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June 2002 

• Noseworthy Picked • McFarlane Farms • Reward, Maybe • Nick Packs • Doesn't Cell • Buckley Named • Three Strikes • Another Matter • Outside Coaching • Clogged Artery • Where To? • Plymouth Selectmen • Thanks Ladies • Political Tickles

NOSEWORTHY PICKED: That was the headline in the Kingston Reporter when Gordon Noseworthy was selected to be the next Silver Lake Regional School Superintendent. We loved it! Although he is not up there with the likes of Cyrano, his nose is not a shy aspect of his countenance. The Reporter couldn't help themselves. But…while we're on the subject…our instincts tell us that the fellow is reluctant to throw himself into his new $130,000 per year job (with some nice bennys to boot). Twice he has been scheduled to come to town to begin the transition, and twice he has cancelled. In addition, he has plans for a two week cruise, we think in August…and he has yet to be given a starting date for when his term begins. This fellow will either turn out to be a breath of fresh air or a bust. He is very genial and animated, but we may need more than that. Time will tell and we should all be prepared to provide the traditional honeymoon period.

McFARLANE FARMS: We got a call from a fellow who asked us to check out the situation down at the subdivision. Seems there are two dirt roads that split off at the end of the development which we believe is in an incomplete new phase. The thing is however, is that there has been no new construction down there in about two years. The dirt roads are quickly becoming a dumping place for building debris and household trash. Keep in mind, this is a pricey little complex. The out-of-state ownership should either block off the access to these paths or develop the last phase. We will check with the Planning Board on this one and report back. However, if someone else could shed light on this matter we'd welcome it. 

REWARD, MAYBE: While we laud Olly DeMacedo for cajoling his board of Selectmen into adding another $15,000 to the reward kitty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Pottle Street barn arsonist(s), they sure could mess up a good thing. Once George Cravenho amended the motion to "subject to Town Meeting approval", the issue became a joke. If you had the information, and were guided by cash rather than conscience, would you want to gamble on what Town Meeting would do? In our little town, your name would be out on the streets before April ever rolled around. Money is found for everything else, it could have been found for this. After all, it will never be spent unless there is a conviction. That would be money well spent.

NICK PACKS: We were sorry to see Elementary School Principal Nick Leonardis turn in his resignation to accept another position much closer to his home. Although low key, we found him to be a dedicated and passionate educator. We wish him well. 

DOESN'T CELL: Back during the days that Dick Kenny was Selectman Chair, we thought we spotted him with a cell phone. We always wondered if it was personal property or job related. That was, until we heard, via Town House chatter, that the cell phone turns out to be a Kenny invented office perk. We have no historical evidence that any Selectman, before or after Kenny's chairmanship, ever had the town pick up the tab for an electronic badge of office. Rumor has it that the bills are quite high with the annual cost more than that paid for the position. We would be interested to see at what meeting this policy was adopted. We will also endeavor to find out if the phone was turned in when the chairmanship was turned over. Dick, if there is a justification for this taxpayer expense, we'd love to hear it.
Allow us one other thought, unrelated to the above. Dick's absence from the Town's Memorial Day observance was conspicuous. We wonder if the day was penciled in prior to his losing the chairmanship?

BUCKLEY NAMED: Well, our on-line edition certainly called that move. Geralde Buckley was named as chair for the Regional School Committee. After making several phone calls and personal pleas, the e-mail lines were burning up between our little electronic committee critters. We must have called that news item a good week before they actually did it. Naturally Ms. Buckley was mortified, indignant and righteous over the issue. But we were right, like it or not. One good thing however, Buckley can now refer to herself as "Current Regional School Committee Chairman" instead of the heretofore overworked "…as a former high school principal…" She expressed outrage over being slandered, or something like that. Members of the committee, repeat the words: "It was factual, we just didn't want the world to know." These on-line meetings must end.

THREE STRIKES: The Selectmen had enacted policy some time back that if an individual on an appointed committee missed three consecutive meetings, they should be off the committee. Our information is that Don Howard, a member of the ZBA (a full seated member, not an alternate) is out more often than he's in. We understand the Selectmen have sent a letter to the ZBA concerning this matter. Further, we hear that ZBA Chairman, Stan Kuzborski has taken it upon himself to plead Howard's case. Mail directed to the Committee must be dealt with by the Committee. Perpetual absence cannot be tolerated. It is not fair to the applicants or to the two alternates who must be constantly present in order to take the place of a slacker. If a hearing gets continued once or twice, it means that the only members who can vote on it must have been present for every one. Howard may be (and does seem to be) a nice guy. But see if you can be a no show in the banking business.

ANOTHER MATTER… we were interested to hear that the ZBA never reorganizes. It is routine, and generally required that all boards and commissions reorganize after each annual town election. Chairmanships are not life appointments. If Appeals Board wants the same man to lead every year, then vote every year.

OUTSIDE COACHING: A few months ago we mused over why a coach from Plympton was involved in the Kingston youth baseball when Plympton has their own programs. We never got an answer although we invited people to explain it to us. Now a caller has informed us that an All-Star team was coached by a Plympton resident…probably the same person. They want to know why, and so would we. Once again we turn to the baseball hierarchy to explain it to us. Maybe there is a very good reason, but until it is shared, we get a bad smell.

CLOGGED ARTERY: If anyone wonders why it took some time to get a steady flow of water on the Davis Barn, check out this photo provided to the Ringside Team by our fire chief. The Duxbury mutual aid pum-per found its hose blocked with stones as the result of tying into the Pottle Street hydrant. There had been several water line breaks on the street. A line break allows stones and debris to enter into the lines where they often remain after repairs are finished. When a standard main is fixed the line is flushed. It's an entirely different story when the line is on a dead end main like the Pottle Street line. Then it's nearly impossible to flush debris from the system. It took 20 minutes of effort to clear the hose. This stone had to be pried out with a screwdriver.

WHERE TO? When you see this sign on Bay Farm Road, there is no way of knowing how to get there. It wouldn't be so bad except there are beautiful homes with lush grounds on each side of the disguised pathway. Wouldn't it make sense to have the Town Fathers direct the Highway Department to mark the trail in some creative and tasteful way so one knows how to approach the nature preserve? (Hint: It's the tiny space between two bushes at the center of the photo.)

PLYMOUTH SELECTMEN are rather short sighted. We caught a glimpse of them in action at a recent meeting. Selectman Richard Quintal felt it might be a good idea to bring in fire chief Jon Alberghini to share his thoughts with his board. In lieu of Jon's recent evacuation plan concerns, Quintal thought it would be a good idea. Well, you'd have thought he asked Chairman Ken Tavares to appear likable. It is clear that they don't see any relationship between the two towns when it comes to emergency preparedness. As for Chief Alberghini… he would have gone. "Regionalization is the only hope any plan has" said Alberghini to the Ringside Observer.

THANKS LADIES: Notice the sprucing up down at the Post Office? That was the work of the Kingston Garden Club with some help from East Coast Fence. We haven't seen grass there for years. A wonderful touch by an industrious group. (See related story in Sisler's World).

POLITICAL TICKLES: We realize it's early to talk about next year's races…but, we have it on the best authority that Elementary School Committee member Paul Barry will be running for Selectman next year. Paul says he will do so no matter what incumbents Beaton and DeMacedo choose to do. He says that he can be counted on for a no nonsense approach to leadership. We also spoke with Mark Beaton who said that he would be a candidate for re-election. DeMacedo says he will probably step aside after his term is complete next year…but we say otherwise. Olly is fueled by the campaign process and would miss it too much. Mauro Mazzilli may take another run for Health Board or some such position. He should submit to an exorcism first in order to deal with the evil demons who he feels cost him the race this year.

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