Local officers commended for rescue actions
Published on August 30th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - The town’s Board of Selectmen recently commended two local police officers for their heroic attempts to save a drowning victim at a Fells Reservation reservoir this summer.
According to Stoneham Police Chief Herb Moore, while safety officials don’t regularly draw praise for their day-to-day actions, Officers Dave Stefanelli and Tony Kranefuss deserved recognition for their valiant efforts to save an 18-year-old Roslindale resident last July.
The victim, who was submerged in a depth of water estimated at over 40-feet, was later pronounced dead after being pulled from the High Pressure Reservoir by the officers.
Despite the tragic outcome of the day, Moore read the incident report from that day to the Selectmen, recounting how the two officers dove repeatedly into the deep waters, without any idea of whether any obstacles or other dangers existed below.
“I’ve been on the job for 30-years, and very rarely has anybody thanked me for giving them a speeding ticket,” the Police Chief joked. “There’s very little recognition at this job.”
“The officers, who without hesitation entered that water, are truly heroes,” Moore said of Stefanelli and Kranefuss. “That’s a deep dive. And yet without hesitation or regard for their own safety, they risked their lives to save a life.”
The two Selectmen citations, presented to Kranefuss and Stefanelli by board member Tony Kennedy, commend the officers for, “diving repeatedly in attempt to rescue a drowning victim [in waters up to 45-feet deep].”
New street signs
The Board of Selectmen unanimously authorized DPW Director Bob Grover to purchase up to 300 new street signs at a cost of over $13,000 for the busiest roadways in Stoneham.
According to the DPW Director, a new federal law has mandated that all cities and towns replace existing street signs with labels that are easier to for passing motorists to read.
Stoneham, which has yet to change a single sign to meet that requirement, has until 2010 to comply with the law. In total, Grover estimates that 700 to 800 new signs will need to be purchased, although he admitted he wasn’t sure about that figure.
“As the board is aware, by the year 2010, the town must comply with federal requirements for street signs. We’ve gone out to public bid and met with the successful bidder, Atlantic sign,” explained Grover, presenting the Selectmen with three options.
“It’s coming out of our paving money,” added the DPW Director, referring to the fact that the bill for the upgrades will be footed through Chapter 90 or roadway improvement funds. “That means we’ll be paving a few less streets per year.”
At the request of Selectman Paul Rotondi, the board agreed to allow the old signs to be purchased by interested residents for $10 each. Town Administrator Ron Florino, who will oversee that task, believed that the street signs would be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Town Day
The Board of Selectmen unanimously authorized the closure of several streets abutting Town Hall for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Town Day celebration.
According to Town Administrator Ron Florino, he has already issued a permit to the Chamber for the use of the Town Common on Sept. 16. However, the Selectmen needed to grant the event organizers permission to close the streets surrounding the abutting area.
The event, featuring a road-race and a number of Stoneham businesses and vendors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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