after media comments by town officials

by Patriot staff

Dudley – Jamie Bowlin, chairman of the Finance Appropriations and Advisory (FAA) committee resigned today in a letter released to the press. In the letter, addressed to Dudley residents, Mr. Bowlin expressed his disillusionment with recent statements made by public officials, which he called “unnecessary and brutal attacks.”

The comments stemmed from written suggestions for town government changes that the FAA had handed out at the fall town meeting last month.  

Mr. Bowlin joined the five-member FAA committee in October of 2011 and became its chairman in May of this year.

He said he resigned because “I was disappointed with the poor communications. If the town officials had issues with the actions of the FAA then they should bring them to our attention, rather than taking shots at us, including speculating on our intentions.

“I gave it some thought and honestly, I did not sign up to fight with town officials. I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

“I care about Dudley and wanted to give back, and I tried. But I'm not going to have my name dragged through the papers. I set out to do something good. I got shot down.” 

Read the full text of his letter in the Opinion section, click on Your Letters.

Dudley Police Department
PRESS RELEASE
December 10, 2012

The Dudley Police Department is investigating a report of a possible abduction attempt which took place on Dudley Oxford Road near the intersection with Center Road. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, December 7, 2012. A teenage female was jogging in the area and reported she was approached by a dark blue, full size, Ford 4x4 pickup truck, possibly a 1992 to 1996 model. The truck is described as having light colored reflective stripes on its sides.  The victim alleges the driver pulled into a driveway in the area, exited the truck, and followed after her on foot.  She ran to a nearby neighbor’s house. The driver was described as a white male, wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans. The matter remains under investigation by Sergeant James Hutchinson and Officer Chandler Boyd.  If anyone has any information regarding this incident they should contact at the Dudley Police Department 508-943-4411.

Particulars: A two vehicle collision occurred shortly after 9 AM on Friday morning November 30th, sending one of the operators to a Worcester hospital.

At around 9 AM on November 30th, Dudley Emergency Dispatch received one of several calls for a serious two car motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Schofield Avenue and Brandon Road.  One of the vehicles, a small commercial truck had struck an SUV broadside, and pushed it onto the front lawn of a nearby three-decker dwelling on Schofield Ave.  The SUV stopped short of hitting the house.

The annual fundraiser for the Dudley Police DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program is underway in the Town of Dudley.  Calls are being made by All Pro Productions to local residents and businesses seeking donations to this worthwhile program.  A basketball game with the New England Patriots All-Stars is planned for the spring of 2013 as thank you to those who contribute. 

Dudley Police Sergeant Dean Poplawski has conducted the DARE Program to the sixth graders at the Dudley Middle School for many years.  This is a half year course and it is a substance abuse and violence prevention program.  This is completely funded through this fundraiser and other donations.  The Dudley Police thank everyone in advance for their generosity and encourage you to contact the department at 508-949-8023 should you encounter problems or have any questions.

Chief Steven J. Wojnar

$3 million given by local donors

DUDLEY— After more than a year of construction, Nichols College dedicated
its Fels Student Center on Friday, November 16 at 2:30 p.m.  The $10
million structure—financed entirely by private contributions—represents
the largest building investment in Nichols’ nearly 200-year history.

The College had previously announced that the building would be named for
longtime local contributors Gerald and Marilyn Fels.

Gerald Fels is the former CEO of Webster-based Commerce Insurance, as well
as the former chair of the Nichols Board of Trustees and the school’s
interim president during the 2010-11 school year.

Nichols President Susan West Engelkemeyer and the College’s Board of
Trustees hosted the dedication ceremony.

The new facility includes 30,000 square feet to house student services,
such as the Center for Student Involvement, Residence Life and Career
Services; meeting space for student government and clubs; an alternative
food service, and the post office, bookstore and Nichols College radio
station.

Worcester County benefactors played a key role in the building of the new
student center at Nichols College, donating almost $3 million to the
project.

“It is wonderful to recognize these community heroes with a building that
will unite the Nichols community in so many ways,” said Nichols President
Susan West Engelkemeyer at the event. “The College is proud to call this
addition to the campus The Fels Student Center.”
“The student center represents the largest fundraising effort in the
College’s history, and we have been so grateful for the response from the
region,” says Bill Pieczynski, Nichols vice president for advancement.
The 11 largest contributors reside in or have strong ties to the towns of
Webster, Southbridge, and Holden, as well as to the city of Worcester.
The list reads like a Who’s Who of Worcester-area business leaders.

Gerald Fels ‘66, the former CEO of Webster-based Commerce Insurance, former
chair of the Nichols Board of Trustees, and interim president of the
College during the 2010-11 school year, contributed $1 million, as did
former Commerce founder Arthur Remillard.
“Nichols has waited a long time to realize this dream of having a building
that sits at the center of academic and student life,” Fels noted.
“Marilyn and I were committed to the center because it differentiates a
Nichols education and will change the face of the College.”

The Worcester-based George I. Alden Trust added $300,000 and the balance of
the contributions came from eight current or emeritus members of the
Nichols Board of Trustees.  They include Southbridge business leaders John
Dirlam, president of J.I. Morris Co.; Alan Peppel MBA ’98, chair of the
Affinity Group, and Dick Hardy, chair emeritus of the Affinity Group; the
Hyde/Dexter-Russell Charitable Foundation; and Southbridge native Martin
Power ’78, trading manager at Koch Supply and Trading LP in Houston.
“ Significant donations to the student center also came from Webster
residents Dr. Suryakant (Sam) Patel and Randy and Donna Becker ’83.

Bob Vaudreuil ’77, a former Board of Trustees chair and president and CEO
of the Protector Group in Worcester, and the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller
Foundation—in the name of the late Russell Fuller, a former Nichols
trustee—round out the list of major donors.

“The generous commitment of business leaders, corporations, and charitable
organizations in central Massachusetts has had a tremendous impact on this
project, just as the student center will have a transformative impact on
Nichols,” says Nichols’ Pieczynski.
 

Combines elected Treasurer-Collector position

By Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY—Needing a quorum of 51 voters to make its Fall Town Meeting happen, Dudley voters in attendance at the November 19 assembly numbered 65.  Town Moderator Patrick Flynn began the meeting by introducing Town Clerk Ora Finn, who read the necessities of the Town Meeting Warrant.

Articles unanimously passed by Town voters were as follows:

Article 1–to hear and act on the Board of Selectmen and the Finance & Appropriation Advisory Committee recommendations.

Article 2– establish & authorize a revolving fund account for the following purposes: Fire Alarm Boxes ($35,000) and Council on Aging Meal Servicess. ($1,000).

Article 3– transfer $2,020.07 from Free Cash to pay Fiscal Year 2012 unpaid bills: Fire Dept. $1,827.89; Police Dept. $162.94; and Selectmen $29.24.

Article 4– to pay the outstanding past unpaid Fiscal Year 2012 bill from Sewer Equipment of America $241.46.

Article 5– transfer $12,000 from the Road Machinery Fund to the Machinery Maintenance Account.

Article 6– fund the Highway General Account $4,000.

Article 7– fund the Worcester Regional Retirement’s Annual assessment $2,323.

Article 8– transfer $745 from Retained Earnings to fund the Worcester Regional Retirement‘s Annual assessment.

Article 9 – to fund $43, 148 to purchase a new 2013 Ford F350 4x4 pickup truck for the Sewer Dept.

Article 10– to fund from Retained Earnings $16,250 for the Healy & Dudley-Oxford Roads’ bond issue; account to be used is Water Debt Service.

Article 11– transfer $8,771 from the Insurance General Account to County retirement account.

Article 12– fund the Tree Removal Account for $5,000.

Article 13– previously stricken from the warrant.

Article 14– fund the supplemental charges of $104,696 presented as Appendix A in the FY 2013 Budget Proposal. This includes restoration of items cut at the May Town Meeting, including $30,000 for Fire Department EMS coverage, $15,000 for police overtime, $10,324 for keeping on streetlights, and $2,934 for beach lifeguards.

Article 15– vote to appropriate $23,000 to fund 1/3 of costs for triennial recertification of FY 2015 real estate and personal property values as required by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Article 16– appropriate $67,647 to the Capital Improvement Fund.

Article 17– to accept, according to Mass. General Laws, the appointment of an alternate officer-in-charge if Town Clerk is unavailable.

Article 18– passed over in lieu of Article 20.

Article 19– previously stricken from the warrant.

Article 20– allow the Town to petition the General Court to combine the current elected position of Town Treasurer and Tax Collector into one elected position. The posts are currently held by Treasurer Richard Carmignani, who has been serving as interim collector as well since the spring. 

Article 21- appropriate $19,450 to add to the Stabilization Fund.

as Police Reserve Officer;
approve community grant applications

by Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - After unanimously approving minutes of their last meeting on November 5, Board of Selectmen members sailed through their agenda before attending the Annual Fall Town Meeting held at Shepherd Hill Regional High School. Their high school cafeteria meeting place became quite noisy as students and parents called and spoke to one other as they passed through on their way to their own meeting held on the opposite side of the dining hall. As Ora Finn, Town Clerk, and her staff checked in Town voters who were attending the Town Meeting, the Selectmen carried on with their Town business.

As there were no public comments, public hearings, or licensing/permit grants, the Board got right down to business, granting a Center Road parking waiver to the Dudley Congregational Church’s Annual Christmas Fair to be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 am-4 pm as well as permitting the Charlton-Dudley Youth Football & Cheerleading Squad to hold a Toll Booth collection at the Webster-Dudley line (French River bridge near NAPA Auto Parts) on Saturday, 11/24, and 12/1, between 9 am-12 noon.

The board also approved a grant endorsement application presented by Police Chief Wojnar for a full-time School Resource Officer (as opposed to the current part-time officer whose hours are contingent upon Police Department scheduling). Additionally, they granted permission to the Town Administrator, with reservations per Selectman Paul Joseph, for E-permit processing enabling online permits for Building, Planning and Zoning, Fire, Board of Health, Board of Selectmen licenses, Code Enforcement, Conservation Commission, and Town Clerk Licenses, etc.  The E-permits are dependent upon additional departmental controls and are offered through the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission.

The remaining agenda item included a complete review of the Fall Town Meeting Warrant and the board’s recommendations wherein the singular item of much discussion centered on Article 20 “to see if the Town will vote to approve the joint position of Treasurer-Collector into one elected position.”  Selectman Joseph expressed his opinion that the position should be an appointed post in order that the Treasurer-Collector be reportable to the board.  Other members were not in agreement and the board was not unanimous in its acceptance of the article as written. Adjournment was made in order to move into the high school auditorium for the Fall Town Meeting.  

Local Newsworthy Events

Date:  Wednesday November 7, 2012
Location:  Rte. 131, Dudley-Southbridge Town Line

Patriot staff photo

Particulars:   On Wednesday morning November 7th, firefighters from two departments responded and worked together to extinguish a car which caught fire while the occupant was driving to work.

            Just before 10 AM on November 7th, both the Dudley Fire Department and the Southbridge Fire Department received simultaneous 911 calls reporting a car fire on Route 131 near the Dudley-Southbridge town line.  Both departments dispatched an Engine and a crew to respond to the incident.  The car was actually located in the Town of Southbridge by about 6 feet.

            Southbridge firefighters arrived on scene first, and stretched a hoseline to attack the car fire, which was burning in the area of the engine compartment.  As Southbridge jakes began to move in on the burning auto, Dudley firefighters arrived on scene and began to assist their Southbridge Brothers by opening up the hood and trunk, and overhauling the vehicle to check for hidden fire.  The fire was quickly brought under control.

            Traffic on the busy secondary highway had to be diverted around the fire scene for about an hour and this task was handled by police officers from the Southbridge and Dudley Police Departments.  The cause of the fire is under investigation, but appears to be mechanical at the present time.  There were no injuries.  

Photos:

(L-R) – James C. Ciprari, Peter Krause, Pam Zouranjian Connor, Sean Mitchell, and Christopher Robert

DUDLEY - Officials from Harrington HealthCare Systems gathered at Tri-State Toyota & Scion of Dudley on Friday to accept a check in the amount of $5,000 dollars for the purpose of renovating the Emergency Department at Harrington HealthCare System’s Hubbard Campus. The donation will be matched by an anonymous donor.

            Harrington HealthCare Systems has embarked on an ambitious fundraising venture to raise some $4 million dollars to renovate the antiquated emergency facilities at the Hubbard campus.  The anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations made to the project up to the $4 million dollar mark.

Peter Krause, President of Tri-State Toyota & Scion, and James C. Ciprari, Vice President and General Manager of Tri-State, made the ceremonial presentation of the check. 

Tri-State contributed $2,500 to the capital campaign, and that number was matched by Toyota's Dealer Match Program, for the $5,000 total. 

On hand to accept the donation from Harrington HealthCare Systems was Pam Zouranjian Connor, Site Administrator of the Hubbard campus; Sean Mitchell, Directorof Development at Harrington HealthCare System;, and Chris Robert, Board member, Hubbard Health Systems).

The donation was made by Tri-State Toyota & Scion, and Toyota Motor Sales.  

Dudley Police Department
Press Release

November 5, 2012

Even though Halloween has just passed, our thoughts turn to the upcoming Holiday Season.  During this time, The Dudley Police Department will be collecting donations for needy families in our community.  We are working in coordination with Webster-Dudley Food Share to provide holiday gifts for people in Dudley who need assistance at this time.  Donations of NEW clothing and toys will be accepted at the Dudley Police Department in the Dudley Municipal Complex at 71 West Main Street.  Monetary Donations of any value will also be gladly accepted.   Please donate by CHECK ONLY payable to: Webster-Dudley Food Share.  Gift cards will also be accepted; however, since transportation is an issue for many families, we ask these cards be only redeemable at local stores.   The cards or checks can be dropped off or mailed to the Dudley Police Department at 71 West Main Street Dudley, Ma. 01571.

Particularly for the Thanksgiving holiday, gift cards to local grocery stores are greatly needed to help with the purchase of turkeys and other items in order to make the this special day enjoyable for all.

These are just some ways for people to make a difference and help out our local citizens who may require some assistance during this difficult time.  Your generosity is always appreciated.  For more information, please contact one of the following:  Chief Steven Wojnar or Officer Chandler Boyd at 508-949-8023. 

The Dudley Police Dept would like to thank the citizens and the community for their continued support and assistance and we wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.