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News: June 2002 Updates

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 | Arson Investigation | Disastrous Disaster Plan |

Click here for the Latest News of the Pottle St. Arson Fire

Arson Investigation Continues

(June 19) Just after we went to press on June 19th, Fire Chief Jon Alberghini, issued the latest press release relative top the Pottle Street barn fire arson case. He reports as follows:

The ongoing investigation of the fire at 105 Pottle Street that occurred on May 23, 2002, continues.

Cell phone calls received at the State 911 Center in Framingham were reviewed. A call was received from a cell phone at 12:56:38 PM reporting the fire. The call taker at the Framingham 911 Center verified the Town the caller was reporting a fire in and transferred the call to the Kingston 911 Center. After processing the information regarding the type of emergency and the location, the Kingston Fire Department was then alerted. Kingston dispatchers logged the time of notifying the Fire Department as 3:00 PM. Due to a lack of polygraph operator, no further polygraph tests have been conducted. Kingston investigators have not been advised as to when a polygrapher will be available.

No test results have been received from samples sent to the State Police Laboratory.

Alberghini told the Observer that the polygraph operator has been assigned a new case and was unsure when he would be available to resume work on the Pottle Street matter; he hoped it would be soon.

Disaster Plan a Disaster

By Dan Sapir
Retiring Fire Chief Jon Alberghini met with Selectmen recently and shared his concerns for the successful operation of any evacuation plan in the event of an incident at the Pilgrim Power Plant in Plymouth. Calling the plan archaic and essentially unworkable following decades old protocols with antiquated equipment, the Chief put his concerns in writing.

"This is a political issue" said the chief. "The Town can't even re-work its own plan" indicating that everything is prescribed through several levels of bureaucracy beginning with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), followed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and being topped off by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Any changes or new ideas must make its way through all three of these levels. Alberghini pointed out that both key planners for MEMA have both retired this year, leaving management duties to lower level personnel. "I see no immediate plans my MEMA to fill these positions" said the Chief. "There are plum appointments to be made. This would also include staffing assignments involving heavily scripted exercises."

Alberghini pointed out that Bridgewater, the reception center for Kingston and several other towns, is experiencing a population explosion which has heavily impacted their own municipal services, not to mention traffic issues. He does not feel Bridgewater is in a position to host evacuees in mock event, much less a disaster. He believes Kingston, Plymouth and Carver would be heavily impacted and could never traverse the roadways to get to Bridgewater.

Responding to the question as to whether he was sorry for advancing the name of former Plymouth Selectman and power plant employee Roger Silva as a consultant for the town in matters of an emergency plan, the Chief said "No, if anything it got the discussion going". Selectmen opted to seek other avenues in dealing with the Chief's concerns. Choices could include a private firm, individual, agency or even Silva who did not seem to garner much support from the Board.

Alberghini points out that the original Emergency Plan was developed in 1988 utilizing siren warning systems placed several years earlier. The parts are worn with replacements near impossible to attain. The town does not have the numbers of trained personnel capable of effecting an evacuation nor are the phone systems fully operational. He is concerned that there has been no practical experience in evacuating children and individuals with special needs on a test basis, and wonders if such is possible in a real event. He points out that the Silver Lake Regional High School staging area, which houses the satellite communications system and the 1980's vintage radar equipment, sits adjacent to the sewer treatment plant in a shade with a leaky roof.

In short, Alberghini's gutsy treatise points out how utterly useless and antiquated the entire procedure and equipment is. He valiantly points out the deficiencies and potential for cures, but it is clear to note that Alberghini is grateful to be handing over the chore to Deputy Chief Dave McKee. It is quite possible, that the current and any future plan will be full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. What we can bank on, is that the development of whatever emerges down the road, will make big money for the selected few who play bench jockey.

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