Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, July 09, 2010
Quick Article Index . . .
Dramatic dawn rescue saves woman from burning, smoke-filled house.
Burdensome state requirements overtax town clerks.
Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson visits with the ROMEOs.
ROMEOs pledge continued support for Salvation Army’s Camp Wonderland.
"Liberty Street Printmakers" at the Tiverton Town Hall.
Dramatic dawn rescue saves woman from burning, smoke-filled house.EverythingWestport.com
Monday, July 05, 2010
Courageous firefighters save woman. House is a total loss.
Westport firefighter Dan Baldwin and Deputy Chief Allen Manley in a daring display of bravery entered a blazing, debris-filled house, and located and pulled 24-year-old Shannon Pearce from her first floor bedroom.
The Drift Road bungalow-style home is ¾ of a mile south of the Head of Westport.
According to Barbara Steele, executive assistant to Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, the home was experiencing electrical problems prior to the fire.” She reported the fire was “most likely caused by an electrical problem, somewhere in the ceiling above the kitchen.”
“I was groggy from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide,” Ms. Pearce said. “I just did what they told me to do and let them drag me out.” Emergency personnel put her on pure oxygen and later the Dartmouth EMS transported the young woman to Charlton Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released a few hours later.
Because of zero-visibility conditions firefighters had to use a thermal imaging device that detects body heat to assist in searching for any possible victims that may be trapped in a burning structure. They found the sleeping woman.
“All seven pets in the house had succumbed to smoke inhalation and were dead,” Fire Chief Brian Legendre said. “Shannon is a very lucky girl.”
Above photos by Lucy Tabit for EverythingWestport.com
In an astonishing and miraculous chain of events, Legendre was driving by 202 Drift Road around 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, July 4th when he spotted a bit of smoke coming from the second floor attic window. He called it in and Westport apparatus responded within minutes. Also responding to the multi-alarm fire were Dartmouth Fire Department districts 2 and 3, and the Tiverton Fire Department.
“I heard my dog barking,” said Lucy Tabit, next door neighbor, “and went outside to find the Fire Chief looking up the upstairs window where smoke was just starting to appear.” The smoke rapidly progressed, and fire quickly broke through the roof.
“I would never have noticed the smoke if my dog didn’t bark at the Fire Chief,” Tabit said. “But for that, Shannon would not be with us today.”
The house is partially hidden behind heavy growth, and it was a wonder the Fire Chief ever saw the smoke. There were no functional smoke detectors in the house.
The house has been a family home for three generations of Pearces since the early 1950’s. Current owners Wayne and Linda Pearce were doing some early morning shopping, and arrived home shortly after the fire apparatus appeared on scene.
The family has lost all their possessions, had no insurance, and is now homeless. They managed to save three dogs and two cats. Damage to the home is over $150,000.
The fire was brought under control in approximately 45 minutes using three engines, a ladder and a tanker. In addition to the Westport apparatus, Dartmouth Fire Department Districts #2 and #3 and Tiverton Fire Departments also responded to assist.
Deputy Chief Manley reported that about 30 town firefighters with six companies responded, along with about 10 Dartmouth and Tiverton firefighters; each fire department dispatching tankers forming a tanker brigade as Westport has no town water.
Westport’s new southend fire station will have a 30,000 gallon on-site cistern which will make it easier for all tankers to be fully prepared for emergencies such as the Drift Road fire.
Westport Captain Michael P. Silvia said there were no reported injuries to firefighters and the last apparatus cleared the scene at approximately 3 p.m.
“The Red Cross put us up at the Hampton Inn for three nights,” Shannon Pearce said. “But I don’t know where we are going from there. We have no family or friends who can take us in.” Neighbors are working with the Pearce family to find shelter.
Also assisting were the Westport Ladies Auxiliary, who provided water for the firefighters on one of the hottest days of the year, the Providence Canteen, and the American Red Cross who provided financial assistance and put the family up at the Hampton Inn.
Fire Chief Legendre noted the bravery of his firefighters, and said they would be recognized at the Department’s upcoming recognition night. Deputy Chief Manley shrugged off the praise with a smile. “We were all just doing our job,” the easy-going Deputy Chief said. “It’s what we do every day.”
Yes Virginia, miracles do happen. Now one more miracle is needed to find the family a home.
Burdensome state requirements overtax Town Clerks.
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, July 09, 2010
Already under pressure from reduced hours and tight budgets, as of July 1, Massachusetts Town Clerks will have to post committee meeting notices 48 hours in advance, and the notices must be available to the general public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition, the notice must include a fairly detailed agenda for the meeting.
“I don’t understand the purpose or need,” said Westport Town Clerk Marlene Samson. “We already have the meeting notices posted in the Town Clerk’s office, on the Town’s website as well as in several newspapers.”
(EverythingWestport.com has been updating town meeting notices two to three times per week on its website for the past three years. Click here to view town notices.)
To further complicate the cumbersome requirement is that the notices must adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act. "We were thinking of posting the notices on the inside glass of the front doors,” Samson said. “But that would have required town residents to climb the front steps.”
Sampson with the help of others cleverly installed a swing-out bulletin board behind the Town Hall’s southeast rear entranceway’s sidelight window. That is the access way to the building’s elevator.
Samson created a special form to be filled out by meeting organizers. These notices will be posted at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Samson remarked that it’s simply “another mandate by the state without thinking through the additional work it’ll put on the town clerks.”
Unlike some of the other town offices, the Town Clerk’s office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Are people going to be coming by at two in the morning to read a notice,” Samson asked?
New requirements seek punctuality and completeness
According to Samson, “all boards, committees and commissions are now required, by state law, to post each meeting on an individual basis.
You will no longer be allowed to post meetings for an entire month or year. Meeting postings must include the detailed agenda and be posted with the Town Clerk's office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Please be aware that any meeting taking place on a Monday must be posted by Thursday of the previous week.
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will no longer count towards the 48 hours prior notice. Meeting Notices will only be accepted in the following format. A sample form is shown below. It can be obtained from the Town’s website, or from the Town Clerk’s office.
MEETING NOTICE
______
Board/Committee
______Day
______Date
______Time a.m. / p.m.
______
Place of Meeting
______
Purpose
______Signed
Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson visits with the ROMEOs.EverythingWestport.com
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Although up for reelection this year, the tough-minded jailhouse reformist has not yet declared his candidacy.
“That will be done in the very near future,” Hodgson told the ROMEOs.
As of July 1st of this year the independent Bristol County Sherriff’s department was transferred to state jurisdiction along with the remaining six other county sheriffs who have long resisted the move.
The transfer will dramatically alter Hodgson’s efforts at fiscal reform, but has not changed his stance on tough love in his county jails.
“We’ve closed the country club,” Hodgson told the ROMEOs. “Our inmates need programs to prepare for indoctrination back into society, not a place to hang out, watch TV and eat three square meals a day.”
“We need them better prepared to go out and not victimize people.”
“I knew from the start 13 years ago when I was first elected sheriff that we needed solid management programs to address inmates’ dysfunctional behaviors learned from bad home and street environments,” Hodgson said.
Sheriff Hodgson was invited to have lunch with the ROMEOs, a Retired Older Men Eating Out social club, recently at White’s of Westport. No stranger to the outspoken ROMEOs, he was right at home with the ROMEOs’ banter and politics.
Hodgson has received lots of criticism from political opponents and inmate advocacy groups on his revolutionary programs like health insurance co-pays, a $5 pay-to-stay inmate housing charge, and other pay programs.
“Free benefits promote reliance on the system,” Hodgson said, “because there is no incentive to work. What are we teaching our inmates with that kind of rehabilitation?”
The co-pays significantly reduced medical facilities use as inmates were reluctant to spend money just to “get out and shoot the breeze with clinicians and friends.”
07/14/2010 - Hodgson pitches bill to end prisoner pay; Garcia, Quinn rip sheriff. Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is joining with Republican lawmakers in a call to end to prisoner wages for working.
Hodgson joined state Rep. Elizabeth Poirier, R-North Attleboro, outside the Statehouse Tuesday to unveil a bill that would end the practice. In an interview after that appearance, Hodgson said the state is spending $2.5 to $3 million annually to pay inmates for working. “My feeling is we ought to not pay anything other than give them credit for good time and they have to earn that,” Hodgson said.
The second-term sheriff said inmates in the Bristol County facility can earn up to seven and a half days a month for working in the Department of Correction facilities or community work program, or for attending substance abuse and education programs. He said inmates in
Bristol County do not receive pay for their work; the program is limited to inmates in state prisons and a handful of county jails. More.
“We reduced meal sizes and offered healthier alternatives to inmates. We saved over $60,000 by just reducing juices to one per day and switching to Tang.”
The ROMEOs asked a lot of good questions on issues of the day that could impact the lives of Westport citizenry. On the impending casino, Hodgson said there “may be a slight uptick in crime, but there would be an immediate impact on unemployment. Long term the casino may not provide the sustainable growth that the area needs to really improve employment opportunities.”
On the southcoast rail corridor, he said that the “long term solution is to have companies and skilled people relocate to the area. The rail would certain help pave the way for this type of development.”
Hodgson runs his county facilities with a strong hand an omnipresent eye on budget austerity. Out of 14 Massachusetts counties he has the 4th highest population supported by the 7th lowest budget. “We have balanced our budget every year despite annual revenue reductions from the state,” he said. “We were the only county to balance our budget in this last fiscal year.”
Left: Sheriff Hodgson is an articulate and interesting speaker, and has proven to be a valuable asset to our community. Right: ROMEOs Tom Flynn (left) and Joe Crowley share a laugh with the Sheriff.
With Massachusetts county sheriffs transferring to state jurisdiction, county government seems to be in decline. Further, bureaucratic administrations don’t foster individual initiative; they expect elected officials to march to the leader’s playbook, and they encourage budget deficits.
But Hodgson doesn’t appear to be cut from that mold. Political savvy, he has strong convictions about how the county jail system should rehabilitate inmates. Hodgson may chafe under state control as he doesn’t appear to be into career building politics, but don’t count him out in moving his agenda forward with real reform.
“80% of our population is incarcerated with drug-related offenses,” Hodgson said. “We need to transform the past environmental factors that encouraged this type of bad behavior into positive reinforcement for good behavior.”
Will he be successful with this approach?
“Not with all inmates; many behaviors are too deep-rooted, and there is no real desire for change. But we can reach out and make a difference in the lives of those who are open to improving their lot in life, and give them an opportunity to take the first step.”
Inmates feel like they are giving back when working in outside community projects like the recent painting of the senior centers. “We have to try and interrupt the recidivism rate with intercession at the first incarceration,” Hodgson said. “Anti-social behavior gets planted in early development.”
Hodgson started a re-integration program to assist inmates who are re-entering society. “By managing our personnel resources on a weekly basis, productivity and accountability are improved, he said. “Our goal of educating inmates is getting better, he said. “It’s all good.”
.
ROMEOs pledge continued support for Salvation Army’s Camp Wonderland.
EverythingWestport.com
Thursday, July 08, 2010
For the second year in a row this socially-active senior Westport group will send two underprivileged youths to summer camp.
The ROMEOs, Retired Older Men Eating Out, announced today that they have again donated funds to send two area youths to summer camp. Westport’s senior social group anted up $500 to sponsor two deserving youngsters to Camp Wonderland, a Salvation Army supported summer camp.