| Athletic funds reportedly missing Wareham High gate receipts, activities fees investigated By Robert Slager warehamobserver@aol.com The Observer has learned that the Wareham School Department administration is investigating whether money has been stolen from gate receipts for athletic events as well as from athletic activity fees charged to students.
According to sources within the school, as well as the school committee, Wareham High School Athletic Director Buddy Carlson and members of the school’s accounting department have been questioned by school officials following a discrepancy in the athletic department’s book-keeping. Carlson has reportedly been offered early retirement after the current school year. He has not been charged with any crime.
Several sources have told the Observer that the school administration has known about the situation for more than a month. A call to Dr. Jim Collins, who is set to retire as school superintendent next month, was not returned prior to deadline. A call to Carlson was also not returned.
"The school administration has been trying to cover this up," said a source within the school. "Everybody at the school knows about this. Dr. Collins doesn’t want this information to be released publicly because he’s retiring and he doesn’t want this cloud hanging over his head. Everybody’s terrified to talk about this because they’re afraid for their jobs."
It’s unclear how much money is missing from the athletic department. One source estimated the amount to exceed $15,000, but the Observer has not been able to verify that yet.
Robert Brousseau, vice chairman of the school committee, said he wasn’t aware of the situation.
"If there is such an investigation, I know nothing about it," he said. Seniors left stranded by GATRA By Elizabeth Pezzoli warehamobserver@aol.com Town administrator John McAuliffe said Wednesday that the break in GATRA transportation service for local seniors is "only temporary."
Several seniors contacted the Observer to say they were told bus service to the Senior Center had been discontinued. They claim they weren’t given any advanced notice.
McAuliffe didn’t know when the problem will be resolved. He added that it is his understanding that transportation for handicapped elderly, for seniors who need to be brought to medical appointments and day care, is still being provided. He said shopping trips on Fridays will continue also.
"I hope the inconvenience is just for a few days," the TA said Wednesday. He said he was told that "about 10 people" will be affected by the lack of daily runs to the Senior Center. He said he did not know how many of those went to the center for the lunch program it offers.
McAuliffe said the cutback in GATRA funding, a state subsidy, has left the transportation program without drivers for the vans. He added that the town is looking for qualified drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license. Anyone interested should contact him at Town Hall.
McAuliffe said he is considering offering a program to train drivers for the transportation program.
Ken Michaels said he’s been going to the Senior Center for years and relies on a ride to continue doing so.
"They told me unless I was handicapped, I was out of luck," he said. |
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Potters seeks vision for Wareham's future By Elizabeth Pezzoli warehamobserver@aol.com Selectman Chairman James Potter said he wants each member of his board to bring in five ideas weekly to be compiled into what he’s calling a "Wareham Vision Plan."
Potter said this week he has divided his proposal into three categories - economic, social and political. Many of those areas will have topics that overlap from category to category. He wants the board to spend time weekly discussing the new ideas.
Selectman Jane Donahue suggested "taking work already done, our short, mid-term and long-term goals, do a quick review, and use them as a starting point."
The town’s most recent master plan is already obsolete, and it is questionable whether any of the points in it were ever addressed or achieved. It was suggested that it, too, could be reviewed and revised.
Selectman Bruce Sauvageau said he was sorting through papers this weekend and found a number of plans, wondering whatever happened to them, including a road (repair) plan, a water access plan, a sewer plan and an open space plan.
Open space perked up the ears of Selectman John Cronan, who wondered when the board would get around to discussing the latest open space proposal. Community Preservation Committee Chairman Nancy Miller has been pushing selectmen to review the plan, make comments or changes, so that it can be submitted to the state in June. Miller has told selectmen that her committee can’t get a partial reimbursement from the state for the Barker Property conservation restriction deal the CPC made (and Town Meeting approved) months ago until the plan is submitted.
But selectmen wondered this week what submission of the plan will mean as far as the town’s level of commitment to it. Sauvageau said he was concerned because the open space plan Miller and the Open Space Committee submitted would wipe out proposed plans for the 50-plus acres known as Westfield.
According to the open space proposal, that site would become open space in perpetuity. However, in earlier discussions between selectmen and the School Committee, that acreage was divided to include space for a possible new school, recreational land and elderly housing.
"Once the state hands us money, we are obligated to follow the plan," Sauvageau said. He urged his board to be cautious in reviewing the open space proposals.
"Contrary to what I’ve heard out there, it won’t be the town losing money (without the plan’s submission and approval), it will be the CPC," Selectman Brenda Eckstrom said.
Eckstrom said when she was new on the board the road plan was already obsolete.
"That’s why at Town Meeting that first year I voted against allocation of the Chapter 90 funds for use on town roads - the plan had been out of date since 1999."
Eckstrom warned that if the open space five-year plan is approved with Westfield as "open space in perpetuity, we won’t be able to change that. It wouldn’t be allowed."
Potter has a long list of topics he wants discussed by the board, including having the town move toward becoming environmentally conscious. He also wants sewer issues reviewed and discussions held on the parcel owned by Community Development at the Bay Pointe Country Club, the Business Development Overlay District, town events, 40B housing, traffic enforcement, Tremont Nail’s future and Town Meeting changes.
Selectmen John Cronan suggested some of the topics might need more time than a discussion on a weekly meeting agenda. He reminded the board of its plans to hold a sewer issue workshop, which could take an entire evening or a Saturday.  
 
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Bank forecloses on Harborwatch
By Elizabeth Pezzoli warehamobserver@aol.com The Harborwatch in Onset Village will remain open for the time being, despite being foreclosed on by Salem Five Cents Savings Bank.
Meg Kisten will remain as manager of the Harborwatch, selectman Chairman James Potter told his board this week. While the bank foreclosed on it and "sold it at auction" to another bank last week, they are trying to work out details for an agreement which will keep Kisten on as manager, Potter said.
Potter told his board this week that he’s given Kisten three weeks to come up with an agreement with her new bank before selectmen revisit the issue and possibly schedule a public show-cause hearing to determine if Kisten’s liquor license should be taken away. According to Selectman Brenda Eckstrom, the property is "one corporation; the management by Kisten is a second entity. It was the property which was foreclosed on," she said.
Eckstrom said the Hingham Institute for Savings holds a second mortgage on the property.
Eckstrom brought the foreclosure to the notice of Potter, she said, because she was "concerned about any liability the town might face" by allowing Kisten to keep the all alcoholic liquor license issued by selectmen.
Eckstrom said she has spoken to the two banks involved in the foreclosure and sale. Potter said he also has spoken with the banks and also with Kisten, who was unavailable for a meeting before the board.
"There’s an agreement in the works," Potter said. "I feel the bank is looking for another name for the title. Until they do there’s a limbo of a few weeks. Both the new real estate owner and the operator of the establishment are both aware" of the situation, Potter said.
"The holder of a license has to show a rental agreement," said Eckstrom, adding she wants something in writing from the bank.
"It doesn’t exist, but they are drafting it," Potter said.
"It’s obvious the bank doesn’t want to own (Harborwatch) property, they want to sell and will be looking for a responsible buyer," said Selectman Bruce Sauvageau.
Sauvageau said he understood that no one would want to see the property vacated.
"The bank doesn’t want to lose further value" and the town doesn’t want to see the property vacated, creating a "gaping hole" along Onset Avenue, he said. |
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