Sandwich Watchdog

Sandwich Town Moderator Or Town Crony? [Sandwich Watchdog]

 No way Wack !

Sandwich Police Chief's wife wants to be Town Moderator

Now, that's Wack!

The Sandwich Watchdog has been recooperating from the blunt force trauma we experienced after hearing Sandwich Police Chief Peter Wack's wife - Lois Wack - is running for Town Moderator. We were nearly knocked clear back into Connecticut  - where the Wacks migrated from - when we heard this one. 

Holy conflict of interest Gotham City! Folks, grab a sun lamp and plant yourselves in front of it, because it's posturing like this that makes our town so shady.

With Family Like This, Who Needs Unbiased Officials?

Honestly, how dumb do Peter and Lois Wack- or PeLo as we call the seemingly calculating duo - think the residents of Sandwich are??

The Chief of Police is desperately trying to fund his new $26 million dollar public safety building and his wife suddenly aspires to be the one who appoints members to the Finance Committee?

Really??

Listen PeLo, we could care less that an Ethics Committee assured Lois that it was perfectly appropriate for her to seek the job, despite her husband's powerful position in the town - we care that Lois Wack had to ask them in the first place!

Vote No For PeLo!

Clearly, this is a conflict of interest and the fact that Lois Wack would ignore the obvious appearance of such and still pursue the Town Moderator position speaks volumes and smacks of a PeLo agenda - in our opinion.

Mrs. Wack asserts that there is no conflict of interest, because neither she nor her husband would gain financially from her being Town Moderator - we couldn't disagree more.

As Town Moderator, Lois Wack would have the authority to appoint members to both the Finance and Improvement Planning Committee, who absolutely have an impact on whether or not her hubby's $26 million dollar new digs come to fruition.

So let's not play semantics here Lois - gains come in all shapes and sizes. It just so happens that in this case, it comes in the shape of a state-of-the-art complex housing your husband and his police department.

Caution: Conflict Of Interest At Work - Stay Alert.

Luckily, we're not the only ones who see the potential for disaster in the PeLo Project.

Just when we thought the Sandwich Watchdog would have to wag our tail in the race for Sandwich Town Moderator to stop this madness, Garry Blank stepped up to challenge Lois Wack.  For the record, we have no relationship with Garry Blank; in fact, we have never met the gentleman. 

Garry Blank brings common sense and 16 yrs former Town Moderator experience to the race. As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and local attorney, the 26 yr Sandwich resident was quick to point out the necessity for the Town Moderator to avoid even the "appearance of conflict".

Lois Wack brings  . . . . her experience as a retired police officer and an associates degree from Charter Oak College.  The part-time records clerk for Mashpee Police and wife of Chief Peter Wack has lived in Sandwich for almost two years and apparently has no issue with any "appearance of conflict".

So We Guess Anyone Can Run This Town . . . 

Whether or not Mrs. Wack has a Bachelor's degree or J.D./M.D./PhD after her name is not an issue.

Although, some people hold such accolades and titles with high regard - just ask SHS principal and recent Doctor Ellin Booras, who owes her PhD to the taxpayers of Sandwich.

With Lois Wack, the issue is experience and the integrity of the position she seeks.

Having been a member of various Women's Leagues does little to prepare oneself for the task of moderating the Town of Sandwich - sorry PeLo. At a time when Sandwich finds itself arguably in financial duress, we need someone with experience.

And then there's the whole her husband is the Chief of Police thing. Let's not be naive people - this matters!

Note: Family Trees That Don't Split Are Not Healthy!

When we live in a town where our officials are appointed rather than elected, like Town Administrator Bud Dunham is trying to do and when that town's administrative family tree no longer branches off - then we no longer live in a town for the people by the people and that's a dangerous place to reside. 

For the sake of our families and their futures - we must take back our town.

Attend the Annual Sandwich Town Meeting May 7th, but more importantly, get out and vote on May 10th on the issues that will effect each and every taxpayer in Sandwich. Send a message to our town officials that we're not oblivious to their attempts to limit transparency in this town.

Let them know with your vote that an administrative monopoly in this town will not be tolerated.

Demand fiscal responsibility. Demand that those who represent our best interests be free from conflict of interest or personal agendas.

If you don't show up at the polls on May 10th, you're giving a blank check to the powers that be.

The question is quite simple my friends: Can you afford that?

Your Vote Is Your Power!

Take a few minutes to look over the Articles taxpayers will be asked to vote on in the upcoming election. http://www.sandwichmass.org/PublicDocuments/May%207,%202012%20Annual%20Town%20Meeting%20Warrant.pdf

On May 10th, let Town Administrator Bud Dunham, PeLo, and the rest of their cronies know you're nobody's fool. 

Vote against making the Town Clerk's position an appointed rather than elected one. Then split their proposed administrative family tree down the middle and vote Garry Blank for Town Moderator.

Let 'em know having one Wack on the job is entirely more than enough.

The Sandwich Watchdog

Sandwich Town Manager Insults Taxpayers

Is Town Manager Bud Dunham screwing taxpayers out of their right to vote?

Nasty Fall Reveals Dunham's Gall.

The Sandwich Watchdog took a nasty stumble this morning while out for our morning walk -seems we tripped over the transparency that Sandwich Town Manager Bud Dunham is working diligently to keep buried!

A very clever Mr. Dunham is advocating that the Town Clerk's office be an appointed position rather than an elected one.

Ya, that doesn't raise a red flag, does it?

In a town that has recently been slammed with controversy, why the heck would anyone want to take the power away from the people in choosing who should best represent their interests??

Wait a minute . . . Bud Dunham and others like him would, so they can surround themselves by like-minded slackeys who will support their personal agendas!

Dunham's A Gloat - Says We Shouldn't Vote!

Dunham says "I have consistently said throughout my tenure that there should be no elected department head position.” Poor Buddy boy, we're not sure he realized he was using his outside voice when he said that. Wow!

Be afraid Sandwich - be very afraid.

When Town officials no longer want taxpayers to have a say in who makes the policies that effect our lives - when those individuals want to strip us of the power to remove individuals who are not serving the best interests of taxpayers, it's a sign of trouble to come.

Current Town Clerk Taylor White doesn't agree with Dunham's seemingly shifty posturing - neither do 79% of other elected Town Clerks.

Let The Light In and The Foxes OUT!

Folks, Sandwich can't afford to operate behind closed doors any longer.

The fox has been guarding the chicken coop in this town long enough - it's time we take back our town and put an end to closed-door bargaining and fiscal irresponsibility. It's insulting that Bud Dunham thinks he can slip this one past the taxpayers of Sandwich with not so much as a raised eyebrow.

But he does think he can and maybe we're responsible for that.

Look, most of us sit back and watch in horror as our town spirals out of control - but few of us do much to change it. As taxpayers, we have the power - there's more of us than them and it's time we let 'em know it!

Appointing anyone anywhere, is a risky practice. But doing it in Sandwich, in our scruffy 'lil opinion - is down right dangerous.

What's next - appointing the Selectmen?? School Committee??

Friends Appoint Friends  -  And with Friends Like Those . . .

Here's a great example of what could happen if the wrong folks are "appointed" to positions of power. It could go something like this folks:

Last week, the Sandwich School Committee voted 3-2 against increasing the contribution to the School Department by $140,000.00 on top of the already $30 million budgeted for next year. Suppose those same school committee members were no longer elected; instead, they were appointed by let's just say . . . the school superintendent.

How do you think that vote would have turned out for Dr. Canfield then?

Folks, Americans have fought hard for the rights afforded to us in our democratic society - don't be so quick to allow others to start chipping away at those rights. 

We vote because we can. And we vote for those we elect into office to ensure that those offices are not compromised by the personal agendas of a chosen few.

Tell Bud His Idea's A Dud!

Let Sandwich Town Manager Bud Dunham and the Sandwich Charter Review Committee, whose assistence Dunham has sought in his "appointed vs. elected" switch and bait, know taxpayers aren't buying it!

If you don't, taxpayers might just end up buying a whole lot of other stuff we don't want.

Bdunham@townofsandwich.net

Charter Review Committee  townhall@townofsandwich.net

Well, I better get back out there and re-bury this transparency where I found it . . . they're gonna be looking for this!

The Sandwich Watchdog

Officer Brian Bondarek Placed On Leave! [Sandwich Watchdog]

3 Month Investigation or Victim Re-Victimization? Is Wack out of wack?

Sandwich Police Officer Brian Bondarek is not on the job today!

Julianne McGrath has successfully fought hard to right the injustices she believes were done to her son by the Sandwich Police Department and it appears the Sandwich Police Department isn't happy about it.

Will Wack get wacked? Police chiefs and diapers have one thing in common, and they should both be changed regularly and for the same reason. Is Wack out of wack?Last Saturday, Ms. McGrath and her son met with Sandwich police officials to complete the three month investigation into the McGrath's complaint against Officer Brian Bondarek's alleged misconduct.

Bondarek has been accused of vi0lating Ty McGrath's constitutional rights, manufacturing the 18 yr old's statement, and more.

Previously, Barnstable Judge W. James O'Neill tossed out the alleged statement, admonished Bondarek for ignoring McGrath's request for an attorney and for not recording the teen's "alleged confession",  and dismissed the felony charges against McGrath.

On March 7th, Ty McGrath was found not guilty of 2 reduced charges of misdermeanor assault and battery.

During last Saturday's interview, it seems the Sandwich Police Dept. used the moment to take a nasty and inappropriate swipe at the McGrath family.

Unlike her son's questioning, which included asking the teen if he realized what a charge of misconduct could do to Officer Bondarek's life and service record - talk about trying to guilt the teen, Ms. McGrath was grilled over her romantic relationships and knowledge of media sources, such as The Sandwich Watchdog.

The McGraths Are Punished For Officer's Misconduct??

What does The Sandwich Watchdog or any other media source have to do with the misconduct of a Sandwich Police Officer??

What does Ms. McGrath's personal life have to do with her son's civil rights being violated by a Sandwich Police Officer??

Instead of conducting a fair and respecful interview, the Sandwich Police Dept. seems to have had one goal in mind last Saturday - to use irrelevent information about Ms. McGrath and her children's personal lives to humiliate the McGrath family and dissuade them in their endeavors.

Confidential details regarding the father of Ms. McGrath's minor child were allegedly dug up by the Sandwich Police Dept. and thrown in the mother's face, as her son listened from the room next door.

The Sandwich Watchdog has asked Ms. McGrath to comment on this: She hasn't yet.  But we believe public opinion will demonstrate that the Sandwich Police Dept's attempts to malign the McGrath family have backfired.

Chief Wack, Is This How You're Gonna Treat Victims?

Perhaps Chief Wack could explain to us - heck, to every Sandwich resident - why he condoned the malicious use of the intimate details of a minor's geneology to punish a family for demanding an officer be held accountable for his outrageous misconduct.

Tell us Chief Wack, is this what you plan on doing to every citizen who dares to file a complaint against one of your officers?

Talk about re-victimizing the victim, Sir. What a disgrace!

Obviously, Chief Wack's 3 month investigation into  Officer Bondarek's actions in the McGrath case yielded significant proof of Bondarek's misconduct or the 17 yr. veteran wouldn't be off the job today!

However, while Wack has placed Bondarek on paid administrative leave, last Saturday's interaction with the McGraths demonstrates his reluctance to do so and smacks of a payback to the McGraths for demanding it be done.

Wack Wants Taxpayers To Reward Bondarek For Destroying A Kid's Life??

And let's talk about paid administrative leave, folks.

Why should taxpayers reward Officer Bondarek for violating a citizen's civil rights? Why should we pay for this guy to have a vacation? 

Chief Wack has some audacity to ask taxpayers to pick up the tab for a police officer who currently isn't even worthy of being on the job right now!

Officer Bondarek shouldn't get a paycheck - funded by the good people of Sandwich - for destroying the reputation of an innocent young man and putting the kid through hell.

As the Cape Cod Times pointed out here, McGrath was arrested, suspended, stripped from the football team, and has had his electronic reputation forever ruined because of the misdeeds of Officer Brian Bondarek.

And the Sandwich P.D. is reaching into our pockets to pay Bondarek for doing that?? 

The McGraths Saved More Than Just One Kid

Ms. McGrath is a hero.

Her son could have been any one of our children - but because Ms. McGrath refused to be silenced, all of our children are likely to be spared from the type of misconduct that has Officer Bondarek on paid administrative leave today.

The Sandwich Watchdog hopes others are encouraged by the McGraths to do their part to stand up against injustice. Even if, as appears to be the case with the McGrath family, the cost of that justice comes with a personal pricetag.

On that note we leave our fellow citizens of Sandwich with these words:

     If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppresor.  If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

                                                                         - Desmond Tutu

Here's to never being neutral and to the administrative leave of Officer Brian Bondarek - paid or otherwise, he absolutely earned it!

The Sandwich Watchdog

Sandwich Sports Bar Loses License! [Sandwich Watchdog]

Sports Bar Over-Serves Again!

Boosters is a bar no more - at least for now, anyways.

Sandwich Selectmen yanked the Sandwich sports bar's liquor license last night after hearing testimony from former patron Jodi Zanello. Zanello was arrested after leaving Boosters January 14th, while travelling in the wrong direction on route 6.

The 26 year old Sandwich resident failed sobriety tests and blew .20 on the breathalyzer.

At the time, Zanello told the arresting officer that she had consumed 2 glasses of wine; however, reciepts later demonstrated that she had consumed 4. 

Zanello told the Board that she had mistakenly misinformed the officer - probably because she was "drunk" - and that she was certain she had ordered four glasses of wine that evening.

Robert Mills, the attorney for Boosters, tried to convince selectmen that Zanello's testimony was not truthful, given her prior statements to police.

Discrediting Patron Didn't Work.

Boosters' bartender Rebecca Holt testified that she had no recollection of seeing Zanello the night in question. Additionally, Mills attempted to discredit Zanello by sharing her alleged psychological issues and use of the drug Lexipro to combat them.

Sandwich Selectman Linelle Grundman seemed uneasy with the direction of the testimony, as it related to Zanello's medical history. Grundman put an end to Attorney Mill's line of questioning.

With two hearings in just three months, a prior concurrent 5-day suspension, and last Saturday's incident involving another female patron allegedly driving her vehicle through a fence after leaving Boosters - Sandwich Selectmen acted responsibly revoking the bar's liquor license.

The Cape Cod Times is reporting that "Melissa Sheldon, 36, faces charges of OUI, driving to endanger and a marked lanes violation after the 1:16 a.m. crash." For additional information on this incident, please click here.

The revokation of the liquor license will likely render the Sandwich bar closed. 

Boosters has five days to appeal the decision to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Selectmen Had More Than Enough Reason.

Did Sandwich Selectmen need the testimony of Zanello to find the bar guilty of over-serving? Did Ms. Zanello's medical history need to be made public?

Without question, Ms. Zanello is responsible for her actions and thankfully the intoxicated patron didn't injure anyone on Jan. 14th.

Note, it is Zanello's 2nd OUI offense.

Still, it's a bit unsettling that facing criminal charges, Zanello was not better advised that her testimony to the Selectmen may not have been in her best legal interest.

Not to mention, Ms. Zanello's recorded testimony is now memorialized for all time.

While The Sandwich Watchdog finds it commendable that Zanello was forthright and has taken responsibility for her actions, we're not convinced tthat the 26 yr old is aware of the power of the electronic fingerprint she has just left on her life.

Even without Zanello's testimony, Boosters has given plenty of reason to the Town of Sandwich to shut them down.

While patrons must be responsible for setting their alcohol limits, so too must the businesses that serve them.

Kudos to the Sandwich Selectmen for identifying Boosters  - and any other liquor-serving establishment - as a threat to our community, if those businesses care more about the bottom line than drawing one.

The Sandwich Watchdog

Dr. Canfield: You Have The Floor [Sandwich Watchdog]

Has Dr. Richard Canfield left the building?

Walter Brooks Hands The Mic To Our Schools

Cape Cod Today has generously invited local schools to engage with their communities via the on-line newspaper.

The Sandwich Watchdog thinks this is a brilliant way for school superintendents and principals to build a better rapport with their audience - kudos to Walter Brooks for continuing to navigate unchartered territory.

Boy oh boy, we're waiting with baited breathe for Sandwich School Superintendent Richard Canfield to bless us with his wisdom. In fact, we'd be tickled pink to hear anything from good 'ol Dr. C - wise or not.

But, we have a sneaking suspicion we're gonna keep waiting.

With Great Pleasure We Introduce Dr. Canfield . . . Dr. Canfield?? 

We were hopeful, after Dr. Canfield's riveting school surveys, that he would contact The Sandwich Watchdog to compare notes - Our readers were kind enough to share their survey responses with The Sandwich Watchdog.

Sighhhh . . . . still waiting.

Maybe he's shy - or maybe Dr. Canfield isn't a big fan of The Sandwich Watchdog. Although, we can't imagine why not - afterall, we write about him all the time!

No, there must be another reason the superintendent of the struggling Sandwich School System has been ignoring us.

Maybe, Dr. Canfield has been busy trying to figure out how to get to work every day without passing Sandwich's picketing teachers every morning??

Gosh Dr. Canfield, you really should call us. We know how to do that - give them a contract!

We Could Always Introduce Principal Booras - If Folks Would Just Stay In Their Seats!

But to be fair folks - it must be hard to think straight when Dr. Canfield has all those numbers running through his head: $19 million for his 20/20 vision, $100.00 fee for student parking, a student bus fee.

Whew! It's no wonder the poor guy's having trouble drumming up support for his contract-less teachers!

Perhaps Dr. Canfield should delegate the task of communicating with the public on CCToday to SHS Principal Ellin Booras.

Although, during a recent information session at the high school, Mrs. Booras's speech was cut short when parents exited shortly after the SHS Principal began speaking.

Ouch!

Not to be a bragasaurus, but a certain canine has been suggesting that Sandwich residents are unhappy with the current SHS Administration . . . . just saying.

Hmmm . . . .think, think, think.

Q and A Time Ought To Be A Hoot!

How about having the SHS Athletic Director pinch-hit for ya Doc?

Wait - probably not a good idea. See, folks will probably want to ask Marty Cosgrove about the extensive renovations to the weight room this past month. New equipment, new floors , same old question . . .

Where did that money come from?

And of course, people will definitely want to know why all SHS "outside" coaches have been let go, prefering to "hire within".

Actually, that poses another question:

How is Sandwich High School hiring coaches from within, when the teachers who would assumably be the ones doing the coaching are not contracted for such??

It seems a bit "circle the wagonish" to not have any outside coaching staff.

Certainly, there's plenty of material for Dr. Canfield or one of his lucky staff to cover.  The Sandwich Watchdog will lap up every response from the strife-ridden, teacher-picketing, student-fleeing school system - like a bowl-full of Thanksgiving leftovers.

Yum-yum!

Or Dr. Canfield could always just call us and answer our questions .  .  . gee, it's a bit early in the season for all those crickets . . .chirp-chirp. . .

The Sandwich Watchdog