Massachusetts
Massachusetts fire chief facing heat after his private company received $5 million in town contracts
A Bay State fire chief is in the hot seat after his private company received more than $5 million from town contracts, according to the State Ethics Commission.
Townsend Fire Chief Gary Shepherd is accused of violating the state’s conflict of interest law, the Massachusetts commission said on Thursday.
The fire chief allegedly violated state law when he represented his private company in business with the town, and had financial interests in town contracts.
Shepherd, who operates the private company Shepco, Inc., first entered into a $754,333 contract with the town for a bridge replacement project. Then, his company agreed to a $4.7 million contract with the town for a water main project — for a total of about $5.4 million.
The fire chief was reportedly warned by the state before he did business with the town.
“Shepherd entered into the contracts despite having been issued a letter from the Commission’s Enforcement Division raising conflict of interest law concerns,” the Ethics Commission wrote.
Back on Nov. 30, 2022, the Ethics Commission in a letter from the Enforcement Division warned Shepherd that he needed a conflict of interest law exemption to contract with the town. The Commission also and told him how to comply with the law.
Shepherd was also told to contact the Commission’s Legal Division whenever he considered contracting with the town. The Enforcement Division alleges that Shepherd did not take any action in response to the letter.
The first contract was in December 2022, and the second project was in March 2023.
“The conflict of interest law prohibits municipal employees from having a financial interest in a contract made by the municipality they serve,” the Ethics Commission wrote. “The law also prohibits municipal employees from acting as agent for or being paid by anyone other than the municipality in relation to a matter in which the municipality is a party or has a direct and substantial interest.
“The Order alleges that Shepherd violated these prohibitions by having a financial interest in the contracts for the bridge replacement and water main projects, by acting on behalf of Shepco in relation to those contracts, and by receiving payments through Shepco’s work on those contracts,” the commission added.
The Ethics Commission can impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the conflict of interest law.
The Enforcement Division will give him the opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement. The commission plans to schedule a public hearing on the allegations against Shepherd within 90 days.
Firefighters rushed into a burning barn in Attleboro, Massachusetts on Wednesday to save horses trapped inside. It happened around 4 p.m. at a property located on Cumberland Street.
Video from Skyeye showed smoke pouring out of the roof of the barn which was one of a few that sat on the same property. The deputy fire chief told WBZ the building was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived as some of their ranks entered the barn to try and save the animals.
“They had to tend with some exposure problems, but they were able to contain the fire probably within about 20 minutes,” said Attleboro Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Perkins.
“Prevented a much greater tragedy”
One horse died in the fire, but multiple animals were rescued by firefighters before conditions deteriorated.
“The quick, coordinated actions of our crews under very difficult conditions prevented a much greater tragedy,” said District Chief Michael Maitland. “Their determination and teamwork saved not only the home but also several animals.”
The barn is off Route 123 in Attleboro, close to the Rhode Island border. Getting water to the fire was a struggle to start.
“We had some early issues with water,” Deputy Chief Perkins said. “The nearest hydrant was probably about 400 feet away, but we were able to overcome it, we sent a lot of resources to the fire right away.”
Once the fire was under control, crews using a skid steer loader to empty the barn of burning materials like hay. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to other barns on the property and nearby homes in the neighborhood.
Crews remained on scene for several hours to extinguish hot spots. No residents or firefighters were injured as a result of the fire.
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County about 40 miles south of Boston.
Massachusetts
South Coast representatives introduce bill to tackle street takeovers in Massachusetts
(WJAR) — A Bristol County representative joined the fight to crackdown on the illegal street takeovers in Massachusetts.
From Boston to Fall River, the scenes have blocked busy roads and led to dozens of arrests.
A new bill introduced by Dartmouth Rep. Christopher Markey aims to deter the emerging problem.
Two Rhode Island men were arrested early Sunday morning in Boston in an incident where over 100 individuals attacked marked Boston police cruisers. (External Affairs Porter)
The legislation would allow law enforcement to seize the bikes and cars involved.
It would also add penalties for those wearing masks.
“The penalty of two and half years in the house of correction potential for a $500 fine and then also seizure of the vehicle,” Barnstable Rep. Steven Xiarhos said. “I suggest that we put together in this bill that disorderly and disturbing the peace would have an enhanced penalty if you have a mask while doing it.”
Representatives are also pushing for increased fines and even jail sentences for spectators.
Massachusetts is about to get its first taste of winter this season.
Tuesday brings temperatures below normal for mid-November, with highs in the high 30s or low 40s across the state.
Gusting winds will make it feel cooler than the already cold temperatures, with afternoon wind chills in the 20s and 30s creating a “winter feel,” National Weather Service forecasters wrote.
Adding to that winter feel will be snow showers in the Berkshires, with lake-effect moisture lifted along the western slopes. Those showers could spill over to the eastern slopes of the Berkshires, with a coating to an inch of accumulation possible.
Elsewhere, flurries are possible, but little to no accumulation is expected.
Temperatures should moderate on Wednesday, with highs climbing back into the 40s. Forecasters expect a largely cloudy day with some showers over Cape Cod and the Islands. More rain or snow could fall in higher elevations, with the rest of the state likely to stay dry.
The stretch of cooler-than-normal temperatures will continue through Saturday, with the mildest day likely to be Thursday, when temperatures could climb to the 50s.
Looking ahead to Sunday and Monday, a low-pressure system approaching the region from the Great Lakes could bring snow and ice, but Massachusetts is more likely to see rain on Sunday before drier conditions settle in on Monday.
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