By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

With an unofficial voter turnout of approximately 20 percent, Winthrop voters who turned out at the polls on Tuesday, May 20, supported East Boston Representative Anthony Petrucelli overwhelmingly, giving the Beacon Hill veteran 1,741 votes to just 576 votes for his challenger Revere City Councilor Dan Rizzo.
“This is a wonderful victory for a person we hope will do a great job for the town of Winthrop,” said Winthrop At-large Councilor Joseph Ferrino, a Petrucelli supporter who was on hand at the Senator’s victory celebration Tuesday night.
“His legislative experience as a four-term state representative, and his knowledge of the inner workings of the state house make him the right fit for this town,” added Ferrino. “His knowledge will benefit the town of Winthrop. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Petrucelli’s victory in Winthrop was underscored by his victories across the district, as he beat Rizzo in every community in the district except Revere, where he still was able to pull out more than 1,000 votes in his challenger’s home town.
“We said when we started this campaign that we thought we could grow into every community in district during the course of the campaign,” Petrucelli told the crowd, after benign introduced as the new State Senator by his wife Alessandra. “That’s what we did and I owe that to all of you and to so many others that worked for us during this campaign.”
Petrucelli told supporters that he was overwhelmed by the support he received in communities and neighborhoods like the North End, Winthrop, Cambridge and Beacon Hill, all areas where he was a virtual unknown when the race began.
“We in this campaign had a positive message for this district that we were in the best position to bring experience and leadership to the office and an ability to stand up for what we thought was right,” added Petrucelli. “When you are coming from outside of a neighborhood and pull 80 percent in the North End or 75 percent in Winthrop or 70 percent ion Cambridge, it’s really just overwhelming.”

By John Lynds and Josh Resnek

East Boston Representative Anthony Petruccelli cruised to a convincing victory over Revere city councilor Dan Rizzo in light balloting in Tuesday’s special primary election. He will take former senator Robert Travaglini’s place in the state senate.
“We did it the old fashioned way, working hard, taking the high road, meeting the people and talking about issues. My family and I are overwhelmed by the support that the people of this district gave to me in this election,” Petruccelli said at his campaign party at the Logan Hilton.
“I will do my best to serve this district with integrity and intelligence,” he added.
The unofficial results of the balloting show Petruccelli with 7680 votes versus Rizzo with 5234.
In Winthrop, considered by some handicappers early on to be a battleground, Petruccelli bested Rizzo 1741-576.
Rizzo carried Revere convincingly, 3622-950. Petruccelli did the same to Rizzo in East Boston, 2651-330. In the remainder of the sprawling district, Petruccelli won by wide margins. In Cambridge, where the vote was especially weak, with only 1600 coming out of a total of more than 20,000, Petruccelli mauled Rizzo by a 3-1 margin, 1362-473.
In the North End Petruccelli beat Rizzo 771-197 and on Beacon Hill, Petruccelli scored 325 to Rizzo’s 66.
Petruccelli’s campaign was highly organized from the start. With the support of former senator Travaglini, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, House Speaker Sal DiMasi and Boston City Councillor Sal LaMattina, Petruccelli’s momentum into primary day proved to be too much for Rizzo’s forces to overcome.
In Revere, Rizzo’s forces had hoped to pull out a large vote that would have made a Petruccelli victory in the rest of the district insurmountable. It never materialized. Revere’s turnout was under 20%, a disappointment to Rizzo and his supporters.
Also notable was that Petruccelli received more than 1000 votes from Revere voters, a fact he will no doubt attribute to the support he received from Representative Kathi Anne Reinstein.

Accused of trying to run over officer during escape attempt

By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

A suspected drug dealer, who has already been charged by Winthrop police once and is awaiting trial on those charges, got more than he bargained for during a visit to Winthrop on May 16.
According to police reports, Ruben Ortiz, 25, of 969 Salem Street in Malden was spotted by detail officer Tim Callinan last Wednesday as he drove through town. Callinan, who recognized Ortiz from a March 28 heroin bust on Trident Avenue, called in the plate to police headquarters and was told that the driver was operating with a suspended license.
A short time later when Ortiz allegedly made his way back along Pleasant Street, Callinan tried to get him to pull over, at which point Ortiz immediately accelerated the vehicle and swerved around the officer in a getaway attempt, waving to Callinan as he drove away.
“A short distance away, two other detail officers (who were working at the intersection of Main and Pleasant streets) and a patrol officer heard Callinan’s radio call for assistance,” said Lieutenant Detective Brian Perrin. “Officers Giulio Bonavita and Dave Brown and Sergeant Steve  Rogers all responded to help stop the suspect.”
As Bonavita attempted to pull the vehicle over, Ortiz allegedly turned his vehicle toward Bonavita, nearly striking him. At that time, the vehicle was finally stopped by all three officers and Ortiz was arrested and charged with operating with a suspended license, failing to stop for an officer, assault with a dangerous weapon to wit a motor vehicle and operating to endanger.
After he’d been arrested, officers observed Ortiz fidgeting in the back seat of the police cruiser. A search of the vehicle at police headquarters uncovered a quantity of a substance believed to be OxyContin, which has been sent to the state police crime lab for testing. Ortiz was the charged with possession of a class A substance as well.
Detective Dennis Hickey was also instrumental in the arrest and booking of Ortiz.

Massport officials have asked the town to organize a meeting to talk about an air quality health study at the airport, which must be completed in Winthrop and other surrounding communities, before Massport can begin construction of the centerfield taxiway they have recently received clearance to build.
The town of Winthrop hearing about an air quality health study will be held on Wednesday, May 30 at the Winthrop Senior Center, beginning at 7 p.m.
According to Council President Thomas Reilly, the town will officially host the meeting, with Massport officials making a presentation and taking questions.
The public is encouraged to attend.

Town Clerk advises June 6 last day to register to vote in June 26 general election

By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

With the days ticking away in their race to replace former Senator Robert Travaglini, State Representative Anthony Petrucelli of East Boston and Revere City Councilor Dan Rizzo have both been making the rounds here in Winthrop trying to win support for their respective candidacies.
However, Town Clerk Claire Sheltry, who will retire herself after the June 26 general election for the senate seat, said this week that she is still predicting a fairly low voter turnout on Tuesday, May 29.
“I still think we’re going to be around 15 or 20 percent,” said Sheltry, who noted that the holiday weekend and the fact that special elections typically draw poorly have both played into her estimates.
“We have started to get a few more absentee ballots, people have started to realize that they may be away during the election and they’re coming in to vote over the counter, but I still think we’ll wind up with between 35 and 50 absentee.”
Sheltry, a veteran of dozens of previous elections, said the low absentee rate likely means a low turnout on Election Day as well.
The last day for absentee voters to vote over the counter at Town Hall will be tomorrow, Friday, May 25 at 5 p.m., because Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m., to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Primary Day, May 29.
Sheltry also warned that the voters interested in voting in the general election on June 26, will have to make sure they are registered in the Clerk’s office by June 6.

Measure will go before Town Council for consideration

By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

The Winthrop Planning Board voted 4-0, with one member absent, Wednesday night to recommend that the Winthrop Town Council consider the application by Winthrop Cove Realty Trust to include the Winthrop Hospital site in the town’s Special Development Overlay District, but also recommended a number of restrictions that will have to be negotiated with the developer, before the project could go forward.

The Planning Board’s action seemed to gain the support of both sides in the development battle, as both the developers and the abutting neighbors expressed  confidence that the Planning Board’s recommendations were a good compromise.

“I am very happy with the Planning Board’s report and recommendation to rezone the former hospital property.  Although I believe that some of the planning recommendations  in  the report will require some modification, overall , the report is obviously the result of some thoughtful deliberation. Now we can move forward to the next level and toward a conclusion of this four year stalemate.” said the developer’s attorney James J. Cipoletta.

Similarly, the attorney representing the Lincoln Street Neighborhood Association seemed satisfied that the Planning Board had considered all of the issues surrounding the property before making is recommendation.

“My clients are pleased the Planning Board has examined the issue very professionally and we intend to participate in the permitting process. The members seem to have a good understanding of the need to balance the interests of the neighborhood with the interests of the developer. They have based their affirmative recommendation on certain parameters which are reasonable. This is an example of contract zoning. Lets see what happens,” added attorney William DiMento, representing the neighborhood.

The recommendations compiled by the Planning Board were read aloud by member Peter Roach, and essentially ask the council to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the developer, Winthrop Cove Realty Trust, in which issues such as density, parking, number of units, height and other dimensions will be agreed to by both parties, with iput by the Planning Board.

With the Planning Board’s vote, the issue now will go before the Town Council, which must approve the request by a two-third majority in order for the hospital property to be placed into the SDOD and move the project forward.

By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

Two water main breaks near Winthrop High School have forced the temporary closure of the high school and the loss of water and sewer service to about 18 homes in the immediate vicinity.
According to Public Works Director Dave Hickey, the larger of the two breaks is near the intersection of Cross and Main Streets, while another smaller break has been found in a water main on Franklin Street, which runs adjacent to the baseball field behind Winthrop High.
At this point, Hickey said that the department has turned off service to the high school, golf club and 18 homes in the Franklin and Cross Street neighborhood. However, the department is looking for ways to provide alternate water service to the entire neighborhood, while they undertake repairs to the pipes.
“Currently we have some concern that the entire intersection at Cross and Main streets may be compromised,” said Hickey. “If that is the case, it could take more than a few days to repair and it could mean that we’ll have to also repair gas lines and sewer lines in the area.”
Hickey said that school officials have been told that the school may not be ready in time for classes on Friday, but that public works personnel will do everything they can to get the school open, while repairing the lines.

By John Lynds

Political Analysis

The series of debates held in the district last week between the two senatorial candidates running for Senator Robert Travaglini’s vacated seat proved one thing-one decisive issue doesn’t separate the candidates, and in the final analysis, voters will most likely choose the candidate they think has the most experience and can get the job done for the district on Beacon Hill.
All in all, Representative Anthony Petruccelli and Revere City Councilor Dan Rizzo held their own during debates held in Revere, Winthrop, Beacon Hill and Cambridge.
At the last and final debate in Winthrop, the two candidates agreed more should be done to help small business, reduce the impacts of Logan Airport on the surrounding communities, and more resources are needed to improve the state’s metropolitan beaches.
Petruccelli did a good job showing he has a proven track record on the issues and has the ability to get things done on Beacon Hill.
Petruccelli pointed to his work as chairman of the state’s Committee on Small Business and his recent legislation that secured $1.5 million in technical assistance grants for businesses with 20 or fewer employees.
Petruccelli also showed that he was instrumental, as chair of the state’s Metropolitan Beach Commission, in securing $2 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation to be used specifically for new equipment and manpower at the state’s metropolitan beaches.
Petruccelli’s work on the Logan Airport Air Quality Initiative - a study aimed at capping emissions at Logan, cuts emissions back to 1999 levels and will gradually decrease the emissions every year to a healthier level - also came into play.
Rizzo, lacking a state record on the issues, showed himself to be the city councilor down in the trenches with the public while painting Petruccelli as the consummate Beacon Hill insider who has lost touch with his constituents.
For example, Rizzo said he has complained to state officials for years about the condition of Revere Beach, but those complaints had fallen on deaf ears. Rizzo said while Petruccelli’s work for the past two years on the beach commission was a good thing, the poor condition of some beaches isn’t a recent problem and is something that was ignored for many years by the legislature and Department of Conservation of Recreation (DCR).
Rizzo added construction of Runway 14/32 and recent approval of the centerfield taxiway at Logan Airport occurred on Petruccelli’s watch, and he claimed Petruccelli and colleagues had been unsuccessful in stopping Logan’s expansion.
On the beach issues, Petruccelli shot back and questioned Rizzo’s commitment to improving Revere Beach. Petruccelli said during beach commission hearings held in Revere, Rizzo was never expressive in his displeasure with the state’s handling of the beach.
Petruccelli also defended his work against Logan expansion, and while major projects have been approved at the airport, he has been successful in mitigating the impacts the projects have had on surrounding communities.
In the end, both candidates succeeded in getting their individual messages out to voters. With both candidates having solid support from their respective bases in East Boston and Revere, the election will most likely be decided by voters in Winthrop, the North End and Cambridge.
It will be those voters the two candidates will try to convince before Tuesday, May 29.

New deal provides larger base salary, fewer bonuses

By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.

The Winthrop School Committee announced last night that they had reached an agreement with Winthrop Superintendent of Schools Steve Jenkins on a contract extension through the 2010 school year, that would also re-structure his salary and benefits and provide him with a raise. Jenkins’ existing deal was due to expire in June 2008.

The new pact runs through June 30, 2010, with a total compensation package of $158,124.25. The new salary figure, which appears to be a sharp increase from his previous base pay of $121,762, was arrived at by making a salary adjustment from the $121,762 to $133,000. On top of that the contract adds a 4.5 percent pay increase for 2008, which is identical to the 4.5 percent raise the teachers and staff received in their contract settlement and then reallocates several bonus items in the previous deal, into the new base salary (see full story in next week’s Sun Transcript for a breakdown of all bonuses).

“When you add up all of the pay and bonuses the superintendent had received last year and add in the money he received from selling back some unused vacation time, we spent a little over $150,000 in compensation for the superintendent this (current fiscal) year, so the actual increase in pay and benefits from 2007 to 2008, is not as sharp as it looks,” said School Committee Chairwoman Pat Milano. “We’ve just moved that money to his salary line, instead of paying him the extra bonuses for travel expenses, professional development and things like that.”

Milano explained that the move by the School Committee, which was under no obligation to restructure the contract was made for a couple of reasons.

“First, it was important for us to take the lead and explain to the public why we’re doing what we’re doing,” said Milano. “In the past, we’ve never really talked that much about the specifics of superintendent contracts, but with the new emphasis on transparency in the new town government, we thought it was important for us to explain the contract and what it means for the school district.”

Milano said that part of the reason for making the move to sign Jenkins to an extension is that he has been solicited by other school districts looking for new superintendents, many of which are offering much higher salaries to start.

“There are something like 40 school districts right now that are looking for superintendents,” said Milano. “Some of them are offering to pay as much as $180,000 a year, and we just thought that from the standpoint of stability and continuity, it made sense for us to talk with the Superintendent about an extension.”

Additionally, Milano said that Jenkins expressed to the School Committee that he is looking at this next contract as his last contract before retirement. With that in mind, Jenkins was interested in maximizing the amount of his compensation that is included in his salary, since bonuses and expenses are not included in the formula for determining retirement benefits.

“There was also the consideration, from our standpoint, that if we didn’t extend his contract, we would run the risk of losing him and in order to replace a superintendent in this market, we felt we’d have to advertise the position at at least $140,000 to start, plus benefits, plus the cost of hiring a search consultant to help us find a new superintendent,” said Milano.

The new deal does include additional protections for the school department, to protect against the Superintendent leaving early to accept another superintendent’s position. The penalty for early termination of the contract with less than six months notice was increased to one-third of one year’s salary, meaning that another school department would have to offer Jenkins significantly more money, in order to make the prospect of leaving seem attractive, from a financial standpoint.

Winthrop residents will be offered the chance to share their views on the $50 million Logan Airport Centerfield Taxiway, during a May 17 WCAT telecast by the town’s Noise, Air Pollution and Airport Hazards Committee.
Residents will be asked to telephone their views in while the show, which starts at 7 p.m., is on the air.
Among topics the Committee expects to discuss will be a $3 million taxiway airplane noise study that is just getting underway, the impact on public health of minute particulate pollution from taxiing aircraft engines, and other effects this long controversial project will have on the town.  Several town residents, including AHC members Bob Driscoll, Jerry Falbo and Harvey Maibor, and are either on citizen committees set up to deal with public issues or have participated in studies already concluded.
The televised discussion will probably address the question of what courses of action the town can take to deal with difficulties raised by the taxiway, particularly in the so-called Maze neighborhood. That area of Winthrop is closest to the portion of airport property where the taxiway will be built.  A health study several years ago found evidence that respiratory ailments likely linked to Logan aircraft pollution strike most frequently in the Court Road-Johnson Avenue neighborhood.
AHC member Brian Dumser, a University of Massachusetts/Boston environmental scientist, is participating in state efforts to study the public health issues associated with the airport and its traffic. State Rep. Robert DeLeo (Dem.-Winthrop), House Ways and Means Committee chairman and an AHC member, founded and heads a Legislative Logan Airport Caucus.
Besides those cited above, other Airport Hazards Committee members include Dick Bangs, Vincent Collins, Charlie Mason, Tom McNiff and Rick Rodes.  Susan Mason, Eleanora Olivolo and Claire Sweeney are AHC Outreach members.

This announcement was provided by the Airport Hazards Committee.