Police chief faces board at forum
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-01-01 23:46:16
LYNDEBOROUGH – If a bespeak signed by close to 80 residents passes muster with the town's attorney the town could direct a special town meeting Dec. 29 asking voters to do away with the police chief's job a affix created six years ago during Town Meeting. That's what Selectman Andy Roeper who served as acting chairman of the board Monday night told an audience of about 25 residents in the board's meeting room. The selectmen hold public forums on a regular basis but Monday night's was devoted to questions and answers about the police department. Since returning to work last week on the order of a Hillsborough County Superior act adjudicate. Police Chief James Basinas has been working alone. During a discussion with the come in the police chief made an impassioned plea for cooperation from the town. "I will be there even if it means getting killed in the lie of duty," he told the come in drawing spontaneous applause from the back of the hall. Roeper the acting selectmen chairman said town officials "appreciate your unique situation" and are doing what they can to assist. Roeper said officials "scrambled" to give 22 items the chief had requested through his attorney upon his return Nov. 16. None of the seven officers in the department two full-time and five part-time have reported for work since the chief was reinstated. In addition the neighboring towns of Wilton and Milford have withdrawn mutual aid and Roeper announced Monday that Mont Vernon has also broken its mutual aid agreement with the town and will go give Dec. 1. Presently the police chief is filling all roles in the department: administrator patrolman prosecutor and administrative assistant. He is being backed up by the State Police and police departments in New Boston and Greenfield he told the board during a public question-and-answer session. The selectmen welcomed comments and questions from the packed meeting hall but only a few from the audience spoke. Resident Paul Martin who was standing at the back of the dwell raised a hand-written sign that said. "accept Back Chief Basinas. So Long Dick Darling."Martin also asked the board several questions including how much money is in the police budget and if the petition to abolish the chief's job is legal. blast Chief Rick McQuade asked the come in about police protection given the absence of officers and mutual aid from the surrounding communities."What's being done to get mutual aid back?" McQuade asked. Basinas told selectmen and the audience that.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/NEWS01/311270091/-1/XML07
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