Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Police Chief hired, Budget Director selected

At last night's Select Board meeting, the Board signed a contract with Captain Timothy Lee to become the new Police Chief in Dartmouth. Captain Lee will begin his service on March 22nd. There will be a reception at the Town Hall at 5:30PM on that day to welcome Chief Lee to the community and department. I feel that Chief Lee will be a tremendous asset to the town and an outstanding Police Chief for many years to come.
The Select Board also voted to appoint Mr. Anthony Sulmonte as Director of Budget and Finance, subject to successful contract negotiations. Mr. Sulmonte was not interviewed at the same time as the other candidates due to a scheduling conflict. It is unfortunate the he could not have been interviewed on DCTV so that the community could have watched ...

... but there was another meeting televised that evening and the room was not available. I found Mr. Sulmonte to be knowledgeable, very personable, open, and sincere. He was the unanimous choice of the selection committee and the Select Board. Mr. Sulmonte is currently the Treasurer in Abington.
Finally, the Select Board asked to have a discussion of full day kindergarten put on the agenda for next week's meeting.

30 comments:

hats off to BOS said...

Bill....what is the price tag?? I'm waiting to hear, so I can eat my hat at the next SB meeting. Please include all information as it may result to additional help/perks...thanking you in advance....

Bill Trimble said...

Chief Lee has a three year contract. His salary is $120,000

Anonymous said...

120,000 a year plus a car allowance, uniform allowance, 2.5 times paid holidays which are no show days. Not a bad deal.

eat my hat said...

Bill, can you make time at the next SB meeting (agenda ) so I can eat my hat??
I salute you for bring in this highly qualified person at or under 135,000 thousand.

Anonymous said...

The obvious thing is that the new chief's pay will be "performance evaluation" based. Good way for the select board to "buy" a Chief. Don't follow our rules and no raise for you! Looks like he'll feel like he is back in old Providence where the police department was run out of City Hall. Good Luck Chief!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Good luck to chief Tim Lee!



I'm one of the townies who is happy the select board hire a chief from outside the department. Chief Lee, must listen to the select board, the police union, the sergeants, the lieutenants, and all the specialist because it's the right thing to do. But for you to find the snakes, you must drain the swamp.

Yup, a few years ago, the active town voters began the process of draining the swamp of Dartmouth politics. You won't believe what they found stuck to the bottom of the swamp. Special interest contracts for seven town employee's, a lawyer hired by the select board to represent these town employee's, The same lawyer went on the record, stating the contracts are not in the towns best interest.

The swamp has been cleaned and new water pour into the lake. We now have open government, executive session minutes are being taken, wind turbines to power our water/sewer department, and generate money for the towns need. We have excellent members on the fincom. Schools are looking up. We the people must be careful for one never knows when a snake will enter the lake and turn it back into a swamp

Anonymous said...

That's 8 town employees, but who's counting?!! The contracts have been exposed, the individuals involved have been exposed, and the contracts are no more. We should be thankful and grateful to the people who worked hard to make this happen.

Let's keep the good people in office, elect into office those who will stand up for and represent all the people, and continue to clean up the muck.

Anonymous said...

I'm spending this winter at St. Criox it's one of the virgin islands owned by the U.S.
Is it true that Bob Miller is making another attempted at obtaining a seat with the select board. I don't know who is running but Bob Miller is one person I shall never vote for. Isn't he the selectman who wanted to appoint some guy Pacheco as the harbor master??

Anonymous said...

Let's keep the good people in office??

Surely you can't be speaking of Michaud who may have interfered with a police investigation regarding the recent accident involving a police vehicle.

Perhaps Michaud should be less of a lawyer and more of a town leader!!! At the very least the Chairman of the BOS should wait until investigations are complete before putting the blame on the PD like he did on WBSM yesterday.

I will happily cast my vote for Bob Miller in April. Bye Joe.

Anonymous said...

A vote backward.

Give Me A Break said...

"May have interfered with a police investigation"? Give me a break. As a Select Board member, Joe asked questions about the recent accidents involving police cruisers. He's looking out for us. That's his J-O-B.

Anonymous said...

Joe did MORE than simply ask about cruiser accidents. Before you defend him perhaps you should hear his interview on WBSM 2 days ago.

Implicating police officers before the investigation is even completed. Who is he to say what calls require lights and sirens sitting behind his desk while Paradmedics are calling for HELP!!!!

Michaud is BAD for Dartmouth, no 2 ways about it.

Give Me A Break said...

You sound like a disgruntled applicant for promotion. Boo hoo!

Anonymous said...

Miller has always been a supporter of the police union. He takes good care of friends, and police officers.
Yup, it's Miller time, all contracts on me. One more cruiser crash, but who is counting...not Bob Miller. Give my friend a new cruiser, I mean Miller. Hey boys...don't forget to vote for it's MILLER time. You want me to do what??? You want to be promoted to what??

Anonymous said...

Joe Michaud should be checking on more than police crashes.

Anonymous said...

Hey, we've got 3 new people in town. Ex administrator, police chief, budget director. Let's not let Miller get to them, too. We don't need a town of best buds (oops, sorry.)

Anonymous said...

After 5 destroyed cruisers in 3 years maybe its time we ask a few questions. Do we really need a high speed response to an "agitated old lady" in Bank Five? Every time you have a high speed response it is a threat to public safety so ,maybe we should exercise some discretion. Joe is right to ask. That is part of his job as police commissioner.

Anonymous said...

After 5 destroyed cruisers in 3 years maybe its time we ask a few questions.

5 accidents yes, POLICE found responsible in NONE of them. The police are on the road 24/7 365 and department wide drive close to a million miles a year.

Are you really saying 5 crashes in 3 million miles is excessive? People need to turn down their radios, put down their cell phones and be aware of EMERGENCY vehicles with lights and sirens.

I don't disagree that police commisioners need to be vigilant but police comissioners also need to wait for the FACTS before throwing the PD under the bus. Let the investigation be completed before running your mouth.

In my 30+ years of driving I have never come close to crashing into an emergency vehicle. I can hear them coming from a long way off because I pay attention, listen, and obey the rules of the road.

Anonymous said...

The question of the necessity of high speed responses is an issue that many communities wrestle with. People have died as a result of collisions with cruisers responding to "emergencies". I fail to see why Dartmouth should not continually review its protocol for responding to "emergencies". Protecting the public and our police officers are both top priorities. If even one tragedy can be avoided by amending response procedures without public harm, then I would support that 100%. We all should trust that high speed responses are in the best interest of the public. I think the Police Department should be transparent to what it defines as justification for responding in a high risk manner. No problem here with Joe asking questions. One more thing that Bob would be unlikely to do.

Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone said policies shouldn't be reviewed. The problem addressed here was Joe Michaud going on the radio and casting blame on the PD without one shred of evidence.

The report on the accident and reconstruction haven't even been completed and Joe is banging his drum on the radio blaming police policies and personnel.

That is why Joe must GOOOOOOOOOO

Anonymous said...

Some Dartmouth police (private) vehicles have political bumper stickers supporting Bob Miller for selectman. The same police ( private vehicles ) have bumper stickers supporting John Quinn for Sheriff.
This is not a true indication of all Dartmouth police officers. As a matter of fact most police personnel stay away from political "suck'm up polotics."
Don't misunderstand, police have the right to support their candidate of choice, just not on the tax payers dime. Last Sunday morning while at the sunrise coffee shop, I could hear two uniformed officers, talking loud enough for everyone to hear that they are voting for Miller and Shawn McDonald. One police officer, with a wink and a smile, stated that "all cars with Michaud or Gracie bumper stickers" will be ticketed." I'm sure this was said in fun??
While talking at the coffee shop a police call came in for the two officers to respond to a car crash at Slocum and route six, they both fled away in their seporate crusiers with blue lights and blurring sireens. I wonder if they were assigned to patrol the North end of town. I think Joe Michaud should look into this situation. LOL.
Ooooop's I'm not sure, but a town selectman may have bee at the same coffee shop. LOL again!!

Anonymous said...

When you see a cruiser entering the route 6 and Chase Road intersection on a red light, there is clearly a great danger to any driver in the intersection. Emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring have not prevented dangerous situations that I have personally observed. With all that noise and the blocked views, there is no sure thing about avoiding a crash. I have observed a number of officers still approach that intersection with great caution, despite the sirens and all. Wise move for all. I have also seen a few cruisers and other emergency vehicles that entered the intersection more aggressively. In most of those cases, I saw near collisions, or worse. If Mr. Michaud has seen the same, I do not blame him for asking questions about this subject.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if they were assigned to patrol the North end of town.

Like it or not cops are entitled to breaks too. Furthermore after what happened in Washington State I do not blame them for having coffee in groups. Believe it or not some people kill cops, yes even in little towns like Dartmouth.

I would much rather have 2 cops enjoying coffee and community policing that sneaking home for coffee breaks.

Anonymous said...

Some Dartmouth police (private) vehicles have political bumper stickers supporting Bob Miller for selectman.


I find your story hard to believe, Miller has not handed out bumper stickers as of yet. How I know this is because I asked Miller for a bumper sticker the other day at the gym and he told me his order has not come in, and has none available.

Anonymous said...

When you see a cruiser entering the route 6 and Chase Road intersection

Not sure what Town Or City you speak of, but RT 6 & Chase Rd DO NOT INTERSECT in Dartmouth.

Anonymous said...

years maybe its time we ask a few questions. Do we really need a high speed response to an "agitated old lady"

If you knew the facts other than listen to Joe on the radio(wbsm) you would know the Medics asked for the Police response be stepped up. Why you ask if this is important, the old crazy Lady could have gotten into a car and started running people over, you say impossible. Remember the deranged old man, yes not an old Lady but still the same age category, that shot up the Holocaust Museum, Yes old people do carry weapons, and when the Meds run out they do get violent. Joe stick to writing Wills and house closing, forget trying to sound intelligent on the air waves, its' not working for you.

Anonymous said...

Every town/city police department has the occasional employment hazard. I have never had the need to summons the police but from what I have observed they appear to be very young and knowledgeable. As in any employment most employee's want to work hard in the hope of a promotion. You could always marry the bosses daughter.

Of all municipal employee's the police are the most visible and feared. I truly believe that if you are carrying a couple of pounds of cocaine in your trunk and a police officer is behind you you will become uncomfortable. If your see a police car parked off of Slocum Road observing traffic speed and you are traveling above the speed limit you will quickly put your foot on the brake to slow down and scratch your nose at the same time.

I don't want the selectmen inte fearing with legitimate police activity but traffic crashes must be looked into. Some police officer who do not obtain rank (promotion in rank ) sergeant, lieutenant, captain have the tendency to get tired of the same old same old. After twenty plus years as a patrolman it must become obvious that the skills deteriorate and police become careless. I agree that Joe Michaud is doing the right thing with calling for a meeting with the chief and find out if the officer may need some time off or assigned to the fingerprinting or firearms department. Everyone needs a break from the stress-full job.

Raymond said...

Bob Miller running for selectman is like a pot hole in the road, try to avoid the road hazard by staying away from the pot hole.
This town has done much in the way of electing good people who want to serve our town.
Bob Miller has caused to many pot holes. Unconditional contracts by selection for friends and didn't keep his eye on the finances.
I'm undersided between Gracie and McDonald. What say you.

Anonymous said...

Listen up Dartmouth. "King Joe must Go!" The next SB member to be elected will be Bob Miller.

Anonymous said...

We have 62 square miles in Dartmouth. And God knows how many miles. The cruisers are on the 24/7.....and King Joe is worried about three cruiser accidents? For the dingbats reading these posts like it was some kind of religion... listen up..... accidents happen! And the most recent one involved an elderly person who "didn't see or hear" the cruiser, with lights flashing, responding to a call? Good lord, spare me! Get a grip. Let the good cops we have in this town do their job. And Joe......shame on you!