Selectmen to begin search for new ACO

Selectmen have accepted the resignation of Animal Control Officer Paul Bastable, who had recently been placed on 30-day administrative leave following an alleged drug incident that occurred in the parking lot of Page’s Convenience Store on August 8.

Bastable, 40, was arrested shortly after 7 p.m. on Pearl Street and charged with possession of a class B drug (cocaine), possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate a drug law. He had been driving in the Canton ACO vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Selectmen were due to hold a hearing on the matter following an internal investigation by Town Administrator Bill Friel, but the letter of resignation, effective August 19, ends the town investigation, according to Selectmen Chairman John Connolly.

Connolly said the position will be posted, and he hopes a new animal control officer will be hired within 30 days. Selectmen may also consider placing the position under the jurisdiction of the Police Department.

Since Bastable was placed on administrative leave, a combination of part-time animal control staffers and volunteers have been handling animal control duties. The Police Department is also assisting in emergency situations. Friel said the town is answering calls 24 hours per day, seven days a week, but he has found it “amazing” how many towns in the area do not answer calls 24/7 or have an animal shelter.

In other news, selectmen said they would try to convince the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to name a state park after two World War II veterans who worked at the former Canton Airport — the late Tom Connolly (no relation to Selectman Connolly), formerly of Canton, and Arthur Farmer of Needham.

The DCR is conducting a cleanup of contamination at the former airport site off Neponset Street and plans to erect a park there.

Paul Seery of Oakdale Road told selectmen an enlightening story about the two veterans that was also highlighted in a Canton Citizen story published on Veterans Day in 2010.

Connolly and Farmer were among a group of 512 downed pilots who were rescued over Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia beginning in the late summer of 1944. Connolly later moved to Canton after the war and worked with Seery at the Emerson and Cuming plant.

Connolly’s son, Ted, joined Seery in telling selectmen about the rescue, dubbed Operation Halyard, which was aided by many Serbian farm families and local guerilla fighters, but was kept secret by the United States military until recently. A complete history of the rescue, considered one of the greatest of World War II, is detailed in the book The Forgotten 500 by Gregory Freeman.

In other news, selectmen held a moment of silence for two former residents who had served the town: McLaren MacGregor, who was a selectman from 1959 to 1964 as well as a town moderator and chairman of the Housing Authority, and Donald Cougle, who worked as a mechanic for the town for many years.

* Selectmen approved the transfer of a common victualler license from the Viet Grill to Pho 29 Restaurant. Restaurant owners told selectmen they plan to install more tables and build a new bathroom.

* Selectmen appointed Patrick Byron as the alternate wiring inspector in the absence of Paul Reynolds.

* Selectmen received a letter of praise and acknowledgment for the efforts of many Recreation and DPW staff members who helped in the construction of the new Luce School playground.

* Selectmen thanked the Beautification Committee for placing a new picnic table in front of Town Hall for people to use.

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, September 6, when they will interview three finalists for the human resource administrator position. They will conduct the interviews with members of the School Committee.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 24 2011. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.