The Rehoboth
Reporter
APRIL 2012 Volume 24, no. 4
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Serving the Residents of Rehoboth, Seekonk and Surrounding Communities Since 1989
Summer Camp Guide page 62
Spring Home & Garden
Town and RePAC Go to Court by Laura Calverley
The saga over RePAC continues. The board of selectmen, at its January 30th meeting, voted to terminate its contract with Rehoboth Public Access Corporation for cable access programming and services. Now the town is battling the public access provider in the courts. On March 27, town counsel was in Taunton Superior Court for a hearing involving RePAC and its alleged failure to produce all the broadcasting equipment and financial records that the court and town requested. Previously, RePAC Vice-Chairman Ed Schagrin allegedly removed cameras, microphones and other equipment from the senior center, town hall, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School and the RePAC studio on Anawan Street. After selectmen decided to terminate the contract, RePAC was given several deadlines to return missing equipment and provide a full accounting of the corporation’s assets. The most recent deadline, set by the court, was February 24.
RePAC returned some of the equipment, but not all of it, before the deadline. According to Selectmen Chairman Mike Costello, at the time about 30 percent of the equipment was still unaccounted for. Costello said some of the paperwork had been received, but there were some documents that were also still missing. Selectmen sought a contempt order against RePAC. After three hours of testimony from both sides on March 27, the judge ordered, among other things, according to Costello, that RePAC provide, within 10 days, a complete inventory of the equipment that they feel should stay in RePAC’s possession. Selectmen also gave the court an inventory of equipment that the town feels is still missing. “We feel there is still quite a bit of equipment in their possession, but it’s not going to prevent us from continuing to broadcast the three public access channels,” said Costello. continued on page 6...
See page 84 Rehoboth Officer Receives Honor
Massachusetts State Senator James Timilty presented Rehoboth police officer Bree Krasnianski with a citation from the State House and acknowledged her heroism. Krasnianski was commended for her actions while on duty rescuing a car accident victim, Scott MacDougall of Warren, RI, from the Palmer River. Good Samaritan, Edward Ferreira, Jr. of Portsmouth, RI stopped at the accident scene and went into the cold water to assist Officer Krasnianski until Rehoboth emergency crews arrived.
Officer Bree Krasnianski and Senator James Timilty