Selectmen Meet January 23rd

***One Day Delay on Trash Pick-up Due to Presidents' Day Holiday***

***Coming Sat&Sun**Annual Antique Show**Holliston High**Citizens Scholarship**

***Coming**Tuesday**March 6**State Primary Election***

by Bobby Blair 1/23/12

Budgets reviews and Police Lieutenant selection head up Monday night's meeting...

Selectmen granted St. Mary's Church a One Day Alcoholic Beverage License for a St. Valentines Dinner Dance to be held on February 4th.

The Board appointed Ellin Austin as a member of the Historical Commission and Gretchen Hazen Powers as a member of the Youth and Family Services Board. The Board reviewed a number of budgets for the ensuing fiscal year beginning July 1. Selectmen also signed the lease agreement with CXS for the portion of the old rail bed which was not purchased by the town.

Lt. Keith Edison appeared before the Board for a lengthy discussion of his retirement options. Edison whose contract with the town ends this spring was not part of the recent vetting process to select the next expired position of police lieutenant. Edison told the board that he expects to take the position of police chief in the town of Millis. State rules and regulations came into play concerning Edison's retiring from one job, accepting another and a difference of opinion over sick days, buy backs, etc. Selectman Jay Leary at one point told Edison "you're trying to manipulate the system". Selectman Kevin Conley felt badly that we find ourselves in an adversarial position upon your retirement; it shouldn't be this way. No decision was made as to Edison's retirement benefits.

The search for a new police lieutenant to replace retiring Lt. Keith Edison came to a conclusion Monday night. Four candidates, Sgt. Craig Denman, Det. Charles Todd, Det. David Gatchell and Officer Shawn Moore had all been interviewed by three area police chiefs and last Saturday were each granted an hour before Selectmen to review their past performance on the department and what they would like to see in the future. In a unanimous decision, the Board selected Shawn Moore for his organizational skills and motivation to be second in command at the department. Moore is married to his wife Denise, The couple have two children and are Holliston residents. He is the son of the late John Moore and Nancy (Chesmore) Moore. Shawn Moore is a cousin to Chief John Moore. (above) Police Chief John Moore is told by Selectmen who his second in command will be.

Posted in Politics.

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Comments (19)

Mary, this process was much more about who was not to get the job than who was to get the job. There are many members of HPD or town officials (selectmen) who can fill you in on just how complicated this process became and what was done to make sure it came out the way it did. In the future Holliston Selectmen, let the Chief pick the person HE wants and keep out of it. No review board, no selectmen, no politics. The Chief picks his man (Moore) and they do the job, no problems no accusations, no posts like these!

- resident | 1/27/12 12:19 PM

Just Thiining... 1) To those who ay that Shawn was appointed to Lt. because he was the Chief's cousin, I ask, should he forever be denied advancement because of a blood relation to his superior officer? And 2) I have to wonder how someone can ask for more transparency when s/he refuses to provide his/her name to the comment. Transparency works both ways.

- Mary Greendale | 1/27/12 8:30 AM

Actually, The "scores" were incredibly fair as each contestant went through MULTIPLE tests to see if they would benefit the Holliston Police Department including a lengthy interview throwing questions at them. John Moore actually had nothing to do with the election process and was kept out of the interview process as well. First, not that it is any of your business but, Shawn ran for Lieutenant long before his cousin was chief. He ran the last time there was an election and actually ended up in second place. He knew he had a better chance of receiving this position the second time around so, NATURALLY, he went for it, and won with flying colors. Surprising? No. Second, it should tell you something that every single one of the selectman chose Shawn - meaning he clearly is competent and fits the position better than the other contestants (or the others would have been chosen). I know this because the selectman were questioning ALL of the contestants abilities towards these responsibilities. So they all had a fair chance at showing what they could bring to the table. And third, it is COMPLETELY possible for someone to receive recommendations from the 3 prior chiefs when you have been there for TWENTY SEVEN YEARS. Ask around, Shawn Moore is well liked and he is incredible at his job. If you guys still don't believe, please go talk to the selectman yourself and make yourself feel better (or maybe you should have seen the interview yourself since it WAS PUBLIC AND ALL). Otherwise, let the man do his job!

- An Insider | 1/26/12 5:00 PM

The selectmen talked about two candidates, Sean Moore and Chuck Todd. An edge has to go to Todd from everything he has done. Moore is probably a good guy but no experience. Not to sure about the other two. Family will win every time, thats life, live with it.

- Resident | 1/25/12 5:11 PM

If you listned to the selectmen, this choice came down to two individuals, Officer Sean Moore and Det. Chuck Todd. In my opinion, Det Todd should have been chief about 20 years ago and pretty much runs everything that goees on @ HPD. It is to bad that politics had to play into this. Two good guys, wrong choice.

- Concerned Citizen | 1/25/12 5:04 PM

ah, experience means nothing yet once again..it isn't just a saying- its not what you know- its who you know.

- Heather | 1/25/12 12:48 PM

LT Moore has been serving his town for 27 years, he is one of the most professional officers I have ever met. He has worked very hard and deserves this position...REGARDLESS of what gossipers say! Holliston was very fortunate to have very intelligent, diligent officers in the running for this position. Congratulations to LT Moore.

- GKeefe | 1/24/12 7:20 PM

I would suggest that the Selectmen check out the State Ethics Laws, as somthing does not seem right here... www.mass.gov/ethics

- Are you kidding me???? | 1/24/12 5:33 PM

Being a policeman doesn't have a geriatric career path. Whatever flaky complications the State rules imposed on Lt Edison's benefits contract seems a matter of the town's legal opinion followed by State clarification of those rules. If it's not left up to Millis Chief Edison it's not manipulation. Did any of the other Lt candidates have nepotism concerns? Someone subjected to the process questioning the outcome might have merit over just angrily throwing the word around. Maybe I'm naive but all three area police chiefs being in collusion for a Lt position in Holliston just seems unlikely.

- Don MacLeod | 1/24/12 4:28 PM

This decision once again illustrates the political and moral collapse of Holliston government. Personally I don't know how any of them sleep at night. There is no place in this town for an honest, just and fair man who has given his life to protect and serve the town he so loves. I am at a loss. Look at the comments below "Right Choice" not many agree with you. I thought in the end good would win over evil but apparently that is a joke. Good guys finish last. It is a sad state of affairs. Sorry Holliston, you lose AGAIN!

- Jerry | 1/24/12 3:21 PM

I don't think there is another Town in the Commonwealth that at the same time has a Chief and Lieutenant that have risen to their positions from patrolmen and not going through the ranks first as Sergeant. Is Right Choice related to the Moores?? What kind of past relationship/affiliation did the police chief's who conducted the interviews have with the Moore's? I think the Selectmen owe us some answers!!!

- Concerned about the process | 1/24/12 3:10 PM

Why is no one asking why Edison is pretending to retire just to get a big settlement from the town. He made it clear that he has this buy back in his contract if he retires. But he has another job... so he moves his retirement date from June to now to have his cake (or doughnut in this case) and eat it too. But he's willing to not retire (to benefit his highest 3 years for pension) and offers a deal to the selectmen that was not discussed to keep him from retiring. Keith, just retire and go away. Please, do not thank him for his service, he's ripping us and the retirement system off. His whine about not abusing sick time, wow. We are supposed to give him credit for not being a bad employee now? I'd love to know what his buy back is. That Wellesley school person had 80 grand lined up. How many ten's of thousands do you think he's got waiting for him. I hope the town fights this as it is clear abuse of the system. Him offering to cut a deal clearly states that he is not really retiring. If the selectmen bow down to this, they should all retire with him. I don't care about legal costs here, I want us to fight the moral battle. As crazy as Liz, Bill and some of the others are about municipal and pension abuse, these are the types of situations that give them more reason to come and complain about what goes on at Town Hall (and the police station as well). Paul, you were great last night, lead those selectmen to rejecting this thief's attempt at screwing the system. Edison, if these are the morals you show after 30 years, the town made the right decision in not giving you the chief's job.

- Bob S. | 1/24/12 2:50 PM

Congratulations to Office Moore, he has been doing the job for years and is extremely qualified. The process was once again lengthy and out in the open and was the unanimous choice , but people have to abandon allegiances, cease personal attacks since their friend or their guy did not get the gig and recognize that a highly qualifiedand deserving applicant got the job. Great team watching over Holliston's public safety.

- Right Choice | 1/24/12 2:01 PM

Lt. Edison was acting chief twice, gets passed over for chief for a patrolman, then Edison gets a chief job in Millis. Our new chief then nominates his patrolman cousin to be a Lt. over other quality men. Looks bad, smells bad!

- Resident 2 | 1/24/12 1:41 PM

It's nice to see the Good Ole' Boy network is alive and well in Holliston.

- Citizen2 | 1/24/12 12:46 PM

It's puzzling at best - how was Sgt Denman the runner up for CHIEF, yet then a year later, is passed by for a PATROL OFFICER with no experience at supervising? The chief's cousin is the new LT?

- Mel | 1/24/12 12:21 PM

Keith, Thank you for your many years of service to Holliston. Our loss is definately Millis's gain. Stay safe and Godspeed!

- Bill Duffy | 1/24/12 12:11 PM

I too would like to see the records. I find it "interesting" the Chief of Police's cousin was appointed. Can you say nepotism? I wonder too if the Chief gave his cousin a preview of the kinds of questions that would be asked. The whole thing smells to me. Corruption at its best.

- Betty Smith | 1/24/12 11:29 AM

Since we've become a transparent nation, it would be extremely beneficial if the Selectman released the transcripts of the 3 area police chief interviews to the public. Was this information used in selecting the next Lieutenant and if it was how was it weighted as a score?

- Concerned about the process | 1/24/12 10:33 AM

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Selectmen Meet January 23rd

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