Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express

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Retro police sign will have to go …

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PLYMPTON – The Public Safety Building Committee met Oct. 3 for their monthly meeting.

Although the new driveway for the station was on the agenda, a perennially hot topic, it was only discussed briefly. After a site visit, the committee ended up discussing signage for the new station, a topic they had yet to address and was not, technically, on the agenda.

The Express was invited on an exclusive tour of the station but was asked not to photograph the inside of the building.

The approximately 6,500 square foot facility is well underway.

The framing, which can be seen from the street, will be finished by Friday, and windows have arrived and will be installed once the rain has let up, next week.

The electrical, plumbing and HVAC installation will all begin soon, Oct. 22.

The building has openings for large windows, and a community room will be in the front of the building. Offices surround a central reception area, which will be enclosed.

The prisoner holding cells, made out of concrete cinderblock, have taken shape, as has the booking area in the back of the station.

In the twilight, approaching Halloween, the dark and imposing half-built cells made for an eerie sight.

The very back of the building contains a secure sally-port to transfer prisoners from vehicles to cells and back.

Dan Pallotta, the project manager, says the building is about 30 percent complete.

He claims that the new station has the lowest cost per square foot of any new station in the state in the past three years.

The main topic of discussion at the PSBC meeting was an old, “retro” police sign that the police are fond of on the current, old station.

Robert Karling, the wiring inspector, brought up the fact the police are often concerned when the sign is not lit, which led to a further discussion of signage at the station, and on the Town House campus in general.

The group, at first discussed moving the old sign to the new building, but after taking a walk outside to look at it, Chairman Colleen Thompson took a strong stand against a move.

Pallotta even suggested using CPA money to restore the sign or build a replica of it. “It’ll need CPR before CPA money,” quipped Karling.

“I like blue lights,” Thompson said, which Pallotta eventually agreed with, and putting a sign at the bottom of the hill that would match the library sign.

Member Mark Russo mentioned that a master plan for the entire Town House campus is being developed now and public input is being sought. He expressed that he wanted to see signs that were compatible with each other, as well.

The PSBC will next meet Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m.

$496k grant to fight drug abuse

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The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a federal grant that will significantly improve the services provided by the group in the coming years.

PCO will receive the $496,650 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.

The award is among the first major federal funding grants to go toward substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation, with the aim of addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected by the DOJ for the CARA grant and these funds will hopefully go a long way toward helping our Plymouth County residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis and their families,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said.

The funds, which will be disbursed over the next two years, will allow PCO to hire two full-time staff members – a Project Coordinator and an Operations Supervisor. Those positions will allow PCO to offer better resources to individuals who are in need of treatment in a more streamlined and effective fashion.

“We will be looking to hire two full-time staff members who are dedicated to working with Plymouth County residents each and every day and can represent Plymouth County Outreach in all of our communities,” Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said.

In addition, the money will allow PCO to improve their Critical Incident Management System database, which tracks the number of overdoses in the region and allows for research and detailed analysis of the data collected to be studied by PCO’s treatment and healthcare partners.

“In receiving this grant from the federal government this shows, I believe, that our program and approach is on the forefront of combining the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers and treatment professionals in providing care to those opioid users in our communities who are in need,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said.

In addition to Plymouth County Outreach, 11 other Massachusetts programs will receive a total of $8.4 million in grant funding:
Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office awarded $541,300,
Middlesex District Attorney’s Office awarded one grant of $360,000 and one of $500,000,
Boston Police Department awarded $305,362,
City of Holyoke Police Department awarded $448,025,
Massachusetts Administrative Office of the Trial Court awarded $1.5 million,
Advocates for Human Potential awarded $1.55 million,
City of Worcesterawarded $744,668, Franklin, County Sheriff’s Office awarded $1 million, LUK Crisis Center awarded $500,000.

“In 2017, over 2,000 Massachusetts residents died from drug overdoses,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lellling.

“The opioid crisis is an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States, but we are committed to the President’s plan to end the epidemic through prevention, treatment and enforcement.

“With over $8 million in federal grant funding, programs in Massachusetts can expand to serve larger populations, increase services, and support those who are most impacted by this deadly epidemic. I applaud the grant recipients for their commitment to serve their communities in this way.”

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police. The chiefs have partnered with the offices of District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald to take a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

Thursday, several member chiefs met to discuss the announcement of the grant.

“The work being done by our partners in law enforcement and the treatment and healthcare industries is vital to combating this deadly epidemic. In Plymouth County and everywhere else, one overdose death is one too many,” Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.

Next week, PCO will be honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and will be receiving the Leadership in Community Policing Award on Oct. 9 in Orlando, Florida.

About Plymouth County Outreach: Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy,

East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons,

Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

New Highway Surveyor defends new speed limits Residents don’t like new speed limits in town

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PLYMPTON – Plympton Selectmen met Monday night and had some upset neighbors before them. The citizens were frustrated that speed limit signs were raised in some areas on Main Street, Center Street, and Parsonage Road.

Scott Ripley, new Highway Superintendent, came before the board to explain the situation.

“We’re getting a pretty pricey job done for free,” he said, explaining that MassDOT was upgrading street signs throughout the town at no cost. But, on the flip side, the speed limits, which are set by the state on both town and state roads, are being adjusted as well.

The project entails the replacement of signs, guardrails, and new line striping in Plympton, Rochester and Middleboro. Plympton is getting about $250,000 in free work from the state, according to Selectmen Chairman John Traynor.

The explanation did nothing to assuage residents’ concerns. Although they did not personally attack Ripley, he was certainly in the hot seat as question after question came from residents and selectmen.

The scene was a bit of a free-for-all, as Traynor did not ask residents to identify themselves, and people, in their enthusiasm, talked over one another.

Ripley, to much laughter, stated that the process to change a speed limit is for the town, at its own expense, to do a speed study, and then submit it to the state for final approval.

He said that the previous superintendent had signed off on the changes, but that the document was very confusing to read and about 90-pages long.

Vicki Alberti, of Main St., asked if the neighbors can individually complain. “Right now, we’re [Center Street] faster than Route 58.”

Ripley replied, “Yes, but the legality is the state sets the speed limits.”

He and the board later encouraged residents to call or write letters to MassDot Division 5, the division overseeing the work.

Selectman Mark Russo suggested that some of the areas were “thickly settled,” and would thus be subject to lower speed limits.

“My understanding of thickly settled is 200-feet between houses,” he said.

Traynor also brought up the fundamental speed limit warrant article that failed in Halifax. He wants to talk to Charlie Seelig, Halifax Town Administrator, in further detail about what such a proposal entails.

The Halifax article would have set a basic speed limit throughout the town, unless otherwise marked, which is not uncommon in area communities, but failed at their last Special Town Meeting.

Another audience member asked if trucks could be restricted on Main Street. Traynor said that he’d look into it.

One resident read all of the speed limits along her stretch of road. “They don’t make any sense…It doesn’t pass the silly test!” she exclaimed.

In other news:

• The board signed the warrant for the state election.

• The board directed the Town Administrator to send a memo to the Planning Board, alerting them to develop a marijuana zoning by-law for the town before the next Town Meeting.

• There are openings on the Finance Committee and the Planning Board.

• Town House will be closed Monday, Oct. 8 in observance of Columbus Day.

• The board next meets on Monday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. For the two hours prior to that meeting, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., selectmen and other town officials will welcome the public to an open house at Town House to give input on the “Master Plan” for the Town House Campus.

Bright spots in red harvest

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PLYMPTON – Plympton and Halifax are cranberry country. With Plympton having the sixth largest amount of active bogs by town in the state and Halifax recently moving up to seven, the industry dominates agriculture in both towns, the region and the state.

Massachusetts is the oldest cranberry-growing region in the country, and growers point out that the vine-grown berries are not only important economically to the Commonwealth, but to our heritage as well. The cranberry is the official state berry and color, and cranberry juice cocktail is the official state drink. We even call a vodka and cranberry juice cocktail a “Cape Codder.”

The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, which represents growers in the state, say that the 2016 crop was valued at $68.9 million. Massachusetts is home to approximately 1/3 of all cranberry acreage and is home to the two largest cranberry handling companies in the world, Ocean Spray and Decas Cranberries.

They say the industry provides more than 6,900 jobs to the state and a total economic benefit of over $1.4 billion.

But, the growers’ association says, “Today the cranberry industry is challenged by one of the most significant economic crises it has faced in its 200-plus year history, threatening the immediate viability for many growers in Massachusetts and the long-term horizon for the industry.”

This is a multi-faceted problem, says Brian Wick, executive director of the CCCGA. But there are bright spots.

Massachusetts’ 13,000 acres of commercial bogs, representing 20 percent of the world’s cranberries, are competing with other U.S. states, primarily New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. Internationally, Canada, especially the province of Québec, and Chile have become strong competitors as well.

As the market has shifted primarily from juice to more cranberry products, such as sweetened, dried cranberries, the demand for large size fruit has increased. The varieties that originally grew here, native to the region, do not always produce the large, uniform, better-looking on berries that the market seeks, and therefore growers have spent millions of dollars “renovating” their bogs, which are expensive, long-term projects.

Growers will often convert a portion of their bogs, over long periods of time, to compete with newer and modern varieties found in other, often colder, regions such as Canada or Wisconsin.

Loans and grants for these projects can be hard to come by, because it can take more than a decade to see a return on these sometimes low-yield investments.

But, the investments have a positive local impact, says Jeff LaFleur, a grower from Plympton.

According to the CCCGA, the renovation of bogs requires skilled labor, investments in irrigation equipment and the purchase of raw materials such as sand and vines. The investment, they say, has had a $61.5 million impact on the economy since 2007.

LaFleur, who sits on the board of Ocean Spray, has 23.5-acres of bogs operating as Mayflower Cranberries, supported by 112-acres of uplands and wetlands. He says it’s a “small farm,” but that it’s average for a Massachusetts grower. His bogs are the oldest continuously commercially farmed bogs in Plympton, he says.

LaFleur has been renovating some of his bogs. Bog renovation has environmental benefits, say growers, as newer bogs use less water for harvest or winter protection. Growers use 375-million gallons less water a year, across the state.

He says that using science to farm smarter, not harder, is the key. “I have to minimize inputs and maximize outputs, just like any business,” he said.

In terms of pollution, growers say they help maintain uplands, wetlands and habitat for many species. Science is also reducing reliance on phosphorous-based fertilizers, says Wick. While debate over pesticides and fertilizers in the cranberry industry is rampant, Wick says basic business sense will drive, and has been driving, growers to rely on less or better-targeted fertilizers and pesticides.

LaFleur pointed out the close proximity of the bogs to his home and family. “I wouldn’t put anything [on the cranberries] that would hurt my family.”

Bogs and the land that support them also contribute to open-space that stays on the tax-rolls, says LaFleur, despite tax-relief programs such as Chapter 61A. He points out that once land comes off the tax-rolls completely, such as in the case of the Two Brooks Preserve, it never comes back on.

He argues that bogs maintain that same open space, albeit in a slightly different way.

Cranberry companies are also pouring money into research and development, say Wick and LaFleur, developing all sorts of new cranberry products. One new Ocean Spray product on area shelves, pink cranberry juice, in part supports breast-cancer research.

Many people have heard that drinking cranberry juice can clear up urinary tract infections. But, other health benefits of cranberries are being explored, and it is now being marketed as a “super-fruit.” Cranberries and their juice are excellent sources of vitamins A, C, K and E, they are cholesterol free, low in sodium and free of saturated fat. Wick suggested cranberries might just be the next penicillin.

Another challenge, government, can be both a hinderance and a help to the industry. Growers are in a highly-regulated industry, from the local-level on up, and although Governor Charlie Baker has visited the region recently in support of cranberry growers, at the federal level, Trump-administration tariffs have restricted access to the Chinese and European markets, both of which have new-found tastes for cranberries and cranberry products.

The CCCGA would like to see these tariffs reduced or lifted. Both the CCCGA and LaFleur noted that relationships between growers and their neighbors are key. People often misunderstand why sand or water are being used during the farming cycle, and Wick and LaFleur says that most disputes between growers and their neighbors can be resolved through mutual understanding. Part of that understanding is coming from ag-tourism.

Ag-tourism, or agricultural tourism, is another bright spot in the industry. LaFleur and other growers in the region are bringing in tourists from all over the world to learn about cranberries, harvest them and even dine on the bogs during growing season.

LaFleur maintains a shop of artisanal cranberry products, some made with his own berries, which along with fresh cranberries, he sells from a barn on his property.

While he says ag-tourism is only about 10 percent of his business at this point, “it’s an important and growing part of my business.” He says that it can be time-consuming but that it is very satisfying. He maintains a website and social media sites to attract customers.

“People come from all over the U.S. and the world. Most are out of state, but about a quarter are local people, mostly from the city,” he says. “It’s hard to point to a single demographic, it’s all types of people and all ages.”

The industry, while at a crossroads, is clearly adapting to changing times, even though that is a struggle for growers. On the other hand, the public has never been more fascinated with the tart, round berries that we so proudly call our own. The future of the industry is still not in the clear, but with all the excitement around cranberries, they don’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon.

Plympton BOS hears from Blackwood on Dennett roof

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PLYMPTON– Plympton Selectmen heard some good news about the Dennett Elementary School Monday night, such as the long-awaited water filter coming online, and a new generator being installed, reimbursed by Town Meeting.

But the theme of the presentation to the board by Jon Wilhelmsen, Chairman of the Plympton School Committee and Joy Blackwood, Superintendent of the Silver Lake Regional School District, was that of a leaky roof.

The elementary school needs a new roof, and, “It’s not in great shape and it’s not going to be cheap,” said Wilhelmsen.

Blackwood said the roof was leaking in many places, and therefore insulation was wet underneath.

“It’s just a mess,” she said.

The two stated that the leaky roof is leading to inefficient air circulation in the building all year-round, causing classrooms to be too hot or too cold. Blackwood also mentioned that she believed this in turn leads to what she sees as high electricity costs at the Dennett.

A Massachusetts School Building Authority grant may be able to pay for somewhere in the range of 40-50% of the project, which Selectmen seemed to reticently accept.

Blackwood, as Superintendent, must apply for the grant and then Plympton assumes responsibility for the project. She noted that the due date for the grant, mid-February of next year, comes at a bad time for her.

“It is an astounding amount of work,” she said of the MSBA grant. “It is an onerous project.”

No work will begin on the project until summer of 2020 at the earliest, if the grant application is accepted. An STM approving the funds for whatever portion is not covered by the grant, must be held before then as well, said Blackwood.

Selectmen Chairman John Traynor asked if there would be patching in the meantime, to which Wilhelmsen said, “Yes, we’ll have to.”

Selectman Mark Russo asked if there was any sense of what would happen to the roof if the project was delayed, and Blackwood responded that water problems tend to get worse with time. Grants also come and go, and costs can go up, they said.

“We don’t want to use the ‘m’-word.” Blackwood said, referring to mold.

All agreed that the Dennett roof must be replaced sooner rather than later.

Old Town House

After putting new windows and painting out to bid, contracts were awarded by the selectmen on the recommendation of Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy. MJ Connors Company Inc., of Hanson, won the bid for the new windows for $46,964, after the lowest bidder, Aden Construction Company, Inc., of Dudley, which bid $34,900, withdrew. The painting project was awarded to the lowest bidder, DeMelo Construction Services Corp., of Whitman, for $19,435.

Last week, Dennehy said that the bids came in higher than expected.

Traynor wants to change the lettering on some of the signs on and in front of the building. Dennehy recommended getting one of the historical wooden signs from the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Special Town Meeting Debriefing

Selectmen also spoke about the special Town Meeting held the previous Thursday. 193 registered voters were in attendance, which Russo said was, “pretty amazing.”

“That sense of shared purpose, sense of community was really a beautiful thing, kind of in sharp contrast to other issues we’ve had at Town Meeting,” said Russo.

That kind of attendance rivals some annual Town Meetings, pointed out Traynor and all the board agreed.

The board was very pleased with the Town’s approval of the project to acquire the Twin Brooks Preserve.

In other news:

• The board will next meet Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at Town House.

• Town House will be closed Oct. 8 in observance of Columbus Day.

Two Brooks Preserve wins the vote

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PLYMPTON– On Thursday, Sept. 20, Plympton voters turned out in unexpectedly large numbers in support of a special Town Meeting article that authorized the selectmen to purchase a 133-acre parcel off Prospect Road for $800,000 as conservation land.

The article was the only one on the warrant and it passed with near-unanimity. It required a two-thirds vote of Town Meeting, and only a handful of residents in the standing-room only gymnasium at the Dennett School voted against the article.

Mark Russo, who sits on the Board of Selectmen and chairs the Community Preservation Committee, moved the article on behalf of the selectmen, and spoke passionately about the acquisition.

He noted, “The project went through all the usual CPC project reviews,” and announced that the CPC and selectmen both unanimously recommended the article.

Linda Leddy, of the Open Space Committee, said she thought it appropriate that a special Town Meeting was voting on such a “special” project. She said that there will be no impact on the tax-rate.

The subject of the property, that was enrolled in the Chapter 61A tax relief program, came before the Plympton Selectmen when a bona fide purchase and sale had been signed. Under 61A, the town has a right-of-first-refusal, to take over that purchase and sale, which the selectmen voted unanimously to exercise in July.

The total amount of money authorized for the project by Town Meeting was $820,000. Of that, $10,000 had already been placed as a deposit, and $30,000 was a contingency, standard to all Community Preservation Committee projects in town.

The remaining $790,000 came from the Community Preservation Fund Open Space Reserve in the amount of $22,000 and $298,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Fund Balance.

A sum of $470,000 will be borrowed in short-term municipal bonds, that will be paid for by selling up to three small lots with frontage on Prospect Road. Private donations, of which $93,000 have already been raised, will cover the rest, said Leddy. If more than $175,000 in donations is raised, fewer lots may have to be sold or the money can be used for other purposes, including future maintenance of the preserve, said Russo, in a phone interview following the meeting.

Brian Wick, the Town Moderator, kept the mood light. He joked that the peace officer, Doug Mazzola, “would not be needed.” At one point, due to so much applause and enthusiasm for the article and those that spoke in favor of it, he stated that he didn’t want anyone to be uncomfortable and asked the audience to hold their applause. Their excitement couldn’t be contained, and they did not comply with the request.

Several residents spoke in favor of the project, including Frannie Walsh, of West Street. “When we take from nature we have to stop and give back,” she said.

One resident, Harry Weikel, who sits on the Board of Health, had a septic-related question which seemed to be answered by Leddy to his satisfaction, and another resident, also on the Board of Health, spoke against the article.

Arthur Morin, of Granville Baker Way, who several times complimented all the hard work that had gone into the process so far, said he did not feel that Town Meeting should vote “Yes” for the article until there was something in writing guaranteeing that tax-payer money wouldn’t be spent on the preserve if the lots couldn’t be sold or donations weren’t raised.

“I don’t want one cent in taxes [to pay for the project]. That’s my concern,” he said.

But Leddy replied that the lots were desirable, according to real-estate experts. “People feel the lots will sell,” she said.

When Wick, only 40-minutes or so into the meeting, asked if there was any further discussion, and there was none, he called for a vote, and those in favor all rose their hands high in the air. When he called for a vote from those opposed, the residents who rose their hands did so with markedly less enthusiasm.

Thunderous applause filled the room following the vote, lasting for several minutes.

New Fire Chief chosen

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PLYMPTON– Wednesday evening, after selectmen grilled two finalists, Stephen G. Silva, of Pope’s Farm, was chosen the next Plympton Fire Chief, subject to successful contract negotiations.

Silva bested Wareham Assistant Fire Chief John G. Kelley, of Wareham, for the appointment.

Silva has more than 40 years experience in fire and EMS services. He is currently a Lieutenant Firefighter/Paramedic “shift-commander” at the Middleboro Fire Department, where he has worked since 2002.

His resumé is, in his own words, unusual, and it is extensive. He has business experience as well as firefighting and paramedic experience. His varied past includes founding the second largest ambulance service in the City of Brockton, Exodus Medical Transportation, and working as a flight paramedic.

Silva is an adjunct faculty member at Massasoit Community College, and works on tactical rescue teams as well.

He comes highly recommended by the fire chiefs of Whitman (who is the president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts), Duxbury, the retired chief of Middleboro, the retired chief of Kingston, and the deputy chief of Hanson, among other fire officials.

Silva spoke easily as he answered questions from the board.  He would not address the history of the troubled department, which he said had been discussed, “ad nauseum.”

He spoke of the sense of community in Plympton, and said, “I want to be a part of that and I want to lead that.”

Selectmen Chairman John Traynor asked him, “Should we continue to rely on call firefighters?”

Silva responded, “The setup is now working…I think we’re in really good shape.”

He also had a strong opinion on whether or not all call firefighters should be EMTs. “Not everyone wants to do medical,” and retaining employees, especially call firefighters, is a challenge.

He said he did not have much experience with municipal budgets, an admitted weakness, but said, “I have experience with budgets,” citing his private-sector experience.

Selectman Mark Russo asked, “What frustrates you?”

“Complaints without solutions frustrate me, but they can be a useable tool,” said Silva.

Selectman Christine Joy wanted to know how Silva would rebuild other towns’ confidence in mutual-aid from Plympton.

“That’s a very challenging job,” he said. But he mentioned that he had the support of the local chiefs around him. He also pointed out that they would help him with grant-opportunities, which he does not have much experience in.

The interview process was weeks long and exhaustive. More than a dozen candidates were narrowed down to these two. There were practical and exam portions of the interview.

Kelley also had a well-rounded background, in both the public and private sector. The board did not give a reason for their selection when they came out of their executive session to make the announcement.

The Plympton Fire Department has been under scrutiny for several years.

A document prepared by an outside analyst, the MRI report, described “a department in crisis.” The last fire chief of any significant tenure, Warren Borsari, did not have his contract renewed and was put on administrative leave last March.

Last May, acting chief Philip Curran was, “separated from employment with the town.”  There has been an unusual amount of turnover in the department.

Captain Cheryl Davis and Captain John Sjostedt lead the Fire Department on a day-to-day basis under the leadership of Chief Lance Benjamino of the Middleboro Fire Department, who says he will remain in place until Silva is sworn-in.

Elizabeth Dennehy, Town Administrator, said the negotiation phase of the hiring should take a few weeks.

“If I am chief this will be a well-run department…a fun and professional place to work,” Silva said. Should all go well with contract negotiations, it looks like he’ll be chief. “This is the culmination of a career,” he said.

Complaint amended against Plympton Health Agent

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PLYMOUTH– Documents at Plymouth Superior Court show that allegations against Robert Tinkham, the current Plympton Health Agent, have been amended. The complaint, submitted by counsel for the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District, details and expands allegations against Tinkham, specifically.

He stands accused of nine civil charges, including Conversion and Civil Theft, Fraud, Civil Conspiracy, as well as violations of the Uniform Procurement Act and the Conflict of Interest Law.

He is accused with two other defendants, Ray Pickles and his wife, Diane Bondi-Pickles. Pickles is the elected Marion town clerk while Bondi-Pickles is a real-estate agent.

The corruption by the defendants has resulted in monetary damages to the waste district in an amount in excess of $838,458.22, according to court records, and the investigation is ongoing by state and local officials.

The Office of the Inspector General is investigating, as well.

Tinkham, of Carver, previously worked as the Carver Health Agent, and, in that capacity, served as Carver’s representative to, and, at times, chairman of the committee overseeing the waste district. Pickles was the Executive Director of the waste district and the authorized signatory of all its accounts.

Committee members did not receive compensation for their services to the district, yet Tinkham received monetary payments from the district for periods of time between 1995 and 2018. He did not have a contract or employment agreement with the district, and no taxes were withheld on the payments, according to the lawsuit.

He stands accused of billing the waste district for landfill inspections while working for the Town of Carver. The Town of Carver job description for the health agent includes inspecting the Carver landfill, according to public records.

In 2007, Carver officials reaffirmed this aspect of Tinkham’s job description, and that he would be “paid for such work by Carver, even if the work occurred outside his normal working hours.”

But, the Carver landfill, leased by the district, is inspected by a professional engineer. Tinkham is not an engineer, according to his résumé, and he kept no records of his inspections for Carver, if they indeed occurred, the lawsuit alleges.

The total amount paid to him for inspections by the district was $88,990.

The plaintiffs submitted 13 representative examples from 2004 and 2005 alone of Tinkham collecting payments from the district while being paid a salary from the Town of Carver.

Tinkham also stands accused of providing no goods or services in connection with money he was paid for the district’s “Grant/Recycling” services, between 2012 and 2018, totaling $88,100.

He allegedly submitted false documentation for payment for that work.

Tinkham finally stands accused of receiving payments not supported by any documentation at all. “In total, there are 82 payments totaling $86,703.82 for which payment was made but the District has no invoice or proof of any services rendered.”

The fraud was discovered when Pickles, in 2017, without the authorization of the committee, sought payment of assessments from the district towns for the first time since 2015.

When Carver and Wareham refused to pay, claiming a lack of documentation, Pickles used district counsel, again without authorization, to sue for breach of contract in Wareham District Court.

That suit was voluntarily dismissed.

The actions by Pickles led to the discovery of inappropriate expenditures by the district. Pickles was terminated Jan. 29, 2018.

The district is seeking triple-damages, interest, costs and attorneys’ fees.

The district was created as a regional refuse disposal district in 1973 by a special act of the General Court. It is an independent body-politic, based in Marion, funded by user-fees, assessments to the member towns and agreements with third-parties.

Pickles and Bondi-Pickles are seeking to go to trial. Tinkham is seeking to have the proceedings dismissed.

Tinkham denies all accusations.

Justin Kilburn’s attorney delays for third time

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PLYMOUTH– First, the defense attorney representing Justin Kilburn, 29, of Kingston, was on trial in Salem. Next, he was scheduled to be out of the country, and now, said a court worker, attorney Jack Atwood was stuck in traffic and did not appear for the third time for a scheduled pre-trial hearing in a motor vehicle homicide case.

Kilburn stands accused of motor vehicle homicide, manslaughter by motor vehicle and OUI second offense. Kilburn killed Diane Giordani, of Plympton, and her dog Blitz, in a head-on collision on Route 106 in Plympton May 10, 2018, said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Kilburn pled not guilty to the charges.

He remains free on $50,000 bail.

Kilburn is now scheduled to appear Oct. 19, 2018 in Plymouth Superior Court at 2 p.m. before Judge Jeffrey Locke

Savages’ motion to dismiss fails

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HINGHAM– Edward Savage and Christine Savage entered the court separately Sept. 13, 2018, on a slow, rainy Thursday for a motion to dismiss a shoplifting case against them. Although they stood together when their case was called, they did not sit together while waiting and rushed out of the courtroom following the arguments. Their motion was denied on Wednesday after being taken under advisement.

The Savages, Plympton residents accused of shoplifting from Kohl’s a year ago April, have been involved in a drawn-out legal saga ever since. The case has caught the eye of local media because Edward Savage is the former Hanson police chief, who resigned in 2012.

According to a complaint issued by the Hingham Police Department April 30, 2017, the Savages were caught on surveillance camera by the Kohl’s Department Store, 100 Derby St., Hingham, apparently shoplifting clothing in an amount more than $100.

The two were originally summonsed to appear before the clerk magistrate at Hingham District Court, Joseph Ligotti. The clerk agreed to dismiss the charges, with the agreement of the Hingham police prosecutor, if the Savages stayed out of criminal trouble for eight months and wrote letters of apology for the shoplifting, to the Hingham Police and Kohl’s department store at Derby Shops in Hingham, according to transcripts and recordings of the closed-door hearing, which were released to the media.

The Savages did not write apology letters before Feb. 28, 2018, the end of the probationary period.  A new acting clerk magistrate replacing Ligotti, who retired, seeing that the apology letters had not been received,  issued criminal charges against the Savages, according to court officials.

At the hearing, Daniel Webster, their attorney, argued that the acting clerk magistrate, Andrew Quigley, had no right to issue the criminal charges, and that he in fact, “violated the integrity of the Magistrate’s hearing,” by doing so, because the Savages thought they had until the very last day before the charges were dismissed to write apology letters.

Quigley never held a probable cause hearing of his own, according to records.

During the hearing on the motion to dismiss, held before Judge John P. Stapleton, who was engaged and asked many questions, Webster read a quote from Ligotti’s hearing:

“Okay, I am getting two letters written, signed by both people. I’m going to continue this matter until 2/28 of ’18 for dismissal. It will automatically dismiss on that date, no need to be back. Should you be dumb enough to do anything else illegal, this will automatically kick in and will automatically come back…and it [charges] will be issued,” he said.

Despite the lack of a due date for the letters, Stapleton denied the motion to dismiss the charges noting that the court had not found that the acting clerk magistrate, Quigley, had violated the integrity of the clerk magistrate hearing.

The Savages are being prosecuted by an outside prosecutor, Frances Cannone, of Essex County.

They will be back in court at a date to be determined to face the criminal complaint. A court official noted that it looks like the case will be headed for either a trial or settlement.

The case is ongoing.