Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
C.O.D. Heating Service - 508-336-6870
Happy Holidays everyone...
Has been quiet...not much to share
I know a bunch of us in town buy oil via Kristin...cash on delivery
That leaves our heating systems not under a service contract...
Call Ed...the guy is awesome and knows his stuff and is honest !!
C.O.D. Heating Service
211 Providence St
Rehoboth, MA 02769
Ph 508-336-6870
401-569-1798
Has been quiet...not much to share
I know a bunch of us in town buy oil via Kristin...cash on delivery
That leaves our heating systems not under a service contract...
Call Ed...the guy is awesome and knows his stuff and is honest !!
C.O.D. Heating Service
211 Providence St
Rehoboth, MA 02769
Ph 508-336-6870
401-569-1798
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Trail of Controversy Follows Chief to Town
This was an article in the Box Elder paper back in July...it appears not all information was shared with Box Elder council members...certainly explains what most of us were wondering...if you click on the link below, there are comments posted...fyi
http://boxelderhorizon.com/2010/07/17/trail-of-controversy-follows-chief-to-town/
============================================================
¶ Box Elder’s new police chief was fired in April from his job as chief in Osseo, Minn., after he was accused of sexual harassment and his officers went public with a vote of no-confidence. He was on the job in Osseo less than a year.
Timothy P. Ryan’s previous post as chief of police in Millville, Mass., ended amid controversy in May of 2006 after 19 years on the job and 24 years in the department. That town’s board of selectmen struck a deal to accept Ryan’s resignation after the chief and two of the town’s officers where put on administrative leave amid charges of impropriety and misconduct.
Box Elder council members did not know the controversial parts of Ryan’s past before casting their unanimous vote on July 6 to approve his hire, one council member says. And it is unclear if members of the city’s search committee — other than mayor Al Dial — knew about Ryan’s troubles.
But Mayor Dial said he was aware of Ryan’s past when making the hire. And he stands by the decision, saying he believes the allegations trailing Ryan to South Dakota are unfounded.
Osseo Mayor Steven Menth sees things differently.
“Box Elder just opened a big can of worms,” Menth said when told Ryan had been hired as chief.
Menth said it took him a year to “get rid” of Ryan. Menth served on the Osseo City Council for the majority of Ryan’s time as chief. He became mayor of the small Minnesota town in January of this year.
Sexual harassment charges were leveled against Ryan by his administrative assistant, Sally Schmidt, and female police officer, Jane Szczepanik. Schmidt filed a lawsuit against the city. The status of that lawsuit is unclear.
Other complaints from the Osseo officers included that Ryan was indecisive and often unavailable to their radio communications, according to a report on the web site of television station WCCO in Minnesota.
But Ryan also had his supporters in Osseo. At one point city administrator Greg Withers told the council Ryan was doing an excellent job as chief.
In addition, an outside audit by Public Safety Consultant Donald Davis found no wrong-doing on Ryan’s part, but his report to the city did not mention specifics and indicates that the sexual harassment complaints were outside the scope of the audit.
And while Ryan refused to comment on his previous employment for this story, the audit says that: “In attempting to introduce change within the agency, conflicts with regard to the chief’s management and communication styles developed between he and the employees. He believes he was being overly challenged and criticized by the personnel with regard to rules, procedures and expectations … The situation deteriorated to the point that on Oct. 9, 2009 the officers passed a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the chief.
“The expectation of change which Chief Ryan believes he was directed to implement was not embraced by all agency personnel. Change of any type when introduced to an organization can have positive or negative outcomes. The most recent outcomes within the Osseo Police Department have been negative …”
Ryan was placed on paid administrative leave in Osseo in February and the town board voted in April not to renew Ryan’s employment agreement.
In Millville, Mass., where Ryan was named chief at age 25, he and two officers, including his brother Sgt. James Ryan, were placed on administrative leave and Chief Ryan’s resignation was eventually accepted. Charges against Ryan in Millville included complaints of impropriety and 21 disciplinary policy violations.
One former Millville officer, Donald R. Blanchette, told selectmen that he was routinely disparaged by Ryan in front of other officers and that the chief made ethnic slurs against him, according to a report on the hearing in the Worcester Telegram Gazette.
The deal to accept Ryan’s resignation was reached after two disciplinary hearings. Part of the deal being that Ryan be allowed to remain, technically, a police officer in the town for a short time so he could attend the FBI academy for municipal officers.
Diane McCutcheon, who was the president of the Millville Board of Selectmen, which is the same as a city council, said she could not talk much about the reasons for Ryan’s departure, but did say she believed the town did the right thing.
“I do wish him well in the future,” she said. “But the town has moved on. Things are good and positive (now). That’s the way it should be.”
A current member of the board, Roland Barrett, said he was not a selectman at the time Ryan was chief, but he didn’t have a problem with him. In fact, Barrett said, Ryan went above and beyond to help him out at least two or three times.
“My feelings about him are positive,” said Barrett. “I know there are a lot of mixed emotions about him, but my dealings with him were pleasant. I didn’t have a personal relationship with him, so I’m not saying it to stick up for him. I just can’t say anything bad about Timmy.”
In a prepared statement at the time, published in the Telegram Gazette , Ryan said: “The town and I have agreed to resolve our outstanding differences. As part of this agreement, I will be leaving the Department effective December 31, 2006. During the interim period, I will be pursuing other professional opportunities and will not be involved in Police Department affairs. I wish to express my regret that the town, the Millville Police Department and those persons who filed complaints had to endure this trying period. It is my hope that my departure and this apology will serve to heal rifts caused by these incidents, and I pledge to support the town’s desire to move forward.”
Ryan arrived in Box Elder shortly after leaving Osseo, Minn., where he served as the chief of police for 9 months before being placed on leave and eventually fired.
Box Elder had been without a chief since Feb. 17, when Dial fired John Keegan from the position for alleged insubordination and misuse of city property. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office handled supervisory duties for the Box Elder police department until Ryan was hired.
Dial told the Box Elder Horizon that an extensive investigation into Ryan’s background was performed by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office prior to his hiring. The allegations against Ryan are unfounded, Dial said.
Dial, during an interview at city hall alongside Ryan, refused to discuss the issue further on the record. Ryan also declined to discuss his past troubles.
Pennington County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Brian Mueller said his office checked into criminal, employment and credit histories, interviewed references provided by Ryan, and found independent references. If anything came up in that process, it was looked into, Mueller said.
As to the extensiveness of the background check, Mueller said, “We check what we check. As far as the thoroughness of it, I can’t speak to that.”
Mueller also served on the hiring committee in charge of finding the new chief of police, but neither he nor the sheriff’s office gave recommendations as to who the city should hire, Mueller said.
Box Elder City Council President Jane Maine was also on the search committee. She said she was not willing to give out information on the new chief and added she would not commit to whether she knew about Ryan’s past.
One councilman who definitely did not know about Ryan’s past when the city hired him is Bill Griffiths.
A surprised Griffiths found out about Ryan’s past when he was contacted by the Box Elder Horizon. When Griffiths cast a “yes” vote to hire the chief, a vote which was unanimous after an executive session, Griffiths said he had no idea.
That was something that should have been brought out in executive session, Griffiths said.
“If the city council knew about it, it may not be such a big deal, but they should’ve been honest about it,” Griffiths said. “That is what I don’t like. Why was it not brought up? If it’s true, I think the people of Box Elder should know who their new chief is.”
According to Griffiths, the council members, who include himself, Maine, Charles Wood, Barb Frerichs, Terry Wenrick and Al Labine, went along with what was recommended by the hiring committee. He added the council members hired Ryan based on what they knew. Griffiths added he hadn’t even seen a resume.
“I would’ve thought if they knew about it, they would share it,” he said. “They told us what a good guy he was. That he answered their questions, some before they even asked them. If I would’ve known about this, I would’ve wanted to know more. What if he’s innocent? I want to know the facts. Now, nobody is saying nothing.”
Phone calls to Frerichs, Wenrick and Labine were not returned. The Box Elder Horizon was unable to reach Wood.
Lana Bradstream can be reached at lana@boxelderhorizon.com or 605-381-6699
http://boxelderhorizon.com/2010/07/17/trail-of-controversy-follows-chief-to-town/
============================================================
¶ Box Elder’s new police chief was fired in April from his job as chief in Osseo, Minn., after he was accused of sexual harassment and his officers went public with a vote of no-confidence. He was on the job in Osseo less than a year.
Timothy P. Ryan’s previous post as chief of police in Millville, Mass., ended amid controversy in May of 2006 after 19 years on the job and 24 years in the department. That town’s board of selectmen struck a deal to accept Ryan’s resignation after the chief and two of the town’s officers where put on administrative leave amid charges of impropriety and misconduct.
Box Elder council members did not know the controversial parts of Ryan’s past before casting their unanimous vote on July 6 to approve his hire, one council member says. And it is unclear if members of the city’s search committee — other than mayor Al Dial — knew about Ryan’s troubles.
But Mayor Dial said he was aware of Ryan’s past when making the hire. And he stands by the decision, saying he believes the allegations trailing Ryan to South Dakota are unfounded.
Osseo Mayor Steven Menth sees things differently.
“Box Elder just opened a big can of worms,” Menth said when told Ryan had been hired as chief.
Menth said it took him a year to “get rid” of Ryan. Menth served on the Osseo City Council for the majority of Ryan’s time as chief. He became mayor of the small Minnesota town in January of this year.
Sexual harassment charges were leveled against Ryan by his administrative assistant, Sally Schmidt, and female police officer, Jane Szczepanik. Schmidt filed a lawsuit against the city. The status of that lawsuit is unclear.
Other complaints from the Osseo officers included that Ryan was indecisive and often unavailable to their radio communications, according to a report on the web site of television station WCCO in Minnesota.
But Ryan also had his supporters in Osseo. At one point city administrator Greg Withers told the council Ryan was doing an excellent job as chief.
In addition, an outside audit by Public Safety Consultant Donald Davis found no wrong-doing on Ryan’s part, but his report to the city did not mention specifics and indicates that the sexual harassment complaints were outside the scope of the audit.
And while Ryan refused to comment on his previous employment for this story, the audit says that: “In attempting to introduce change within the agency, conflicts with regard to the chief’s management and communication styles developed between he and the employees. He believes he was being overly challenged and criticized by the personnel with regard to rules, procedures and expectations … The situation deteriorated to the point that on Oct. 9, 2009 the officers passed a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the chief.
“The expectation of change which Chief Ryan believes he was directed to implement was not embraced by all agency personnel. Change of any type when introduced to an organization can have positive or negative outcomes. The most recent outcomes within the Osseo Police Department have been negative …”
Ryan was placed on paid administrative leave in Osseo in February and the town board voted in April not to renew Ryan’s employment agreement.
In Millville, Mass., where Ryan was named chief at age 25, he and two officers, including his brother Sgt. James Ryan, were placed on administrative leave and Chief Ryan’s resignation was eventually accepted. Charges against Ryan in Millville included complaints of impropriety and 21 disciplinary policy violations.
One former Millville officer, Donald R. Blanchette, told selectmen that he was routinely disparaged by Ryan in front of other officers and that the chief made ethnic slurs against him, according to a report on the hearing in the Worcester Telegram Gazette.
The deal to accept Ryan’s resignation was reached after two disciplinary hearings. Part of the deal being that Ryan be allowed to remain, technically, a police officer in the town for a short time so he could attend the FBI academy for municipal officers.
Diane McCutcheon, who was the president of the Millville Board of Selectmen, which is the same as a city council, said she could not talk much about the reasons for Ryan’s departure, but did say she believed the town did the right thing.
“I do wish him well in the future,” she said. “But the town has moved on. Things are good and positive (now). That’s the way it should be.”
A current member of the board, Roland Barrett, said he was not a selectman at the time Ryan was chief, but he didn’t have a problem with him. In fact, Barrett said, Ryan went above and beyond to help him out at least two or three times.
“My feelings about him are positive,” said Barrett. “I know there are a lot of mixed emotions about him, but my dealings with him were pleasant. I didn’t have a personal relationship with him, so I’m not saying it to stick up for him. I just can’t say anything bad about Timmy.”
In a prepared statement at the time, published in the Telegram Gazette , Ryan said: “The town and I have agreed to resolve our outstanding differences. As part of this agreement, I will be leaving the Department effective December 31, 2006. During the interim period, I will be pursuing other professional opportunities and will not be involved in Police Department affairs. I wish to express my regret that the town, the Millville Police Department and those persons who filed complaints had to endure this trying period. It is my hope that my departure and this apology will serve to heal rifts caused by these incidents, and I pledge to support the town’s desire to move forward.”
Ryan arrived in Box Elder shortly after leaving Osseo, Minn., where he served as the chief of police for 9 months before being placed on leave and eventually fired.
Box Elder had been without a chief since Feb. 17, when Dial fired John Keegan from the position for alleged insubordination and misuse of city property. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office handled supervisory duties for the Box Elder police department until Ryan was hired.
Dial told the Box Elder Horizon that an extensive investigation into Ryan’s background was performed by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office prior to his hiring. The allegations against Ryan are unfounded, Dial said.
Dial, during an interview at city hall alongside Ryan, refused to discuss the issue further on the record. Ryan also declined to discuss his past troubles.
Pennington County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Brian Mueller said his office checked into criminal, employment and credit histories, interviewed references provided by Ryan, and found independent references. If anything came up in that process, it was looked into, Mueller said.
As to the extensiveness of the background check, Mueller said, “We check what we check. As far as the thoroughness of it, I can’t speak to that.”
Mueller also served on the hiring committee in charge of finding the new chief of police, but neither he nor the sheriff’s office gave recommendations as to who the city should hire, Mueller said.
Box Elder City Council President Jane Maine was also on the search committee. She said she was not willing to give out information on the new chief and added she would not commit to whether she knew about Ryan’s past.
One councilman who definitely did not know about Ryan’s past when the city hired him is Bill Griffiths.
A surprised Griffiths found out about Ryan’s past when he was contacted by the Box Elder Horizon. When Griffiths cast a “yes” vote to hire the chief, a vote which was unanimous after an executive session, Griffiths said he had no idea.
That was something that should have been brought out in executive session, Griffiths said.
“If the city council knew about it, it may not be such a big deal, but they should’ve been honest about it,” Griffiths said. “That is what I don’t like. Why was it not brought up? If it’s true, I think the people of Box Elder should know who their new chief is.”
According to Griffiths, the council members, who include himself, Maine, Charles Wood, Barb Frerichs, Terry Wenrick and Al Labine, went along with what was recommended by the hiring committee. He added the council members hired Ryan based on what they knew. Griffiths added he hadn’t even seen a resume.
“I would’ve thought if they knew about it, they would share it,” he said. “They told us what a good guy he was. That he answered their questions, some before they even asked them. If I would’ve known about this, I would’ve wanted to know more. What if he’s innocent? I want to know the facts. Now, nobody is saying nothing.”
Phone calls to Frerichs, Wenrick and Labine were not returned. The Box Elder Horizon was unable to reach Wood.
Lana Bradstream can be reached at lana@boxelderhorizon.com or 605-381-6699
Friday, July 16, 2010
You can't make it up
Apparently the folks in Box Elder, SD do not have access to the internet...
The over/under is 180 days until the 1st incident...
======================================================================
New Chief, Tim Ryan,
on the Job in Box Elder
¶ Timothy P. Ryan showed up in Box Elder during the evening hours of Monday, July 5, and was going strong on the job as Box Elder’s new police chief on Wednesday, July 7.
“I saw growth potential here,” said Timothy P. Ryan when asked why he took the job in Box Elder. “I saw the opportunity to work with different agencies — the sheriff’s office, the military base. Those opportunities were never available (before). This town is growing. I think this town is getting ready to boom. It has a vision of moving forward and I want to be in a town like that. It’s a win, win for me and the town.”
Ryan, 48, drove the 1,950 miles to Box Elder from Millville, Mass. where he served as chief of police for 20 years. Ryan had the distinction of being the youngest chief of police in Massachusetts at the age of 25. Ryan also served as chief of police in Osseo, Minn.
The new chief was officially appointed to the position in Box Elder at the Tuesday, July 6, city council meeting. He said he was pleased to have all of the staff at the police department and their families show up at the meeting in support of him.
His first priority is getting to know the staff. Ryan said he wants to meet with each person individually.
“I think we have a dynamic crew here,” Ryan said. “It’s a good group of people. I think this department can manage on it’s own.”
Next, he said he wants to go out into the community and meet with the business owners and get an idea of what they would like to see from the police department. He added he will incorporate that knowledge into a visionary statement.
Ryan described Massachusetts as more liberal than South Dakota, but overall the policing is still the same. And Ryan brings his own philosophy to Box Elder. He said he believes in education before enforcement. During the entirety of his career, Ryan said he has listened to both sides of the story.
“You work in a town and you get to know the people,” he said. “You know what they’re going through. An arrest is the last thing you want to do. There’s intervention and counseling. I think everybody needs to be treated as a human being, no matter who they are.”
However, that will not stop Ryan from making arrests. When the public is in danger, Ryan said the handcuffs will be slapped on some wrists.
Ryan has served as a police officer for 25 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. and his master’s degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. He was also in the 0.001 percent of law enforcement officials in the country selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Virginia. The only way to attend the academy is through invitation.
“It’s very prestigious,” said Ryan. “There’s not many people and I was happy I was selected to go.”
During his experience as a chief of police in Massachusetts, Ryan managed a volunteer crew that hand built a new police station. After two years of work, the price tag on the facility was $80,000 but was valued at more than $1 million.
He issued a search warrant on someone who was housing alligators in their home. According to Ryan, the person involved strongly resembled Steve Irwin, the former “Crocodile Hunter.” He also busted a 32-year-old school teacher and basketball coach for having sex with a 13-year-old student. Ryan said the perpetrator received a sentence of 30 years in the state penitentiary.
“I want to provide the best law enforcement service that I can,” said Ryan. “Everyone has been very welcoming in helping me find a place to live and get set up. I’m very thankful the city council hired me. I’d like to thank the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office for helping out in this transition and for helping me.”
Ryan said he can’t wait to get out and meet the people of Box Elder. He will be attending various community events, such as the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce mixers and the movies in the park at Bandit Ball Field.
Lana Bradstream can be reached at lana@boxelderhorizon.com or 605-381-6699
The over/under is 180 days until the 1st incident...
======================================================================
New Chief, Tim Ryan,
on the Job in Box Elder
¶ Timothy P. Ryan showed up in Box Elder during the evening hours of Monday, July 5, and was going strong on the job as Box Elder’s new police chief on Wednesday, July 7.
“I saw growth potential here,” said Timothy P. Ryan when asked why he took the job in Box Elder. “I saw the opportunity to work with different agencies — the sheriff’s office, the military base. Those opportunities were never available (before). This town is growing. I think this town is getting ready to boom. It has a vision of moving forward and I want to be in a town like that. It’s a win, win for me and the town.”
Ryan, 48, drove the 1,950 miles to Box Elder from Millville, Mass. where he served as chief of police for 20 years. Ryan had the distinction of being the youngest chief of police in Massachusetts at the age of 25. Ryan also served as chief of police in Osseo, Minn.
The new chief was officially appointed to the position in Box Elder at the Tuesday, July 6, city council meeting. He said he was pleased to have all of the staff at the police department and their families show up at the meeting in support of him.
His first priority is getting to know the staff. Ryan said he wants to meet with each person individually.
“I think we have a dynamic crew here,” Ryan said. “It’s a good group of people. I think this department can manage on it’s own.”
Next, he said he wants to go out into the community and meet with the business owners and get an idea of what they would like to see from the police department. He added he will incorporate that knowledge into a visionary statement.
Ryan described Massachusetts as more liberal than South Dakota, but overall the policing is still the same. And Ryan brings his own philosophy to Box Elder. He said he believes in education before enforcement. During the entirety of his career, Ryan said he has listened to both sides of the story.
“You work in a town and you get to know the people,” he said. “You know what they’re going through. An arrest is the last thing you want to do. There’s intervention and counseling. I think everybody needs to be treated as a human being, no matter who they are.”
However, that will not stop Ryan from making arrests. When the public is in danger, Ryan said the handcuffs will be slapped on some wrists.
Ryan has served as a police officer for 25 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. and his master’s degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. He was also in the 0.001 percent of law enforcement officials in the country selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Virginia. The only way to attend the academy is through invitation.
“It’s very prestigious,” said Ryan. “There’s not many people and I was happy I was selected to go.”
During his experience as a chief of police in Massachusetts, Ryan managed a volunteer crew that hand built a new police station. After two years of work, the price tag on the facility was $80,000 but was valued at more than $1 million.
He issued a search warrant on someone who was housing alligators in their home. According to Ryan, the person involved strongly resembled Steve Irwin, the former “Crocodile Hunter.” He also busted a 32-year-old school teacher and basketball coach for having sex with a 13-year-old student. Ryan said the perpetrator received a sentence of 30 years in the state penitentiary.
“I want to provide the best law enforcement service that I can,” said Ryan. “Everyone has been very welcoming in helping me find a place to live and get set up. I’m very thankful the city council hired me. I’d like to thank the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office for helping out in this transition and for helping me.”
Ryan said he can’t wait to get out and meet the people of Box Elder. He will be attending various community events, such as the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce mixers and the movies in the park at Bandit Ball Field.
Lana Bradstream can be reached at lana@boxelderhorizon.com or 605-381-6699
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Questions about new payment in town
Webmaster how can i get you to start a new topic? - Consider it done...
What is with this second class pavement job we are getting in town. Sure it saves money. Lets see just how much after the town has to pay for cracked windshields and pinged paint jobs. Two days down and I already have a broken windshield. I have an expensive sports car with very few miles on it and it will not leave my garage until this mess is taken care of. This stuff is also extremely dusty and noisy. I pay a lot in taxes, This is just not right! Town officials , prepare to hear alot of complaints.
What is with this second class pavement job we are getting in town. Sure it saves money. Lets see just how much after the town has to pay for cracked windshields and pinged paint jobs. Two days down and I already have a broken windshield. I have an expensive sports car with very few miles on it and it will not leave my garage until this mess is taken care of. This stuff is also extremely dusty and noisy. I pay a lot in taxes, This is just not right! Town officials , prepare to hear alot of complaints.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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