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Officials discuss D.A.R.E.

By Levon Kinney

Correspondent



WILBRAHAM Reviewing the D.A.R.E. program, renewing a cable license, and appointments to several committees filled the agenda for the first Board of Selectmen meeting of 2007.

Last September Hampden-Wilbraham Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Gagliarducci, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Donna Scanlon, retired Wilbraham Police/D.A.R.E. Officer Dennis Laplante, and Police Chief Allen Stratton met with the Selectmen to discuss the future of the D.A.R.E. program. The Selectmen gave Gagliarducci and Scanlon several months to review the program.

At the Jan. 2, meeting Gagliarducci, Scanlon, Laplante, Stratton, and Risk Prevention Service Coordinator Gina Kahn met with the Board of Selectmen, again, to present the results.

The report states that D.A.R.E. has been one high-quality strand of a comprehensive, research-based prevention effort that includes standard-based lessons designed by the health educators and school resource officers and the implementation of programs such as Second Step.

"I have seen first hand what D.A.R.E. is capable of," Selectman James Thompson commented. "I support the program and I think it works really well for this community."

Laplante noted that the curriculum for the D.A.R.E. program is in its third revision to stay relevant to the changing times.

"D.A.R.E. is part of a much larger preventative program," Gagliarducci explained. He added that the issue is not so much the individual results but the lack of resources and funding.

A final approval will be given at the Jan. 23, School Committee meeting that will include the Board of Selectmen.

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The Cable T.V. Advisory Committee appeared before the Selectmen to report on their findings on dealing with Charter Communications and the contract it has with the town. A 10-year contract was signed March 23, 1997 and is up for renewal.

Each side was in agreement that the definition of a complaint from a customer was too vague and allowed the company, in the words of committee member Richard Scott, "Too much wiggle room."

"INET, a hard-wired connection between all the buildings in the town transmits data and information. It also gives the public access stations the capability to go live when necessary," Scott said, discussing some of the positive aspects of the service. According to the committee an annual tax of $1.79 will be administered to maintain the capital and operating costs of the three public access stations, which include $200,000 for equipment and $30,000 in operating costs.

"These negotiations have nothing to do with channels and coverage, am I right?" Chairman Dave Barry asked.

"That is correct," Scott replied. "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) controls the channels programs."

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Frank Pychewicz was appointed to the Sewer Advisory Committee. A graduate of UMASS, Pychewicz worked as an engineer for Monsanto and Solutia before starting a small business selling flow meters to homeowners.

"The experience I have had as an engineer can translate into waste water management," Pychewicz explained.

"I have known Frank for about 10 years," Thompson said. "This is a gentleman who will look at a situation from 360 degrees."

Town Administrator William Fogarty added that the committee can act on abatements but must seek the approval of the Selectmen.

School Committee member Peter Salerno has been appointed to the Financial Planning Committee and Wilbraham Police Chief Allan Stratton to the Town Administrator Search Committee.

Selectmen Thompson was also appointed to the Traffic Safety Committee.

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The Annual Wilbraham Town Meeting date has been set for May 14 and the Town Elections will take place on May 19.

"Annual Town Meeting is the single most important event in town government," Barry said in a recent press release. "Voters attending that meeting decide how much the town will spend to provide services to the public, how we will revise our zoning by-laws, and changes to the general by-laws that govern many day-to-day activities in town. If you can come to only one meeting all year, this should be it."