BOS, School Committee pick Jill Stevens to fill school board vacancy

By Mike Berger

In a unanimous vote of three selectmen and three School Committee members, Jill Stevens of York Street was chosen among a field of eight applicants to fill a ten-month term recently vacated by Tim Brooks due to work commitments.

Voting were Selectmen Chairman Victor Del Vecchio and Selectmen Sal Salvatori and Avril Elkort, as well as School Committee Chairman Reuki Schutt and School Committee members John Bonnanzio and Liz Salisbury. Missing from the meeting were Selectmen John Connolly and Bob Burr (work commitments) and School Committee member Cindy Thomas.

All agreed with Schutt’s assertion that each of the eight applicants was very well qualified for the position. “I wish we could appoint them all,” Elkort said.

Stevens had become a familiar face at recent School Committee meetings and has also volunteered for many school organizations, including the Canton Alliance for Public Education. Schutt urged the remaining applicants to remain active within the schools and to consider running for the School Committee in future elections.

In another school-related matter, selectmen said they were pleased that the zoning board had approved plans for a new Luce School driveway and expect the DPW to complete the project before the start of school in September.

Selectmen also addressed several of the questions that residents of Pleasant Street had about the project, with Salvatori relaying the following information, which he had received from Connolly: The school’s crossing guards will remain at the same location as recommended by Police Chief Ken Berkowitz; the curbing will be asphalt; two additional catch basins will be added to improve drainage; no additional trees will be added; no traffic study is needed according to the town engineer; there will be no rumble strip installed on Pleasant Street; new signage will direct traffic to the front of the school; and there is a definite plan for snow removal, which will not impact traffic.

Selectmen also heard a progress report from Beautification Committee representative Peter Pineo and soon-to-be retired Building Superintendent Buddy Fallon regarding improvements made to the historic pedestal and Civil War monument at the front of Memorial Hall.

The pedestal was refurbished and sand blasted, and a working fountain and stainless steel planter will be installed. The Beautification Committee is paying for all repairs and improvements with the aid of students from Blue Hills Vocational School, who worked on the project during the past school year. Pineo said the project should be completed within a month, and a rededication ceremony will be held at Town Hall prior to the Homecoming Block Party set for Saturday, September 25.

Fallon also reported that work is underway for the new communications board at the public library, but that DPW workers have encountered serious ledge problems and special excavation equipment will be brought in to fight through the ledge. Fallon, who was due to retire tomorrow, said he will stay until the project is completed. Town Administrator Bill Friel later told selectmen that Fallon’s job duties will be reallocated as part of a larger DPW consolidation plan, several versions of which are currently under review.

In other news:

• Selectmen announced that detours along Washington and Pecunit streets, necessitated by Bay State Gas construction, will be completed shortly.

• Friel and selectmen’s office intern Esmael Ansari have completed a codification of the town’s traffic regulations and citizen appeal process, and the report was accepted by selectmen. The only change was the inclusion of certain streets under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk County traffic engineers. The report will be sent to town counsel for review.

• Selectmen approved a common victualler’s special permit for Five Guys Burgers and Fries at 95 Washington Street.

• Selectmen voted to accept a $5,000 donation from the Copeland Family Foundation to be used for the town’s animal shelter.

• Selectmen approved Tom Keleher Jr. as a member of the Historical Commission and Paul Mitcheroney as an alternate member, and Patricia Cawley as the Public Works accounting assistant.

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