Man About Canton: BOS, School Committee Replace Tim Brooks

DID YOU KNOW …

Tim Brooks, who has resigned from the Canton School Committee due to increased responsibilities at his Cumberland Farms job, has been replaced by Jill Stevens. As dictated by law, Brooks’ replacement was determined in a special joint meeting of the remaining School Committee members and the Board of Selectmen.

On another matter, MAC sends his best wishes to Tom Healy, who is retiring after 34 years as head of the Canton High School baseball program.

Our new fiscal year began July 1, which means that Jeff Granatino has been serving as our new superintendent of schools for a few weeks. A town official told MAC that, despite Granatino’s limited experience as a superintendent, his new contract will pay him a generous salary of $164,000. It’s a big job, and MAC wishes him the best.

Over in Norwood, Granatino’s former bosses on the School Committee have selected his replacement. James Hayden, who has four years of experience as the executive director of operations and school administration for the Brockton Public Schools, will be paid in the vicinity of $140,000 a year, which, in all likelihood, is the same amount they would have paid Granatino had he stayed.

Young Joe Goggan set a new course record while running in the 1.8-mile “fun run” at the annual Fourth of July Road Race. Joe is the grandson of the late Joe Gecewicz, one of the founders of the Canton Town Club.

It is finally over: the town of Stoughton is going to reopen its “new” Fire Station No. 2 on Central Street, which has been closed for four years due to serious problems with the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems. The station was built in 2001 at a cost of $1.5 million and has been closed since September 2006 after several firefighters came down with respiratory ailments. An engineering study determined the station’s ventilation system had to be replaced. The project cost the town $300,000. When it reopens, the station will house the firefighters and the administrative staff.

It looks like we are finally going to get some casinos in Massachusetts. The senate suggested three: one in western Massachusetts, one in southeastern Massachusetts, and one in the greater Boston area. In addition, slot machines will be installed in the state’s two horseracing tracks.

MAC hates to say it, but service at the Canton Post Office has been seriously lacking recently. There is usually a long line being serviced by a single clerk that seemingly takes an eternity to move along. It seems that perhaps a supervisor could assist that clerk whenever the line gets too long. In addition, for some reason, they even removed the stamp machines, which would have helped those customers who only need stamps. Also, the parking situation is terrible.

It looks like 60 Massachusetts communities, including Canton, serviced by the MWRA will be assessed an average increase of 1.49 percent in water and sewer charges for fiscal year 2011, which would be the lowest increase in 15 years.

Joe Trovato, who retired in 1995 as the principal of the Hansen Elementary School on Pecunit Street, was recently honored by having his portrait hung at the school. Former principals Bill Griffin and Larry Walsh, as well as current principal, John Maxwell, were on hand for the festivities as were a number of retired Hansen teachers.

Speaking of retirements, Fire Captain John Farrington retired from the Canton Fire Department on June 20 after 42 years of service. Also, firefighter Butch King, who was recently honored as this year’s outstanding Canton firefighter, retired on July 12.

MAC also acknowledges the retirement of Manuel and Connie Pacheco, who owned and operated the Pacheco Hardware Store in Stoughton center, which served hundreds of Canton customers for over 26 years.

Canton is getting a new church. The Foundation of Grace Church has applied for a permit to assemble as a religious group at 427 Turnpike Street. We welcome them and extend our best wishes.

The Canton High Alumni Association has presented the school with a large Welcome Wall as a gift to all current and future students. It contains an impressive eight-foot metal rendition of the CHS insignia, which is seen upon opening the front entry door.

How are your powers of lateral thinking? Try your hand at solving the following puzzle. The scenario: A man approaches a woman behind the counter and hands her a book. She looks at it and says, “That will be seven dollars.” He pays the woman and walks out without the book. She sees him leave without it, but does not call him back. Why? Answer next week!

This is all for now folks; see you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=3232

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jul 15 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.