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Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics team wins tournament

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Team 2364B of the Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics after school club, won the qualifying tournament last Saturday, Feb. 2, in North Scituate, RI, for the New England VEX Qualifying competition. They will go on to compete in the New England Regional Championship Feb. 23 in Framingham. From left are JD Keegan, Max Colombo, Wes Hawley and Sami Areski, with their certificates and trophy. Not pictured are Gavin McKenna and Dylan Whittemore. (Photo by Julie Walker)

By Julie Walker
Special to The Express

Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics Club is accepting congratulations on their recent victory at the New England VEX Qualifying Competition, Turning Point, held Saturday, Feb. 2 in North Scituate, Rhode Island.

Team B from Silver Lake, after a grueling day of matches, won the tournament!  This is the first time a team from Silver Lake has accomplished that feat.  In addition, they also won the design award.

Robotics is big at Silver Lake.  There are two after school robotics clubs: VEX Robotics and LEGO Robotics.  The VEX Club builds robots using VEX parts, and VEX sponsors the competition. 

The Silver Lake VEX Robotics Club has four teams of students who competed in the Turning Point qualifying competition.  Of the four, Team 2364B will advance to the New England Regional Championship Feb. 23, at the Walsh Middle School in Framingham.

Team B members are JD Keegan, Max Colombo, Wes Hawley, Sami Areski, Gavin McKenna, and Dylan Whittemore.

The “Turning Point” competition began with nine ranking qualifying matches for each team.  Once the teams were ranked by how many points they scored, the top teams chose their alliance partner team to compete with in the elimination rounds.

The Turning Point game has very specific ways to score points.  In this game their robot had to flip caps to their color, turn flags to their color, raise caps with their color on top to the top of posts, and park on their color in order to score. 

Each match consists of red and blue alliance partners competing against each other. In the ranking qualifying matches, alliance partners are randomly selected for each team. Each team then plays in a set number of ranking qualifying matches. Once the ranking matches are complete, the top ranking teams have the privilege of choosing their alliance partner for the final elimination matches. 

Each match lasts only two minutes. The first 15 seconds is an autonomous portion of the game, where student-written computer programs are run to score as many points as possible. The alliance with the highest score during “autonomous” are granted the autonomous points.  Then there are 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled competition. This portion is both offensive and defensive with the ultimate goal of scoring the highest number of points in your alliance color. The alliance team with the highest points wins the match.

On Saturday, Silver Lake Team 2364B was ranked 4th and they were chosen by the 3rd ranked team from North Andover to be their alliance partner. 

Students from Silver Lake designed their robot to flip the caps, turn the flags, place caps on the posts and park on the platforms.

Each Silver Lake Team has students who worked primarily on the robot design, others who worked primarily on the programming, and some who were involved in both. 

This year, VEX introduced a new Robot platform, V5, with a smart brain and smart controller that required the use of a new programming language C++.

“Silver Lake didn’t receive their new V5 kit until January 3.  Students on Team 2364B  built a new V5 robot and learned the new programming language in less than a month,” said a proud Julie Walker, club advisor.

Congratulations, teams, for an outstanding performance!

Silver Lake Middle School offers Automation and Robotics (AR) to 7th graders as an elective. AR is a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) course that utilizes VEX robotics for mechanical builds and automation through programming using RobotC.

Halifax Special Town Meeting set for Feb. 25

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The Town of Halifax will hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, Feb. 25, at the Halifax Elementary School multipurpose room, 464 Plymouth St., Route 106, Halifax.

For those who are not already registered to vote, the last day to register to vote at the Special Town meeting is Feb. 14.  Barbara Gaynor, Halifax Town Clerk, will keep the office open until 8 p.m. to accommodate those wishing to register, or they can register to vote online. The warrant showing all articles to be acted on must be posted by Feb. 11. 

The Spring Annual Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth St., Route 106, Halifax.

The last day to register to vote at the Annual Town Meeting is Tuesday, April 24.  The Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m. on that date, or residents may register to vote online.  The warrant listing articles to be acted upon must be posted by Monday, May 6.

Election enters the final stretch

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When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, they will face a lengthy ballot with 14 races and three ballot questions.  Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  Early voting was offered throughout the state from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2, in an effort to accommodate as many voters as possible.

First on the ballot in both Halifax and Plympton is the race for Senator in Congress, with local Republican, Geoff Diehl from Whitman, opposing incumbent Democrat Elizabeth A. Warren from Cambridge.  The two have been sparring in several televised debates.  Shiva Ayyadurai, a former Republican, is running as an Independent.  Ayyadurai has been outspoken regarding GMO foods, and says he will take a “science and engineering perspective on problem solving.”  He holds several advanced degrees from MIT and is married to actress/comedienne Fran Dresher.

Choices for Representative in Congress are Bill Keating, Democrat from Bourne, candidate for re-election, and Peter D. Tedeschi, Republican, from Marshfield.  Keating says he has been busy working on behalf of the region’s voters and has proven himself to be one of the most effective legislators serving in Congress today, ranking fourth out of 435 House members in getting amendments passed.” 

Tedeschi, a lifelong South Shore resident, a Republican, wants to give back to the area that has been so supportive of his family for generations.  “Public service must be for the benefit of the people, not for the person elected to represent them.”   Tedeschi is a SVP of Putnam Investments, CEO of Tedeschi Food Shops, and proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for Friendship Home.

The Governor’s race sees Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito, Republican incumbents, challenged by Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, Democrats.  Baker and Polito have been working since their election in 2015 to grow the Massachusetts economy, for MBTA reforms, and to set education standards K-12, among other items.  Gonzalez served as Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts under Gov. Deval Patrick, and claims Baker has not shown sufficient leadership, citing poor progress in the MBTA.

Maura Healey, Democrat from Boston, is a candidate for re-election as Massachusetts Attorney General.  She is challenged by James R. McMahon, III, a Republican from Bourne.  Healey has been an activist Attorney General according to her endorsement by The Standard-Times, going after the Trump administration as it has tried to dismantle government health, education, and environmental programs that have been the great hallmarks of American and Massachusetts society over the last half century.”  McMahon is an attorney and a lifelong resident of Cape Cod. Married with five children, he lost his eldest son to opiate addiction.

William Francis Galvin, of Boston. seeks re-election to Secretary of State, an office he has held since 1995.  He is the Chief Information Officer, spotlighting issues that affect the average citizen: fraud in the finance industry, credit card pressures on students, and HMO costs.   As the Commonwealth’s chief elections officer he has worked to bring more people into voting, through his “Motor Voter Law” and early voting, so people can vote at their convenience the two weeks prior to election day. 

His Republican opponent, Anthony M. Amore of Swampscott, promises through his website a fresh perspective to the office.   He currently works in the non-profit sector as the Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  He is also serving as an officer with the US Immigration Service and as a Special Agent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Security Division.  He was appointed Assistant Federal Security Director with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where his mission included rebuilding security at Logan Airport after the attacks of 9/11.

Rainbow/Green Party candidate is Juan G. Sanchez, Jr. whose website states his goal is to “Ensure that underprivileged and underrepresented groups have a voice on Beacon Hill,” and to  “Champion progressive electoral and campaign finance reform. “  He would also improve voter education by delivering information in multiple languages.

The office of Treasurer sees Brookline Democratic candidate for re-election Deborah Goldberg challenged by Lakeville Republican Keiko M. Orrall.   Goldberg states hers is the first office focused on economic empowerment for everyone.

Orrall, is the first Asian-American woman to seek a constitutional office in Massachusetts.  She has served four terms in the House of Representatives, building bi-partisan bridges, focusing on policy over politics.  She is a middle child of five children, learning the art of compromise early on. 

Jamie M. Guerin, the Green/Rainbow Party candidate from Montgomery, says on her website one of her goals is to establish a state bank to end Wall Street influence in local politics.  Also, she would ensure that the nascent cannabis business benefits local communities rather than national conglomerates.

State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump of Easton, Democratic candidate for re-election, states on her website, “I have dedicated the majority of my professional life to public service, first as a State Representative, then serving in the administration of Governor Deval Patrick, and now as State Auditor.  “I believe in government and its responsibility to advance societal and economic progress,” she says.

Bump has three challengers. Republican Helen Brady of Concord says, “I am stunned by the State Auditor’s inability to play an active and aggressive role in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.  The Auditor’s refusal to stand up and fight for taxpayers was made all the more shameful when she accepted a massive increase to her taxpayer-funded salary.”

Daniel Fishman, Libertarian from Beverly, says, “When you select an auditor you need someone who can be impartial … who will actively search for malfeasance.  We must elect an auditor who comes to the office without any debt to a political party …”

Edward J. Stamos, resident of Northampton, representing the Green/Rainbow Party says, “As auditor, I will be an independent watchdog, ensuring that the Democrats and Republicans are not playing political games with taxpayer money.”

Councillor Christopher A. Iannella, Jr., of Brockton, Democratic candidate for re-election, is running unopposed.

Senator in General Court Michael D. Brady of Brockton, a Democrat, is being challenged by Scott Hall of Brockton, a Republican.  See accompanying story on that race.

Representative in General Court for the 12th Plymouth District, Democrat Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston is being challenged by Republican Joseph M. Truschelli of Plymouth.  See accompanying story.

District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, Republican  candidate for re-election from Marshfield, is challenged by John E. Bradley, Jr., a republican from Plymouth.  Cruz states on his website, “I am committed to the protection of our children, our seniors, and our communities.”

Challenger John E. Bradley Jr., takes aim at Cruz as the Democratic candidate for District Attorney of Plymouth County.  According to an article by Maria Cramer of the Boston Globe, Bradley was a 21-year veteran prosecutor when his boss, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz abruptly fired him.  Bradley sued for wrongful dismissal and eventually received a $248,000 settlement.

Plymouth County Clerk of Courts Robert S. Creedon, Jr., Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley, Jr. of Brockton,  Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Sandra M. Wright, Republican, of Bridgewater, is running unopposed as a  Republican candidate for re-election to the office of County Commissioner.

Obituary for: Anne L. Springer

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Anne L. Springer, age 101, a woman of deep faith, was called home on September 17, 2018. Anne, a resident of Jefferson, Maine, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law for the past 15 years, enjoyed a fulfilling and well lived life. She was the oldest of 10 children and took over a mothering role for her siblings when their mother died at the age of 50. She was deeply loved by all her brothers and sisters.

 

Anne attended Punchard High School in Andover, MA and graduated in the Class of 1935. She married Leslie G. Springer in 1940 and they made their home in Leslie’s hometown of Plympton, MA. Shortly after their marriage, Leslie was called to serve in the Army overseas during World War II. Upon his return, they started their family of 5 children and in 1959 established a general store in Plympton that included the best tasting homemade ice cream on the Massachusetts south shore, aptly called Anne’s Homemade Ice Cream.

 

Leslie and Anne retired to their farm in Jefferson, Maine in 1976 where they spent countless hours renovating the homestead and grooming the fields for their large gardens. They also built a winter home in Vero Beach, Florida that provided many happy years gathering with friends and family. Both Leslie and Anne were hard workers and always had projects to tackle. Anne expressed her creativity in many ways. She took up oil painting in her 50’s and continued to paint until her death. She enjoyed acrylic and water color painting also, many of which she gifted to her family and friends. She also enjoyed creative cooking and rug hooking and was an avid reader.

 

Anne remained active in the St. Denis Seniors Group, enjoying the many friendships formed with her faith community. Anne’s steadfast faith was the ballast that supported her throughout her life. A lifelong dream became a reality when she visited Rome in 2004 at the age of 88 and also traveled to the Grand Canyon, Oregon and many visits to Florida. She lived her life with grace, acceptance and generosity.

 

Anne is predeceased by her husband, Leslie and her son William. Her loving family includes her son David and his wife Gale of Clermont, FL, son Richard and wife Maureen of Plympton, MA, son Earl T. and wife Lois of W. Barnstable, MA, daughter Marian and husband Bill of Jefferson, ME, and daughter-in-law Ana of Vero Beach, FL. Anne was also the proud grandmother of 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

 

A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Denis Catholic Church, 298 Grand Army Road, in Whitefield, followed by a reception at the church hall.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne’s name to St. Michael’s Parish, Re: St. Denis Church, 24 Washington Street, Augusta, ME 04330, Transfiguration Hermitage, 205 Windsor Neck Road, Windsor, ME 04363, or Maine General Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04363.

 

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro.

 

Condolences may be shared at www.hallfuneralhomes.com

Steampunk at Schoolhouse Farm

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It’s the most anticipated party invitation of the summer – the AHG, Alberti Hurdy Gurdy – that sees the pastoral Schoolhouse Farm transformed into a weekend-long venue for music, dancing, barbecue, and laser light shows, all leading up to the burning pinnacle of the evening!

What started out 21 years ago in East Bridgewater as a graduation party for Dave Alberti’s son has grown over the years into a gala few could imagine!

Plympton’s C.J. Quinn, with his good friends Dave and Vicki Alberti, take the better part of a year preparing for an AHG Theme Party – this year’s was “Steampunk” – with all the side events that make their party unique.   Eight bands, some of them have played on the outdoor stage since the first one, and three glass-blowers added to the atmosphere this year.   In keeping with the Steampunk theme, there was also a working display of steam-powered engines built by north shore artist Todd Cahill who Dave and Vicki saw at the annual Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham earlier this year.

Many of the AHG guests brought tents and sleeping bags and stayed through the night while the laser light show carried on over their heads.

This year’s centerpiece was a full-sized 1890s steam locomotive built out of rough sawn wood, plywood, and salvaged metal wheels, resting on a 60’ section of wooden train track.  The sculpture was constructed by CJ Quinn and Tom Johnson, and was built on a custom wooden foundation laid over two truckloads of river silt spread & graded by Dave Alberti & John Deere. Tom Johnson played a key role in design and construction following CJ’s lead as Chief Engineer. The two worked together for months leading up to the event.  People admired the construction all afternoon, posing with it for many photos.  As darkness descended, and the last notes were played from the main stage, the entire crowd descended around the burn structure in anticipation of the climax of the event.  “The Burn”.

 

A professional Taiko Drum troupe called “Odaiko New England” began the ceremony with 15 minutes of thunderous rhythmic perfection. Dozens of people in period costumes spilled off of the train and a vintage town scene quickly morphed into a compelling choreographed dance led by Alana Quinn and Kyra Grattan.  As the theme music hit a climax, flames consumed the train as the AHG crowd celebrated having collectively created another unforgettable experience. By morning, all that was left was ash and coals, and a few metal pieces.

Plympton Fire volunteers were on hand to take care of site safety issues. They sent an engine, brusher, two ATV’s with five fire fighters/EMTs to stand watch.  The AHG crowd is a network of friends, and there is a uniquely positive and respectful energy in the air.

AHG is a grassroots collective of people that has evolved since 1997.  Every year, a few new people find their way to the event, and every year there is a new theme to welcome them.  In 2015 the theme was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a Japanese-style pagoda as the centerpiece.  Dave and Vicki Alberti were married under the pagoda with all of their Hurdy Gurdy friends and family in attendance.  And once the vows were spoken and the rings exchanged, the bridegroom kissed the bride, the torches came out and the pagoda was burned. 

Each AHG since the beginning has its own T-shirt designed by one of the many AHG artists, a theme poster, and bumper stickers.  Shirts from past events have become collectors’ items.  Many artists over the years have captured the party theme; this year’s poster design was done by well-known local artist Jessie Fries.  The t-shirt and bumper sticker design was done by Greg Myette.

Greg Crossland was the grill chef for the party with lots of help from Dave and Trish Detterman, grilling 90 pounds of chicken, two bushels of corn, and cooking 100 pounds of potatoes, making the best fries. 

Guests are asked to bring enough food to feed their families plus a little more, then Greg cooks and serves it. 

Sunday morning, Jimbo Williamson makes breakfast to send everyone on their way with a full stomach.

So what began 21 years ago as a graduation party, with a wood-fired portable hot tub, a keg of beer, and a band, has grown into finely orchestrated summer event whose guests are treated to a weekend to remember.

Little fish on bicycle is quite a catch!

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Wanted in Connecticut for murder charges issued last December

Through many hours of surveillance and investigation, Halifax Police Chief Ted Broderick and Sgt. Tom Benner, arrested Jamir Johnson at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31.  Jake Burns of the Pembroke Police Dept. also assisted in the arrest.

Once Johnson was brought back to the police station and processed for booking, police learned that the little fish caught while riding a bicycle through the Brandeis Circle neighborhood was in fact quite a catch, as he was wanted on a murder charge in New London, CT.

It is alleged that last Dec. 9.  Johnson shot the victim, Quvant Gray, who was pronounced dead of gunshot wounds in a basement apartment at 4 Orchard St.  Johnson was charged in Connecticut with murder, possession of a pistol without a permit and unlawful discharge of a firearm .A bench warrant was issued for his apprehension tagged with a $1,500,000 bail according to New London, CT Police Captain Brian Wright.

Halifax Police Chief Ted Broderick charged Johnson with 54 break-ins to automobiles, and several house breaks in the Brandeis Circle area of town over the past several weeks.  

Johnson was arraigned in Plymouth District Court, charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglarious tools, failure to identify, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and fugitive from justice.

He will be held until Connecticut authorities come get him, according to Sgt. Patrick Sterling, communications officer of the Halifax Police Department, where he will answer to the Connecticut charges.

Chief Broderick said that early Tuesday morning Johnson was seen riding a bicycle through the Brandeis Circle neighborhood wearing clothing similar to that seen in a surveillance video at one of this victim’s homes, including rubber gloves.  He was eventually stopped by the officers, and after a brief foot chase, was placed in police custody.

In making his announcement, Chief Broderick apologized to Halifax residents who were anxious to hear the latest in the ongoing investigations of the many robberies.  “I hope the people understand our silence when trying to apprehend these criminals, but mostly I want everyone to know the diligence and work ethic of your police officers.  If it wasn’t for their commitment to the town and its citizens, this alleged murderer would still be roaming our streets while we sleep.  It was a job well done by all.”

MEPA site visit to be Wednesday

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Alex Strysky of  MEPA, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, has alerted residents of Plympton to a MEPA site visit to the proposed Rickets Pond Business Park site at the Carver/Plympton line on Wednesday, July 25, at 10 a.m., meeting at the entrance to the site off Spring St.

The EEA project number is 15883.  Project Description: An Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been filed with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs by RPBP, LLC to construct mixed-use office/storage buildings and self-storage buildings totaling 114,318 square feet on 4 lots on a 43.7-acre site.

The project includes construction of a road, utilities, a stormwater management system and 144 parking spaces.

The project will generate 608 average daily trips, according to a release from MEPA.

The project meets the ENF threshold at 301 CMR 11.03(1)(b)(2), creation of five or more acres of impervious area. The project requires an Access Permit and a Land Transfer from MassDOT.

The public is welcome to attend.

 

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

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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

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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 …

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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.