|
The August/September
Ringside Observer
NO RELATIONSHIP: For those of you who
have suggested that Sewer Commission Chairman Garry Monahan has his own
brother working for his department…sorry to disappoint. While it is true
that there is a Bob working at the plant, and while it is also true that
they have the same last name…and while there is a slight resemblance,
there is no relationship. Bob spells his last name Monaghan. We are told
that Garry made it quite clear during the hiring process that they are not
related. No story here.
WE OWN IT: We are reporting our findings to the
several of people who suggested to us that the Town may have never
recorded their own deed for the 58+ acres we purchased on Pottle Street.
The inference was that failure to record deeds is a common practice at
Town Hall. Not so in this case. A quitclaim deed was recorded with the
Plymouth County Registry of Deeds on June 25, 1999 acknowledging the
$150,000 purchase from the Kairit Family of Como, Mississippi. Once again…
no story here. We thank Town Administrator Kevin Donovan for providing us
with the documentation and saving us a trip to Plymouth.
FAREWELL ANN: We were deeply saddened to
receive word of the death of Ann Farrell. The popular and hardworking
Farrell was a tireless worker over the five years she spent on the
Kingston 275th Anniversary Committee. She will be missed by many and our
condolences are extended to her family.
ANOTHER LOOK: Word on the street is that the
Sewer Commissioners are going to take another look at the Memorandum of
Understanding between their board and Fred Tonsberg from Indian Pond
Estates. We hear whispers that they may not exempt the Country Club from
user fees in exchange for the treated sewerage being discharged into
leaching pits within the subdivision. If there is any truth to this, it
will trigger WW III. We’ll be watching.
THANKS JOYCE: We really enjoyed the radical
tones of the Idaho Observer newspaper dropped off at our office by Joyce
DiGiovanni from Rocky Nook. Joyce has family out there (yes, it is a
settled state) and thought we’d like to catch its raucous flavor. How
could we not love it!
BERM BATTLE: Only in Kingston could we experience
such warfare. It seems the Zoning Board of Appeals, in approving Weymouth
Cooperative Bank’s new presence in Kingston Center, required that the
pre-existing berm remain. For years it stood as a barrier between Tura’s
Pharmacy and the bank building. The ZBA required it under its Order of
Conditions issued to the bank. It seems however, that the Planning Board
and the Building Inspector determined that it could go. Bank plans,
reflecting that latter decision, showed the berm being removed. ZBA
members, believed that other jurisdictions have no authority to alter
their order, and pushed the issue. Bank management, caught in the middle,
and facing a grand opening in days, could not risk denial of an occupancy
permit. They staked the required curbing and the matter has been resolved.
We have two thoughts here. First, the berm is a menace to vehicles and we
wonder if there isn’t a better alternative. Secondly, we can see the
need to control the traffic flow in the driveway area between the two
businesses. Thirdly, the ZBA had to stand firm or relinquish authority.
The smart one here? The bank. End the debacle and move on. Welcome to
town, and to Kingston politics.
SEWER ENDGAME: If you count up all the places
that should be tied into the new sewer line, the number is just a tad
under 1000. How may of these places are already hooked up? The answer is…625.
The deadline for hookups was July 1. The Ringside Observers have been
informed by insiders that fines will begin on September 1 for those who
have done nothing. "Some of the fines will be substantial" was a
quote from someone who should know.
CLUB EXPANSION: The Kingston Garden Club,
at their recent Annual Meeting voted to expand their membership numbers
from 50 to 60. (There has always been a waiting list). In addition…hold
on to your hats ladies…they are allowing a 10% allowance whereby up to
six members can be from out-of-town.
MIKE LYNCH is an interesting guy. We bumped
into him last week at his restaurant, Tucson Tacos. He was obviously
glowing over the fact that his place was named not only as one of the top
10 restaurants on the South Shore, but the best in Mexican fare by the
Patriot Ledger. He also introduced us to a couple of teens from Boston who
Mike has been mentoring for many years. He is obviously well thought of by
these young gentlemen. We learned that Mike has been mentoring for many
years beginning with the Big Brother program. The boys tell me that Mike
has become a part of their respective families. We asked them if they
receive a lot of pressure regarding drugs. They indicated that its use in
the city is prevalent but that Mike would be sickened if they succumbed to
the temptation. They are too fond of him to ever consider it. Mike
believes that the proof is in the pudding. He supports random drug tests
and believes in leading by example. "I would never ask my boys to
subject themselves to any testing that I wouldn’t be willing to take.
Any time, any place. "A person must lead by example". We liked
hearing that, and thought you might like to know how this guy thinks and
responds. The only problem our Observers have found, is that once you try
his tacos, they can become habit forming.
SELECTMEN PREFERRED: It’s funny how
selectmen in other towns don’t have enough to do and ultimately engage
in political positions elsewhere. By now you must realize that Kingston
Town Administrator Kevin Donovan is a selectman in Abington. Silver Lake
Regional finance czar John Tuffy is a selectman in Duxbury, and we hear, a
personal friend of Donovan. These guys must have some interesting
commiseration sessions.
MONEY MATTERS: Ex Tax Collector, Chuck McCoy is
pushing to retrieve approximately $10,000-15,000 in delinquent fees he
believes is due him from when he left office. His claim is that the fees
that came in after he left office are his since it was his efforts that
resulted in demand payments. McCoy said that he squared with Keith Peavey,
his predecessor, and what’s right is right. Kinda like a waitress that
took your order, placed it, served your table and refilled the coffee. If
she goes off duty prior to your paying the tab…who gets the tip? We’ll
get more on this unfolding story and report more on the web.
Paid Advertisement
 |
