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Mailed free to requesting homes in Charlton, Charlton City and Charlton Depot Vol. 2, No. 42 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.CHARLTONVILLAGER.COM ‘Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes Friday, Oct 17, 2008 Vote DA: Evaluation violated law BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER FOR SELECTMEN, IT’S STRIKE TWO not CHARLTON — For the second time in a month, selectmen have been cited Craver’s evaluation. wrote of her. Selectmen Chairman for violating the Open Meeting Law. It comes on the heels of a separate Rick Swensen said the board is dis- The board broke the law when it Open Meeting Law complaint filed in cussing whether to release it or not. evaluated Town Administrator Robin July by the Charlton Villager. The “... Selectmen violated the Open taken L. Craver in private and not in an DA’s office last month issued an opin- Meeting Law by conducting the signif- open session, according to an opinion ion that the board had violated the icant portion of the evaluation … rendered by Worcester County law. through a wholly written process that Assistant District Attorney Patricia In response to the latest complaint, excluded the public,” Smith wrote. C. Smith in a Tuesday, Oct. 7 letter to Smith recommended the written “We find that this violation was unin- Rick Swensen Peter Boria on TA Selectmen Chairman Rick Swensen. detailed evaluation’s created by each tentional.” regulation, Swensen said, and The DA’ s opinion was in response selectman be released to the public to The latest violation stems from the whether selectmen’s individual evalu- to a complaint filed by the Worcester remedy the issue. Craver has twice policy used to make Craver’s review. ations of Craver should be released. FOR CRAVER, Telegram & Gazette over the manner denied requests to release the detailed The board is considering what in which selectmen conducted written evaluations each selectman changes, if any,should be made to that NO ‘RUBBER Turn To EVALUATION, page 11 STAMP’ BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL STAFF WRITER CHARLTON — The Board Of Selectmen’s attempt to renew Town Administrator Robin L. Craver’s contract last week was withdrawn after a member voiced con- cern over the process. However, Selectman Kathleen Walker, who raised that concern, said Craver’s job “is not in jeopardy.” Robin Craver Selectman Scott D. Brown’s withdrew his motion to renew Craver’s contract for another three years before Pictures of any vote could be taken dur- ing the board’s Tuesday,Oct. 7 meeting. The withdrawal also came after Walker said more time should be taken to consider a change new contract. “I appreciate Mr. Brown’s enthusiasm … I would like to take a few weeks, to read PAIR’S BOOK LOOKS AT through this information and make a full consideration,” Walker said. “I would think TOWN’S HISTORY you would want a unanimous BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL vote on this.” STAFF WRITER Craver, during the meeting, said if all the selectmen were s they shot the breeze about the town’s history last not comfortable renewing the week, William O. Hultgren and Quentin R. Kuehl contract at the meeting, then recalled their new labor of love of the town’s past. the process she be deferred. “Try to picture how different it was,” said Hultgren, After the meeting, Craver A co-author of a new book, titled “Charlton: Picturing said she “absolutely” wants to Change.” remain in her post. The work is a book of pictures, and captions documenting the “I’m confident that the town’s history, which Kuehl also authored. Kuehl and Hultgren negotiation process will go on started assembling the journey though time in January after discov- and be completed shortly,” ering they had enough pictures. Craver said. “I’ve enjoyed “We wanted to present something new,” Hultgren said. “I knew we working here and I’m looking had a great store of photographs.” forward to completing many Creating the book was a challenge as they worked together week- of the projects that we’ve ly at Hultgren’s Northside Road home. While Hultgren, the author of started. I think I work well several other history books, said he was familiar with many of the with the community.” buildings in the photos, Kuehl managed to recall the individuals in After the meeting, Walker the photos. That knowledge formed the basis for the captions. said she wants Craver to stay “We were well-acquainted with the images,” Hultgren said. in her job, because she thinks Hultgren personally witnessed a moment captured in one of his Craver has performed well. Above, courtesy photo/Top, Ryan Grannan-Doll photo photos — an Oct. 16, 1975 visit to a Cemetery Road home by U.S. Sen. “I just don’t think it’s right At left, William O. Hultgren and Quentin Kuehl, shown left and right in top right photo, have authored a book examining in picutres the history of the town of Charlton. Turn To AUTHORS, page 11 Turn To CONTRACT, page 11 Highway dept. in voters’ hands to Weston & Sampson Team Leader SPECIAL TOWN MEETING SET FOR OCT. 28 Jeffrey Alberti. His firm is designing the building that is planned for a site BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL money for the new highway facility, southeast of the Flint Road landfill STAFF WRITER subject to passing a Nov. 4 debt exclu- that is being capped. CHARLTON — Voters will be able sion ballot question, according to The town’s political demographics to treat themselves to a little bit of old- Selectman Kathleen Walker. Ballot are a big factor in the decision, fashioned democracy later this approval is also required to spend the Walker said. month. money, but no exact figure has been “It’s a very conservative town. I The Tuesday, Oct. 28 Special Town attached. wouldn’t predict it,” she said. “It Meeting at the Charlton Middle The cost estimate will be verbally depends on who is there. I don’t know School will put 18 articles up for stated at the town meeting, according how I’m going to vote.” Shawn Kelley photo action by voters. The meeting starts at to Highway Superintendent Gerry Another vote to approve money is 7 p.m. Foskett, and estimates have put that also on the town meeting schedule. Among the articles is a key ques- number at $4.98 million. An addition- Voters will be asked to approve spend- WEEDING THEM OUT tion about planned highway garage al $73 annually would be tacked onto ing $96,000 on the planned animal CHARLTON —Lou-Ellen Corku of Charlton pulls out weeds under a shrub at the residents’ real estate tax bills if the shelter to pay for various material, operations building. Charlton Middle school, where the United Way volunteered to make an outside Voters will be asked to approve ballot question is approved, according Turn To STM, page 11 eating area. For more photos, turn to pages A8-9. See story Page A15. BAY PATH Almanac ................. 2 Learning................ 5 TEEN HITS TRIVIA Obituaries .............. 7 Calendar ...............18 SMOTHERS Police Logs .............. 5 Real Estate ...B Section STAGE In which year was the Opinion ................ 10 Sports .............. 16-17 MONTY TECH INDEX INDEX PAGE 3 Teddy Bear introduced? PAGE 16 Answer inside. 2 •THE CHARLTON VILLAGER• Friday, October 17, 2008 www.charltonvillager.com Hall carried an Olympic-sized spirit VILLAGER ALMANAC FORMER CHARLTON ATHLETE SEIZED THE GOLD BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Friendship” award at the Sao Paulo STAFF WRITER Pan American games in 1963. THEY SAID IT CHARLTON — Albert Hall was a Off the athletic field, Albert Hall good sport — a great sport, actually — lived a fulfilling life. After growing up “I think we are starting to change the way we’ve both on and off the field. on a farm in Hanson, he attended A former Charlton resident and Cornell University. Coaches there done things for years and years. We are being held four-time Olympian, as well as a recruited him into hammer throwing. accountable more than we ever were in the past. This three-time medal winner in other ath- Growing up on a farm instilled the is not a bad thing. Nobody’s ever brought it ahead letic competitions, Hall died in easygoing attitude he would carry Tonopah, Nev. Thursday Oct. 9 after a with him throughout life, Shawn Hall before as much as they are now.” long struggle with Alzheimer’s dis- said. ease. “It was nice and rural just like — CHARLTON SELECTMAN KATHLEEN WALKER, ON It is not a stretch to say that, in life, where he grew up,” he said. Hall wasted little time in his 74 years. Albert Hall served as a lieutenant INCREASED SCRUTINY OVER THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN. Hall was an accomplished hammer- in the U.S. Army, where he met his thrower who competed in the 1956, wife, Lorraine, and started an animal 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympic games. feed business. The family moved to That competitive spirit never stood Charlton in 1965, where Albert and in the way of being a good person. Lorraine ran the Mid-State Insurance OPEN TO CLOSE While he was always competitive in Agency. Their motto: “Gold Medal sports, he typically served as the Service.” CHARLTON TOWN HALL (508) 248-2200 country’s goodwill ambassador of Albert Hall was forced to retire in Board of Selectmen (248-2206): sorts, according to his 48-year-old son, the early 1990s, when he started show- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays .............. 7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Shawn Hall. Courtesy photos: ing early signs of Alzheimer’s dis- Tuesdays ............................................................. 7:30 a.m.