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December 2001 

• The Political Pot • Mazzilli of the Nook • Recall Patricia Whalen  • Town Administrator  • Bonus Issue Dead?! • Post Office Anyone? • Superintendency Blues • But Wait, There’s More • Republican Town Com. • Democratic Town Com.

THE POLITICAL POT will begin to boil soon as candidates for various offices start to put out feelers as to what kind of support they have out there. Naturally, the office of Selectman is the big plum but, unfortunately, generally lacks interest. This is a real shame. We need new blood on some of these boards. The same faces show up year after year and get themselves elected or appointed to positions simply because they raise their hand. We hope there is some interest for the office of Selectman. There is no question that the two incumbents will run again. Richard Cretinon looks to the seat as personal validation of success. Much the same mindset for Richard Kenney. Dick enjoys sitting in the catbird seat pretending he’s back in Southie doing whatever they do there. The question is who else will run? Well, let’s not rule out Marjorie Cadenhead. Not exactly fresh blood, but a bloodhound by any standard. You don’t have to wonder what Marjorie’s thinking, not ever. We see all the early signs of her political plans. But what about a fellow like Frank Basler? Here is a guy that should run. A Finance Committee guru and a big cog in the Tri-Town School Committee, his time should soon be more available.

MAURO MAZZILLI has been threatening to run for the big seat since he lost his third Sewer Commission bid last year. We hear though he may be eyeing a Board of Health spot since being passed over for an appointed position on that Board this past October. Unless there are a few surprises left out there, nothing should change on either the Regional or Elementary School Committees, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Library Trustees or Sewer Commission. Watch for some action with Tom Calter considering a run for Moderator… actually, it sounds like he’s being drafted. The real electricity will begin in February, but watch and listen to the talk on the streets in January too. Politics can be a contact sport in our fair town but whoever said it was easy? We can tell you this however, we’ll be out there with our ears to the ground. There’s not much that gets by the Ringside Observer.

PATRICIA WHALEN, remember our old Town Administrator? Remember she retired? You can never be sure as to what constitutes retirement these days… especially when Whalen was a finalist for the full-time position of Town Administrator in the nearby town of Whitman. We learned that she withdrew her name just hours before she was to be interviewed as a finalist for the position. Now what’s that all about? Interesting years here in Kingston with Whalen. She served more as a Town Manager, creating policy instead of administering it. She certainly raised the hackles of Town House personnel as she never quite learned the meaning of diplomacy. And another thing, the job description calls for a degree and experience and allows for a combination of both. But Whalen never brought any degree to the table. Nope, not even an Associate’s Degree coupled with experience. Now mind you, we don’t play educational snobbery down here at Ringside but you don’t call something a combination when you add something and nothing.

PAUL SQUARCIA is back in the news, this time as the new head of Salem based Endicott College’s satellite campus at Cohasset High School. Nobody seems to actually retire these days, just reprocessed.

TOWN SEWERAGE is certainly getting its baptism of fire. Sewer line breaks on Prospect Street and at several points throughout the Nook have a few people scratching their heads. We’re not sure if this is normal for a startup phase but will do some followup. Check the online edition.

TOWN HALL construction usually means one thing, we’ll need a clerk of the works. No need to wonder who that will be. No need to advertise the position either, it’s a done deal, remember we said it. And the winner is? Frank Catani.

ELECTED VS. APPOINTED? This will be a big issue in the months ahead. The Town House plan is to combine the Collector and the Treasurer into one position (both elected ) and turn it into a selectmen’s appointment.

MCAD SUIT. Yes, one has been filed by David Fitzgerald against Sewer Commission Chairman Garry Mohahan over something to do with handicapped issues. We think it ties in to hearing impairment matters. Interestingly we know of no board making provisions for folks so affected. We also know of no case when considerations have been requested. We’ll watch this one.

BONUS ISSUE DEAD. Remember the Silver Lake Regional School Committee issue that created headlines many months ago relative to certain administrators getting alleged financial gratuities when they retired or left the District? The matter was investigated by legal counsel for the SLRSC and the result was such that further action seemed to be warranted. That was up until the passel of ex-administrators retained legal representation of their own…oh, yes, we should mention that several collaborated and got the same lawyer. Nice to see these folk obviously keeping in touch with one another even after their local educational demise. The bottom line, is that the legal pressure imposed by the dearly departed was enough to get the School Committee to let the matter die rather than gut it out in court. So there you have it, we apparently shelled out money for some phantom perk, probably at the expense of some department budget, and the matter gets left in some abyss for lack of gumption. How’s that for a Renaissance solution?

SUPERINTENDENCY BLUES: Will the real Silver Lake Regional Superintendent please take one step forward. Not so fast everyone. What a pickle to be in. Here Superintendent Patricia Randall secretly applies for the kingpin position with the new Pembroke School District (Let’s here it for District breakups). Now, we have to tell you that absolutely nobody was shocked by that one. From the time it was ‘discovered’ that she had applied in Pembroke everybody knew it was a done deal. Randall only let here chums in Tri-Town know after it was leaked to the press. Although we agree with School Committee Chairman Brian Caseau that she has a right to her own career choices we share his dismay that her actions should have been more forthcoming. I mean, let’s really think about this. There are 16 members of the Regional School Committee, seven from Pembroke who control most of the voting block. You have a Super serving this group while seven know something the other nine know nothing about. Add to that mix the fact that Randall issued a report suggesting the withdrawal process be slowed down in order to better serve the needs of the students. Well that may have been true, but a slowdown was exactly what Pembroke wanted…they need more time. Randall gave it to them…while she was a secret candidate to serve as their Superintendent. Not a smart move on her part and a real ethical breech.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: Now let’s take a look at the #2 spot up there, Assistant Superintendent Margaret Strojny. She was just appointed to the top position in East Bridgewater after searching for some time. Word we get is that Margaret was urged by a few Committee members to pack it up. So, she covered he educational future and moved on. A shame that a few souls could create a departure. Strojny would have stayed on. Now who is left at the Tri-Town helm now…Morris Splaine, an interim Assistant Superintendent who has no designs for the big seat. Watch for a march by teachers condemning the motives of the SLRSC. We suppose the next step is for nervous teachers to start bailing…and how is that new SPED Director doing?? Don’t be surprised if the next thing you hear about that position is…nahhh, we’ll wait and hold our tongue for now.

BRADFORD HOUSE BARN: If you want to get a really good firsthand look at what community is all about, head up to the Bradford House from off either Landing Road or Maple Street and see the progress being made on the new barn. Here you have a group of dedicated, historical minded men, women and children all doing their share to expand the offerings of what such a rich, historical landmark can offer. They raised their own funds, provide their own labor and saved a building at the same time. You may not realize it, but that barn once stood in another town during another age. It was dismantled and labeled for re-assembly here in Kingston. It is, in itself, a historically significant edifice, saved from possible destruction. We already look forward to future Bradford House events when the Winter is over…and the full utilization of that magnificent barn.

POST OFFICE anyone? What ever happened to those big plans about putting a new one on Maple Street?? Return to sender?!

REPUBLICAN TOWN COMM: OK, will somebody please tell us what happened to them? The only really active member we can point to is Olly DeMacedo. But one person does not a committee make. Republicans certainly make up a fair share of our town enrolled, but we never hear from them. Hello?

DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMM: Despite some gritty and distasteful in-fighting earlier this year, they are able to maintain a core of 35 elected members along with a waiting list of associate members.