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Volume LXI No. 18 “The doctor found, when she was dead, her last disorder mortal.” – Oliver Goldsmith Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Board looks at
land use issues
Town Meeting controversy may
lead to further zoning study
By Susanna Sheehan, Clipper Staff Planning Board, Zoning Board
susanna@duxburyclipper.com
of Appeals and Conservation
Duxbury selectmen want Commission to a meeting to
to create a new committee to start the discussion. Select-
review the zoning bylaw, and men want those committees
may recommend hiring a con- to designate representatives to
sultant to help rewrite any laws the new bylaw committee. No
requiring an update. date for this meeting has been
At the suggestion of new set.
Selectman Ted Flynn, the They are also hoping that
board discussed how to begin six citizens will come forward Chandler celebrated Dr. Seuss’ Birthday with a visit from the Cat in the Hat. The cat visited Mrs.
the process of forming a com- to serve on the committee and Sechoka and her second graders. Pictured are Pamela Sechoka, The Cat, Kelly Burke, Jacqui Slayter,
mittee. They decided to ask the continued on page 6
Julia Adamski, Teagan Curran and Lauryn Burnes. More photos on page 19. Photo by Betsey Campbell
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2 Duxbury Clipper Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Studio The Studio The Studio and under. Please bring in
can tabs to benefit Shriner’s
Hospitals.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
52
45
54
43
43
38
0.07”
0.01”
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Overcast
Overcast
Clear
Friday 48 34 -- Clear
tact the state regarding the Country Store, Vishnubhai and Aanal Patel. 781-934-8145 x201
continual closure of the Myles michelle_manganaro@verizon.net
• Postponed a hearing on the Duxbury Bay Maritime School’s appli-
Standish Monument on Cres- cation for a club liquor license. DBMS applied for the license on
cent Street. March 29 but subsequently withdrew the application. According to
404 WASHINGTON STREET, DUXBURY
Two weeks ago, MacDon- the selectmen’s office, the school, which hosts many events such
ald stated his concerns over as weddings in its function rooms, plans to re-submit its applica-
the monument’s closure and tion in the future.
said he intended to do some-
• Called for residents to apply to be on a new Historical District
thing about it. Built in 1898,
Commission, which will administer the three newly created local
the 130-foot granite monument historic districts. Anyone interested can fill out a talent bank form
to Captain Myles Standish, online at the town’s Web site.
the Pilgrim military leader of
Plymouth Colony, used to be • Asked for applicants for a committee to celebrate the town’s 375th
open to the public regularly birthday next year. Anyone interested can fill out a talent bank form
but has been mostly closed in
House Wanted
online at the town’s Web site.
recent years.
On Monday, MacDonald Duxbury to take over this job. wrote. “However, I ask that
sent a letter to Paula Johnson “I understand the budget every consideration be given
in the Community Affairs De- constraints and the impact to allow public access and the Thinking of moving or selling your
partment asking that the state those constraints have on al- maintenance of the grounds so
keep the monument open to lowing the public access to visitors and locals can visit and home?
visitors this summer or allow the Monument,” MacDonald appreciate this historic monu- We’re moving back to Duxbury and looking
ment.” for a new Home to buy
If the Department of Con-
up on beach
• East of Route 3
ald asked that Duxbury be al-
lowed “to open the monument • Priced between $550 to $700,000
to the public and to maintain
By Justin Graeber, Clipper Editor out on the ocean it’s going to the grounds to allow public ac- If your interested in selling, please call
justin@duxburyclipper.com
wash up on Duxbury Beach,” cess.” Nick or Diane (508) 495-0609
Plastic discs, accidentally he said. “Considering the mil- MacDonald announced falmouthfamilycounseling@yahoo.com
released from a sewage treat- lions that went into the bay I the update at the selectmen’s
ment plant in New Hampshire guess we’re pretty lucky.” meeting Monday night.
last month, were spotted on The discs don’t pose any
Duxbury Beach recently. immediate safety hazard, al-
Harbormaster Don Beers though Beers said like any
said that he was alerted to two non-organic beach debris
of the disks, which are only they shouldn’t be picked up
an inch or two in circumfer- without gloves.
ence, last Thursday. Although “Stuff washes up on Dux-
hundreds of the disks washed bury Beach all the time,” he
up on some North Shore said.
beaches after the spill, Dux- He said the town manag-
bury has only seen three total er and health department are
(one showed up right after aware of the discs.
the release.) “I suspect we’ll see one
“It doesn’t really come to or two of these things once in
a surprise to us,” said Beers. a while,” he said.
He said that high southeastern Anyone who sees a disc
storm winds have been push- on Duxbury Beach should
ing debris onto the beach. call the harbormaster at 781-
“If there’s anything left 934-2866.
Thank You!
To all friends and family- we extend our heartfelt
appreciation and thanks for the generous support
and Dana Farber contributions on behalf of Billy’s
campaign and Boston Marathon run for his mom, Media Contact:
Kathy-and all those waging war on the many fronts Jessica Wurzbacher
against cancer of all kinds. Confident Captain/Ocean Pros
www.ConfidentCaptain.com
Bayside Marine Corp.
Thanks to you Billy has raised over $33,000.
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(401) 849-1257 Tues. - Sat.
4 Duxbury Clipper Wednesday, April 27, 2011
H
By Erin Dale
Express Contributor ing to pick up the tab entirely
ailing from Ha- on their own.
nover, Thomas The strategy that I would
O’Brien has made adopt would be going to each
quite a name for himself, first individual community and say-
during his tenure as a state ing to the [community] leaders,
representative and now as “Tell us the top three things that
Plymouth County treasurer, a you think the county could do
position he’s held since 2006. to help.” It will be the needs
Despite the demands of his job, that overlap the most that the
O’Brien fits in family time and county should be willing and
hobbies that indulge his inner prepared to offer so that the
history buff. O’Brien discusses communities can save some
the career path that led to his money.
current role, the recent conflict
between him and the County
Recently, County Com-
mission Chairman Anthony
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South Shore? I grew up in the chairman of the Plymouth tain statements that have been
Hanover. I went to Hanover County Retirement Board. It is made or media frenzy … I pro- ~ Hair
public schools through eighth a very significant responsibil- vide a monthly revenue report, ~ Facials
grade and then to Xaverian ity that I enjoy. draft expenses and cash analy-
Brothers High School up in Could you talk about sis. And the public is welcome ~ Waxing
Westwood, then to George- your involvement with the to come down to my office and ~ Massage
town University. I absolutely Mayflower Municipal Health view these reports. ~ ManiÕs & PediÕs
loved Washington D.C. and ac- group? When I arrived here, What are your proudest
tually thought I might pursue a there was a health group man- accomplishments as county
career in law … then decided I aged by Plymouth County. treasurer? During my first Walk~Ins Welcome
really liked politics and finance [They] decided that they want- year, I was able to hire an ac- Tues~Sat
more. So I moved back up ed to leave the control of the countant, and we recovered
here and actually walked into Plymouth County Commission- more than $185,000 from the 708 Washington St., Rt. 53
a law firm and got a job with ers and form a joint purchase IRS in cash paid to Plymouth Pembroke, Ma 02359
Goodwin Procter, a large firm group under their control. County, which was a signifi- 781-826-6800
in Boston, and worked there They were pleased with cant accomplishment.
until 1996, when I was elected how I managed the finances,
as state representative for the so they contracted with me to
12th Plymouth District. serve as the treasurer of the
I was the State Representa- health group. That enterprise
tive from 1996 through 2006. has $100 million in annual-
My hallmark is that during that ized claims and currently an
time, I never missed a vote. I $11 million trust portfolio that
made 3,872 consecutive votes I manage.
in ten years ... And that’s hard I’ve read that you’re also
to do, because you can’t be trying to implement more
sick, you can’t go on vacation, green revenue for the county.
you can’t get stuck in traffic— I was named, as a representa-
you have to be available. tive, an “environmental hero”
How did you become in 2000, because I certainly
County Treasurer? Well, one believe that one of the things
of the other things I did was we need to be doing is protect-
get my financial certification. ing our environment, harness-
I began working for a Fortune ing some renewable resources
500 company, advising high that we haven’t harnessed. I
network clients on their in- believe the county is uniquely
vestments. I had always been positioned to do that.
interested in this position here One idea that we had ex-
predominantly because of the plored was looking at wind-
investment angle. I put my mills down on some property
name in and was unanimously that the county owns here in
appointed [in 2006], and then Plymouth, as well as solar
I was reelected in November power. The other thing I’d re-
2008. ally like us to consider doing
As an elected treasurer, is bulk purchasing electricity,
I probably have the most di- which I believe will save com-
verse educational, legislative munities collectively millions
and financial background… I of dollars. It’s something that
believe that’s a huge advantage will take a lot of work, but if
that I carry with me. we pool our resources togeth-
So what, exactly, does the er, it may be something that
Plymouth county treasurer we could do in the next couple
do? Essentially, I have two of years. We just have to keep
statutory responsibilities… I moving forward with those
am responsible for managing projects.
the finances of the county, doc- What are your views on
umenting money in, keeping the future of county govern-
track of money going out. Giv- ment? I’ve talked to elected
en some of the changes here in officials, appointed officials
the county, it’s morphed into a and financial individuals in the
bigger responsibility. This of- 26 communities in Plymouth
fice has been relied upon more County, and they are facing
and more by other elected offi- very difficult fiscal times. And
cials and the general public for they are looking to regionalize
information about the county services as a way to continue
as a whole. to provide services that their
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Duxbury Clipper 5
themselves,” she said. ing the popular senior police ways have to be an enforce-
The aim of the department, academy, that helps the seniors ment, investigative action.”
through outreach and work become familiar and comfort- If a situation is serious
with the Senior Center, is to able with police. This leads to enough, there are actions
make seniors and their fami- better cooperation. As an ex- the police will take. There’s BIKEWAY
lies and caregivers aware that ample, James said that she re- something called a 51A pro-
WEBSTER SQUARE-MARSHFIELD
help is there if needed. cently got a phone call from an tective order that is often used
“To let people know there elderly woman in town whose in a case of child abuse, and SPRING TUNE-UP SPECIAL!
are people out there watching,
people out there who care,”
grandson had gotten into her
check account and was steal-
there’s a version of that for
elder abuse, James said. Any
$49.99
On All Makes!
James said. “This doesn’t have ing money. incident where a sexual crime Or Buy New
to be behind closed doors any- “She never would have is suspected is referred to the UÊ/,
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more.” called the police department state’s division of elder af- UÊ,9Ê-
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The issue isn’t an abstract had she not known us through fairs.
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one to James. While working the classes,” she said. Howeer, James said her
James and Chief Matthew main concern is to educate UÊ-
7
at the Duxbury Police Depart-
ment years ago, she hired a Clancy said that there are people, and be proactive about
caregiver to help care for her many ways to seek help if you elder abuse issues.
elderly mother. One day, she think an elder is being abused. “I want them to feel com- Çn£nÎÇ
popped by home during the It can be done anonymously, fortable,” she said. “We’re iÜ>Þ>ÀÃ
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day to check in, only to find and a tip doesn’t always have there to help.”
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