Locals included in chief finalists
Published on August 8th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - A four person search committee recently named three finalists for the vacant chief of police position after wrapping-up their interviews of eight candidates for the post.
However, according to multiple sources familiar with the process, Town Administrator David Ragucci has pulled at least three other resumes, all belonging to Stoneham residents, into the pool of finalists recommended by the advisory board.
The three people selected for the chief's job by the search committee were reportedly all applicants from out of town. Despite repeated calls to Ragucci's office this week, the Town Administrator did not return calls for comment on the situation.
However, according to Town Accountant Ron Florino, who also served on the committee along with Stoneham Police Lt. Jim McIntyre and Belmont Police Lt. Christopher Donahue, he does believe that Ragucci will mull over the resumes of all eight people selected for initial interviews.
"We made our recommendations to the Town Administrator. We actually had eight interviews and any one of them could be the next police chief, based upon what I saw," said Florino.
"It was a hard decision. There were eight very good candidates. We just looked at one part of this and I'm sure the Selectmen and the Town Administrator will probably look into all the other characteristics," the Town Hall veteran added.
The finalist for the position will replace retired Chief of Police Herb Moore, who stepped down from the post after just one year, due to medical reasons. Stoneham Police Lt. Rick McCarthy has been tapped to lead the department in the interim.
Earlier this summer, nearly two weeks after a deadline had expired, the Selectmen, without explanation, unanimously voted to reopen the application process.
Three new candidates joined the pool of 18 other applicants after the period was extended.
The process later hit another bump when Reading Police Chief James Cormier stepped down from the search committee for unspecified reasons.
However, according to Florino and McIntyre, despite those initial troubles, they were very satisfied with the pool of candidates who applied and the way in which the search committee worked.
"It was a good process. We had some good candidates, receiving 21 applications total. So we had a good pool to choose from," said McIntyre. "I was hoping to find someone who had some administrative and management experience."
"Obviously, we're in a time where we have some financial constraints, so it would be ideal to have someone with experience on budgets," the police veteran added. "We also have a fairly young police department, compared to other surrounding towns. So we want someone who can serve as a leader and a role model."
Florino, Stoneham's financial guru for over 20-years, serving as long-time Town Accountant and briefly as Town Administrator, also looked for applicants with a good financial background.
"I was looking at whether they managed a department before and their experience in being a leader. My questions focussed more on managing a budget, and managing a department with less personnel."
SPSF is hoping to bring fun back to schools
STONEHAM, MA - It's good fun for a good cause.
In less than two weeks, at host of local bands, many whose musical seeds sprouted within the school district's music program, will descend upon the Stoneham High School Auditorium for an charity fundraiser.
Featuring performances from homegrown favorites such as Another Life and the Steve Gutenband, as well as appearances from The Gardner Shakedown, ADayDelayed, Aeons, J Blake, Ekkum, and The Euphony Project, tickets for the Aug. 18 concert cost $20 both in advance and at the door.
According to Stoneham resident Christopher Willard, the president of the non-profit Stoneham Public Schools Foundation (SPSF), he and other event organizers have high hopes for the event, as the proceeds will benefit Stoneham's decimated arts and music programs.
"The concert is a great opportunity to highlight some of the success the Stoneham music program has had. A lot of alumni are coming back to make sure that other kids have the same opportunities," said Willard. Formed in 2004, after a failed tax override led to widespread reductions to education programs, the SPSF is hosting a slew of fundraising and community events in the coming months, the profits of which will benefit lost school programs. Approximately 35 regular volunteers, complemented by the assistance of 20 to 25 other participants, are laboring to ensure that the money raising efforts, such as a planned golf tournament and road race, are a success. In the past, the organization has donated an estimated $30,000 to various causes, including the high school math team and freshmen basketball squad. The SPSF has also donated furniture, computer monitors, and other equipment to the high school. However, according to Willard, SPSF regulars have much higher ambitions this year, as they hope to generate as much as $200,000 for the school system in order to restore slashed programs and activities.
"Right now, our focus is on what the schools have lost and how we can help out directly," Willard explained. "We haven't set a particular goal, because we're still accessing some of the costs for the things we're doing. We'd like to raise somewhere around $200,000, but obviously, a lot more than that is needed."
"Our priorities initially are to ensure athletics, music, and art are restored. Then from there, we'll certainly assess the other academic programs. Donors can decide what [they want their money to go to], so a lot of it will depend on what they want to support."
"It's really only going to be with the support of the entire community that we'll be successful and meet our goals this year. So we're hoping the community will continue to come together and support us," the SPSF president added.
According to Willard, to help mend some of the fissures that have resulted from the budget crisis in town, the non-profit organization has tried to hone in on hosting events that foster community togetherness. However, as the group founders attempt to spread their message around Stoneham, they do run into the occasional person who is unable to separate their feelings on the town's political atmosphere from the SPSF's mission to help out local students.
"There's a lot of personal feelings in town about some of the things that happened. But the foundation is trying to stay away from that," said Willard. "Unfortunately, there's certainly political issues involved, but that's something the kids don't have a vote in. We're just looking to do what we can to benefit the kids." To donate to or to learn more about the SPSF's cause, visit the group's website at www.stonehampublicschoolsfoundation.org.
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