Board strips pension of former trooper

 It's a start... but a long way to go to get justice for the taxpayers

 

From Matt Rocheleau at the Globe

The state’s retirement board on Thursday stripped the pension of a veteran Massachusetts State Police trooper convicted in a high-profile payroll fraud scheme, marking the first time the panel has punished an officer implicated in the sprawling scandal.

The five-member board voted to take away former trooper Paul Cesan’s pension, which would have paid the 52-year-old from Southwick and his former wife nearly $80,000 a year for the rest of his life. The board rarely strips pension benefits from state employees.

Cesan, a 25-year veteran of the State Police force, retired in March 2018 as the pace of the federal probe quickened. He was arrested in June 2018 and later pleaded guilty in federal court to charges he collected more than $29,000 for overtime hours he did not actually work in 2016. He was sentenced to serve a year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution as well as a $5,500 fine.

Cesan will still keep $180,000 he contributed on his own to his pension.

where are the new Covid poistive cases coming from

 The good news so far is that the schools aren't the problem.

From WBUR:

 Of the 2,945 ongoing clusters identified between Sept. 27 and Oct. 24, 2,707 were from households, accounting for 6,830 cases. Long-term care facilities came next, with 59 clusters (568 cases), then child care (28 clusters, 70 cases) organized athletics/camps (21 clusters, 91 cases), restaurants and food courts (19 clusters, 70 cases) and K-12 schools (18 clusters, 62 cases). 

- And according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's weekly corona virus report, 201 students and 85 staff members tested positive since last week. That's a 42% increase from the week prior, but it still represents only a small fraction of the overall public school population.

Why ice rinks are now closed... and it's not what you think

 I've seen the clip from Charlie Baker on why the rinks are closed now. I had first thought the reason was close in your face contact.. but, I was wrong. It was the parents and the coaches... Lord have mercy. So all those parents who are bitching and moaning about why some sports are off limits... read this:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2091377414193/why-did-massachusetts-shut-down-ice-rinks-charlie-baker-says-blame-the-adults

 But according to Gov. Charlie Baker, hockey itself isn’t necessarily the threat. Rather, the transmission of the virus is “likely coming from all the activity around hockey and some irresponsible behavior from parents and coaches,” Baker said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Baker said that “most” of the teams refused to hand over rosters so that contact tracers could follow up with the players and their families. According to Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, there were even several instances of coaches telling families not to respond to contact tracers.

 

Is it any wonder why we continue to be in the red zone?

More free covid testing at TJX

 Free, drive-through COVID-19 testing ends at Walsh Middle School Saturday, Oct. 31, and resumes on Monday, Nov. 2, at TJX offices, 770 Cochituate Road:  

Location: 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701 (entrance to the testing site is on Speen Street near the Mass Pike exit ramp overpass)

• Date: Starting Monday, Nov. 2
  Days/Time: Monday to Saturday– 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  Eligibility: Open to everyone; symptomatic and asymptomatic
  Appointment: No appointment required
  Format: Drive-through only
  Cost: FREE; no health insurance required
  Test Results: People will receive results in approximately 72 hours from Fallon Ambulance, who is conducting the tests.

The vetting process for a new Chief explained

 What riles me the most is she has a senior advisor, the COO, Doris Hamilton at the HR department and a bunch of department heads to vet the candidates, but chose to hire an out-of-state assessment consultant at 9,900 dollars to whittle the 21  candidates down to the two. Clearly the Mayor choose not to work with the Council as one would think and spend more money on something she and her staff could accomplish.

https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20201026/mayor-spicer-poise-to-nominate-next-police-chief-for-framingham-here-is-what-is-next-for-candidates-for-job

 

Twenty-one people applied for the position, with six selected to go through a vetting process conducted by an outside assessment consultant — Illinois-based Resource Management Associates — at a cost of $9,999, according to Kelly McFalls, the city’s public information officer.

As part of the assessment process, which Spicer called “rigorous,” candidates were asked to participate in three role-playing exercises, two of which reflected the national dialogue about policing sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police last spring.

On Friday, King said Spicer has done little to involve the City Council in the search for a police chief, which he described as typical of the chilly relationship between the Spicer administration and members of the city’s legislative branch.

“I knew she hired a consultant a few months ago, but other than that, I have no idea how she did it,” King said, adding that he briefly spoke with the consultant, who asked what he’d like to see in a new chief. “She never consulted with us at all. It’s just generally the way things have been done. The City Council is not generally consulted on issues. It’s kind of a tired story by now.”

King had not yet read the candidates’ resumes, which were included in a media release announcing the mayor’s selection of the finalists that was also sent to councilors, but said he’s typically predisposed to supporting well-qualified internal candidates.

 

The hunt for a new Police Chief

 Looks like the Mayor has been taking applications for the job for some time now. I wonder who was in the "assessment group" and who whittled it down to 6, then 4, now just two. I'd like to know who the passed over candidates were. IMO, it makes no sense to hire someone from out-of-state and especially from Baltimore. And lets face it, it doesn't matter what we think at all in hiring a Police Chief.

Framingham Conducting a Zoom Community Meeting Monday, October 26, to Allow Residents to Virtually Meet, Hear from and Ask Questions of the Two Finalists for City’s Chief of Police

Framingham, MA –Framingham to choose between two for the City’s Chief of Police position - Lester Baker (Deputy Chief of the Framingham Police Department) and James H. Rhoden Jr., (Major/Commander of the Baltimore Police Department). On Monday, October 26, at 5 p.m., the Framingham community is invited to a Zoom meeting to get to know the two candidates better.


Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer will moderate the Zoom Community Meeting. Each candidate will be given equal time to provide an overview of his vision for the Framingham Police Department and answer questions from the Framingham community.

If people cannot attend the Zoom Community Meeting and have questions, please email kmcfalls@framinghamma.gov with the subject line: October 26, Framingham Police Chief Candidate Zoom. A recording of the meeting will be provided to everyone who emails a question(s). Click here for information on how to join the virtual discussion.

Twenty-one people initially applied for the Framingham Chief of Police position. Of the 21, six were chosen to participate in an assessment center, from which four were selected for interviews. The two finalists were confirmed following the interviews.