Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

Fire Dept. will stand: BOS gives approval for stand-alone fire department

By

In an announcement from Elizabeth Dennehy, Town Administrator for Plympton, the Board of Selectmen recommitted their support for a stand-alone fire department.

Recent talks with Halifax exploring the possibility of shared services or some shared services, never really got off the ground.  Following the joint meeting of Plympton and Halifax, and the recommendations of Plympton’s Fire Consultant, Middleboro Fire Chief Lance Benjamino, measures have already been taken toward resolving some long-standing issues that had resulted in a poorly functioning department.

Benjamino’s recommendations to selectmen at their last meeting encouraged the board.  He also issued a caution, however, that the work needs to be continued to see continued results.  Benjamino told the board that his group, the Fire Chiefs Association of Plymouth County, could help in the selection of qualified candidates for the position of Fire Chief, if the board would like.

Dennehy’s statement follows:

“As many citizens are aware, local officials and a Fire Technical Advisory Committee that was appointed by the Board of Selectmen have been evaluating the Town’s Fire/EMS operations over the last several months in order to better position the Plympton Fire Department to provide professional public service in a fiscally responsible manner.

Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI) conducted an in-depth study of the Town’s Fire/EMS operations and prepared an extensive report for the Town’s consideration. MRI’s report, along with the presentation they made to the Town, are available for viewing on the Town’s website: https://www.town.plympton.ma.us/

Accordingly, the Town of Plympton is pleased to announce that we have committed to continuing forward with efforts to stabilize and restructure the Plympton Fire Department, in order to remain a viable stand-alone Department, under the capable oversight of our Fire Management Consultant, Chief Lance Benjamino, and through the daily operations management of Captain Cheryl Davis. Additionally, we will be working with Chief Benjamino on developing the criteria for selection of the Town’s next Fire Chief.

Since early April 2018, the Town was engaging in communications with the Town of Halifax to explore the potential for a shared services model. In light of the financials associated with such a model, along with consideration of the significant progress that has been made at the Plympton Fire Department over the last several weeks and the renewed sense of pride that the dedicated men and women of the Department have demonstrated, we believe we need to focus our efforts on the continued stabilization of the Department and establishing a framework for future success as a stand-alone Department.

We will, however, continue conversations with Halifax and other neighboring communities into the future regarding other options for sharing services and resources, specifically including training opportunities that would benefit multiple Fire Departments.

Over the last few weeks, tremendous progress has been made with respect to stabilizing and examining how to best restructure the Plympton Fire Department in order to provide effective, efficient and responsive service to our residents. Additionally, through the expertise of Chief Benjamino, the Department has been able to implement numerous recommendations contained within the MRI Report.

The Town of Plympton would like to thank the Town of Halifax and their Fire Chief, Jason Viveiros, for all of the effort they put into the process and for being a great neighbor to the Town of Plympton. We look forward to seeing how both communities may benefit from shared training exercises and opportunities in the future.”

Whitman man charged with MV homicide in Halifax crash

By

A Whitman man has been indicted on charges that he was operating under the influence of alcohol when he caused a crash that killed a Carver man, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced June 22.

A Plymouth County Grand Jury returned indictments against Alec Dowie (DOB: 09/15/66) of Whitman, charging him with one count each of Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle and Operating Under the Influence, third offense. He will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on the charges at a later date.

On February 6, 2018 at 6:45 p.m., Halifax Police and Fire responded to the area of 38 Monponsett Street for a report of a two-car crash. Upon arrival, police found a 2018 Dodge Challenger operated by Dowie, had crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a 2005 Honda CRV operated by Richard March (DOB: 08/08/39) of Carver. Both operators were transported from the crash scene for treatment of their injuries. March was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston where he succumbed to his injuries just after 9 p.m. that same night.

Halifax Police contacted State Police Detectives with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation commenced with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department BCI and State Police CARS Unit. The investigation found that Dowie had a Blood Alcohol Content Level of 0.084 and Dowie tested positive for Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine and Opiates in his system. Dowie told investigators that he took a Percocet prior to the crash.

Assistant District Attorney Russell Eonas is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Halifax Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department BCI and State Police CARS Unit.

Fire Consultant Benjamino reports …

By

Plympton selectmen heard Monday night from their fire consultant Lance Benjamino, Chief of the Middleboro Fire Dept., who is working with Plympton to bring the Plympton Fire Dept. up to state mandated standards for training, reporting, housing, equipment, and the fire station building itself.

Benjamino noted many issues, beginning with the fire station, noting first that there is no alarm system at the fire station.  The kitchen is in disrepair, new appliances are needed.  The equipment floor needs to be resurfaced, the cement apron in front of the equipment bays needs repair or replacement.

Benjamino enumerated dozens of items that need to be addressed to bring the building up to the code when it was built in 1974, as well as a cost to the town to get them done, totaling $61,500.  He told the board that he didn’t include labor in many of these items and will be working with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept. for labor for several of the projects.

He then went on to say there is too much equipment, as was stated in the MRI report, so that the fire station can’t house it all, nor is it used.

In addition to returning the Red Cross trailer to the Red Cross, and returning the Water Buffalo, Engine 3 is out for repair.  Benjamino suggested surplussing Engine 3, which is seldom used and has only 11,000 miles on it, and told selectmen that as it stands a company which brokers fire trucks will give the town $60,000 cash for the Engine 3.  Those funds could be used to offset the costs of the station’s repairs.

Benjamino also recommended that the town look into adding another bay to the left side (Library side) of the fire station and make it a two-story structure, so that offices and bunk rooms can be housed on the second floor, and the trailer in the parking lot can be sold or returned from whence it came.

He did strongly recommend that selectmen contact a structural engineer to confirm that the building is in good enough condition to allow a two-story addition.  He said he thought it was, but would need it confirmed by a professional. 

Benjamino said that there are three generator trailers that have never been fully utilized.

“Where are we now?” Benjamino asked.  As for the fire department personnel, each member had to re-apply for his/her position and pass a CORI and SORI background check.  “Those who passed remain on staff.  Those who didn’t aren’t,” he told the board.

“We have created a mission statement, a Plympton Fire Department Social Media policy.  We’ve also addressed sexual harassment issues.” he said.

In all Benjamino reported that he expects the department to run by established standards with personnel protection, accountability, and leadership.

He detailed firefighter F1-2 training, and said that each member of the department needed to be trained.   If there is training money to be had, it costs $600 each for Plympton’s 11 firefighters who need the training.  If shared services with Halifax will help with the expense, that makes sense.  Otherwise, he said, the town will have to look for other funding sources or simply pay for it.

Benjamino said that the training is absolutely necessary for the safety of the team.

“If they get into trouble, they need to know what to do.”  They also need to know how to communicate with one another.  He noted that the radio frequency in use had expired in 2015.  A new frequency is being installed and needs to be programmed into the radios and mutual aid towns.

He is also developing pre-fire plans for businesses in town.  “Not inspections,” but plans so that when a call comes in, a firefighter can grab the binder with that building’s fire plan and gain valuable information about what they might be heading into.

Benjamino said these inspections and plans should be updated every six months or at least yearly.

He said he has a 25-page book of rules and regulations, operating procedures.  We need them to know how to operate.

As to whether or not a combined fire department with Halifax or another town was a viable course, Benjamino told  Selectman Mark Russo that he thought Plympton can indeed have a stand alone fire department.  Can it benefit from some shared services?  Yes.  “There’s a price for everything,” he noted. 

The planned joint meeting with Halifax selectmen June 20 has been pushed out past July, and Selectman Christine Joy said that if Halifax comes  back to us with a proposal in the next two weeks, we will evaluate it.

Selectman Chairman John Traynor told the board that he would like to work toward a stand-alone department. 

To find a qualified fire chief, Benjamino said that the Plymouth County Fire Chief’s Association can help.  Plympton would bring the resumes and applications to the Chiefs and they will evaluate and make recommendations.

Selectmen were all delighted with the findings, and the recommendations that Chief Benjamino proposed.  While pointing out problems he also showed solutions, giving selectmen hope.

Traynor asked if the town should do an operational review, either annually or semiannually.  Bertino answered that yes, it needs to be done, and also suggested to ask the neighboring towns what they think of your department.  “They’ll tell you!”

Amy Cronin, a member of the audience, suggested that the operational reviews be done by a third party, to be sure that it is unbiased and accurate..

In other business selectmen:

• will begin interviewing the two candidates for highway superintendent next week.

• declared July 16 to be the date for the public hearing on the Atwood property,

• received a letter from Plympton Fire Dept. member Gary Somero indicating he would like to be considered for the position of Plympton Fire Chief.

• received a letter from Arthur Morin stating he did not want to be considered for re-appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Cyclist hit by Plympton auto

By

Plympton Fire and Police departments responded to Lake Street in the area of Cranberry Knoll Tuesday at approximately 6:20 p.m., when a bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle driven by Elizabeth Hanson of Plympton.

The 47-year old Whitman man was Medflighted from the Silver Lake football field to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  His injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

While the accident remains under investigation, Hansonmay be cited for negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Kingston Fire Department also assisted with the incident.

Flag Day in Halifax

By

Jessica Zeoli

Express correspondent

It was a joyous event, Thursday, June 14 –  Flag Day – when hundreds of area residents came to Halifax to be part of history. People gathered at the Pope’s Tavern Senior Center in Halifax to unfurl a huge 45 by 90-foot American flag owned by Marc Valentine of Halifax

Express photographer Stephanie Spyropoulos towered 78 feet over the crowd in the bucket of the new Halifax Tower fire engine to officially document this historic moment.

Valentine, curator of the American Flag Project, emceed the event telling of some of the history of this flag and the places it has been throughout the world.  He said this giant flag has been “touched by more Americans than any other flag in history” and that he hopes it will renew appreciation for our flag.

Valentine introduced the Halifax town officials, and invited Selectman Troy Garron to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Among the throng  needed to hold the hem of Old Glory, the sixth grade class of Halifax Elementary School also helped by walking under the flag to be sure it didn’t touch the ground.  After the flag was rolled back up, the sixth grade class was surprised with their very own official photograph with the Giant Flag.

Holding the flag was not an easy job!  Gusts of wind took the flag, threatening to whip it off into the wild blue yonder!  It took a lot of combined strength to hold it steady.

The event, which lasted only about 15 minutes total, consisted of unfurling the flag as “You’re a Grand Old Flag” resonated through the green in front of the Senior Center. People of all ages, including town officials, were dressed in red, white, and blue, and smiled wide as they held the edges of the massive flag.

Valentine has been traveling the globe for the past 30 years with his giant flag-painted truck, to bring his giant American flag to more than 1,000 official ceremonies. One of the Flag’s greatest appearances was when it flew next to Lincoln at Mount Rushmore’s 50th rededication celebration. An award-winning photograph of this moment was captured, and went on to be featured in Life Magazine.

. The flag has been in all 50 states, as well as 34 countries.

Vacancies still to be filled

By

Selectmen Monday night showed concern regarding the number of vacant seats in Plympton’s town government, both elected and appointed.

May’s annual election saw only 6% of its 2,234 registered voters turn out to cast a ballot, leaving several seats without a candidate to fill them.

Marilyn Browne was encouraged to volunteer once again to accept the position and serve on the Finance Committee for the available two-year term after several people wrote her in.

The Board of Library Trustees submitted Linda Lawson to selectmen for their approval Monday night. She was a write-in candidate who lost to Jim Lundgren 15 to 9, as there was apparently some confusion as to which of the two positions she was interested in.  Her vote was divided between the two.  Selectmen voted unanimously to name her to the available three-year position, while Lundgren chose the two-year term.

The Planning Board will meet Monday, June 11, and will vote their choice to present to Selectmen at their meeting down the hall.

Any residents who are interested in serving in a position on the Planning Board are encouraged to stop in at 6 p.m. to let the board know of their interest.

Selectmen asked Town Clerk Tara J. Shaw to prepare a list of the appointments they name annually and whose terms finish June 30, 2018.

Shaw said she would have the information for their meeting June 11.

New Animal Control Officer named

By

Selectmen Monday night named Griffin Webb of Hanson to fill the position of Plympton Animal Control Officer effective immediately.

Webb interviewed for the position May 21, bringing a young man’s enthusiasm for the job, and exuding a love for animals and wanting to serve them.  He also brought Alyssa Ryan, the Marshfield ACO, who, Webb explained, he has been shadowing for the past month to get a good idea of what the job entails.

He graduated from the Norfolk Agricultural High School where he studied animal science, looking to eventually become a veterinarian. The prospect of eight more years of school brought Webb to consider other options to serve the animals he loves.  Webb has six horses of his own, and a number of dogs and other animals at his home in Hanson.  He told selectmen that Massachusetts law requires all ACOs to be certified by attending an ACO Academy which is 16 weeks of Fridays schooling to learn to deal with all situations an ACO will run in to with animals and their owners, as well as the laws that govern them and the reports which the Commonwealth requires to be filed.  This ACO Academy is run in April and Webb said he would attend next April 2019.

Ryan spoke highly of Webb’s ability to perform the job and said she will be available to help him as he continues with Plympton.

After voting unanimously to appoint Webb to the position, selectmen welcomed Webb, glad that he will help the town develop the animal control department.  Webb was also named to the position of Animal Inspector for Plympton.

Selectman Chairman John Traynor told the board he has chatted with Chief Lance Benjamino regarding a plan to get rid of the trailers, and regarding the Fire Technical Committee and the Oversight Committee, hoping to combine the two committees and bring the number of members down to a more workable size.

Benjamino is away until June 18 and selectmen will hear from him tentatively on June 27, Traynor said, and he hopes that there will be something concrete when Plympton speaks to Halifax.

Traynor also told his board he will be speaking with the town treasurer to see the budget for medical supplies for the ambulances.  He does have estimates for on-call but they are not “granulated” enough.  Vice-chair Christine Joy commented that until we have the numbers, we can’t budget the expense.

Electricity aggregation

Selectmen clerk Mark Russo told the board they have renewed the contract with electric aggregation for 30 months.   Summer rates are pretty comparable now, Russo said, but we expect winter rates are going to be much higher.  With a 30 month contract, we will be somewhat protected from those higher winter rates.

Dispatch Center Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy brought a renewal contract to Selectmen for the Regional Dispatch Center in Duxbury that handles all of Plympton’s emergency 911 calls.  The new contract is for $50,000 for FY19.  She also presented a letter from Police Chief Patrick Dillon who recommended the contract.

Dennehy told the board that the town doesn’t need to have Kopelman & Paige review the contract, as it is the same contract given to the Town of Duxbury, who also uses Kopelman & Paige as its Town Counsel, and has already been reviewed by them.  She did say that she would consult Atty. Gregg J. Corbo, who is Plympton’s attorney from the firm, to make him aware. She also recommended looking into having the contract auto-renew provided nothing has changed in regard to the service.

Hwy. Superintendent

Next week selectmen will begin interviewing for the position of Highway Superintendent, as Jim Mulcahy will be retiring June 30, 2018.  The four original applicants for the job have been reduced to two, and selectmen will reinterview them June 25.

Storm tree removal

Selectman Joy asked the board when tree removal of the storm damaged limbs at the town’s roadsides will begin, noting that Special Town Meeting approved $25,000 to pay for this service.

Joy also told the board the Tree Warden Bill Hayes is happy to work with the Old Colony Planning Council on developing a master plan for tree planting in the center of town.  Joy also said she is happy to remain the town’s representative on the OCPC.

Atwood property

Selectman Russo reported that the assessors will have an update on the acreage of the Atwood property off Prospect St. for the next meeting on June 11.

Selectmen will meet June 11, 18, and 25, before going on to their alternate week summer schedule.

It was a great day!

By

With the sun shining Saturday, June 2, Class Marshal Hayden Wechter of Halifax President of the Class of 2019, led the Class of 2018 onto the Sirrico Field for the 63rd Annual Silver Lake Regional High School Commencement.

320 students were awarded diplomas, which were presented by Michaela Gill, Principal, assisted by Paula Hatch, Chairman of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee and Assistant Principals Catherine Pratt and Steven Blette.

Salutatorian Madison Anne Milbert and Valedictorian Karen Lillian Ho were introduced by Class Historian Sarah Noonan, and each gave their words of wisdom, hope, and inspiration.

Music, provided by the Silver Lake Regional High School Band, conducted by Gregory Dube, included You Will Be Found, from Dear Evan Hansen by Pasek & Paul, performed by Select Choir with soloists Dylan Reid, Allison Farina, Abigail Kramer, Thomas McSorley, Rachel Azar, Tess Beckwith and Lauren Masterpolo.

A selection from The Greatest Showman, This is Me, was performed by Senior Choir Members, and soloists Taite Beale, Scott Patrick, Anna Gillis, Alexis Moulthrop, Ashlyn McGovern, Parth Patel, Janenita Monteiro, Faith Hatch, Anna Lambert, Nicole Kenney and Maria Mello.

Faculty member Heather Bates was the invited faculty speaker.

Class officers for 2018 are Allison Marie Farina, President; Sydney Barbara Kehoe, Vice-president; Lauren Vincenza Masterpolo, Secretary; Emily Flynn O’Neill, Treasurer, and Sarah Haley Noonan, Historian.

Driver charged, held on $50,000 cash bail

By

Justin Douglas Kilburn, 29, of Kingston, plead not guilty as he was arraigned at Brockton District Court on Wednesday, June 6, charged with one count of motor vehicle manslaughter by operating under the influence of alcohol and motor vehicle homicide by OUI in the fatal crash May 10 that took the life of Diane Giordani, 52, of Plympton, and her German Shepherd dog “Blitz”.

Kilburn reportedly turned himself in to State Police, Norwell, Tuesday afternoon where he was arrested.  Following a dangerousness hearing, Kilburn remains in custody, held on $50,000 cash bail, with the condition that if he were to be released on bail, he would be required to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet, be confined to his home, not drive, and have no contact with the victim’s family.  The prosecutor had requested a $100,000 bail with those same conditions.  As of noon yesterday, Kilburn remained in custody.

It was reported that Kilburn tested 1.7 blood alcohol level at the time of the crash, more than twice the legal Massachusetts limit of .08.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Thursday, May 10, Giordani, who was driving a black 2015 Nissan Xterra east on Route 106, was hit head-on by a white 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Kilburn.

Kilburn was ejected from his truck through the passenger window, landing in the road, suffering major injuries.  He was Medflighted to Rhode Island Hospital trauma center.

The head-on impact toppled Giordani’s SUV onto the driver’s side, trapping her and her German Shepherd “Blitz” inside.  County Road neighbors ran to assist, trying to get Giordano and her dog out of the SUV.  Both died at the scene. Plympton Fire/EMS, Halifax Police and Fire, and Middleboro Fire departments were all at the scene to extricate Giordani from the wreckage and extinguish a fire in the pickup truck.

Several witness accounts, including a closed circuit TV recording, agree that Kilburn was driving at a high rate  ofspeed when he crossed into the opposite lane and struck Giordani’s vehicle head-on.

Both vehicles were towed to the State Police barracks in Middleboro, where the case remains under investigation by State Police detectives with the CARS Unit and Crime Scene Services.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Thursday, May 10, Giordani, who was driving a black 2015 Nissan Xterra east on Route 106, was hit head-on by a white 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Kilburn.

Kilburn had been ejected from his truck through the passenger window, landing in the road, suffering major injuries.  He was Medflighted to Rhode Island Hospital trauma center.

The head-on impact toppled Giordani’s SUV onto the driver’s side, trapping her and her German Shepherd “Blitz” inside.  County Road neighbors ran to assist, trying to get Giordano and her dog out of the SUV.  Both died at the scene, according to reports.

Plympton Police, Fire/EMS, Halifax Police and Fire, and Middleboro Fire departments were all at the scene to extricate Giordani from the wreckage and extinguish a fire in the pickup truck.

Both vehicles were towed to the State Police barracks in Middleboro, where the case remains under investigation.

Vote Saturday! Your vote counts!

By

Town elections in Plympton and Halifax will be held on Saturday, May 19, with Halifax at the Halifax Elementary School, Route 106, in the Multi-purpose room from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Plympton will elect its officers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Plympton Town House, 5 Palmer Rd., Route 58, Plympton.

Halifax finds two contests on the ballot this year: Holly J. Merry, the current assistant assessor for Halifax, is running for a position on the Board of Assessors, essentially looking to become her own boss.  Michael J. Schlieff, a familiar candidate, is challenging her for that place on the board.

The second contest in Halifax is on the Silver Lake Regional School Committee where Gordon C. Andrews and Alexander Desharnais are seeking the single position there.  Andrews currently serves as Chairman of the Planning Board and as a member of the Finance Committee.   If elected, this would be the first time for Desharnais to hold office in Halifax.

Halifax has no candidates  for two three-year terms on the Board of Library Trustees, and a five-year term on the Planning Board.

Plympton, which still hand counts each ballot, expects an early night on Saturday, as there are no contests on the ballot and several seats looking for write-in candidates to fill them:  Assessor for three years, Finance Committee for two years, Library Trustee for three years, Library Trustee for two years, and Planning Board for four years.