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| Photo credit - Brian Thompson |
We will be working overtime to report what's happening in your town.
The Dog Pound
Our ongoing investigation of unusual and disturbing facts about Lisa DiBello, her charity A Ray of Hope, and our Town beach concessions took a new twist when we found out that the current beach concession contract has not been renewed for a second year, as has been normal practice. A more in-depth report will be published late tonight.
Affordable Housing
There was a meeting of the Affordable Housing Commission last week that included consideration of Tom Gentz's proposal for "evolutionary changes" of the State Low and Moderate Income Housing law. I reported how Mr. Gentz kept calling the meeting "good discussion" while steadfastly avoiding discussing anything at all or even giving the appearance of seriously listening.
Many ways to improve Affordable Housing to make it more effective and eliminate over-development have been suggested but it seems clear to me that there is no intention of permitting any course but to push for the end of Affordable Housing in Rhode Island.
The latest news is that, after nearly a year of having too few members to meet or just barely enough, three new people have applied to be on the Affordable Housing Commission, all on the last day possible for consideration at this month's Town Council meeting. One is CCA Steering Committee member Faith LaBossiere and two are neighbors of current AHC member Connie Baker who has stated that people should not expect to live in Charlestown until they have enough money. One of those two has been found on ClerkBase video opposing a previous affordable housing proposal.
A cynical person might think there is an objective here to get a glowingly favorable recommendation on Tom Gentz's plan before the December Town Council meeting.
The Town Council will be considering those applications on Monday. The Affordable Housing Commission will meet on Tuesday at 6 pm and the Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday at 7 pm to consider Mr. Gentz's proposal. We will be reporting on all of those.
Illegal Conspiracy
Jim Mageau got a front page article in the Chariho Times this week to air his theory about illegal and unethical doing of some of his long-time enemies. We are especially looking forward to hearing Jim Mageau speak about it at the Town Council meeting and hearing the reaction from the Council and others. We have requested a copy of Dan Slattery's research of the alleged illegal conspiracy that he showed in the last Town Council meeting as an open government document but, so far, it has been denied to us.
Automobile Safety
Last night I was called out to a 3-car automobile accident at the intersection of South County Trail and Shannock Road. Four people, including a pregnant woman, were transported to the hospital. And we, again, did not make it through a year without the fence in front of the Habitat office getting demolished.
I daresay that location has the most frequent accidents in our town. I expect to be called there about twice a year for a serious accident. I think it deserves some study to see if something can be done before I have to report to our readers about a death at that location. (And no, I don't think lowering the speed limit more is the answer.)
Chariho student car accident
If you aren't planning to attend the Town Council meeting in person I suggest attending the Chariho Tri-Town Task Force on Substance Abuse, Monday at 5:30 pm at the Chariho Middle School. This meeting will include discussion of the Chariho student accident on October 23 and exchange ideas on how to prevent underage drinking. The organizers are accustomed to public apathy and don't expect much turn-out. Help prove them wrong.
Disclosure: the author's wife, Suzanne Ferrio, is a member of the Affordable Housing Commission but she did not see this article before it was published. She also makes him attend the AHC meetings if he wants any information before the meeting minutes are released. Even offering to prepare dinner while she's at the meeting doesn't change her mind.