Town Talk gains some momentum
Published on December 30th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - It takes a while for any television broadcast to gain momentum. Seinfeld, Cheers, and even long-standing juggernauts like 60 Minutes took some time to cultivate an audience.
While Town Talk, the Board of Selectmen's new, live call-in show which airs on the last Monday of each month, has yet to put a dent in the Nielsen ratings, it is gaining popularity on the local cable system airwaves.
On Monday, the third installment of Town Talk was aired and eight residents called in to speak on a variety of issues. With Police Chief Eugene Passaro taking to the panel this month along with Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting and board members Cosmo Ciccarello, Al Conti and Anthony Kennedy, residents got the opportunity to ask about traffic problems they are experiencing and ask questions on a variety of other town-related issues.
"When people have a direct link to the board, they feel as if they have more control over what gets done in town," Kennedy said on Tuesday morning. "This is their chance to talk to someone. I think it's a fantastic forum."
"We want to make it (the show) as accessible as possible and it looks like it's working."
Passaro was the show's second guest and much of the hour-long program was dedicated to his speaking about various issues in the Police Department as well as a little about the chief, himself.
Now in his 21st year of service to the Town of Stoneham, Passaro said, "I have found it a very enjoyable experience. I like the people of Stoneham and have found them very gracious."
He explained that a transformation in policing has taken place during his tenure, one which focuses on interaction with the public rather than the surveillance of it. One aspect which has helped is the bicycle patrol.
"The problem with a cruiser is that you're insulated. You're in a steel and glass cage where you don't talk to people and they don't talk to you. In the bike unit, we have the opportunity to interact with the public," he said.
At first, establishing a bicycle unit was difficult given the average age of the officers in the Stoneham Police Department. In recent years, however, Passaro said that there has been some turnover in the department and, with it, an influx of younger officers to man the bikes.
Another successful campaign for the Police Department, he said, is the economic boom which has been realized from grants. In 1995, the Board of Selectmen asked Passaro and his officers to seek out grants. That simple query has resulted in nearly $700,000 which "runs the full gamut" of Police Department programs.
In terms of fighting crime, Passaro said that, while many aspects of crime have decreased in recent years, domestic abuse is a rising problem in Stoneham as well as the rest of the country.
"Our worst problem today is domestic violence. Domestic violence cases have risen tenfold over the last several years," Passaro said.
In addition, the number of calls responded to by officers has risen dramatically. Police responded to approximately 12,000 calls this past year, an incredible number when one considers that the Stoneham Police Department is composed of only 37 personnel.
"I think people misunderstand," Nutting told the panel and the audience. "This isn't a sleepy little town here."
On the subject of false alarms, Passaro said, "We'd rather go to 100 false calls than miss a real one."
Also on the increase this past year were citations. Passaro said that the town issued 300 more citation in 1998 than it did in 1997, 90 percent of which were for speeding.
One caller questioned the chief about the ongoing problem with gay cruising at the MDC Sheepfold.
"That's MDC land," Passaro said when asked why the problem hadn't been eradicated. "We don't (patrol there) unless we're called in for a specific reason. I think those are beautiful areas down there. I agree with you and think it's a shame, but the Supreme Court has ruled that people that are cruising have the same rights as everyone else."
The chief concluded by saying that the public's participation is the one necessity in his line of work and urged residents to call if they are experiencing any problems.
"You out there are our eyes and ears. You have to tell us what's going on."
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