chief Shastany's temporary home!
Stoughton Firefighters from Group 1 trained today (1/26/12) on ice rescue at Pinewood Pond on Lakewood Drive in Stoughton. This is annual training to test the department's readiness to handle this specialized type of rescue. Pictured are Lt. George O'Neil, FF Don Chipman, FF Fred Little, and FF Roy Ward. Rescue Swimmers included Firefighters Jack Hussey and Ryan Cabral.
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS GET AN EARFUL
Town Moderator Howard Hansen and Deputy Moderator Bob Mullen hosted about 120 interested people at Stoughton High School Cafeteria on Monday night, as they tried to recruit some new Town Meeting members in a Magical Mystery Tour of Town Meeting. Because of the redistricting (as a result of the latest census information), all 168 Town Meeting seats are now open. They showed a film that featured Hansen and his Visor, as well as a Power Point presentation about Town Meeting. Most faces in the crowd were familiar, but there were maybe a dozen or more fresh faces who are considering a maiden run for office. One who I recognized-- a victim of the redistricting-- was former precinct two resident, and now precinct 8 resident Billie Sears, the wife of Pastor Sean Sears of Grace Church in Stoughton. I hope she, and others that showed interest, take out papers and run! If you are interested in joining Town Meeting (it's a blast as long as you take your No-Doz and eat candy to keep you awake), go to the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall and get a petition. Secure 15 signatures of your neighbors, and you're on the ballot! Good luck! In a quirk of the redistricting, people who live right across the street from the Jones School can no longer vote there. They must go to O'Donnell Middle School. That's our legislature in action!
(Posted at 10:30 p.m. on January 23, 2012) Mark Snyder Photos
Dr. David Ruvich, age 60 of Canton, passed away suddenly January 18th at his home. Donations may be made in his memory to Parkinson’s Assn 72 E. Concord St. Boston, MA 02118 or to the Joslin Diabetes Center 1 Joslin Place Boston, MA 02215 or to Buddy Dog Humane Society 151 Boston Post Rd Sudbury, MA 01776. David was an amazing doctor, and an even more amazing human being. He loved his gadgets and enjoyed sharing musical trivia with me. He will be missed.
BUDGET BATTLE LINES BEING DRAWN
Selectman Chairman John Stagnone worked over the weekend to try to make the numbers work in the 2013 proposed town budget. He sent a letter to his fellow selectmen, dated January 15, and proposed a spending plan for the $72,257,064 in anticipated revenue, including the subsidies for enterprise accounts. Stagnone recommended a number of cuts, amounting to $395,595 from the total amount requested by the municipal side. Stagnone recommended that the school department be funded by a budget of $37,326,695, including Southeastern Regional and Norfolk Aggie. Superintendent of
Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. said he was just advocating for departments that have been underfunded for years. "It was irresponsible that the school department was taking more of the share of total revenue than was equitable for the needs of all the departments in the Town of
To his credit, Stagnone said he was concerned after last week's meeting that there was a stalemate. With the proposed school and municipal budgets brought before him, there was a 2.6 million dollar deficit. Stagnone said that the budget---which includes all the enterprise funds---is now balanced, with input from fellow selectman John Anzivino. Whether you agree or disagree with the final results the Selectmen sent on to the Finance Committee, remember that this budget is a moving target, and will change.
Fire Chief Mark Dolloff was pleased. His request for three new firefighters was approved. Chief Dolloff said he cut $40,000 from his overtime budget, and is hoping that the budget passes town meeting intact. He'll have to hire through civil service, so it may be some time before new Firefighter/EMT's are hired, trained and manning firehouse one and two. The Stoughton Police request by Chief Paul Shastany also did well. The Chief has outlined where he would like to take the Department---through accreditation, increased manpower, and improved organization. He got most of what he was looking for in the approved budget being sent to the Finance Committee. The Board approved the Chief's plan for a Deputy Chief (currently Lt. Robert Devine is working as his "Executive Officer" and now as Acting Chief while Shastany is at the FBI Academy until March); three new patrolmen, two resource officers, and an information system person. Stagnone cut out the request for two civilian dispatchers, another $45,691 position (line 0206), and an IT/Crime Analyst.
Human Resources Director Marty McNamara got a new part-time HR Administrator, but didn't get the bump up in pay & title (adding assistant town manager), and a full time Principal Clerk that the town manager had requested. Stagnone's budget also included an increase to $415,000 in the Selectmen's Reserves. Other municipal cuts in Stagnone's recommendations that were adopted included removal of funding for a part time Data Collector in the Assessor's office; deletion of a Code Enforcement Officer in the Building Department, cutting of an Assistant Children's Librarian from the Stoughton Public Library; a Building Maintenance Craftsman was deleted from Public Works; and a Principal Clerk was removed from the Treasurer/Collector's office. The Town Counsel budget was cut by $25,000 in legal fees.
Stagnone added, "With economic uncertainty still existing and little to no growth for the next couple years, there is going to be a need for us to continue to control the size of our debt service, lower joint costs, and possibly forego pay increases and/or restructuring pay scales with the unions in future contracts to sustain these positions in this and future budgets." Not sure how the town’s many unions will react to that—but I’m guessing not too fondly. I'm sure that the school committee will put together some of the potential casualties of a budget as low as the selectmen passed. They usually publish tiers of potential cuts. When it's in black and white, it sometimes sinks in better. But, 37 million dollars is a big number in the minds of many.
Kudos to Stagnone and Anzivino for tackling a no-win assignment. I can remember while serving my nine year term on the Finance Committee MANY years where selectmen submitted budgets that were up to three million dollars in the red. We were forced to make the difficult cuts, while they sat on the sideline. So, again, I applaud the effort made to pass on a balanced budget to the FinCom.
No matter where you stand on this budget, it's still early in the game. Almost no one would disagree that public safety and our education system should be priorities. But what about our water and sewer? Our youth and our elderly? Our library? YOU have a voice! You can attend the Finance Committee meetings, and voice your views at their open hearings. You can send a letter to Snyder’s
(Posted on January 17, 2012 @ 11:00 p.m. Updated on January 18 @ 8 a.m.)
MESSAGE FROM CHIEF SHASTANY FROM HIS FBI TRAINING:
"Greetings from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia! I have been consumed with briefings, instructions, forms, and assignments since my arrival last Saturday. Today was the official "fit test," a requirement to move forward. I ran the 1.5 mile requirement and finished with time to spare. I am ready to embark upon a journey that they promise will be life changing. I am ready to lean into the pain, and soak in the experience! I will keep posting as I move through this training. Photos here are very limited. When I can, I will post what I can."
(from the Stoughton Police Facebook page)
Stoughton man arrested in
A 23-year old Stoughton man has been indicted and arrested for the September 20, 2011 murder of 23-year-old Kristopher Rosa in Avon, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey and Avon Chief of Police Warren Phillips.
DID YOUR SEPTIC TANK FAIL YOU?
Stoughton Woman Opens Spa in Brockton
Former Employee the New Owner...
(story)
Related stories: (1)
FROM THE STOUGHTON POLICE FILES.....
CHIEF SHASTANY& NORFOLK D.A. MORRISSEY
HELP STOUGHTON RESIDENTS DISPOSE OF UNUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
If you have prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet that you no longer need, the Stoughton Police Department has a new drug take-back container – and you are invited to use it.
“Prescription drugs, particularly opiate-based pain pills left over from surgery, injury, even dental work, may look harmless sitting in the medicine chest, but we are finding that the opposite is true,” said Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. “We are hearing from addiction experts that over half, and perhaps three quarters, of young people are having their first experiences with addictive opiates that were taken directly from the medicine cabinets of family or friends.”
DA Morrissey and Stoughton Police Chief Paul J. Shastany agree that getting unused prescription drugs out of residents’ medicine cabinets is an important tool in keeping them out of circulation, and thereby preventing addictions and the crime and misery that often accompany them.
Police refer to them as “diverted drugs,” and they are a significant problem, according to Chief Shastany. “Our own children should not be our sole concern,” Chief Shastany said. “Whenever you, your children or grandchildren have guests in the home, when they use the restroom they are behind a closed door with whatever prescription drugs may be in the cabinet. Thefts occur.”
Parents of teens often monitor liquor in their home, but Shastany and Morrissey said that few parents keep track of how many unused pills are in the house. “That is proving to be a mistake for many good families,” Morrissey said.
In May, District Attorney Morrissey wrote to Norfolk County police chiefs inviting them to host a drug collection container.
Morrissey negotiated an arrangement with Bay State Community Services’ Impact Quincy program that provided a two-thirds subsidy for police to acquire the $900 secure containers. Morrissey awarded 13 towns a $300 grant from the DA’s office, drawn from drug profits forfeited in narcotics prosecutions, coupled with a $300 grant from anti-drug funds that Impact Quincy had through the Department of Public Health. Stoughton missed the window for the Impact Quincy grant, but with the success of the program elsewhere prompted the DA and the Chief to agree to split the cost of a container for Stoughton, with each paying for half.
With the Food and Drug Administration recommending against flushing unused medicine down the toilet or disposing of it in household trash, for environmental and other reasons, these containers provide a safe method, Morrissey and Shastany said. District Attorney Morrissey contacted Covanta Energy and arranged for Norfolk County Departments to be able to have drugs collected in the bins destroyed by that company at no cost to the town. “We are thankful to Covanta for their good corporate citizenship here,” Morrissey said.
“The container is self-serve and situated in the lobby of the police station ready to be used,” Chief Shastany said. “Taking a few minutes out of your day to safely dispose of your un-used prescriptions can prevent crime and, frankly, the destruction of lives.”
Shastany Leaves To Attend 248th Session
of Prestigous FBI National Academy
Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany leaves Friday to attend the 248th session of the prestigious FBI NATIONAL
ACADEMY until March 16, 2012. Stoughton Police Executive Officer Robert Devine will lead the department in his absence. Shatany wrote Town Manager Frank Crimmins, "I have the utmost confidence in Executive Officer Robert Devine and my leadership team to take over inmy my absence. However, I will remain in close contact and in consultation with the department." Town Manager Frank Crimmins and the Board of Selectmen have agreed to allow Shastany to attend the training, which comes at no cost to the Town. Shastany has been working to take a department, which was tarnished with scandal, to full accreditation, through training of all personnel, and a code of conduct that has increased morale in the Rose Street headquarters.
Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in charge of the Boston FBI office, wrote, "Since its inception in 1935, the FBI National Academy has set the standard for executive police training." Added Shastany, "The FBI National Academy is the most prestigious law enforcement executive training program in the world. It serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies, at home and abroad, and to raise law enforcement standards knowledge and cooperation worldwide. I am excited that the FBI considers Stoughton to be one of the best departments, and worthy of this offer."
The Chief leaves this Friday. Snyder's Stoughton broke this story October 6, 2011.
(originally posted 10/6/11; re-posted on January 4, 2012)
COMPETITION FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE SEAT
There's a race brewing for School Committee in the April 2012 elections. Incumbent Allan Mills is facing former School Committee member Dr. Erdem Ural. Ural was named to the Finance Committee recently by Moderator Howard Hansen. If elected, Dr. Ural would have to resign from the Finance Committee. If not, he keeps his seat on the committee that, among other things, goes over the Stoughton School System (and every other town budget) with a fine tooth comb.
Both candidates were sent emails, and were called for comments.
Mills told Snyder’s Stoughton, “I will bring leadership, which I have done in seven terms of office. I have maturity and the ability to work with other people. I’ve shown a purpose to get things done. I have a vision of the future and have had a chance to fulfill many goals like full day kindergarten, bringing in a grant writer at no cost to the town, and basically moving the Stoughton schools in a forward direction. This term my goals include moving forward with the building plans for the high school. I’d like to see it become a community resource center. Maybe after 4 p.m., the community can use it. Police and Fire can already use our high school workout facilities. I’d like to see some of these health initiatives for employees of the town move forward, as well. I’m looking to promote a budget that allows the schools to move in a forward direction. I work cooperatively with Board members and the community at large. I have a track record on that.”
Dr. Ural sent the following message: "I am running for the School Committee to improve our schools and the administration. I lived in Stoughton for 30 years. I have two children attending Stoughton Public Schools. Our schools’ primary goal is to increase achievement for all students, so that every student can reach her fullest potential. Since our revenues are limited, we must focus on improving our system’s efficiency so that there are more resources available to increase student achievement. In order to do that, we must be fiscally responsible: eliminate waste, share services with other Town departments, seek more opportunities to regionalize, and make collective bargaining more effective and equitable. We must treat our employees and their unions with respect and dignity. We must also reduce fees parents pay, and resist fee increases. Furthermore, as the board charged with overseeing the school system, we must work to have a more accountable and transparent School Administration, and hold the Superintendent accountable for her decisions. I proudly served three years as a Stoughton School Committee member until I lost my bid for re-election last year by 75 votes. During my tenure, I have always worked to maintain a perfectly professional and respectful relationship with my fellow board members and the Superintendent. At the same time, I have always voted my conscience and done my best to serve the interests of all Stoughton residents. While there were times, I was on the losing end of a 4-1 vote, most of the time my vote coincided with those of my fellow School Committee members, and the decisions were unanimous. Occasionally, when I believed a proposal being voted on by the Committee was wrong for Stoughton, I did not hesitate to speak up and vote against it, especially when it concerned issues such as prematurely extending the Superintendent’s contract and raising the student lunch and bus fees. The recent unanimous School Committee vote to give the Superintendent more than 20% raise would have never happened if I were a member of the School Committee."
(A complaint regarding alleged violations of the Open Meeting Laws, sent to the Attorney General by Dr. Ural, was responded to by the AG, who recommended that executive board session minutes be updated in their letter.)
(Posted on January 3, 2012 @ 9:40 p.m. Updated on January 4, 2012 @ 7 a.m.)
(Snyder's Stoughton does not endorse candidates. We give an equal forum to all. Candidates for all town-wide offices should feel free to send any campaign information, including names of campaign managers, treasurers, etc., as well as event information to snydersstoughton@aol.com. We post all information, if it is received in a timely manner.)
THE RACE IS ON FOR SELECTMAN!
There will be a race for the two selectmen seats in the April 2012 election. Incumbents Cynthia Walsh and John Anderson, who have both served as vice chairman, will be challenged by Town Meeting member Robert "Bob" O'Regan and former Selectman Joe Mokrisky. We’ve got statements from the candidates---the first pitch of the political game!
O'Regan is a partner in the law firm of Burns & Levinson and was recently elected as Treasurer of the Massachusetts Family and Probate American Inn of Court, the largest Inn of Court in the United States. He is currently secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Mokrisky is Chairman of the Stoughton Community Events Committee, and recently Chaired the Stoughton Christmas Parade. He has served four different terms as a selectman. Currently, he represents Precinct 5 on the Finance Committee.
Walsh is a life-long resident, long-time town meeting member, and a retired Stoughton school teacher. She missed only one selectmen's meeting in dozens of years as a spectator and member. She took copious notes on the goings on, and effectively became a historian for the Board.
Anderson attends numerous town events as a member of the Board of Selectmen (and is a regular in my "Faces In The Crowd"). He had previously served three years on the School Committee, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Aging for three years.
Mokrisky told Snyder’s Stoughton, “I fought for change for 12 years, and accomplished that change in the last six months of my last term. The current Board, as a team, has not made the best of that change. Members of the Board have tried to oppose the Town Manager. It’s not their job to micromanage him. We should put the needs of the departments forward. The Town Manager made an attempt to move a budget forward last year, and the Board didn’t support him. The Board needs to learn the needs of the town’s departments, and to support them. What have they done to earn another three years? The town has changed the past few years, particularly downtown. Nothing has been done for development of the downtown. I haven’t seen the Board work toward any new growth in town. Someone running for selectman was opposed to Target, and if it wasn’t for the Redevelopment Authority, which I Chaired, we wouldn’t have Target or IKEA. They have money in the SRA that has not been utilized. We need a clear plan for the downtown. There is none. We’ve have a boarded up building in the square for too long. We’ve had Wyman Jewelers closed up for years. We need to fill downtown Stoughton. We need State help, and a federal grant. You need to find out where the grants are, and go after them. You can’t expect to take a walk with a Congressman and have him do all your work. I have a proven business-friendly reputation with my work on the redevelopment authority. We need to be business friendly. We should also work on better relations between both ends of Pearl Street and do what’s best for Stoughton. Everything can always be better. I have a proven track record of good results. I am one of the three members who proudly voted in the Town manager and the police chief.”
Anderson is looking to be elected for a second term on the Board of Selectmen. He served on the Council on Aging for three years, and spent three years on the School Committee. “During the first term, our biggest accomplishment was the successful search for a police chief (which Anderson served as a spokesperson for the subcommittee). That, and finding a replacement for Mark Stankiewicz with Frannie Crimmins, was the other big accomplishment. Those two things corrected the listing of the Stoughton ship. Those were two very important votes for this town. I think the repairing of the Bay Road culvert was also a big accomplishment. The town of Sharon had threatened to sue us, and estimates were up to a million dollars to fix it. And, the Board had our DPW do the work for slightly under $200,000. The re-opening of Fire Station 2 was another highlight.” Anderson added, “We’re still in the throes of severe fiscal problems. It flows from the federal government, to the state, and down to our town. Our priorities need to be how to supply services to all 27,000 residents of our town and to properly fund the Stoughton Public School System. I think that the funding for the HR position is stellar. Mr. McNamara has done a great job, along with the town manager, hiring the new treasurer, town planner, procurement officer, and assessor. They are all outstanding. Stoughton is on a very positive move. The other priority I’d consider is to establish and reinforce our industrial and commercial space. They provide a lot of money for our tax base, and have a lesser impact on town services. My reason for running three years ago was to help move Stoughton forward and my first three years have given me infinite wisdom to pursue the next three years of that goal.”
O’Regan , who is making his first run for a town-wide elected office, told me, “We have a number of issues we must pay attention to and deal with. We need to set some goals on what we want our town to be like five and ten years from now. In terms of services, fire, police, elder care, and what our school system looks like. We need to broaden our tax base. We need to have people in town with tremendous talents and skills to become involved in meeting these goals. We don’t have one significant community goal that we can look back on and say ‘look what we achieved.’ We need to develop non-clerical, non-minimum wage jobs in new businesses in town. I think some of the selectmen have long term goals, but as a Board they haven’t established policies to get us there. Look at how the Town Meeting warrant has historically been framed. That’s a major responsibility to move these things forward. The selectmen control what gets put on the warrant. There’s no capitol plan in any town report or reflected in any town warrant. That’s significant. We all know we need a new high school. How can we make room in our debt service without a proposition two and a half override? If we want a new library or fire station, and want to maintain our water towers, how do we control these costs? We have 17 million dollars in unfunded liabilities. We need to know how we will fund those as well. If we keep kicking the can down the road, when it comes due under state law, where will be then in terms of town services, like plowing the streets and protecting citizens? I think I can help get it done. A town that does these things broadens the tax base. Businesses look for a better risk profile, with fewer surprises. When there’s a plan for how we develop, it means better things for everyone—including better jobs. If we have a sense of what we want to have in place for five years, it’s easier for town meeting to get us there. I don’t think we’re doing a good job in identifying goals or making short term decisions to get us where we need to be. Look at the downtown. In the mid-1950’s there was a proposed change for the road layout. If adopted, if would have changed the way it looked today. Can you imagine how the square would be different if things had been done differently 30 years ago? It would be a better place now. That’s the point on proper planning now for the future.”
(posted on January 3, 2012 @ 9:15 p.m.)
(Snyder's Stoughton does not endorse candidates. We give an equal forum to all. Candidates for all town-wide offices should feel free to send any campaign information, including names of campaign managers, treasurers, etc., as well as event information to snydersstoughton@aol.com. We post all information, if it is received in a timely manner.)
CHANGES ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Crimmins
Long time member and Chairman Barry Crimmins will not seek re-election to the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority. In an exclusive statement to Snyder's Stoughton, Crimmins--a local attorney--wrote, "I have decided not to run for re-election to the SRA. Between my professional commitments and with both of my kids playing high school sports all three seasons, I just don't have the time right now to commit to the position. Perhaps after they get out of high school I will again look to get involved in some other elected position. In the meantime, I plan to run for re-election as a Town Meeting Member in Precinct Four, and I still serve on several committees in the town." Carlos Vargas, an owner of Vargas & Vargas Insurance in Stoughton and Dorchester, will be elected for this seat on the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority, after getting his signed petition in before deadline to Town Clerk Cheryl Mooney.
Vargas
Posted on January 3, 2012 @ 9: 05 p.m.
(Snyder's Stoughton does not endorse candidates. We give an equal forum to all. Candidates for all town-wide offices should feel free to send any campaign information, including names of campaign managers, treasurers, etc., as well as event information to snydersstoughton@aol.com. We post all information, if it is received in a timely manner.)
Two Auto Accidents In One Day Keep Stoughton Fire Department Busy
This accident, today (12/24) at 3:36 a.m. at Canton and Simpson Streets, involved two cards and five injuries. 5 patients were extricated and transported to the hospital, Three ended up at Good Samaritan in Brockton, and two more critically injured at Boston City Hospital.
This Accident, on Rt. 24 at 3:58 a.m. on Rt. 24 south of exit 18, was a single motor vehicle rollover, with one patient ejected from vehicle and transported with critical injuries to Boston Medical Center.
(Story & Photos by Capt. James Bertram)
ELECTION ROUNDUP:
SELECTMEN
There's already a race for Selectman for the April 2012 election, if those pulling papers get the required signatures. Incumbents Cynthia Walsh and John Anderson, who have both served as vice chairman, will be challenged by Town Meeting member Robert "Bob" O'Regan and former Selectman Joe Mokrisky. There will be two seats up for election. A minimum of 120 signatures from registered Stoughton voters is needed to get on the ballot.
O'Regan is a partner in the law firm of Burns & Levinson and was recently elected as Treasurer of the Massachusetts Family and Probate American Inn of Court, the largest Inn of Court in the United States. O’Regan resides in Stoughton with his wife, Carol, and their two children, Peter and Lindsey. He is secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Mokrisky is Chairman of the Stoughton Community Events Committee, and recently Chaired the Stoughton Christmas Parade. He has served four different terms as a selectman.
Walsh is a life-long resident, long-time town meeting member, and a retired school teacher. She missed only one selectmen's meeting in dozens of years as a spectator and member. She took copious notes on the goings on, and effectively became a historian for the Board.
Anderson attends numerous town events as a member of the Board of Selectmen (and is a regular in my "Faces In The Crowd"). He had previously served on the School Committee, and was an active member of the Board of Dircctors of the Council on Aging.
O'Regan tells About Town he is running because, "We have to make goals for the town and follow up on them. We can make the town a place where we want to live. The town is changing around us, but without the kind of direction it needs."
Mokrisky decided to run again because, "I fought for change for 12 years, and we finally have some of it. As a result of new police chief and town manager, we are doing better. But, we can still do better. The Board of Selectmen should step up with new ideas, to bring the town to even greater heights."
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
There's a race brewing for School Committee in the April 2012 elections. Incumbent Allan Mills will be facing former School Committee member Dr. Erdem Ural. When contacted, Mills told About Town, "I am running for re-election to the School Committee to ensure the future vision of Stoughton Public Schools. I have the experience and leadership skills to guide the future of this town. Leadership is not about being elected or appointed to an office, it is an attitude cultivated over time; I look forward to bringing forward a vision and continued purpose to the school system. I wrote and implemented the residency policy, which has saved the town over a half million dollars since its inception. I will continue to provide leadership and purpose in the future."
Multiple calls to Dr. Ural for comments on his run have not been returned. He is welcome, as are ALL candidates for office, to present their statements. Dr. Ural was recently appointed to the Finance Committee by Moderator Howard Hansen. He would not be able to serve on school committee and FinCom simultaneously. We have asked him if he still intends to run for school committee, and have not received a reply.
Snyder's Stoughton has never endorsed a candidate for office. We remain neutral and have hosted over 40 debates throughout the past two decades.
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Long time member and Chairman Barry Crimmins is not seeking re-election. In an exclusive statement to Snyder's Stoughton, Crimmins--a local attorney--wrote, "I have decided not to run for re-election to the SRA. Between my professional commitments and with both of my kids playing high school sports all three seasons, I just don't have the time right now to commit to the position. Perhaps after they get out of high school I will again look to get involved in some other elected position. In the meantime, I plan to run for re-election as a Town Meeting Member in Precinct Four, and I still serve on several committees in the town."
Carlos Vargas, an owner of Vargas & Vargas Insurance in Stoughton and Dorchester, has taken out papers for this seat on the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority.
(Posted on December 22, 2011 @ 8 p.m.)
WOULD YOU LIKE A SLUR WITH THAT SANDWICH?
Paul Berger, a Knollsbrook resident, enjoys going to D’Angelos at 2137 Central Street while his “lady friend” goes to the beauty parlor in the plaza there. He was a frequent customer, and enjoyed particularly the soups and lobster sandwiches. But, you won’t see him there anymore. Berger sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, and others, telling a story of his experience at that location on Saturday. After having a soup, and registering for a D’Angelos rewards card, Berger asked the manager (Eric) if there was a senior discount program, as well. The response was, “Are you trying to Jew me down?” Berger said he couldn’t believe what he had heard: “He said ‘oops’ after he said it. I was truly shocked. I told him I resented it and that I would communicate with his boss. I threw my D’Angelos card and receipt at him and left.”
Berger spoke to Catherine Turrell, a former Executive VP of Operations for 37 years, and also to D’Angelos Regional VP Jim Thompson. He says, “I asked that Eric be fired and that an executive of the company meet me at my Rabbi’s office to explain what the company plans to do to assure that this type of thing will never happen again. I was told they will reprimand the manager and not do anything further.” He also asked the Board of Selectmen to take action against D’Angelos, “possibly revoking their license to operate the sandwich shop.”
Rabbi Joseph Meszler of Temple Sinai in Sharon told About Town, “I think it’s unfortunate that people still use anti-Semitic phrases, sometimes without thinking. Giving the individual the benefit of the doubt, some people are raised with these types of phrases. But, by now, people should know better. That’s the best case scenario. At the end of the day, people should be better educated on this. We don’t need people saying anti-Semitic things. Whenever you have any kind of clientele, you should learn who they are. In America, anyone can walk in with any kind of background. It’s your job to be respectful.”
About Town spoke with Eric and at first he denied saying anything at all. Then, when pressed on the exact quote, he simply said, “I have nothing to say” and hung up. Berger, who is in his 80’s, said he has excellent hearing. “The quote is exact.” Shortly after my short conversation with Eric, Turrell called me. She said she handles guest complaints for the location’s owner, Brian McLaughlin. (Interestingly enough, McLaughlin is the co-founder of the sub chain, with Jay Howland in 1967. PepsiCo bought the chain in 1993. It is now owned by Papa Gino’s Holdings Corporation in Dedham.) Turrell said that she handled guest complaints for McLaughlin. “I don’t take these things lightly. I wish it hadn’t happened, but I can’t fire him for this. He’s going to get a written warning. If it happens in the future, he will lose his job. We respect the Jewish community and Eric does, too,” she told me.
Berger is a World War II veteran, who served on PT 169, stationed in the Southwest Pacific, Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. He spent three years serving this nation, and received two disability awards. Calls to D’Angelos President & CEO Rick Wolfe and to Thompson went unreturned.
(Posted @ 7:55 a.m. on December 22, 2011. Updated December 23 @ 11:30 a.m.))
(C) 2011 by SnydersStoughton.com
UPDATE:
Paul Berger called to tell me that this morning (12/23), Jim Thompson called him to tell him that a written apology from Eric is in the mail. As for as Paul is concerned, "It's over. I accept his apology."
WANTED: TOWN MEETING REPS!
- You must be a registered voter
- You are required to take out nomination papers and get 15 certified signatures of voters in your precinct to be placed on the April 10, 2012 Local Election ballot. Nomination papers are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Nomination papers for Town Meeting Representatives must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office by February 21, 2012.
- As a Town Meeting member you are expected to read the Annual Town Meeting Warrant and Report of the Committee on Finance and Taxation prior to Town Meeting to inform you of the items that will be discussed during the meeting. These reports are issued not less than 2 weeks before town meeting.
Questions? Call Town Clerk Cheryl Mooney's Office @ 781-341-1300 x9269
Voting Polling Places & New Precinct Maps
Walsh & Anderson Have Company
There's already a race for Selectman for the April 2012 election, if those pulling papers get the required signatures. Incumbents Cynthia Walsh and John Anderson, who have both served as vice ch
airman, will be challenged by Town Meeting member Robert "Bob" O'Regan. O'Regan is a partner in the law firm of Burns & Levinson and was recently elected as Treasurer of the Massachusetts Family and Probate American Inn of Court, the largest Inn of Court in the United States. O’Regan resides in Stoughton with his wife, Carol, and their two children, Peter and Lindsey. He is secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Walsh is a life-long resident, long-time town meeting member, and a retired school teacher. She missed only one selectmen's meeting in dozens of years as a spectator and member, who took copious notes on the goings on, and became effectively a historian for the Board.
Anderson attends numerous town events as a member of the Board of Selectmen (and is a regular in my "Faces In The Crowd"). He had previously served on the School Committee, and was an active member of the Board of Dircctors of the Council on Aging.
O'Regan tells Snyder's Stoughton he is running because, "We have to make goals for the town and follow up on them. We can make the town a place where we want to live. The town is changing arounds us, but without the kind of direction it needs."
(Posted on December 12, 2011 @ 6 p.m.
SELECTMEN PASS STATEMENT OF INTERESTS...
TOWN OFFICIALS TOUR NORWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
On December 13, the Board of Selectmen finally voted to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to submit to the Mass School Building Authority Statement of Interests for Replacement of/or Addition to Stoughton High School and South Elementary School. Vote was passed unanimously for both, 5-0. This is the first step in the eventual repair or replacement of either or both buidings. The School Committee voted unanimously to support the SOI's for the South School and Stoughton High School earlier at their meeting.
A group of town officials, led by School Committee members Deborah Sovinee, George Dolinsky and Allan Mills, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Jonathan Ford, and Selectman Chairman John Stagnone, toured Norwood High School Friday. Norwood High is a "model school", like nearby Whitman-Hansen High School, and the town could have interest in building a new Stoughton High using this model. James Hayden, Norwood's Superintendent of Schools greeted the group, who were shown around, and toured the huge gymnasium (which seats 500, and can handle up to 2400 capacity for a graduation), the auditorium (which seats 800), a large band practice room (which is adjourning to the football field, for easy access to games), the cable access studios for the Town of Norwood, which are built into the high school; their multi-media library, as well as their dining facilities (they don't use the word cafeteria) which seats 300 in round tables. The school has 168 surveillance camera built in, which are a "deterrant to bad behavior and a culture changer", according to our host. The new Norwood High school was budgeted for 68 millions dollars, and came in at 66 million---2 million under budget! Their new football field, track, concession stand and press box weighed in at two million dollars. Mary Boiardi, who hosted the group along with Bryan Jarvis of COMPASS Project, said, "It's the best thing we ever did. It's well worth the fight you have to put up to get it." Bryan and Mary answered many questions from everyone there. Others who took the tour included David Young of SMAC (who filmed it), Patch columnist Christine Iacobucci, Stoughton Public School grant writer Steven Wilkinson, Finance Committee Chair Holly Boykin Vice Chair Rich Hill, and member Jim Gearin; Selectmen John Anzivino and Cynthia Walsh; Len Anastasi & Doug Zorn of the Feasability Committee, and Snyder's Stoughton.
Photos by Mark Snyder
NEWS First Reported Here......
CACHOPA FILES MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
Former Stoughton Police Chief Manuel J. Cachopa filed a motion yesterday (12/7) requesting a new trial on his conviction for acting as an accessory after the fact to attempted extortion by a subordinate officer, a felony, in an incident that allegedly occurred April 30, 2002.The jury in Norfolk Superior Court returned the verdict on January 23, 2009. Cachopa was fired by then-Stoughton Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz on February 13, 2009. He was sentenced to three years probation and 1000 hours of community service in 2009. Former Stoughton Police Sgt. David M. Cohen served a two year prison sentence after a jury in 2007 found him guilty of attempted extortion, witness intimidation, and two other lesser charges in that 2002 incident. Another Stoughton Police officer was acquitted of all charges and remains on the force.
Cachopa's attorney, Robert George, wrote in the 22 page document submitted to Norfolk Superior Court that Cachopa didn't get a fair trial, because a defendant has "a right to a jury trial that guarantees to the criminally accused a fair trial by a panel of impartial, indifferent jurors. The failure to accord an accused a fair hearing violates even the minimal standards of due process." George wrote in the petition for a new trial that one of the jurors, Juror 2, "Did not reveal that their ex-spouse was a Boston Police officer, and that the juror had been involved in an acrimonious divorce proceedings with that person for 17 years, including a complaint for cruel and abusive treatment, failure to pay child support, utility bills, children's medical bills, nine different complaints for modification and contempt, serious allegations of overpayment of support, underpayment of support, restraints of liberty, orders to vacate the family home, relinquishment of visitations issues, and numerous contested hearings from October 1979 through April 1997. But when asked at sidebar, by defense and prosecution attorneys, 'Would you be inclined to believe or disbelieve an individual who was a police officer, simply because that person was a police officer?', the juror said 'no.'" During the time of complaint of divorce filings, the juror and family were living in Stoughton.
George also concluded, "The real issue is the failure of the juror to provide the information despite three chances from the court to provide it in general or in the privacy of sidebar. The information withheld included the facts that Juror 2's ex-husband/wife had been a police officer, like the defendant, and that the relationship had been contentious and unhappy for at least 18 years. Had that information been provided, the defendant would have asked the court to challenge the juror for cause, or would have used a preemptory challenge to excuse the juror. The law is clear on this issue. a new trial is warranted."
Norfolk County District Attorney's Special Prosecutor George Jabour, who won the cases against Cachopa and Cohen, did not return a call Thursday asking for comment. Cachopa said that he "just wants to be vindicated." His wife Arlene added, "Plain and simple, life has been miserable." George, in his paperwork, echoes this. He writes, "This defendant, whose career and life have been ruined, who has been unemployable in his law enforcement and teaching vocations since the verdict in this case, alleges that this juror withheld information that should have been revealed and that he is entitled to a new trial.
Copies of the motion were submitted to the Criminal Clerk's Office at Norfolk Superior Court to the attention of Judge Janet Saunders, and to the office of the Norfok County District Attorney. We'll let you know if Cachopa's filing succeeds or fails.
(Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:15 p.m. Photo courtesy of Hank Herbowy.)
GLEN ECHO PURCHASE CLOSES
Stoughton acquired the 96 acre Glen Echo Pond property on Thursday, December 8, according to Stoughton Board of Selectmen Chairman John Stagnone. The property closed after receipt of the deed and the approval of acceptance of that deed by the Board of Selectmen. Town Meeting authorized the purchase earlier this year for $1.25 million dollars, and allowed an additional $250,000 for other expenses involved in the purchase. About 16 acres of the property have some title issues, and Selectman Chairman John Stagnone said the price was reduced to 1.2 million dollars to reflect that change.
The property, located off Pleasant Street, has a pond and lots of wooded trails. It is going to be used for recreation. The only problem is one that I brought up at Town Meeting---the security and liability factors. Police Chief Paul Shastany, answering my question at the time, said he would not have the manpower to patrol the property 24 hours a day. Others were concerned about potential liability, should their be a drowning or other accident in the water there. Selectman Steve Anastos told Snyder's Stoughton that he thought the town oeverpaid for the property, but in a sign of unity he voted in a unanimous vote of Selectmen to support it. The Open Space Committee had targeted the property as their #1 priority.
(Photo courtesy of stoughtonhistory.com)
(Posted on December 6, 2011 at 9 p.m. Updated on December 8, 2011 @ 2:30 p.m.)
SINCE WHEN DID STOUGHTON'S CHRISTMAS PARADE
BECOME A HOLIDAY PARADE??
NO S.O.I.'S FOR YOU!
The Board of Selectmen on December 6th rescinded their previous vote(from November 1) to support Statements of Interests for the South School and Stoughton High School. On November 15th, it should be noted (and can be found by scrolling down), the Chairman of the BOS told me there would be no reconsideration of that November 1st vote. The SOI's are submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in order to get Stoughton into the mix for any potential reimbursement for new or renovated schools. School Committee Chairman Joyce Husseini and School Committee member Deborah Sovinee had gone before the BOS with an updated couple of SOI's. The Board of Selectmen weren't impressed, and by a 4-1 margin, they rescinded their previous vote of support. Selectman Cynthia Walsh, the only one to vote against the revocation of the previous vote in support, wasn't very impressed either. "The spelling and grammar of the document need to be corrected, and all the acronyms need to be spelled out." Walsh was kind, in comparison. Selectman Steve Anastos said, "The documents are badly flawed. We want a document we can be proud of, and willingly support." Husseini said, "It's not an essay contest. Where where placed is based on how they rate the condition of our buildings and the need." Selectman John Anderson said he was dismayed that the Superintendent of Schools or her assistant was not at the meeting. But, Husseini explained that Supt. Dr. Marguerite Rizzi was called away at the last minute for a family emergency. Anderson added that, "If I were a member of the School Committee, I'd be embarassed to send this in." Anderson made the motion to rescind the November 1st vote (which had been a unanimous 4-0 vote, with Anastos absent). Husseini and Sovinee were disappointed with the Selectmen's vote. Sovinee has said that the MSBA didn't want such a detailed document, and that she had been advised to "keep it simple." Husseini said that Joel Harding, Supervisor of Support Services for the Stoughton Public Schools, had worked on the documents with a caseworker from the MSBA. "What is there is exactly was what was requested. We'd be happy to correct spelling and typos, and incorporate your corrections." But, the Board of Selectmen wanted a fresh slate, and requested that Supt. Rizzi present them with an updated set of SOI's at their December 13th meeting. Selectman John Anzivino said he won't sign anything, "Unless I see exactly what is being submitted to the MSBA." Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. said he had three good reasons why he couldn't support the SOI's as currently written: "Content matters. No non-elected official should decide town priorities on their own. And, how can the BOS sign a document that hasn't even gone before the school committee?" Crimmins added, "If you want to file it just to meet deadlines, this would be fine. If you want to submit to win, this isn't the way." But, Sovinee said she had spoken to Katherine Craven, former Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, adding, "She said the SOI is diagnostic, and is not meant to be a treatise. She's urged us to keep it simple."
(Posted on December 6, 2011 @ 9:30 p.m.)
What DO YOU Think About This?
Write to snydersstoughton@aol.com and we'll print YOUR email! All letters must be signed and confirmed to the identity of the writer. We can withhold names upon request.
THE LONG APP OF THE LAW
There will be water main work done on Turnpike Street beginning at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7 th and concluding at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8 th. Please be advised that residents may experience discolored water and low water pressure problems during this work. Also residents may experience traffic delays so you may want to seek alternate routes during this work. Persons who experience water discoloration should flush their water systems by opening the cold water faucet for a few minutes and then waiting for about an hour. If the water is still not clear, they should repeat the flushing procedure. The Public Works Department regrets that it cannot be responsible for any damages incurred as a result of this activity which is a necessary and a normal function of the water department.
Citizens Comments Removed from Selectmen's Agenda
WHY CAN'T STOUGHTON DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS??
(story)
GAS COMPANY CREATES TRAFFIC WOES
Columbia Gas had agreed to do their work at Pearl and Central Streets overnight to avoid tying up traffic at that busy intersection. The town had allowed Columbia to work from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and hoped that would prevent any problems. DPW Superintendent John Batchelder said tonight (11/29) that "They are supposed to be finished and cleaned up each morning by 6:30 a.m. This hasn't been working out, despite numerous conversations with representatives of the gas company. I'm at the point now where we'll be having the police details taking the crews off the road at 6:30 p.m." Batchelder said that on a few occasions, including this morning, traffic has been backed up for miles due to the work of the gas company. "When school buses can't get the kids to school on time because of these huge traffic tie-ups, then we need to review the plan. We allowed these overnights to avoid this mess. They have a lot of work remaining, and I'm hoping we can get them back on track. They'll be closing down for the winter soon. I'll say one thing, there future permits depend on them complying with their current permits." Selectmen voted to send a letter to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts urging their compliance.
(Posted on 11/29/11 @ 8 p.m.)
Welcome To Two New Stoughton Police Officers
Town Clerk Cheryl Mooney swears in Marc Baldner and Sheanna Isabel, Stoughton's two newest police officers. Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany lauded the training that these two officers went through, adding, "I'm glad I didn't have to go through that!" Shastany said that they would undergo ten more weeks of training and then join a department that has improved dramatically in every way over the past year.
(Posted on 11/29/11 @ 8 p.m. Photos by Mark Snyder)
STOUGHTON WOMAN ARRESTED IN
CONNECTION WITH RANDOLPH KILLING
Allison Deshowitz, 19, of Stoughton was arrested with three young Brockton men in connection with the shooting death of Kyle McManus, a 21 year old Randolph resident. Police say the motive was robbery, and that the defendants allegedly texted with McManus to make a drug buy. Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said all four defendants are being held without bail. Stoughton police charged Deshowitz in November of 2009 with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.
(details)
(fight breaks out in courtroom)
(neighbors say she's a 'nice' girl)
(Photo from Facebook.com)
School Board Re-Affirms Dr. Rizzi's Contract,
awards her major raise
At the November 22, 2011 Stoughton School Committee meeting, the School Committee---this time in a legal open session---re-affirmed the four year contract extention for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi, by a 3-0 vote, with two abstentions. Tom Colburn made the motion, and it was seconded by Deborah Sovinee. Chair Joyce Husseini joined them in the vote. Allan Mills abstained due to conflict. George Dolinsky obstained because he had not taken part in the original vote. In the proposed 2013 budget, Superintendent Rizzi is set to be paid $168,500. In the current budget, she earned $28,500 less. Dr. Rizzi got a four year extension on October 18, 2010, which was signed by then School Committee Chair Tom Colburn. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jonathan Ford was promoted to Deputy Superintendent by a 5-0 vote of the School Committee at the November 22 meeting. No salary information was immediately available, but Ford was scheduled to make $117,300 in 2012. Ford was given a four year extension as well, signed by Dr.Rizzi, on October 19, 2010. Both Dr. Rizzi and Mr. Ford had 2% raises in their contracts, but due to the tough financial picture, both went the past two years without accepting those raises.
Stoughton Teachers Association President Sue Cogliano told Snyder's Stoughton on Wednesday night, "The members of the Stoughton Teachers Association are outraged that the unions in town are getting no raise, or a one percent raise, and the Superintendent of Schools is getting a 20% raise. This is at a time when many parents of our students are getting laid off and the financial picture is glum. What changed?" Cogliano was upset that "the STA negotiated in good faith for 18 months, with many sessions lasting into the night. Our union accepted a 1-1-2 percent hike over the three years. Our members knew the financial situation for the town and tried to help. We also gave back on health insurance and co-pays."
In conversations with the Attorney General's office (on the complaint of open meeting law violations--see story below), Colburn told investigators, "that the vote may have been somewhat premature given that they had not yet done an evaluation of the Superintendent, but since there was 'no money attached' he felt there was no reason to delay the vote." Less than a year later, more than $28,000 additional dollars are attached.
One member of the school committee, who wished to remain anonymous, defended the Committee's actions: "If Dr. Rizzi had gotten the same salary increases as the teachers the last three years (raises, steps, and lanes) she'd be making $172,000. We did the calculations. So the union's complaints are without merit."
I'm actually a fan and supporter of Dr. Rizzi. I think she's done a good job. But, I look at the firestorm that erupted when Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. got a 3% raise in 2012, when everyone else went without. I understand that of the area Superintendents of Schools, Dr. Rizzi was one of those nearer to the bottom of the pay scale, while Crimmins was near the top in the State for Town Managers. Perhaps it would have made more sense (and been easier for everyone involved to swallow) if Dr. Rizzi was given that increase, over the course of her contract. Then, it would have been nearer to the track of the town manager. There would be some precedent for it. No matter how good a Superintendent Dr. Rizzi is (and as I said, I think she's very effective and hard-working), it just doesn't look good. And, sometimes in the court of public opinion, that can be very destructive.
(Posted on November 23, 2011 @ 8:45 p.m. Updated November 25 @ 11 a.m.)
Update from School Committee Chair Joyce Husseini:
The School Committee voted on Tuesday night to adjust Dr. Rizzi’s salary to $168,500, up from her previous salary of $140,000. This new salary is on par with an average salary for superintendents in eastern Massachusetts and more in line with what other districts of our size pay their superintendents. The decision to adjust the salary needed to be made in order for Dr. Rizzi to go forward and develop a budget for FY13.
It has always been the School Committee’s practice to look at comparable salaries when negotiating contracts. This was done with all unions during the last round of negotiations. It is never in anyone’s interest to keep salaries for one group lower than the average while rewarding another group or to keep anyone below the market value. This creates an unhealthy work environment. Many towns in the Commonwealth have hidden incentives in their superintendent’s salaries as a way to increase the compensation and keep it out of the public spotlight; annuities, insurance, cars, and housing allowances. Stoughton has no such hidden perks. The superintendent market is aging and it is expected that nearly 50% of the current superintendents will retire in the next four years. There are costs we would incur with a search for a new superintendent and we would then have to pay a market rate when hiring one. It is a much better decision in my eyes to fairly compensate the person you already have and allow them the ability to carry forward the initiatives that they have been developing.
I am troubled by Mrs. Cogliano’s comments. It is counterproductive for one group to be so critical of another. I am likewise bothered that the other unions in town got no raise last year and still do not have settled contracts, but the School Committee does not negotiate the town contracts. We did have a very long and sometimes difficult negotiation with the Stoughton Teachers Association, but a large part of that time was spent waiting for a health insurance proposal from the town that we could present to the teachers. That did not happen until a year into negotiations. I thank the teachers for making the health insurance concessions that they made. And I look forward to being able to implement the entire health care package so that they receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled. The 1-1-2 percent increases do not reflect the total compensation that the teachers receive. As with all unions in both the school and the town, there are other increases built in to their contracts in the form of steps, longevity and lane changes. The superintendent and our administrative staff have no such incentives. Their salary is their total compensation.
I commend Dr. Rizzi and Mr. Ford for their actions for the past two years of taking a 0% increase. Dr. Rizzi turned down the offer to adjust her salary last year after we had settled the other school contracts saying she had committed to the 0% for FY12. We thank her and Mr. Ford for their commitment to the schools.
Mr. Ford’s reclassification of his job to Deputy Superintendent from Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction is an alignment of the title and the job description with the responsibilities that he has already been performing. Many districts have more than one Assistant Superintendent covering these various duties. But the job description and title did not fully capture the responsibilities of administering the numerous Federal and State programs. The title of Deputy Superintendent is more in line with the industry norm.
(Posted on November 28, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.)
Charlie Large Moves to Norwood
Stoughton's own WW II hero, and the man whom this year's Veteran's Day ceremony was dedicated to, has been moved to Charlwell House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Norwood. Charlie Large was previously at Copley at Stoughton, where many residents, including Selectman John Anderson, Police Chief Paul Shastany, Veterans Agent Mike Pazyra and his wife Cindy, and Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. were visitors. Since he was down the hall from my mom, I got to see him every day. You can write him, or visit him at: Charlwell House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 305 Walpole Street in Norwood. He's in Room 22B. The Gazebo at Faxon Veterans Memorial Park is the Charles Large Gazebo. So, part of him is still in Stoughton.
Statements of Interest Still Not Signed
CRIMMINS LETTER ON SOI'S TO BOS (11/22/11)
A-Holes of the Week:
Vandalize Habitat for Humanity Home
(story)
Stoughton Police Warn of Bogus ATM's 
Last Sunday, the Taunton Police Department recovered a skimming device at the Eastern Bank’s ATM located at 742 County Street. A skimming device is a magnetic strip reader that allows for the capture of ATM and Credit Card information from the data stored on the magnetic strip on the back of the card. Also located in a hidden location was a small camera to capture the entry of PIN codes at the ATM. While these devices have been used by criminals in the region, this is the first reported use in Taunton. The department reminds you to pay attention to the ATM machine that you are using and if you notice anything different or wrong with the machine, not to use it and notify the bank and/or the police immediately. As you can see from the picture, this skimmer would fit over the normal ATM card slot and would appear to be part of the machine. Stoughton Police warn that even though no one has been scammed in Stoughton, equipment for it has been found in town. Be careful. If the machine seems unusual, or you spot something that is "off" call the SPD at 781-344-2424.
(Story & Photo courtesy of Stoughton Police Dept.)
DPW Means Business!
This Means YOU!
Sign seen on Hollytree Road today. Photo by Mark Snyder
BOARD WON'T MAKE MOTION TO RESCIND S.O.I.
Stoughton School Committee member Deborah Sovinee was concerned that the municipal officials hadn't signed the SOI's passed unanimously on November 1st, by both the School Committee and Selectmen. They were to put Stoughton into the mix for possible funding down the road for the South School and High School. Sovinee, in part, wrote to a few media outlets regarding the difficulty of getting signatures from Selectman Chairman John Stagnone and Town Manager Frank Crimmins: "Two weeks of requesting both the Town Manager, and most recently, the Chairman of the B.O.S., John Stagnone, to sign the Statements of Interest on addressing the issues of both the High School and South School have not been successful. I, along with Joel Harding, will be meeting with the town manager next week to answer any lingering questions about this very simple application process." She added, "Already, the lack of timeliness in signing and submitting the SOIs has put our town at a disadvantage, and potentially, at a loss of tens of millions of dollars of state and possibly federal aid to rebuild our schools. Other towns around us have worked together to do something positive for their schools. At this point, it unfortunately has become more about ego and less about the children, as well as the staff, for whom we have all been working so hard to address the serious facility issues and restart a school building plan." Sovinee was concerned the Board of Selectmen might have an interest in rescinding their November 1st vote. Selectman Cynthia Walsh told Snyder's Stoughton, "I voted in favor of it being signed. The Board voted unanimously. The chairman and town manager take their marching orders from the majority of the board. It's not on the agenda. It's not an emergency. When we vote something, it should be done unless it's immoral or illegal. I can understand the school department's feeling upset, when we support them with a unanimous vote, and then it still goes unsigned."
"There could be specific reasons why it wasn't signed. The vote of the Board was to send the SOI in. I don't know why they didn't sign it. I'm not aware of this topic being on the agenda. Unless there's new information to make it pertinent for discussion, I'm not sure what's out there," said Selectman John Anzivino.
Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. said there's no conspiracy, and that there's no plans he's heard of to try to rescind the Board's vote on the SOI's. He told Snyder's Stoughton,"I asked town counsel to take a peak at it. When I get it back, I'll make a final decision. I just saw it for the first time on November 1st. It's important and I want to review it thoroughly. It's a multi-million dollar project. I wanted to see some backup information. It's an ongoing situation, and I am aware of the obligation of myself and the selectman on this like any other building project in the town. The reason managers have to sign off on projects like this are that the project involves many municipal departments, not just the school department. There are certain things you have to review before you send it in. The Board doesn't have to make a certification. My copy had a reference to page 13, and ended at page 12. Construction of a town building involves all departments, and includes the Board of Selectmen, by statute."But, the timing of the signing of the SOI's could have an impact, according to School Committee Chairman Joyce Husseini. In a letter to Selectman John Stagnone, which was distributed at her request to the entire Board, Husseini wrote, "Mr. Crimmins has not given any reason, either written or verbal, for not signing. Without valid reason for not signing, I believe that Mr. Crimmins may be in violation of state law, by not carrying out the will of the Board of Selectmen. The BOS is aware of the time sensitive nature of this process, and I appreciate your board's actions in approving the Statements. Prompt submittal of the SOIs to the Massachusetts School Building Authority will allow the Feasibility Committee to proceed with their work. Mr. Crimmins inaction on this matter is obstructing the work of the Feasibility Committee and the ability to access state expertise and the loss potentially of millions of dollars of state money."
Selectman Chairman John Stagnone said, "Everything will be fine. We'll get there." He noted that even though he hasn't signed the SOI's yet, he and the rest of the Board fully supports them. "Frank has some questions he wants answered. When he gets those answers, he'll let me know. We'll sign together. We have absolutely no plans to rescind the SOI's. In fact, I've already committed to joining the tour Deb Sovinee arranged on December 9th of Norwood's new high school."
COPIES OF SOI (Posted on November 15, 2011 @ 2:30 p.m. Updated at 3:15, 4:15 and 5:30 p.m.)
***UPDATE***
The SOI's are still not signed as of November 29, 2011. Selectman Chairman John Stagnone said that "We got copies of them on November 1st. Town Manager Crimmins, to his credit, researched it and discovered it was a rewrite of an older application. He met with Ms. Sovinee and Joel Harding and it didn't go where he wanted it. In talking with the School Committee Chair, it was told to me that the Superintendent of Schools will update the SOI's and be ready for our meeting on December 6. At that meeting, we'll reconsider the applications."
(Posted on 11/29/11 @ 9:20 p.m.)
STA: "STOUGHTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE VIOLATED THE STATE OPEN MEETING LAW" The Stoughton Teachers Association sent a "new release" to local media outlets that read:
"The Stoughton School Committee violated the state’s Open Meeting Law last year when members voted on a contract extension for Superintendent of Schools Marguerite Rizzi during an executive session, according to the Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley. The AG’s decision against the Stoughton School Committee is the result of complaints filed by a Stoughton citizen and Stoughton Teachers Association after the school committee voted in executive session to give Dr. Rizzi a contract extension until 2016. The vote took place on September 28, 2010. “This decision is a step in the right direction,” Stoughton Teachers Association President Susan Cogliano said. “We were shocked and troubled last year when the school committee abruptly voted to grant a five-year extension to Dr. Rizzi, who had completed just one year of her three-year contract and was midway through the evaluation process. We found it especially troubling that the school committee took this unprecedented step despite the many documented concerns about her administration.” According to Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Nable of the AG’s Office of Open Government, the school committee failed to sufficiently specify agenda items in its meeting notice, failed to follow proper procedures for entering executive session during the meeting, and improperly voted on the contract extension for Dr. Rizzi during executive session. According to the Open Meeting Law, contract negotiations may be conducted in executive session, but the committee must vote in open session. Prior to the school committee vote, the Stoughton teachers had raised serious questions about the superintendent’s leadership. After the school committee granted Dr. Rizzi a five-year contract extension, the Stoughton teachers took a vote of no confidence in her. The vote passed by an overwhelming margin of 121 to 6. In taking a no confidence vote in Dr. Rizzi, the Stoughton teachers cited the following reasons: · Decisions that are not in the best educational interest of the students· Decisions that place the health and safety of students at risk· Leadership through fear, intimidation and retaliation” “We are in a difficult situation,” Cogliano said. “It’s troubling that issues that gave rise to the vote of no confidence continue. The school committee has been made aware of our serious concerns with Dr. Rizzi’s leadership style. It appears that the school committee is unable or unwilling to address the concerns issues raised in our well documented meetings. The teachers of Stoughton have been more than willing to work with the school committee and administration but there must be willingness on their side.” “We hope that the school committee will reconsider its decision and not grant the extension to the superintendent,” she added. While the Attorney General’s office determined that the school committee violated the state’s Open Meeting Law in three separate incidents, it fell short of requiring the Stoughton School Committee to nullify its Sept. 28, 2010 vote to approve Dr. Rizzi’s contract. The Attorney General did, however, “strongly recommend” that the committee reconsider the vote during an open session. The ruling also stated that a subsequent discussion on the contract extension that took place on Oct. 12, two weeks after the school committee voted in executive session, was not sufficient to cure the violation. “Allowing public comment on an action already taken without publicly reconsidering the vote cannot cure a violation of the Open Meeting Law,” Nable wrote in the Oct. 31 ruling." After reading the tersely worded, adversarially-written release, I asked Dr. Rizzi why the Stoughton Teachers Association would even send this news release to the press. Rizzi said she had no idea, adding, "The Attorney General's ruling said the school committee did nothing wrong intentionally. People were wrestling with new elements of the Open Meeting law at the time. They acknowledged that when they responded to Maria Capobianco (a retired Stoughton teacher and member of their negotiating team, who filed the complaint). They said the reason for the executive session should have been made more specific, but that nothing was considered intentional to deceive. The AG also determined they had no intention of overturning anything the school committee did. And, the school committee had a well-attended open meeting where they discussed the contract and chose not to revisit it. As far as I'm concerned, it's a closed issue."
School Committee Chairman Joyce Husseini told Snyder's Stoughton, "If they in fact feel that we violated the law and should re-consider it, then we'll put it on an upcoming agenda for reconsideration. It was brought up at an open meeting for reconsideration, but it didn't get enough support to come to a vote. The three of us who voted for it are still on the board. I don't see the decision we made changing. The language in the news release is similar to what was released during negotiations. We have a good working relationship with the teachers. It was a difficult negotiation that resulted in a very fair contract. I don't see a rift. I'm not sure what this posturing is about."
Cogliano told Snyder's Stoughton, "I want them to comply with the open meeting law. I want them to reconsider the vote on Dr. Rizzi's contract.. The school committee did make a mistake and they should make it right. We took a vote of no confidence. It was not about the contract, it was about our concerns. We met with two members of the school committee and Dr.r Rizzi, and went over the specific some concerns we had. I don’t believe the entire school committee was aware of the concerns when they took the vote. They have to make the vote with all the information in front of them. Then, they have a right to vote however they wish. Cogliano said she has nothing personal against the Superintendent, and hopes that the news release won't cause a problem. She told me, "It’s not personal. I hope it doesn’t affect our relationship. Dr. Rizzi and I have worked a lot more this year on Race to the Top and with other things. I just want them to comply with the law.”
The School Committee has scheduled further training on the details of the Open Meeting law with the school's attorney to avoid the minefields in the future, according to Rizzi, who said, "The teacher's contracts were settled, no one got laid off, and the union has expressed an interest in working collaboratively with the administration. I'm not sure why this came up at this time."One school committee member, who wished to remain anonymous, told me, "I don't think we'll be taking a re-vote on it. I think Dr. Rizzi has a valid contract. I'm more concerned that the Town Manager won't sign the S.O.I. (Statement of Interest on the High School and South School) That could cost the town millions of dollars down the road. The Selectmen voted to support it. Yet, he still hasn't signed it. There's also a grievance going on about health insurance, and the Selectmen haven't done anything with the GIC that the teachers are all signed off on." (Posted on 11/14/11 @ 4 p.m. Updated at 5:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m., and on 11/15/11 @ 7 a.m.)
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
S.T.A. President Sue Cogliano signs contract
with former School Committee Chair Tom Colburn
(photo by Jeff Pickette of Stoughton Patch)
UPDATE***UPDATE
At the November 22, 2011 Stoughton School Committee meeting, the School Committee---this time in a legal open session---re-affirmed the four year contract extention for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi, by a 3-0 vote, with two abstentions. Tom Colburn made the motion, and it was seconded by Deborah Sovinee. Chair Joyce Husseini joined them in the vote. Allan Mills abstained due to conflict. George Dolinsky obstained because he had not taken part in the original vote. In the proposed 2013 budget, Superintendent Rizzi is set to be paid $168,500. In the current budget, she earned $28,500 less. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jonathan Ford was promoted to Deputy Superintendent by a 5-0 vote of the School Committee at the November 22 meeting. No salary information was immediately available.
(Posted on November 22, 2011 @ 11:15 p.m.)
TOOTHBRUSHES IN UGANDA
Children in Kawanda, Uganda, show off their new toothbrushes donated by ARCH Orthodontics in Stoughton .
When 21 year-old David Rice of Brockton described his planned participation for the second consecutive year in the Uganda Water Project (www.ugandanwaterproject.com ), Dr. Robert Chavez of ARCH Orthodontics didn’t hesitate to offer support. He donated a large supply of toothbrushes toward the program.
STOUGHTON VETERAN
DIES IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT
Many in Stoughton will know Theodore J. "T.J." Ingemanson. He was the member of the Stoughton VFW Color Guard who carried the American flag during Memorial Day, Veterans Day and July 4th parades. He passed away after a tragic fall at home. Theodore "T.J." Ingemanson, of Stoughton, a disabled Iraq War Veteran, died accidently on Wednesday, November 9. T.J. is survived by his son Corey, his father Ted, his brother Robert and sister Catherine. He was predeceased by his mother, Paula Mulkay-Ingemanson and grandparents, Joan and Joe Mulkay. T.J. is also survived by his aunts, uncles, cousins and paternal grandparents.T.J. was a longtime highly decorated, extremely proud Army Reservist. He loved his military career and took great pride in his service in Iraq and Gitmo and also in the relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf. He was an avid Harley Davidson rider. T.J. was a longtime Home Depot Assistant Store Manager and cherished every friendship that he made during his tenure. Funeral Service will be held from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt.27) Stoughton on Monday, November 14 at 7:30 PM. Visiting Hours prior from 4-7:30 PM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in T.J.'s memory may be sent to Rose Coronella, 743 Park St., Stoughton, MA 02072 to be used for the benefit of his son, Corey.
THE SHAW GROUP LEAVING STOUGHTON
Vacating Buildings on Technology Drive
VETERANS DAY 2011
Veteran's Day 2011 (on 11/11/11) was a special day in the Town of Stoughton. Veteran's Agent Mike Pazyra had a great day planned, and it came together perfectly--with even Mother Nature cooperating. World War II Navy Hero and 38-year Town Meeting member Charles F. Large was honored. He took home enough citations to fill the wall in his room at Copley at Stoughton. He received honors from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate, The U.S. House of Representatives (via Congressman Bill Keating), Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and the Stoughton Board of Selectmen. Large, for whom the Gazebo at Faxon Veterans Memorial Park is named, told Snyder's Stoughton that he felt very flattered by the honor. "It's nice when the town fathers come to things like this." Pazyra read an excerpt of Large's diary from his ship that was attacked by Japan. He told me, "I still have bad dreams about it sixty years later." The Parade and Town Hall ceremony were well attended. State Reps Lou Kafka and William Galvin were both there. Town Manager Frank Crimmins, and Selectman Cynthia Walsh, John Stagnone, John Anzivino, and John Anderson were there, as was Town Moderator Howard Hansen, Police Chief Paul Shastany, and Fire Chief Mark Dolloff. DPW Superintendent John Batchelder was there---in shorts (I had on my winter coat.) . Father Alex at Immaculate Conception Church gave the prayer. Large read the list of Stoughton’s soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Mike Beaudette, Stoughton’s graves officer, rang the Liberty Bell at the pronouncement of each name, while former Veteran’s Agent Paul Flynn called out, “Absent, Sir,” to each from the top of the Town Hall steps. Participants in the parade include the Police and Fire Departments, the High School Marching Band & Color Guard, the VFW Color Guard and Firing Detail, Town and State Officials, and David Sheehan of the Norfolk County Sheriff's office. The intersection of Taxiera Road and School Street was dedicated to Albert A. Jardin. His widow Marie Jardin, her four children, her 9 grandchildren, and her 4 great grandchildren were there as part of a large crowd. Retired Fire Chiefs Ed Carroll and David Jardin (Albert's nephew) attended, as did Stoughton's current police and fire chief, and a number of brass from the Stoughton Fire Department. As always, Pazyra led a ceremony, featuring prayers, proclamations, honor guards, and Taps. Albert's son, Thomas Jardin, gave a moving speech, Spotted among the large gathering was retired town manager and clerk Jeanne Fleming. Later, the intersection of Park Street and Seaver Street was dedicated to James F. Dalton. His widow Grace "Dolly" Dalton, their 9 children and 16 grandchildren were in attendance. Their son, James Francis Dalton, Jr. gave a wondeful sppech, which talked about what a humble man his father was. "It's nice that a quiet humble man can be honored like this," he told the crowd. Watching the family, swelling with pride, but also still suffering the fresh pain from his recent passing. The same town officials attended both ceremonies. Spotted among the crowd was former Stoughton Police Chief Manny Cachopa. The Stoughton Memorial Square Dedication Committee, which includes Pazyra and Walsh, certainly did their job well. In all, it was a day of pride for our town, and the soldiers from here who have served their nation so bravely, in the past and right now, here and around the world. (Posted on 11/11/11 @ 4 p.m.)
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS HONORED
An Annual Pot Luck Supper and Recognition Night was held in the Wales French Room at Stoughton Public Library last night. A packed house honored 66 tutors who have opened up the world of English to individuals from all over the world Stoughton Selectman Cynthia Walsh presented Citizenship Awards to Sigrid Harrop, Jenny Holmes, Inessa Kochuchova, and Vedat Shehu. Honors for Significant Advance in English and Literacy were Junie Henry, Maricruz Jones, Thiago Garcia, and Hermenia Munroe. Smardar Gekow, the Literacy Volunteers Coordinator, said that the evening was in memory of Gail Harris. Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts Executive Director Roberta Soolman also greeted the capacity crowd. The potluck dinner served foods from Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal, Cape Verde, and numerous other nations, representative of the 32 languages and 40 countries of students and tutors of the program. Guest Speaker Selectman Walsh said that books were a very importanrt part of her life: "I loved books so much that my mother punished me not by hitting me, but by taking away my books. I did not have a happy childhood. Books were my escape. For me school was a fun place, so much so that I became a teacher." Walsh also resonated with many of the immigrants who were in the room, adding, "My grandparents came off the boat from Ireland when there were signs around that read 'Irish Need Not Apply'. My grandfather was a janitor and my grandmother was a maid. They had pride in their work." Also taking the podium were student Beata Pupczyk from Poland, who was featured on local cable TV; tutor Halina Bramley of Poland, who now owns an alteration and dry cleaning business in Stoughton; student Maricruz Jones of Mexico, who was a criminal attorney south of the border; tutor Susan McGowan, a former professor at Massasoit College, who ran a computer class for the LVM with her husband Frank; and tutor Joan Brown, who has been volunteering in Sharon since 2005. Faces In the Crowd: Library Director Pat Basler, Selectman John Anderson and former Selectman Tony Sousa.
(Story & Photo by Mark Snyder. Posted on November 10, 2011 @ 1:30 p.m.)
D.A. MORRISSEY ROARS 
The Stoughton Lions Club packed The Chateau's function room for speaker Michael Morrissey, the Norfolk County District Attorney. Morrissey spoke about many of the innovative programs his office is unveiling, and also gave kudos to the Lions Club for all they do for eye health and the community. Lions Club President Bob Mullen and former President Ed DeFelice presented Morrissey with a thank you gift for his appearance (see Patch gallery). Face In the Crowd: Town Manager Frank Crimmins and his son Tom; Selectman John Anderson; long-time Babe Ruth League president Mike Sammarco; Fincom Members Peter Ventresco and DeFelice; Housing Authority member Arthur Slate, former ZBA member Jerry Capozzoli, and Past VFW Commander Fred Varner.
(Story and Photos by Mark Snyder. Posted on November 10, 2011 @ 1:30 p.m.
Helping Veterans Again This Year
The Stoughton Firefighters, along with the Harry Landman Committee, will be collecting names of Stoughton residents serving in the military currently away from home. We will send them a Christmas package on behalf of all Stoughton residents thanking them for their service and sacrifice. The package will consist of candy, cookies, toiletries and DVD's. Please forward names and addresses in writing to the attention of either FF James Rush or FF James Brackett at the Stoughton Fire Station at 30 Freeman Street-- no later than Friday December 2, 2011. Thanks for your continued support.
MEGA FAMILY DOLLAR STORE TO OPEN IN JANUARY
Sources close to Snyder Stoughton confirmed today (11/9) that the location that housed the old Gold’s Gym, KidSports and Asian Buffet at 525 Washington Street on Rt. 138 in Stoughton is being demolished inside. The large space created will be taken by an enlarged Family Dollar Megastore. Currently, Family Dollar is located a short distance away, in the back of the Plaza that houses Citizens Bank and Beantown Diner. That store would move to the larger location. Founded in 1959 in Charlotte, North Carolina by entrepreneur Leon Levine, Family Dollar has grown to 6800 stores in 44 states. According to Family Dollar corporate media relations department, the core customer of the retail chain is a female head of household in her mid 40’s, making less than $40,000/year. A rep for the company was hoping that the new store would be opened by the end of January, 2012. (Posted on 11/9/11 @ 11 a.m. Story and Photos by Mark Snyder)
DPW WORKER BURNED AT MEAD'S MEADOW
Steve Lewandowski , a worker for the Stoughton Public Works Department, was burned today (11/7) in an accident at Mead’s Meadow. DPW Superintendent John Batchelder told Snyder’s Stoughton that he was taken to Mass General with 1 st degree burns on his face, second degree burns on his back, and possibly a small area of third degree burns, as well. Batchelder said that “They were burning the meadow as they do every year for the winter skating. It is a controlled burn with small piles. The wind changed direction, and Steve got stuck in the mud, and was in the middle of a flash burn. He put his face in the water. Probably saved him.” Batchelder is hoping that Steve will be left without scars and make a complete recovery. “He’s a really good guy and a very hard worker,” Batchelder added.
(Sheila Campbell Photo...story by Mark Snyder, posted 11/7/11 @ 6 p.m.)
MULTIPLE ASSAULTS AT ROTENBERG HOME 
An incident was reported to the Stoughton Police Department at 8:25 p.m. on Saturday night at the Judge Rotenberg Center’s “group home” at 1115 Park Street in Stoughton. Stoughton Police Executive Director Robert Devine told Snyder’s Stoughton, “We had to call in mutual aid. We’d like to thank the Canton Police for their effort.” Devine explained that when police arrived three residents of the house—a 20 year old and two 16 year olds---had barricaded themselves in a room. Devine said, “They had assaulted staff and were throwing things at them. The staff called police. Officer McNamara was charged with trying to talk them out of the room. They were uncooperative and threatened to attack police if they came in after them. When Canton Canine Officer Scott Brown and his dog Bosco arrived on scene, the three heard the dog and surrendered.”
The 20 year old young adult, Eyheen Fountain, and the two juveniles (who were not named by police) were charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (dishes and frying pans), vandalizing property and Assault & Battery. The three were all placed under arrest. Fountain was arraigned this morning and released back to the Park Street home. The juveniles are due later in the week at juvenile court. Devine said that the quick call to police Saturday night was “a marked departure from the JRC’s past policies and procedures.” He estimated there are at least seven JRC homes in Stoughton. He added, “By the time we’re notified, they are already set up and running. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from them—maybe nine months to a year. Previous to that, we had a stretch two years ago when we got called every week, with a large volume of calls. We voiced our displeasure and met with their management. We made our recommendations, and they instituted many of them. We’ve had a lull until Saturday night.” There were staff members with injuries like cuts, bruises and busted lips, according to Devine. This particular JRC group home is located adjacent to the Cedar Hill Golf Course, and almost diagonally across the street from Selectman Cynthia Walsh’s home. Walsh told Snyder’s Stoughton, “I wasn’t aware of any problems at the Rotenberg house. No one called me or came to my door. But, I’ve never had a problem there. You’d never know they were there. I’ve never witnessed or heard anything unusual. I see the white van when it goes back and forth.” Walsh said she is more concerned about an arson fire in her backyard that is still unsolved. “I know that the JRC kids didn’t do it. So, I think I have more to fear from others in the town rather than the residents there.” Walsh said that they bought the house over four years ago, and moved in recently. “I’d rather have an occupied property than one that is vacant. But, it would be nice if they made people aware of where they were. They used to have neighborhood meetings. ” JRC Attorney Mike Flammia responded to a call for more information about security precautions in the homes, as well as how the safety of staff and neighbors are protected. He told me, “All the houses are fully equipped with security. They are fully secure. None of the students got out Saturday night.” He said if a student does get out, they let neighbors know. He also said that, “The students receive excellent treatment there. They have behavioral problems and the staff is trained on how to handle students. They go through weeks and months of training on how to respond. They have equipment to prepare them for situations. They are trained in how to react to crisis situations. They are trained on how to restrain the student or to call 911--which is what they did here.” When I asked how many JRC homes were in Stoughton, Flammia said he didn’t know. When I asked why neighbors are no longer notified of these homes, he said, “You can’t discriminate against group homes. You can’t prevent them. It’s illegal. These children are entitled to their education and to live wherever JRC purchases homes. There’s no need for neighbors to be concerned in terms of safety or anything else.” According to Wikipedia, “ The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center (JRC, formerly known as the Behavior Research Institute) is a school for special needs students that operates in Canton, Massachusetts, providing applied behavior analysis and educational services to children and adults with severe developmental disabilities and emotional or behavior disorders, as well as providing respite care to their primary caregivers.” Additionally, the site talks about the history of the program, adding, “The center was founded as the Behavior Research Institute in 1971 by Matthew L. Israel, a psychologist who trained with B. F. Skinner. In 1994 the center changed its name to the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center ‘to honor the memory of the judge [who] helped to preserve [the] program from extinction at the hands of state licensing officials in the 1980’s.’ It has 900 employees and annual revenues exceeding $56 million, charging $220,000 a year for each student. The Judge Rotenberg Center treatment goals include a near-zero rejection/expulsion policy, active treatment with a behavioral approach directed exclusively towards normalization, frequent use of behavioral rewards and punishment, video monitoring of staff and the option to use aversives, the most controversial of which is the use of electric shocks. The final item has provoked considerable controversy and has led to calls from several disability rights groups to call for human protection from behavior modification, behavior therapy, and applied behavior analysis approaches. In May 2011, Matthew Israel was charged with misleading a grand jury over the school's destruction of the tapes, as well as being an accessory after the fact. Israel resigned his position at the JREC in a deferred prosecution plea deal with the Massachusetts State Attorney General's office. The JREC is currently administered by a court-appointed monitor.” I have written extensively about this company (see “Something’s Rotten at Rotenberg Center”). Dr. Israel dodged me for weeks to evade conversing about what went on behind closed doors in their facilities, a half dozen years ago. They gave me a “tour” of the Canton school, which was carefully scripted. When a “student” tried to talk to me, they yanked him away. I know that I have spoken to parents of students in this program, and they have praised it. Many told me it was their “last straw” for their children, and their family. They just couldn’t do anything more for them. One told me that the JRC was “a blessing” for their family. But, Stoughton seems to have more of these homes than any other town. It may be good for the students, but I don’t see how it can be good for the neighborhood, no matter how you spin it.
(Posted on November 7, 2011 @ 6 p.m.)
Story & Photo (c) 2011 by snydersstoughton.com/pmpnetwork, inc.
DOLLOFF SWORN IN AS FIRE CHIEF
Town Clerk Cheryl Mooney swears in Fire Chief Mark Dolloff
Retired Deputy Fire Chief Lawrence Dolloff pins his son, Fire Chief Mark Dolloff. Looking on Mark's daughter Marissa, son Lucas, and Town Manager Frank Crimmins.
A Huge Crowd (did anyone check with the fire department on capacity?) gathered for the swearing in and pinning ceremony for Fire Chief Mark Dolloff 
Fire Chief Dolloff's family proudly looks on, including (l to r) daughter Marissa, son Lucas, wife Teresa, and his mom and dad, Retired Deputy Fire Chief Lawrence and Shirley Dolloff. 
Mallory Breen sings the National Anthem from the midst of Stoughton Police and Fire Honor Guards
An array of culinary delights awaited those who attended the swearing in. Linda Ross of Catering by Linda did a great job, with excellent quality food, and an amazing presentation.
The Cake for Chief Dolloff by Linda Ross
It was a night to celebrate Stoughton. It was a night to celebrate new beginnings in the Fire Department. On a day when the Boston Globe ran a story touting Stoughton's Police Department, it was just a great day for 02072. But, most of all, it culminated a 29 year rise through the Stoughton Fire Department for new Stoughton Fire Chief Mark Dolloff. Town Manager Frank Crimmins served as Master of Ceremonies, and introduced just about everyone in the room as a dignitary. There were the parade of politicians---from State Senator Brian Joyce to State Reps William Galvin and Lou Kafka. The Board of Selectmen were all present, and Chairman John Stagnone spoke some words of praise for Dolloff. Fire Chiefs from many neighboring towns showed up to support Dolloff, including those from Bridgewater, Raynham, Easton, Canton, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Plainville, Sharon and Braintree. Mallory Breen (daughter of Deputy Fire Chief Scott Breen) sang the National Anthem. The Fire Department Honor Guard (Capt. Robert O'Donnell, Lt. George O'Neil, Lt. James Campbell, FF Jeffrey Ledin, and FF Jack Hussey) and the Stoughton Police Department Honor Guard (Executive Officer Robert Devine, Detective Erik Feist, and Detective John Bonney) looked resplendent in their spiffy uniforms with the presentation of colors. Retired Fire Chief David Jardin spoke. Town Clerk Cheryl Mooney swore in the new Fire Chief, and then his father, Retired Deputy Fire Chief Lawrence Dolloff, got to pin his son. Dolloff, his typical humble style, deflected attention from himself and to his department, telling the crowd, "We have a number of Tom Bradys playing for us. They make me look good." Town Manager Crimmins praised Dolloff, saying, "He's bright. He's earned this position. He led us in our dealings with National Grid during the crisis created by the power outage from Hurricane Irene." Other Faces In The Crowd: Planning Board Chairman Joe Scardino, Moderator Howard Hansen, Human Resources Director Martin McNamara, Stoughton Chamber of commerce Executive Director Terry Schneider, Veteran's Agent Mike Pazyra and his wife Cindy from the Chamber Board of Directors, Library Director Pat Basler, Former Selectman Tony Sousa, Recreation Director John Denison, School Committee Chair Joyce Husseini, Gibbons School principal Lynn Jardin, Acting Building Superintendent Bob Grover, Former Town Clerk and Town Manager Jeanne Fleming, Treasurer-Collector Donna Erickson, Assessor Joseph Gibbons, Building & Zoning Inspector Tom McGrath, VNA/Public Health Director Lisa Parent, new Procurement Officer Lindsay Pope, and Town Planner Noreen O'Toole.
(Story and photos by MARK SNYDER)
ANIMAL CONTROL GETS MAKEOVER 
Local residents cleaned up Stoughton's animal control facility (a/k/a dog pound) by re-painting it, and landscaping outside. Pictured (left to right) are Marcia Boland-Wells (who organized the whole thing, planted flowers and helped make it look nice), her husband Ron Wells (who painted the place and made it look great), Police Chief Paul Shastany (who oversees animal control), Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr., Michael Boland (who trimmed shrubs and assisted with landscaping), and Animal Control Officer Michael Gormaley. Millenium Landscaping donated the design, and Home Depot in Avon generously donated ten shrubs. Boland-Wells said, "It's a good thing when people in the community come together to make something happen. Now all we need to complete the project is for someone to donate an American flag." Added Crimmins, "I took a tour of the upgraded animal control facility. I congratulate the group of volunteers. These unselfish people make the town even better. They saw a need and used their talents to improve the place." (photo by Cindy Pazyra)Posted on November 3, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
BOARD GIVES THUMBS UP TO
STOUGHTON HOUSE OF BREWS
The Board of Selectmen gave a preliminary OK to a proposed new restaurant in town. The Stoughton House of Brews Coffee Shop and Tapas Bar would be located in the former Porter Street Pub, at 26 Porter Street, adjacent to Town Hall and across the street from the Stoughton post Office. The building, owned by Nelson Rodriguez, is undergoing a total renovation. Restaurant owners Leo and Sam Fay are looking to open up around February of 2012. The proposed restaurant would serve organic coffee (from South America and Africa), as well as baked goods, starting at 6 a.m. Lunches would feature soups, salads and sandwiches, and dinners will feature light fare and drinks. Leo Fay is trying to continue a family tradition of business ownership in the Town of Stoughton. It goes back to the legendary Green Family Store, which stood at the corner of Washington and Wyman Streets decades ago. That was owned by Leo's great grandfather, Louis Green. Leo Fay serves as a member of Town Meeting, as well as the Board of Assessors. He said, "We believe this is the kind of business that will give the downtown a jump start." I think he may be right. He hopes to employ up to 12 people in the restaurant. Some good news after the recent closures of Little Caesars and Friendly Ice Cream. Fay had to wait two hours for his hearing. Selectman Cynthia Walsh was angered by the Board tendency each week to make business people wait long periods of time. "Business people have important things to do, and we make them wait hours. They want to spend their money here NOW. This is an unfriendly business atmosphere. Week after week, this Board does this," Walsh said. Selectman Chairman John Stagnone simply said he disagreed with Walsh's assessment.
(Posted on Wednesday, November 2 at 11 p.m. Photo by Mark Snyder)
LITTLE CAESARS CLOSES
The first drive-through pizza place in the South Shore has closed it doors. Little Caesars, a franchise located at Central and Washington Streets, in the former location of a dry cleaner, closed for good yesterday. Franchise owner Patrick O'Connell had invested heavily in the former business, telling Snyder's Stoughton on Tuesday afternoon, that there were high occupancy costs, a large rent, and big up-front expenses for all the permitting neccesary for the drive-thru window. He says it was ironic that they closed on Halloween. "We had our largest week every this past week. But, there was simply not enough business to sustain the heavy expenses there," O'Connell said. Although there is a Little Caesars location in Brockton, this one was the only one O'Connell owned outside of Virginia. "This was our experiment to try the concept here in Massachusetts. It didn't work," he added. O'Connell said that he will be moving all the equipment from Stoughton location to his twenty stores in Virginia. Ten Little Caesars, from other owners, remain in Massachusetts. This location's closing, which opened in September of 2010, will put more workers on the unemployment roles. Recently, a Friendly's location in Stoughton also closed. (Posted on November 1, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.)
The Stoughton Police Department wanted to publicly thank the Stoughton Lions Club for their generous donation of two Zoll Automatic External Defibrillators. Add Executive Officer Robert Devine, "There is no doubt that someday, someone's life will be saved by these magnificent machines!"
FORMER OWNER OF STOUGHTON TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGENCY SENTENCED FOR UNDER-THE-TABLE SCHEME
The former owner of a Stoughton temporary employment agency has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in running a $30 million under-the-table payroll scheme. The scheme avoided more than $9 million in federal and state payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. United States District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton sentenced Michael Powers of Westport to 84 months in prison, to be followed by two years supervised release. Judge Gorton ordered Powers to pay more than $ 9 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, and two insurers. Powers and John Mahan of Stoughton were convicted in July 2011, after a jury trial, of one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and various workers’ compensation insurers, one count of mail fraud and two counts of filing false tax returns.Between 2000 and 2004, Powers and Mahan owned and operated Commonwealth Temporary Services, Inc., which supplied hundreds of temporary laborers to businesses throughout Eastern Massachusetts. To avoid paying employment taxes, such as Social Security and Medicare, and to fraudulently reduce the businesses’ insurance premiums, Powers and Mahan under-reported their payrolls. In order to hide their fraud, they arranged to pay more than $30 million of their payroll in cash, under the table. In announcing today’s sentence, Judge Gorton commented that Powers had orchestrated one of the most egregious tax evasion schemes he had come across and noted that the scheme was noteworthy for its brazenness and conniving ways. JOHN MAHAN is scheduled to be sentenced November 3 at 3 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Boston Field Office; and Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations for the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Walters and Vassili Thomadakis of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.
Stoughton Fire Department
This is a charger which connects from a computer to an I Phone or I Pod. The picture was taken by one of our Facebook friends. Researching, we have found there to be many others who have had electrical issues with these cords. We reccomend that if you use this cord, do not leave it unattended for any length of time.
Stoughton Woman Busted in Prostitution & Drug Raid
was a former guest on Snyder's Stoughton TV Show...
A former Chiropractor, Stoughton resident Terry Mussari , pled not guilty this morning (10/24/11) at Brockton District Court to charges of "deriving support from prostitution". She was released on $2,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear back in court on January 9, 2012. State Police, the FBI, and the Massachusetts Attorney General were all involved in the bust. According to Fox 25, which broke the story, employees are Mussari's three spas allegedly engaged in prostitution and sold drugs on the premises. The Spas cited by the Massachusett's Attorney General's office (which provided the photo) were Aria Day Spa, 1280 Belmont Street in Brockton (at Owen O'Leary's Plaza); Spa Bellissimo, 1210 Boston-Providence Turnpike (Rt. 1 in a strip plaza), and in Cobb's Corner, Sparkle Day Spa at 95 Washington Street. Mussari “voluntarily surrendered” her chiropractic license in 2006, according to the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure. Her private practice, called Spine Stop, which was located on Rt. 123 in Easton near Stonehill College, was closed after an undercover sting resulted in charges of prostitution against a masseuse who worked there. Snyder's Stoughton TV Show taped a live segment at Spa Bellissimo in Norwood in 2007. The place had just opened and was absolutely breathtaking inside. Everything appeared to be kosher, and Mussari herself did much of the commentary. The show (split into parts one and two) are still available for viewing on YouTube. Sources tell Snyder's Stoughton that the Attorney General's office, as well as other local law enforcement, will look through the client list. That should be interesting. (Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.)
LYNCH COMES TO STOUGHTON
Residents missed a chance to ask questions of U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) today (10.21.11), as less than a dozen citizens, not including town employees or officials, came to the Stoughton Senior Center to make their voices heard. Lynch seemed like a straight shooter, taking all questions and giving them an honest answer. Lynch voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a/k/a Obamacare). While saying he appreciates that it will add 32 million people to the insurance rolls, he
believes that we still need to figure out how to control the costs of the
current system, and pay for this massive expansion of services, as prices
continue to rise precipitously. For this reason, Congressman Lynch remains
committed to working with his colleagues in Congress to fix and improve this
legislation moving forward. He told his Stoughton audience that premiums are rising an average 9% annually, and that the Act has nothing in it to trim the costs of health care services. He spoke about the Veteran's Administration, and how they are allowed to negotiate with pharmeceutical companies for better rates, allowing veterans to pay anywhere from 7-9 dollars per prescription for most drugs. "The Department of Health & Human Services should be able to negotiate drug prices, like the V.A. The new health care act lets the pharmaceutical companies off scott-free."As for President Obama's new "jobs bills" (the one we need to pass without debate or there will be more murders and rapes, according to V.P. Joe Biden), Lynch said he hadn't read the one being considered by the Senate, and that he doesn't take positions on what he hasn't read. But, he said he is against continuing Obama's "cutting social security payroll payments in half. It has resulted in 119 billion dollars being diverted from social security. I can't vote for further cuts in the social security trust fund." He also called Biden's comments on murder and rape "over the top." On foreign policy, Lynch said that this April will mark his 14th trip to Iraq, as a member of the Oversight Committee. "There were 165,000 U.S. servicemen stationed over there. Now, there's 31,000. President Obama has laid out a plan for withdrawal, and he's stuck to it." As for Afghanistan, Lynch said, "In 2010, we had 110,000 soldiers there. Now, we have 90,000. The President had laid out his withdrawal course there, as well. We trying to train the Afghan national army, border police and local police. I think corruption in the government there is an equal danger to the Taliban."As for the 1.5 trillion dollars that the "Super Committee" comprised of House and Senate members are supposed to cut to lower the deficit, Lynch said that Social Security cannot be cut, or the benefits of Medicare. "The 3.6% cost of living increase recently granted can't be touched, but it will be reduced by an increase in the costs of Medicare." He said one possible source of cuts---reducing payments of health care providers---could backfire. "If they reduce payments to providers, you may see doctors no longer taking Medicare patients. We need to approach that with caution." He said if the "Super Committee" can't come up with the 1.5 Trillion in cuts, then automatic across-the-board 1.2 Trillion in cuts would kick in. The appearance is part of Lynch's "Congress on Your Corner" tour in his RV. He said that his office is always available to help Stoughton residents. If you would like to schedule a meeting with Congressman Lynch or invite him to an event, please contact Meghan Aldridge,Meghan.aldridge@mail.house.gov, or fax (617-428-2011). His local Brockton office number is 508-586-5555.
Faces In The Crowd: State Reps Lou Kafka (D-Stoughton) and William Galvin (D-Canton); Selectmen Cynthia Walsh and John Anderson; Town Manager Frank Crimmins, Police Chief Paul Shastany, Josie Sargent of Friends for Seniors; COA/Youth Commission Director Karen Hall, Town Planner Noreen O'Toole; Peter Buckley of the Housing Authority, and Veteran Warren West. (Story and Photos by Mark Snyder/ (c) 2011 by PMPNetwork.com and SnydersStoughton.com. Posted on October 21, 2011 @ 4 p.m.)
SMAC ELECTS NEW DIRECTOR
The Stoughton Media Access Corporation (SMAC) had their 1st Annual Meeting Wednesday night, October 19, at their 421 Page Street studios. Financially, SMAC is off to a good start, collecting nearly $440,000 in access fees, receiving over $30,000 in donated services, and another $7,621 in miscellaneous donations. They've spent $222,781 on property and equipment and $225,225 on the buildout of the Page Street studios, and the security deposit on the lease. SMAC President, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, John Stagnone said that SMAC is doing very well and "imagination is the only limit." He said they are investing to keep up with technological improvements. "We're putting away money for furture purchases," he told the couple dozen people in attendance. Although the by-laws that created SMAC--in order to prevent politics--had paid SMAC Board members voting for a Director to represent THEM, Stagnone said that the papers were signed in August, and there wasn't enough time to properly notify members in the prescribed sixty days time frame. So, the Board of Directors (two appointed by selectmen, one by the school committee, and one by the cable advisory committee) chose the fifth director. Director Steve Bates asked the three candidates who were present if they thought that SMAC is a political Board. Not sure why he asked that question. All answered no. Theoretically, when SMAC was created, the Cable Advisory Committee warned about political interference, and insisted that people with no political ties be appointed as Directors. I don't think this Board has acted politically, but certainly it has the apperance as such, with the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen as its President.. The Cable Advisory Committee appointed their then-vice chairman Stagnone, well before he decided to run for office. Selectmen appointed local builder Steve Bates and former selectman Bob Mullen. The school committee appointed Allan Mills. They all got off to a slow start, but SMAC is now moving forward, and going in the right direction. Their studio is among the best around. They're running training classes, starting to sign up members, and getting new programs on the air. So, last night, four people ran for the open Director's seat (which was to be voted by paid members). Chris D'Arpino, who does a show (and a Patch column) called Animal House, expressed interest, but was not nominated.Terry Schneider, Executive Director of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, was nominated by Mullen. He said he "had the time" to volunteer for the Board.
David Young, the most active SMAC volunteer (who was a camera person in the latter stages of Snyder's Stoughton TV Show), was nominated by Mills. He said he wanted to "nurture the channel."
John Malley, a member of the Council on Aging, was nominated by Bates. He said he is a graduate of Northeast Broadcasting School and a licensed property appraiser. Malley got the votes of Mills, Bates and Stagnone and was elected.The five Directors will work with Executive Director Steve Innis to keep Channel 9 in the forefront of the TV screens of residents. (Posted on October 20 @ 8:45 p.m. Photo by Mark Snyder)
WELCOME HOME DAVID PAINTEN!
The son of Jeff and Sue Ledin, David Painten, has returned from a year of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Pictured here with David are Jeff & Sue Ledin, Mandi Ledin, Ashley Painten, Chelsea Matrone, and Jeff Ledin, Jr.Thanks for your service to your country David! The people of Stoughton appreciate it and honor you.
Shastany to Attend 248th Session
of Prestigous FBI National Academy
Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany will attend the 248th session of the prestigious FBI NATIONAL
ACADEMY from January 8-March 16, 2012. Stoughton Police Executive Officer Robert Devine would lead the department in his absence. Shatany wrote Town Manager Frank Crimmins, "I have the utmost confidence in Executive Officer Robert Devine and my leadership team to take over inmy my absence. However, I will remain in close contact and in consultation with the department." Town Manager Frank Crimmins and the Board of Selectmen have agreed to allow Shastany to attend the training, which comes at no cost to the Town. Shastany has been working to take a department, which was tarnished with scandal, to full accreditation, through training of all personnel, and a code of conduct that has increased morale in the Rose Street headquarters.
Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in charge of the Boston FBI office, wrote, "Since its inception in 1935, the FBI National Academy has set the standard for executive police training." Added Shastany, "The FBI National Academy is the most prestigious law enforcement executive training program in the world. It serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies, at home and abroad, and to raise law enforcement standards knowledge and cooperation worldwide. I am excited that the FBI considers Stoughton to be one of the best departments, and worthy of this offer."
(Posted on October 16, 2011 at noon. All Rights Reserved. Text copyright 2011 by PMPNetwork, Inc.)
SAWYER WINS SINAI EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH for OCTOBER 2011
Nancy Sawyer, Scheduling Coordinator for the Outpatient Ambulatory Care Department, has been with Sinai since 2006. Previous to that, she served sixteen years in the dental field as a Dental Assistant. She and her husband John both attended Stoughton High School together. She tells About Town, " We graduated from Stoughton High School together but we did not really know one another then. We ran into each other 10 years later, dated for 9 months and recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary."
The Sinai Employee of the Month is chosen from nominations made by hospital staff, patients, and family members. Nominees demonstrate a “Sinai Cares” philosophy in their everyday work lives and are known for a high level of service, integrity and leadership. A committee of administrators and employees makes the final selection from those nominated.
Nancy is consistently positive, upbeat and innovative. She enjoys going the extra mile on a daily basis and loves being part of the team. She truly treats patients like family and responds to their concerns and needs with kindness and warmth. Nancy works hard to accommodate their unique scheduling requirements and reassure them that they will be well cared for.
Nancy’s supervisor Ralph Colangelo, Administrative Director of Rehabilitation and Ambulatory Care Services, says, “Nancy’s smile, sense of humor, can-do attitude, and commitment to the Department and our patients, make her a joy to have in the office.”
Chief Shastany and SPD join D.A. Morrissey’s Underage Drinking Prevention Conference 
District Attorney Michael Morrissey hosted more than 150 educators and police from across Norfolk County , including four Stoughton Police officers, at an all-day conference providing strategies to prevent and address underage drinking and other dangerous behavior. “The time to address underage drinking is before it comes into court as an alcohol-fueled assault, or the car crash that takes a life or causes permanent injury,” said Norfolk County District Attorney Morrissey. “We are trying to help local police and schools to have the best tools to do that.Seminars provided strategies for the “High-Risk Season” -- proms and graduations -- Law Enforcement Perspectives on House Parties, the emerging Recovery High School model with insights gained from that population and “Promoting and Supporting Non-Users in Your School.” “We tried to have topics that would appeal to, and hopefully help, each of the different groups attending,” Morrissey added..Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany attended with Executive Officer Robert Devine, who spoke on one of the morning’s panel discussions. Detective Roger Hardy and Officer Robert Kuhn also attended. The event, which drew from 23 Norfolk County communities, was also meant to strengthen collaboration among schools, communities, court officials, local law enforcement authorities and social service providers, Morrissey said. Featured speakers included Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, Secretary of Public Safety and Security, who emphasized the importance of working together to confront this issue, and underscored her agency’s commitment to the cause; and The Honorable Paul C. Dawley, Regional Administrative Justice for the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, identified some of the substance abuse challenges facing our communities, and outlined how the judiciary has tried to respond.
Participating organizations included the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Caron Treatment Center, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the American Automobile Association (A.A.A.), the Safe Roads Alliance, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (M.I.A.A.), the Southeast Center for Healthy Communities, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (A.B.C.C.).
The keynote speaker was Professor Michael Siegel, M.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Siegel used televised advertisements to illustrate the strategic marketing of alcohol to teens, and called for greater accountability for companies that produce and market alcohol. The event was funded by a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and held at the Lake Pearl Luciano’s conference facility in Wrentham.(Posted on October 6, 2011 @ 9:30 p.m. Information from a press release. Photo (l to r) Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, left, hosted a conference on underage drinking prevention strategies recently for police and school officials featuring Dr. Michael Siegel, Secretary of Public Safety Mary Elizabeth Heffernan and, at right, Judge Paul C. Dawley. )
Stoughton Police Dept.....
First in Technology
Stoughton Police Department cruisers are the first in the State (and possibly the entire country) to be outfitted with Quick Response (QR) Codes. Residents with IPhones and Androids can get APPS that will allow them to use the bar code to bring them directly to the Stoughton Police Website. From there in the near future, according to Police Chief Paul Shastany, citizens will be able to report crime, obtain police and accident reports, view police logs, and get up-to-the-minute public safety information. "This police department is taking a giant leap from being crippled technologically, to being right into the future of technology. It allows people to access information easily. All the services we'd offer at the station---other than reporting crimes in progress--would be offered on the website. They'll be able to make anonymous tips, and have access to all necessary forms." (Posted on October 5, 2011 @ 5 p.m.)
A Month Later the Boston Globe Reports on it!
Condo Fire on October 8
Here are some pictures from Saturday's Condo fire at 12 Patricia Drive in the Knollsbrook Condo development. The Firefighters in the picture are(l to r) Lt Bill Carreiro FF/Paramedic, Ian Kurtinitis, FF/Paramedic Kur Simpson of Sharon FD, Lt Mike Peck, and FF/Paramedic Tim Guillotte. One family was displaced and moved in with relatives. The Stoughton Fire Department estimated $50,000 in damage to the condo. They have not determined the cause, as of press time.+
(Photos provided by Captain Jim Bertram SFD)
Veteran's Day
Memorial Square Dedications Announced
Stoughton Veteran's Agent Mike Pazyra announced Tuesday night (October 4) the two World War II veterans who will have Memorial Squares dedicated to them at ceremonies on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011.Albert Anselm Jardin Memorial Square will be at Taxiera Road and School Street. A Navy Veteran, Second Class Petty Officer Jardin passed away on July 26, 2011. He earned the Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 Stars, The Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal with 8 Stars, a Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Star, an Air Crew Insignia with 3 Stars, an Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Gold Star, and the WWII Victory Medal. Mr. Jardin served as Commander of the Stoughton VFW Post, was a STOYAC basketball and softball coach, and an active member of Immaculate Conception Church.James Francis Dalton Memorial Square will be at Park & Seaver Streets. Seaman First Class Dalton passed away on July 1, 2011, 67 years to the day after he enlisted in the Navy to serve his country. He received 2 Battle Stars, The Asiatic Pacific, and WWII Victory Medals for his service. Along with his father, he helped to maintain the old baseball field on West Street. He was a volunteer at My Brother's Keeper in Easton, and was an active member of the Stoughton VFW. He volunteered his time at St. James Parish.CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH FAMILIES ON THIS WONDERFUL HONOR.
Friendly's Closes Without Warning
Employees out of work...
Friendly's spokesperson said the company is undergoing a re-finance under the bankruptcy laws, and closed 63 restaurants, including the one in Stoughton. He wrote, "As part of its restructuring, Friendly's has closed 63 restaurants. After a thorough analysis of the profitability and contribution of all Friendly's locations, including the lease costs involved, the Company made the difficult but necessary decision to close underperforming restaurants. These closures will help the Company realize important cost savings and operational efficiencies that will improve its financial foundation so it can better serve all constituencies. Friendly's has encouraged employees from closed locations to apply at nearby operating restaurants, where available." Area Friendly's's restaurants that were shut down included Brockton, Attleboro, Bridgewater, Dedham, Foxboro and Quincy. After the way they treated their employees---and customers--I'll never step into another Friendly's.
(Posted on October 5, 2011@ 1:30 p.m. Photos by Mark Snyder)
First Reported Here.....
POLICE & SCHOOLS IN
BATTLE OF WORDS
It all started with a report on WFXT-TV’s Fox 25 News. A Stoughton Firefighter and his family were quoted in a story about overcrowding on Stoughton school buses. A picture shot on the bus was prominently featured on the newscast. It only showed the center of the bus (and not the window seats on either side) and really didn’t prove anything, except that one student seemed to be sitting in the aisle. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi denied on camera that the buses were overcrowded, and said that the capacity complied with all state laws. She said they were monitored on a daily basis. Many Stoughton residents watched this report on Thursday morning, September 21 (including this writer) and were horrified to once again see our town receiving such negative publicity. Police Chief Paul Shastany was watching at his home in Framingham, and told Snyder’s Stoughton that after he watched it, he wanted “to keep Stoughton from having another black eye.” But, as the person in charge of public safety in Stoughton, he said there “was a short window” to determine if public safety were indeed compromised, and he sent officers to all schools to count the number of students getting off each bus. He found that all buses complied with the law in regards to the number of students they carried and informed the news media that night of this. This should have been the end of this story. But, the school department was not happy to see uniformed officers at all their bus stops. School Committee Chairman Joyce Husseini sent a letter on September 23rd to Shastany, with copies going to Supt. Rizzi, Town Manager Frank Crimmins, Supervisor of Support Services Joel Harding (who oversees all transportation for the schools) and Selectman Chairman John Stagnone. The letter began, “Today, it came to our attention that without notification, permission, consultation, or a formal complaint of criminal activity, you personally sent police officers to the property of all seven of the Stoughton public schools to count the children getting off the buses….The principals were all blindsided. The phone call made by the Supt. of Schools has yet to be returned. We are dismayed and bewildered that you did not choose to the call the Supt. to discuss the unconfirmed allegations, broadcast by Fox 25, the night before that the school buses are overcrowded. In fact, they are not overcrowded. Mr. Harding never overbooks, or even maximally books the buses. Our trip analyses, generated daily, keep track of the number of children on every bus every day and could easily have demonstrated the lack of validity of the allegation. Before acting on this allegation from an unreliable TV source, a simple inquiry would have saved the considerable expense of redirecting very significant police resources in a way that was entirely unnecessary, potentially scary to our children and parents, and disruptive to the morning routine that runs on a very tight schedule.” Shastany took issue with the letter, and responded to it four days later. He wrote, “The (TV) report in and of itself was a complaint of an alleged unsafe practice. Even if it were not, it is the responsibility of the Police Department and not the schools to ensure public safety, regardless of the venue. I would have loved to have discussed this with the Superintendant and would have been happy to do so if the Police Department had been notified, but news cycles being what they are, we had to collect data and have an answer as soon as possible. You may or may not be aware that later that Thursday evening we dispelled the whole event by telling the news media what we did and supported the school’s claims that overcrowding was not an issue. I realize that you keep your own figures, but it was the independent verification of numbers of students that put the whole matter to rest in the public’s eye. As for Principals being ‘blindsided’ or us striking fear into the hearts of children, I couldn’t disagree more. The Stoughton Police Department has been a leader in the areas of community policing and public outreach. We have a juvenile detective that is in the school department every day and other uniformed officers are consistently in and around the schools.” Shastany continued, “We are a constant and benevolent presence at our schools and we aim to help out in any way we can. This department has historically had a wonderful relationship with the school system, one that began well before my or Superintendent Rizzi’s arrival. The hard working officers in the juvenile unit and administrators in the Principals’ offices have seen and will continue to see to that.” At a recent School Committee meeting, Husseini’s letter was read, and the School Committee members rallied around the Superintendent, and her position. At Tuesday night’s Selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Frank Crimmins and the Board of Selectmen rallied around Shastany. Shastany told Snyder’s Stoughton that the whole thing was avoidable. “I really wish it didn’t unfold this way. If our department was informed of this issue before it hit the TV news, we could have worked with the school department to cooperatively look at the numbers. But, if there’s even a hint that public safety is compromised, it’s our duty to investigate it.” Dr. Rizzi told Snyder’s Stoughton late Tuesday night, “The implication is that the school system would lie, or doesn’t know what it is doing. Most people wouldn’t use Fox as their sole source without validating it independently. There was no good reason not to collaborate. The police never talked to us. They didn’t bother. Due diligence is working with the people in charge,” Shastany added, “The people of Stoughton don’t need to see battles between departments. This was disturbing, to say the least. My only issue is the public safety, in this case for children. We saw no frightened children. Husseini’s letter was assumptions, not facts. I didn’t come to Stoughton to have my character and judgment attacked. I am waiting for an apology.”Rizzi isn’t going to be doing the apologizing. “Should public safety officials make judgments based on an unsubstantiated Fox 25 story, when a 30 second phone call could have gotten the real story? His story doesn’t hold water.” The bottom line is that this battle was triggered by a town employee whose complaints evidently fell on deaf ears, and when he got the chance, he went on Fox 25 to tell his story. The story did damage to the town, and its schools. The school buses were never “overcrowded”, based on the maximum allowable number of riders, according to Mr. Harding’s numbers, and those of the Stoughton Police Department. But, still some children feel they were (and continue to be) "squished."Feelings have been hurt all around. But, the great relationship developed over the years between the police department and the schools should go on. As Shastany told the Selectmen, “This is a minor issue. We’ll absorb the criticism and move forward.” Cynthia Walsh, a retired school teacher and sibling of two retired police officers, said, “I can’t imagine people complaining about the police doing public safety work. You expect them to respond. The whole idea is to raise children that the police are their friends. I can’t believe children would be frightened by uniformed police officers. Someone made a huge mountain out of a small molehill.” This last town meeting was marked by bitter divisions among the municipal and school departments. Everyone needs to stop and work together. Life is short. You can move a lot more effectively if everyone is running in the same direction.
Husseini's Letter
Shastany's Response
UPDATE
Dr. Rizzi and Chief Shastany spoke on the phone, and have "moved on." Both are looking forward to working together to move the town, and the schools, forward.
First Reported Here......
DOLLOFF NAMED
PERMANENT FIRE CHIEF
Acting Fire Chief Mark Dolloff was named permanent Fire Chief in an announcement tonight (Oct 4) at the Board of Selectmen meeting. The formal announcement was made by Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. During the crisis with National Gridlock--when the town lost its power for up to five days-- Dolloff was out front Chairing the Emergency Operations for the town, aided by Police Chief Paul Shastany, Town Manager Frank Crimmins, and DPW Superintendent John Batchelder. Dolloff, a Raynham resident, was named Interim Chief on April 1, 2011. He has been working at the Stoughton Fire Department since February 1983. The EMT is from a LONG line of fire department officials. His father, Lawrence Dolloff retired as Deputy Chief of the Stoughton Fire Department. His grandfather, William Corbett, was a Call Captain until the early 1930's here. A number of applicants--including another SFD employee--applied for the job. Dolloff told Snyder's Stoughton that he always wanted to be a firefighter, but in his younger days he owned a liquor store, and, when he got married and had two children, he had to decide whether he wanted to buy another liquor store, or to dedicate himself to firefighting. He chose the fire route, and has now ended up 28 years later as the top man. When Dolloff is sworn in (time and date TBA), his eighty year old father will proudly be there.
(Posted 10/4/11 @ 10:30 p.m.)
First Reported Here ....
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN BREAKING & ENTERING
Snyder's Stoughton has learned that Stoughton Police have arrested a suspect is an attempted breaking and entering of a home on Sumner Street. He was arrested by Stoutghton Police Officer Barrett, according to Executive Officer Robert Devine. The suspect, 26-year old Jonathan Wood is from 3 Blackbrook Path in East Bridgewater. According to Devine, "He made attempts to enter multiple homes, one of whuch was occupied. A child at the home called his mom, who called police. The perpetrator fled into the woods and was arrested emerging on Sumnerv Street by Officer Barrett. Assisting her were Sgt.Welch, Lt. Blount, Officer Holmes and Officer Lydstone, with the K-9 unit." Wood was charged with two coutns of Breaking and Entering. (First posted on September 30, 2011 @ 1:51 p.m. Updated at 4 p.m. Photo courtesy of Stoughton Police Department
TOWN OF STOUGHTONHYDRANT FLUSHING
The Town of Stoughton Public Works Department will be conducting a water main flushing program starting on Tuesday October 11, 2011 and continuing thru the week of October 24, 2011. The majority of the work will be done between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. The areas to be flushed will include West St. (Elm to Central), Central St. (West St. to Bay Rd) and Bay Road (Central to Robinette Rd). This will include but not limited to all side roads. For a complete list of streets you can go to www.stoughton.org. The activity will cause discolored water in varying degrees in this section of the Town. Persons who experience water discoloration should flush their systems by opening the cold water faucet for a few minutes and then waiting for about an hour. If the water is still not clear, they should repeat the flushing procedure. The Public Works Department regrets that it cannot be responsible for any damages incurred as a result of the flushing activity, which is a necessary and normal maintenance function of the Water Department. Stoughton Public Works Department,
John M. Batchelder, Superintendent
KIDS HELPING KIDS
Proud mom Hollie Tiso tells Snyder's Stoughton that her four children sold lemonade the past two years to generate funds for Children's Hospital. Last year, the four kids raised $115. This year, in a tougher economy, they raised $200! Kudos to Grace Tiso, aged six, and the Tiso Triplets---Gregory, Tyler and Sean, who are four. Holly said she only invited family and friends to the lemonade stand. Next year, she'll let us know about it in advance, and we'll spread the word. Added Tiso, "Grace wanted a lemonade stand and I am not really one to have my kid beg strangers on the side of the road, so we agreed she could have one, but we would invite only friends and family. When I asked her what she would do with the money, she said we can give it to kids that need it (because I was alway teaching her that she needed to give her things to the less fortunate) so then we agreed to give all the money earned to the Children's Hospital to help the sick kids there. After last year, we vowed to beat our goal every year." I applaud Hollie and her children, and let's ALL help her crush this year's total next year!
(Posted on September 29, 2011 @ 11 a.m.)
Attention Veterans---Get a FREE Trip to Washington, D.C.
Through Honor Flight New England
(application)
(brochure)
DOWNTOWN BUILDING FRONT TORN DOWN--
expect to see plywood there for months......
The former location of Cheng-Du Restaurant, owned by Freeman Corporation (a company run by David Parsons of Parsons & Parsons Insurancy Agency, which is located at the adjacent building), has been closed since a fire, and then a roof cave-in last winter. For many months, it sat boarded up, with temporary fencing constructed all the way out to the street. Now, crews from Skinner Demolition in Brockton have taken down the front of the building. Expect the temporary fencing to go, and ugly plywood to be placed across the front. It's truly an embarassment to Stoughton---with thousands of commuters driving by it every day. In addition, it doesn't reflect a positive image of Parsons Insurance, either.
Photos by Mark Snyder
(Update: After this and other stories were written about the building, it became known that David Parsons was suffering from a terminal case of cancer. We stopped writing about it when we found that out.)
More News 4 EVEN MORE NEWS 5
(c) 2010 Snyder's Stoughton