Sakonnet TTimesimeseastbayri.com THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 VOL. 48, NO. 12 $1.00 Tiverton Seniors dig marijuana talk Council to probe fire department Complaints, personnel issues, cited BY TOM KILLIN DALGLISH [email protected] TIVERTON — A unanimous executive session vote by the Tiverton’s Town Council last week has launched “an investi- gation into issues in the Fire Department.” After the vote, the council announced that it had hired Providence lawyer Marc DeSisto to lead the investigation. The only advance hint about the matter was an agenda item that referred to “potential litigation” and an “investigation.” Town Administrator Matt Woj- cik said Thurs- day that the PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. investigation Tony Caputi, a consultant with Greenleaf, hands out information about the medical marijuana program to Helen Darcy. Mr. Caputi treats several concerns “per- conditions with medical marijuana. In the background, Greenleaf Director and CFO Richard Radebach also distributes flyers. sonnel mat- ters,” and is not an inquiry Helpful information — but no free samples into matters considered to be criminal in BY TOM KILLIN DALGLISH Town nature. [email protected] Administrator He said the TIVERTON — A sure way to Matt Wojcik investigation is draw a crowd these days is to based on advertise a free seminar about “complaints.” He did not dis- medical marijuana. That’s what close the nature of the com- Tiverton’s Senior Center did Mon- plaints or the identity of the day, March 10. complainants. Braving the afternoon cold, 22 “If no new information comes seniors showed up at the center forward,” he said, “the investiga- on Canonicus Street to hear from tion will be based on what’s two representatives of already been submitted.” It’s a Portsmouth’s Greenleaf Compas- “department-wide review.” sion Center. Asked to comment about the Most left pleased by what they’d investigation, Fire Chief Robert heard. Lloyd said, “I am not at liberty to “I thought the presentation was say, because it’s an ongoing good,” said one woman who investigation, and I would direct asked not to be identified. “But you to the town administrator or there were no samples.” the town solicitor.” See POT TALK Page 3 Judy Wardell enjoys a chuckle during the question and answer period. See FIRE DEPT Page 2 Spring is here! Despite what the thermometer might say winter has passed the torch to spring EAST BAY LIFE Page 2 Sakonnet Times March 20, 2014 FIRE DEPT: Council mum on fire department probe Tiny Riverside From Page 1 Drive bridge Mr. Wojcik said he did not believe the investigation needs would take very long. Mr. DeSisto, 58, and a costly fix lawyer since 1982, has in the past been retained by the Interlocal Trust, the town’s TIVERTON — A small town- insurance carrier. It is not owned bridge over a creek that known if the complaints are flows beneath Riverside Drive is the “potential litigation” “falling apart” and in serious need referred to in the council of repair, says Department of agenda, or if they are being Public Works (DPW) Director defended by the Trust. Steve Berlucchi. Mr. DeSisto will be paid The bridge looks like little more $175 per hour, than a culvert, but it’s classified as Asked about the investiga- a bridge, said John McEwing, who tion, Mr. DeSisto said, “I’m not lives with his wife a few doors making any statement.” away in a house fronting on the An call to Patrick White, the Sakonnet River. Tiverton firefighter who heads The bridge is in poor condition, the Firefighters Local 1703 of Mr. McEwing said. “One of these the International Association days a fire truck or a garbage truck of Firefighters (AFL-CIO) was will go over it, and the creek not returned. underneath will end up with an TOM KILLIN DALGLISH axle in it.” Chief Robert Lloyd (left) responded a few years ago, with an unidentified police officer, to a Stafford Road The creek, which has no name, eastbayri.com 24/7 truck accident that downed a utility pole and cut off power. flooded his house and the house next door during Hurricane Sandy, said Mr. McEwing, who served for ten years as chairman of the Coastal Resources Manage- WARREN TIVERTON ment Council (CRMC). 137 Child Street, Warren, RI 492 Main Rd, Tiverton, RI TOM’S MARKET 401-289-2852 401-816-0862 At the point where it flows Check out our ad on our website under Riverside Drive, the creek www.tomsmarket.com has only another 20 feet to go Fresh. Local. 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The newest way to shop in the East Bay Sakonnet Times March 20, 2014 Page 3 POT TALK: Questions, no samples, at marijuana meeting with seniors From Page 1 “Just about everybody in this room would consider using it, but it’s not covered by insur- ance,” said Anne LeBreux, 81, who’d come from Massachusetts to “to get information about what it’s all about … Seniors would use it if it was covered by insurance.” She gave the presen- tation high grades — “and they didn’t use 25 dollar words, so we could understand it. “It was an excellent turnout,” said Janice Gomes, the Senior Center’s director. The audience was all women. It was likely most of them were over 65 or 70 — some would have been around back in the late 1960s The two speakers were the only (younger) men in the room. Greenleaf director, and its chief financial officer, Richard Rade- bach was the first to speak. “Greenleaf is one of three com- passionate care centers in the state,” he said. It opened in June, 2013. “There’s much going on in PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. the area,” he said, with 22 states Helen Darcy (left) and Joan Senecal participate in the question and answer period. now having state-approved med- ical marijuana programs. The State of Rhode Island began its Wonder. administering it?” another program ended. The reaction Those conditions include can- program in 2006. The menu lists different bases woman asked. “I would say no, was mostly positive. cer, glaucoma, being HIV positive, Present with Mr. Radebach was and oils, along with numerous because you’re inhaling or smok- “There were people who told Hepatitis C, and “a chronic debili- Tony Caputi, 57, who said he is a edibles, such as cherry and root ing something,” Mr. Caputi said. me they knew someone who tating disease or medical condi- 14-year prostate cancer survivor, beer lollipops, chocolate chip “Will second hand smoke might try it,” said Ms. Gomes. tions or its treatment that pro- suffered chronic neck pain from cookies, fudge brownies, peanut affect pets?” an audience mem- And explaining the reasons why duces” a number of severe or a severe automobile accident, butter and jelly blondie brown- ber asked. the audience was all women, Ms. wasting syndromes. The Rhode and has been diagnosed with ies, butterscotch candies, and “I have a dog and she’s never Gomes said, “Women are more Island Department of Health can Lyme Disease.