Volume lIX No.

39
oN THe WeB: www.duxburyclipper.com e-mAIl: editor@duxburyclipper.com Newsroom: 781-934-2811 x25 Advertising: 781-934-2811 x23 Newsstand: $1.00
WedNesdAy, sepTemBer 30, 2009 A flm is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet. Orson Welles
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Use the form on page nine or subscribe
online at www.duxburyclipper.com
Chief clash
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
The Duxbury School Com-
mittee met on Wednesday to
hash out some of the issues
and philosophical differences
that have been dividing the
committee recently. But the
meeting almost didnt take
place, as the committee con-
sidered canceling the meeting
after a Clipper reporter refused
to leave.
Printed signs directed visi-
tors to a conference room in the
high school, and chairs were set
up for an audience. However,
at the beginning of the meet-
ing, School Committee George
Cipolletti asked a woman tap-
ing the meeting for local cable
access to shut off the camera,
saying that the committee had
a choice whether or not to al-
low the taping of the meeting.
Residents in attendance were
told that although the meeting
was posted according to the
open meeting law, having peo-
ple view the meeting might be
detrimental to the discussion,
because School Committee
members might not be able to
speak freely. After some back
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
Grab your designer sun-
glasses, recruit your entou-
rage, and get your agent on the
phone the movie business is
coming to the South Shore.
The buzz around the new
Plymouth Rock movie studio
is already having an effect.
Thanks to tax incentives aimed
at Hollywood-types, the state
Lights, camera, action!
Plymouth Rock
Studios reaches
out to towns
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
Its been a year since devel-
oper John Keith frst presented
a plan to expand the existing
Island Creek Village. After
many revisions and back-and-
forth discussions between the
development team and the
Zoning Board of Appeals, the
two sides seemed much closer
to an agreement after meeting
on Thursday night.
I think were ending on
a very happy note, said ZBA
Chairman Dennis Murphy as
the meeting adjourned.
However, the meeting did
not begin with such an opti-
mistic tone. The two sides had
differences over a number of
issues, including the height of
the rental apartment buildings
and the economic feasibil-
ity of the project as a whole.
The development team, led by
consultant Ed Marchant, had
maintained that some of the
changes demanded by the town
had made the project known as
Island Creek close to a deal
Project will be all rental, boost housing index
continued on page 6
continued on page 19 continued on page 12
John Jordan of Duxbury and Kate Ayson sit in the offices of the Rock
Educational Cooperative, the non-profit wing of the new Plymouth
Rock movie studio being built in Plymouth.
School board
talks it out
Committee tries to shut the door
as they work on communication
Architect Andrew Zaleski shows
the board new plans for the 40B
development of Island Creek.
By susanna sheehan, Clipper staff
susanna@duxBuryClipper.Com
A large crowd packed the
town hall Monday night to
show their support for Police
Chief Mark DeLuca, some
calling on selectmen to re-
move Town Manager Richard
MacDonald from offce and
threatening to revoke the Town
Manager Act.
A few residents did defend
the town manager, however,
and the husband of a former
police offcer charged DeLu-
ca and the petition organizers
with intimidation.
DeLucas
supporters pre-
sented select-
men with a pe-
tition signed by
over 500 Dux-
bury residents
who want the
police chief to
keep his job. In
June, MacDonald announced
he would not renew DeLucas
contract, which expires Nov.
20. Under the Town Manager
Act of 1987, the town manager
has the ability to appoint or re-
continued on page 16
Mark DeLuca
Police chief supporters demand
answers on contract status
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19 Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Duxbury Clipper Subscribe at www.duxburyclipper.com or call 781-934-2811
and forth discussion, reporters
were allowed to stay.
The committee, along with
Superintendent of Schools
Susan Skeiber and Assistant
Superintendent Edwin Walsh,
met with consultant Robert
Evans. Evans, a psycholo-
gist, works for a non-proft
in Wellsely and works with
school committees around the
country.
Its not true that a good
committee is one where every-
body sees eye to eye, Evans
said. Its how it gets man-
aged, and seeing that people
disagree in ways that are ulti-
mately constructive.
Committee member Anne
Ward said that there has been
a divide on the board recently
among members who wish to
support the superintendent and
those who want to be a voice
for the citizens.
These two things dont
have to be mutually exclu-
sive, she said. How do we
get rid of the split and merge
these two things.
John Heindstadt said that
he felt there is a perception in
the public the committee needs
to deal with. Citizens dont
feel that anybodys listening to
them, he said. Most people
will accept something, even if
they disagree, if you discuss
things openly and honestly
and respect them.
Member Maureen Connol-
ly said she felt very strongly
that the voices of concerned
parents should be heard.
We were elected by the
public, for the public, she
said. Parents are the ones who
will advocate most for their
children. Nobody else will do
that like a parent does.
However, other members
said they have to take the po-
sition of whats best for the
district as a whole.
On any issue, theres go-
ing to be some parents who
agree or disagree, said Karen
Wong. We were elected to
have that birds eye view.
Other members said that
constant second guessing of
the superintendent is tanta-
mount to micromanagement
and impedes her ability to do
her job.
We have a diffcult time,
sometimes as a board and
sometimes as individual mem-
bers, delineating between di-
rection and directions, said
Cipolletti.
Ward said that the group
needed to learn to disagree
and ask questions without un-
dercutting the superintendents
authority.
I think its our obligation
to support her, not necessarily
agree with her, but to make
her successful, she said.
Wheres the happy medium
between split votes ... and be-
ing that 5-0 rubber stamp.
Heindstadt said that the
committee could still do that
while asking tough questions.
I want it to work right,
and we have to talk about that.
Im not trying to scuttle the
whole program, he said, re-
ferring to the recent decision
to change school start times.
Even the facilitator admit-
ted that these issues are not
small differences.
Some of the issues that
have divided you carry a real
wallop, Evans said.
Although no one present
had any delusions about solv-
ing all the problems in one
night, the board did talk about
some possible solutions.
Skeiber said that some
concerns from parents go
straight to the School Com-
mittee rather than following
the proper chain of command,
starting with teachers and
building principals then ad-
ministration. She said that if
School Committee members
could funnel concerns through
the boards chairman, they
could either be sent to the ap-
propriate staff member or be
put on the School Committee
agenda, if warranted.
That would clear up some
things that I get involved in
that I dont necessarily think I
should, said Skeiber.
The idea of giving new
programs a waiting period
was also discussed. Evans said
some committee can fall into
a trap where, after a certain
program or policy is voted on,
things keeps getting rehashed
over and over again, prevent-
ing the committee from mov-
ing on to other business.
Sometimes its hard for
the minority voting group to
accept that, if I had my say but
I didnt convince them, Ive
had my say, he said. He said
some districts will prohibit a
matter from being discussed
until three months or so after
the original vote although
he stressed that it is important
to allow a controversial pro-
gram to be revisited. This idea
seemed to resonate with all
committee members.
All School Committee
members agreed, however,
that the back and forth over a
handful of issues such as the
decision to change the school
start times is detracting
from larger educational issues
such as class size, budget or
override prospects, 21st cen-
tury education, MCAS tests
and the quality of teachers.
The committee also agreed
that despite the differences in
philosophy, all members want
Duxbury schools to be suc-
cessful.
We all want the best for
the kids, said Cipolletti. The
question is, how can we sup-
port the success and how can
we measure the success?
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DA: School councils
didnt post meetings
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
The meeting on Wednesday was not the Duxbury School
Districts frst brush with an open meeting law violation this
year.
According to a letter sent on Aug. 19 from Plymouth
Country Assistant District Attorney Mary Lee to Town Coun-
sel Robert Troy, the Alden Elementary School and Duxbury
Middle School councils were not posting their meetings at
Town Hall in accordance with the law.
Both principals acknowledge the majority of the 2008-
2009 meetings of their School Councils were not posted with
the Town Clerk, as required by the Open Meeting Law, Lee
wrote in the letter.
She went on to say that there were mitigating factors, as
the errors were unintentional, the meetings times and minutes
had been posted on the Internet, and as soon as the error was
discovered both school councils immediately began posting
the meetings with the Town Clerk.
Both councils have demonstrated an intent to comply
with the law in the 2009-2010 academic year, Lee wrote.
Both school councils were required by the District Attor-
ney to read the letter out loud at a public meeting.
School board talks it out
continued from page one
Senior center
flu clinic
The Board of Health
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Thursday, Oct. 1 from 10
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Beefeater Gin ................................................................................ 1.75L .. $28.99
Jim Beam Bourbon ...................................................................... 1.75L .. $24.99
Liberty School cabernet, chardonnay, syrah ......................................... 750 ml ....$11.99
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Gnarly Head cab, chard, merlot, pinot grigio, zinfandel ............................. 750 ml .....$7.99
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OPEN
SOLITUDE: Bill Tenhoor walks on a windswept Duxbury Beach Friday afternoon.
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
The Duxbury School
Committee violated the states
Open Meeting Law on several
levels by asking reporters to
leave a workshop meeting and
refusing to allow the event to
be taped, the District Attor-
neys offce has ruled.
In addition to the viola-
tions, Plymouth County As-
sistant District Attorney Mary
Lee said in a Feb. 12 letter that
the School Committee failed
to answer two letters from the
DAs offce, dated Oct. 5 and
Nov. 4.
This offce only received
a substantive response after
sending a third letter stating
that the matter would be de-
cided without the committees
input, Lee wrote.
As a result of the viola-
tions, the committee must state
publicly that they violated the
Open Meeting Law during the
meeting on Sept. 23, 2009.
They must specifcally admit
that they violated the law by
telling the public to leave an
open session and denying the
public the right to record the
meeting, and that they failed
to provide the minutes of the
meeting to the district attor-
neys offce in a timely fash-
ion. They must also promise
DA rules against
School Committee
continued on page 15
Photo by Karen Wong
By Justin GraeBer, Clipper editor
Justin@duxBuryClipper.Com
A group of parents is lead-
ing the charge to have more
bike riders and skateboarders
in Duxbury wearing helmets
although they are holding
off on a plan to present a hel-
met bylaw to Town Meeting.
Selden Tearse said she
has grown concerned over the
number of kids in Duxbury rid-
ing their bikes or skateboards
without a helmet.
Last summer there were
more and more kids without
helmets, Tearse said. Once
Watch your head
Parents want more kids wearing bike and
skateboard helmets on town streets
A group of parents in town are concerned with the lack of helmet
usage among young bike riders and skateboarders.
continued on page 6
By susanna sheehan, Clipper staff
susanna@duxBuryClipper.Com
An increase in water rates
will mean higher water bills
for most Duxbury residents.
This week, selectmen vot-
ed unanimously to support a
new four-tier water rate struc-
ture that replaces the current
three-tier structure beginning
March 1.
The purpose of the four
categories is to foster water
conservation and meet the op-
erating costs of the Water De-
partment.
Under the new rates, the
annual base charge will in-
crease for both seniors and
non-seniors and the frst cate-
gory of water usage is divided
into two new tiers.
There are 5,400 house-
holds on town water and the
majority of them, over 50
percent, fall into the second
tier of usage of 21,000-60,000
gallons.
Residents who fall within
tier 1 are rewarded for their
Hike for
water rates
continued on page 4
15 Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Duxbury Clipper
First Parish Church
Unitarian Universalist
Tremont at Depot Street, Rte 3A (next to Town Hall)
Duxbury 781-934-6532
The Best of Broadway
Presented by Jack Craig
Music - With Class!
Saturday - February 27th - 7:00pm
Program begin at 7:15pm
From Second Hand Rose (1921) through Send in the Clowns (1973),
the songs in this program celebrate the high point of American
musical theatre. Standout productions like Showboat, South Pacic,
My Fair Lady, and Hello Dolly are all included as well as unique hits
from writers such as Noel Coward, Kurt Weill, and Irving Berlin. The
program concentrates on the golden age of musicals by Rodgers and
Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, and Stephen Sondheim - but all of
the 28 songs we will be singing are classics!
Please bring a dish to share for the supper. Fellowship is the order
of the day. Questions please call Polly Lanman 781-934-5412 or
Bev Johnson 781-834-6213.
The Alliance of The First Parish Church
invites everybody to a Pot Luck Supper at 6:00pm followed by
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Visit us at www.bluerivermontessori.org
484 Temple Street, Duxbury (781) 834-4480
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Recommended in Karen Browns Guide, 2009 New England
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781.934.7727
www.ppbab.com
Function Room Available
1486 MaIa $treet 8o0te 27, haasoa 7812930555
email: bernardos1@comcast.net
Restaurant open Wednesday - Saturday at 4:30pm
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only $12.95 w/potato & vegetable
Performing in our dining room March 5th
East Coast Acapella
to refrain from having any pri-
vate meetings in the future.
The meeting of Sept. 23
was deemed by committee
members a workshop meet-
ing and was held in a room at
the high school, rather than the
groups normal meeting place
at the Alden School. At the be-
ginning of the meeting, School
Committee Chairman George
Cipolletti asked two reporters
to leave and told a camera-
woman from community cable
that the committee had the
right not to record the meet-
ing. Although board members
threatened to cancel the meet-
ing at an additional cost to the
taxpayers, a Clipper reporter
was allowed to stay after he
refused to leave.
The purpose of the meet-
ing was to work through some
of the differences and conficts
between board members that
had been arising at public meet-
ings. Some members argued
that the constant criticism of
the superintendent amounted
to micro management, while
others said they were elected
to speak for the parents.
Lee based her decision on
information provided by the
schools attorney, media re-
ports and an eyewitness state-
ment.
She said that even in the
letter from the attorney, the
district was admitting a vio-
lation of the law because it
stated Cipolletti had asked re-
porters and the camerawoman
to leave.
The law could not be
clearer she wrote. It is im-
permissible for the Committee
even to ask any person to leave
an open session because it in-
terferes with and essentially
revokes the individuals right
to be present.
Lee also dispelled the no-
tion that the meeting was a
workshop not covered by
Open Meeting Law, although
she noted the committee
had essentially conceded the
point.
Anytime the School
Committee discusses any pub-
lic business or public policy
matter over which it has su-
pervision, control, jurisdiction
or advisory power, the discus-
sion constitutes a meeting,
Lee wrote.
Lee also expressed con-
cern over a notion voiced at
the workshop, namely that the
committee should share con-
cerns with the superintendent
and the chairman prior to the
meeting so there will be no
surprises.
It is explicitly prohibited
for a quorum to engage in a pri-
vate discussion so that any dis-
sent can be hashed out in pri-
vate to permit a united stance
in public, Lee wrote. She also
warned that conducting busi-
ness via e-mail, as suggested
at the meeting, is a violation
of Open Meeting Law and that
electronic correspondence is
subject to public records law.
When contacted for com-
ment, Cipolletti said the school
board would comply with the
letters conditions, but de-
clined further comment.
Overall, Lee stressed in
her letter that the purpose of
the meeting for board mem-
bers to privately hash out their
differences was at its core a
violation of state law.
The Open Meeting Law
simply does not permit mem-
bers of a governmental body
privacy to settle their differ-
ences as the Chairman wrote
in his letter to the Duxbury
Clipper, Lee wrote in her
summary. It is precisely that
exchange of differing views
regarding matters under their
purview that the public is en-
titled to hear under the Open
Meeting Law.
www. t r a c ys he e ha n. c om
*
781- 585- 7363
by
Tracy Sheehan
Photography
Puppy Love
Come celebrate the whole
month of February with your
furry friend.
Donations to be made to the
Humane Society.
Call the Studio for details!
Ending soon!
DA rules against School Committee
continued from page one
In July, a group of teenag-
ers from Holy Family Parish
will give up a week of their
summer vacation to travel
hundreds of miles in cramped
vans, sleep on the foor of an
old school or hospital, to help
change the lives of people
whom they have never met,
but who are in great need. For
each of the past seven years,
teenagers have participated
in the Appalachian Service
Project, a Christian service or-
ganization that repairs homes
for the poorest of the poor in
the Appalachian mountain re-
gions of West Virginia, Ten-
nessee and Kentucky. Hun-
dreds of families, living far
below the poverty level, apply
to the ASP organization for as-
sistance with essential home
repairs leaking roofs, broken
pipes, crumbling foundations,
etc. With fnancial assistance
from the community, these
teens donate their time and la-
bor to help make these homes
warmer, safer and drier and
perhaps restore some dignity
to these families otherwise
diffcult lives.
As any teen who has par-
ticipated in these missions can
attest, they go to help serve
others, but they return forever
changed themselves. It serves
as an invaluable life lesson for
them and a wonderful oppor-
tunity for us to help them, help
others.
This years group asks you
for any monetary support you
can provide as even small do-
nations have a powerful im-
pact. Make checks payable
to Holy Family ASP, 601
Tremont St. Duxbury, MA
02332.
Appalachia Service Project needs your support
22 Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Duxbury Clipper Home delivery special: 55 cents a week!
John & BoBBie Cutler, Founders
DaviD S. Cutler, PreSiDent
JoSh S. Cutler, PubliSher
JuStin M. Graeber, eDitor
Phone: 781-934-2811
E-mail: editor@duxburyclipper.com
SenD itemS for the
opinion page to
editor@duxburyclipper.com

the DeaDline for all
letters & commentaries
is monday at noon.
WhatS YourS? Share Your vieWS in our SounDing off SeCtion
Send us your letters!
The Duxbury Clipper welcomes all views.
Preference will be given to letters from
Duxbury residents or Duxbury-related
topics. Thank you letters will be accepted
if concise. Anonymous letters or letters
published in other publications will not
be considered.
E-mail: editor@duxburyclipper.com

Mail: P.O. Box 1656, Duxbury, MA 02331
A meeting thats
open but not?
T
he School Committee came dangerously close to
violating the states Open Meeting Law Wednesday
as they asked reporters to leave a workshop meeting
at the high school.
Saying the meeting is open, but wed rather you not be
here is the same as saying the meeting is closed. It made the
signs in the high school leading to the meeting room, and all
the talk at the previous School Committee meeting about this
gathering being open to the public, seem disingenuous. The
idea that the committee would even consider canceling the
meeting rather than complying with the Open Meeting Law is
ludicrous and seemed spiteful.
The agenda of the meeting was to discuss how the
Committee could better facilitate their meetings despite some
philosophical differences between board members on the role
of a school committee member.
Its an interesting dynamic, and its always going to be
changing depending on the composition of the committee.
The relationship between the School Committee is like the
selectmen and the town manager. The selectmen shouldnt be
micromanaging Richard MacDonald on every personnel or
budget decision. But asking tough questions shouldnt be met
with lectures about not being a team player, either.
There were some valid points made at the meeting. If a
School Committee member has a concern, its best to put it on
the agenda, rather that introducing it on the meeting foor, so
the other members and the administration dont feel ambushed.
But thats all the more reason the public had a right to see
the discussion, so they could understand the many complex
issues the committee struggles with and how hard members are
working to overcome them.
Toward the beginning of the meeting Anne Ward said
that the desire to support the superintendent and the desire to
speak for the people shouldnt be mutually exclusive. Thats
true. But questioning the superintendent, pushing her for more
information or asking her to reconsider something isnt the
same as not supporting her. One of the most interesting things
about Wednesdays meeting was when the discussion veered
towards some of the more general educational goals that all
agreed dont get discussed enough at the School Committee
meetings. It was obvious from the thoughtful, insightful
comments from every corner of the table that the committee
is composed of fve people who truly want what is best for the
students, teachers and staff of the district even if they dont
always see eye-to-eye. Instead of worrying about the fallacy of
presenting a united front, the differences of opinion should
be celebrated. The Duxbury Public Schools as a whole are
better for it.
J. Graeber
C
hief Mark Deluca
demonstrated clear-
ly at Monday nights
Selectmans meeting why his
contract should not be renewed
in November. In a room full
of supporters, one brave soul
got up and related how he felt
intimidated this weekend at
the Transfer Station when he
refused to sign a petition in
support of the chief. After giv-
ing his reasons for not signing
the petition, he noticed that the
petition-seeker wrote down his
license plate number. He then
went on to relate knowledge of
instances of intimidation and
fear by the chief against his
wife when she was employed
at the police department sev-
eral years ago. Immediately
the chief got up and said that it
was all untrue and walked up to
the speaker and started arguing
with him in his face on cam-
era no less. This type of out-
rageous intimidation cannot be
tolerated by our police chief.
Under our town manager
form of government, the town
manager has the sole author-
ity to renew the police chiefs
contract. The Board of Select-
man certainly can express their
opinion, but cannot and should
not interfere, with the town
managers decision. The town
manager must have the right to
select a management team that
will work closely with him and
other department heads to ad-
vance the interests of the town.
If the town manager believes
that the chief is not on his team,
then the town manager has the
right to make a change in per-
sonnel.
Accusations by the public
that the town manager has not
established cause for dismissal
are incorrect. The only time
that the town manager must
give cause is if he were termi-
nating the contract before it ex-
pired. A non-renewal is not the
same as a termination, no mat-
ter what people may argue. If
the town managers sole reason
is that he cannot work with the
chief any more, then that is all
the reason he needs to give.
The chief has done some
wonderful things in his time
in Duxbury that many people,
including me, certainly recog-
nize. But apparently the time
has come that the town man-
ager and chief cannot work as
a team anymore. If that is the
case, then I support the town
managers right to change his
police chief.
Andre Martecchini
Heritage Lane
Chief showed why he needed to go
I
n the Clippers other-
wise excellent report on
the dig at King Caesar
House, there is a partial error in
the paragraph that begins and
ends, There are few original
items in the King Caesar House
... Most of the furniture and de-
cor are reproductions.
It is true, there are few
items in King Caesars house
that actually belonged to him -
a rocking chair, a watch, pieces
of jewelry, a silver pitcher, a
trunk, leather boxes among
them. However, the house is
furnished but with historically
valuable pieces that belonged to
his contemporaries; ship build-
ing families such as the Drews,
Winsors and Spragues.
Many of these furnishings
came directly from members of
those and other local families
over many decades. And then
in 1998 a major bequest of over
200 Duxbury-related items
from Rosamund Gifford made
it possible to furnish the King
Caesar House with period-per-
fect objects, and put a number
of Winsor family pieces in the
Nathaniel Winsor Jr. House.
Following that stunning
gift, a Winsor family dining
table was given to the Society,
which after much conservation
replaced the last reproduction
piece at KCH. Except for a
Paines Furniture arm chair that
was part of the Sarah Wingate
Taylor estate. It now sits qui-
etly, hoping not to be noticed,
in the West or best Parlor.
The house contains an un-
surpassed collection of original
portraits of Duxbury historical
fgures as well as a collection of
original paintings of Duxbury
ships. The walls on which they
hang have been repainted since
Ezra Westons time, and the
window and bed hangings have
been reproduced. So much for
the decor.
Readers of the Clipper who
have not seen this wonderful
collection in Duxburys most
stately of historic houses are
urged to pay it a visit.
Bob Hale
Chairman of Collections
Duxubury Rural
& Historical Society
Some of King Caesar collection is original