Westport
in Brief
EverythingWestport.com
Friday,
March 11, 2011
Quick Article Index . . .
American Legion Post 145 seeks
descendants.
March is Sing With Your Child Month!
Senator Rodrigues sponsors
DMH Citizen’s Legislative Breakfast.
Chief
Brian R. Legendre Receives Accreditation Through the Massachusetts Fire
Services Commission.
Selectmen
move forward on traffic safety cameras.
Junk collector licenses going to the
dogs?
Westport town ballot firms up!
Westport
resident receives state house congratulatory citation.
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American
Legion Post 145 seeks descendants. EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, March 08, 2011 photos/EverythingWestport.com
A marble stone
monument, produced by Albanese Monuments of Westport, was erected last fall
outside the Legion's meeting place. It bears the names of those 15 founding
members, according to Lino Rego,
Post Commander. Rego said the post is looking for
descendants of the original 15 founders. They have already located three. World War II and
Korean War veteran, Dana Reed, is one of those descendants who plans to be at
the monument's dedication. His father, Harry Reed, was a co-founder of Post
#145. Reed, the defacto town
historian who seems to know a lot about a lot of Westport's history, said
that Post #145 meets regularly in an old school house built in the late
1830's, and that Post #145 leases from the town for one dollar per year. "They moved it
from across the street," Reed said. "They have been
meeting there since the mid 1930s," he recalled. Post Commander Lino Rego has been actively involved
in promoting Post 145. One of his most recent efforts was to get Westport's
most decorated veteran, Leo St. Onge, recognized in
the community for his selfless bravery in World War II. Post #145 supports a
scholarship program with its many community fundraisers (best known for their
"all you can eat" breakfasts!), and sends qualified students to the
American Legion-sponsored Boys State. The goal of Boys State is to teach
government and principles of democracy from a unique perspective. From the
moment each Boys State citizen arrives on campus, he learns to appreciate
that, in our American system of democracy, the character and success of
government relies on the interest and participation of the citizen. Learn more about Boys State. Call Post Commander Lino Rego at (774) 264-0882 for
more information.
March
is Sing With Your Child Month! EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, March 08, 2011 It is no accident that we celebrate Sing
With Your Child Month in March - a month symbolizing rebirth and growth, which
reminds us of our most precious resource, our children! When looking
for activities to do with your family, remember that singing and making music
are wonderfully fun family activities, and strongly supports your children’s
development, too. South Coast Music Together is now enrolling
for the spring session, which will begin the first week of April, lasting for
ten weeks. Classes are held in Dartmouth, New Bedford and Marion, MA
and Tiverton, RI, and are designed to teach music the way children learn,
through play!
Left: Marcus Monterio
with friend. For the older child there is the South
Coast Children’s Singing Circle, where age appropriate play continues, while
exploring music ideas and terminology. This class too may be previewed,
with a free demonstration on April 14, 2011, in New Bedford. For expectant parents, FirstSounds,
prenatal music classes are enrolling. Learn how music used before your
baby’s birth can help soothe, and comfort your newborn, as well as facilitate
family bonding. For more information, or to visit a free
demonstration class, please visit: www.southcoastmt.com, or call (508) 636- 7426.
South Coast Music Together serves the families of the Greater SouthCoast. Senator
Rodrigues sponsors DMH Citizen’s Legislative Breakfast EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, March 09, 2011 BOSTON
– State Senator Michael J.
Rodrigues (D-Westport) recently
sponsored the annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Southeast Area
Citizen's Legislative Breakfast on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at the State House. The event provided an
opportunity for individuals with mental illness, family members, providers
and advocates to interact with state legislators. Senator Rodrigues, whom also
serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons
with Disabilities, was pleased to be an important part of the Legislative
Breakfast, and fully supports the Departments continuing efforts. “The ongoing work of these
individuals has great potential for a significant impact on the
Commonwealth’s mental health service system. We want these projects and
activities to make an impact on every region of the state, every provider,
and every policy initiative.”
Left: Senator Rodrigues (left) accepting a Certificate
of Appreciation from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of
Health and Human Services, Department of Mental Health. The award was
presented to him by DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm
and DMH Metro-Southeast Area Director Cliff Robison. The theme of this year’s DMH
breakfast series is “Community First and Our Future.” The event’s centerpiece
is the personal stories shared by DMH consumers and their families. Their
experiences put a face on mental illness, demonstrate that treatment works,
and remind us that people with mental illness can achieve important
accomplishments and most importantly, recover and lead satisfying and
productive lives. More than 300 people including
legislators, consumers, family members and advocates, and providers attended
the breakfast. Chief Brian R. Legendre Receives Accreditation Through the
Massachusetts Fire Services Commission. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday, March 09, 2011 Stow, MA - The Massachusetts Fire Service Commission
granted accreditation to Fire Chief Brian R. Legendre of the Westport Fire
Department on December 15, 2010 for demonstrating the required fire service
experience, education, and certifications for accreditation.
The
applicant’s documentation is reviewed by a subcommittee of the Massachusetts
Fire Service Commission to determine if the individual has attained a minimum
level of credits for education, training, and experience. State
Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said, “The program was
developed after extensive research outlining those skills important to
today’s fire chief. The process provides an equal opportunity for the
volunteer, call or full-time fire chief to meet the minimum criteria for
achieving fire chief accreditation.” Chief
Legendre said, “I am dedicated to providing the highest level of service to
this community and have worked hard to continue my education and experience
to bring a high level of professionalism to this position. I appreciate that
this accomplishment recognizes my dedication to be the best fire chief I can
for this community.” Credentialed
participants will be required to renew their credentials every three years.
At this time the program is open to people currently serving as fire chief of
department. Selectmen move forward on traffic
safety cameras. EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, March 08, 2011 photos/EverythingWestport.com Westport Police have stated that
they wouldn't use frontal shots as "they are invasive." Selectmen at Monday
night's board meeting voted unanimously to take another step forward in their
investigation of installing "red
light safety cameras" on key roadway intersections. "The cameras,
which take photographs 24 hours a day, would be mounted at several dangerous
intersections in town," Police Chief Keith Pelletier said at a previous
Selectmen's meeting.
"As a consultant
working for the town, I would guide the appropriate officials through the
process of analyzing and eventually selecting a vendor who would then be
responsible for the sale and installation of the equipment, and for providing
future maintenance." The selected vendor
would also be responsible for providing Westport police with photo evidence,
including side and rear images as well as a 15 second video, which would be
used by Westport police to issue the appropriate citation. Westport Police have
stated that they wouldn't use frontal shots as "they are invasive." "There is no cost
for my consulting services to the town," Lenza
said. Michael Lenza said his company does not sell or maintain the
cameras but guides communities through the process of choosing a company that
will. "The process clearly
works," Lenza said. "The system changes
driving behavior. In New York City, the longest continuous user of photo
enforcement, they reported a 74% decrease in traffic light violations over 10
years with a 41% reduction in collisions. "There was also a
35% reduction in fatalities," he said. The town's interest at
this time is to use the cameras for red light violations. Massachusetts
currently has no statutes permitting safety cameras on state roads. "The first step
in implementation, after provided an analysis that shows a positive
cost-benefit to the town, is to explore a
local option to install red light camera enforcement by seeking a "home rule
petition" with the state, thereby permitting the use of the cameras in
Westport," Lenza said. There are currently
two such petitions circulating through state channels, "one for Boston
and the other is Salem," Lenza said "The issued
citations would fall under the Parking Violation statue," Lenza said. "Citations wouldn't affect your driving record,
and wouldn't contribute to insurance cost surcharges." The citations could be
appealed similar to any parking ticket, but could be bumped up to appear
before a magistrate as a more serious traffic violation if requested by the
offender. "Only the police
department would issue citations," Lenza
added.
"Currently there
are restrictions for public disclosure, but the possibilities are there for
use in Amber Alerts, and to assist police with accident reconstruction and
investigation," Lenza. "The State
Department of Transportation as well as Highway Safety would have to approve
the use of the cameras," Lenza added.
"Westport would
be a pioneer," Lenza said. "I think it's
fantastic," Police Chief Keith Pelletier said. "It doesn't cost the
town anything; it's a win-win situation." "The next step is
to tale a survey," Lenza said. "As few as
five violations a month could pass muster. Two violations wouldn't provide a
return to the safety camera supplier." The selectmen voted
unanimously to begin the survey process as "there is no cost to the
town, and therefore no need for a completive bidding process for the
consultant," a fact verified by the town administrator, Michael
Coughlin.
ACLU representatives have spoken of the
distinction between the private and public realm. Other issues they
bring up is the banking of the collected data, how much data is collected,
and for how long data is kept. This is a "mission creep" issue. - ACLU There are surveillance, data bank and dissemination
issues. The ACLU has spoken about due process and taking a picture of a
license plate at a particular place and time and then getting the ticket at a
later date. They bring into question a violation ticket generated by a
mechanical means later. The ACLU has no faith in the system to manage
this system. Traffic violation is issued by an officer
now, in a particular setting. With cameras, you may not remember where
you were, etc.. To be fair, a public safety enforcement
officer could create chaos when there is no safe place for an officer to pull
someone over to issue a citation. In these cases enforcement can only
be done by remote. Selectmen
kill proposed warrant article that would have killed CPA funding when a
motion made by Selectman Richard Spirlet was
seconded. Funding for the
Community Preservation Act will remain in place after no selectmen offered a
second for a motion to place a question eliminating CPA funding on the ballot
in the town’s April election, according to the Fall River Herald. Junk collector
licenses going to the dogs? EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, March 08, 2011 photo/EverythingWestport.com Westport selectmen
determined Monday night that they won't become an authority for issuing junk
collector' licenses as “state statutes are clear that those licenses have to
remain the purview of the Town Clerk,” said Town Administrator Michael
Coughlin. The Selectmen were
seeking authority for the issuing and renewing of junk collector licenses. It was mentioned by Selectmen
several times during the Monday night meeting that "getting a junk
collector license is the same as getting a dog license." "Not true,"
said Town Clerk Marlene Samson. Westport's Town Clerk
re-issues six or seven junk collector licenses yearly, unlike small business
that have to renew their business licenses once every four years. "We haven't had a
new junk collector license in over five years," Samson said. "Town
Clerk is not required to perform any investigative review prior to re-issuing
these licenses." "We only have to
determine that, when issuing a new license, the business conforms to zoning
requirements," she said. "A business or commercial district
requires no different process for a junk collector than any other normal
business," she added. However, if the junk
collector wants to locate in a residential area, "then they have to jump
through many hoops," Samson said. "We have very
definitive town bylaws concerning junk collectors," Samson said,
"and it's up to the building inspector to sign off on new license
requests within a residential area before they reach Town Clerk." Of course,
grandfathered, non-conforming use is not affected by the new junk collector
bylaws. "To my knowledge
the Selectmen don't have to approve new applications for junk collectors'
licenses," Samson said. Samson advised that a
"Class III – Motor Vehicle Junk License to
buy second-hand motor vehicles for the purpose of remodeling, taking apart or rebuilding the
same, or the buying or selling of parts of second-hand motor vehicles or
tires, or the assembling of motor vehicle parts" may be required under
MGL. Chapter 140, Section 58 for certain junk collectors and recyclers
involving high volumes of discarded automobiles. This license is issued by
the Board of Selectmen. Town officials,
primarily fire and police, make periodic inspections to insure clear passage
of rescue equipment, and that safe conditions exist that will protect
employees from harm. Changing times. Most of the junk
yards/collectors have been around for many years. Indeed the property now
operated by Excel Recycling, the Charlotte White Road company at the center
of all this contention, has been in operation as a junk collector and parts
retailer since before the 1960s.
Left: Louis Gitlin (far left) of Mid City Steel
talks with Westport's ROMEOs. "90% of our
recycled metals are now cut up, crushed and baled for shipment
overseas," Mid City Steel's Louis Gitlin told
the Westport ROMEOS at a recent luncheon where he was a guest. "It's no
longer the rags and metal scrap business I grew up in working with my Dad,
where we would go out and collect discarded items and junk from house to house." "We have Chinese
representatives in our yard every day buying recycled metal. China is a
relatively new industrial power, and as such does not have many discarded
household appliances, cars or other metal items that can be reprocessed, Gitlin said." "So we send our
junk metal over to China, and then buy back their retail items made from that
junk," remarked one ROMEO. Westport
resident receives state house congratulatory citation. EverythingWestport.com Thursday, March 04, 2011 photo/EverythingWestport.com Westport's
newest state representative held his first constituency visit at Westport's Senior
Center on March 4th. Westport resident Elaine J. Seguer received a State House congratulatory citation by Massachusetts
Speaker of the House, Robert A. DeLeo on January
26, 2011. Rep. Paul Schmid presented Seguer with the citation during his first Westport constituents''
visit to the Seguer (pictured
left with Rep. Schmid) received the citation for "being named Ambassador of the Year for your outstanding work on
behalf of women's issues at the South Coast Women's Journal." Elaine J. Seguer
is Director of Marketing and Sales for The Women's Journals which consist of
the Southcoast, South Shore, Bristol County, and
Rhode Island Women's Journals. Rep. Schmid
handles the tough questions. Rep. Schmid got his first taste of how shrinking
budget levels are affecting COA services to the community. Seasoned citizens and COA workers in
attendance had their dander up over the state's unfunded benefit liabilities,
and perceived wage and benefit inequities between state and private workers. "It doesn't seem fair, and it should
be," said one audience member. COA Directory May Ellen Gomes made a plea
for more state assistance to offset expected budget cuts from the town. Federal block grant money accounts for
about 10 percent of Westport's revenue to fund the town and "50 percent
of Fall River's," Rep. Schmid said. "I don't expect much help in
that area as President Obama is looking to cut back the block grant program." "This is why I took the job,"
Rep. Schmid said. "I share the same concerns you do, and will work hard
to express them at the state house like I have done at our Selectmen's
meetings." Rep. Schmid announced the location of his new
district office as 1434 Pleasant Street, Fall River. The telephone isn't
installed yet, but you can reach him at his cubicle in Boston at (617)
722-2014. "The office is the same distance from
Westport as former State Rep. Michael Rodrigues' office was from Fall River,"
Rep. Schmid said. "I felt I didn't need the office located in Westport
as I am a member of so many groups here (Westport Business to Business,
Westport Watershed Alliance, COA supporter, etc.) that I see my Westport constituents
all the time." Westport's newest representative plans further
visits to the Senior Center the first Monday of the month at 11:00 a.m.
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