4 - Wilmington Town Crier - Wilmington Memorial Library

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TOWN CRIER - WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1997
Linda Giles, Julie Lambert determined to success
Cont from PI
profession, forexample, is made easier
when others support their decision.
But what happens when gender plays
a strong role a particular profession?
Does it make a difference, whether
they're a female in a male dominated
field or vice versa? You decide.
At the -Wilmington Fire
Department, one would come across
an out of the ordinary sight, a women,
dressed in full uniform and ready to
do her job. This woman is Linda
Giles, and she feels that "if you're
going to do something, just do it."
She has been a f i re fighter for the past
twelve years and is happy with her
experience as of so far. There is only
one other female on the force, who
works as a civilian dispatcher.
Being quite aware of the
stereotypical comments that some
people send in her direction, she
doesn't let them bother her. In fact,
she tends to bite her tongue when
people say things like, "you drive
everything, you're not just on the
ambulance?" As a matter of fact, she
does just as much as her coworkers
do, from driving the truck to fighting
County government, trash contracts
Selectmen discuss issues
Cont from PI
Mice I i. Because the expense of county
government has continued to rise and
has nearly rendered Middlesex bank
taipt, the Commonwealth has decided
to intervene and take hold of the debts
and assets of Middlesex county. With-
out state intervention, the finances
would become the communities re-
sponsibility.
- The extent that the debt will be
Day's welcome triplets
.If
Cont from PI
■-'.
si:
compensate for the lack of calcium,
she took calcium supplements.
'.' Within six weeks of the pregnancy,
the couple had found out that they
were having triplets. Although a tad
bit surprised, they weren't completely
shocked because a set of twins had
already been born, on the maternal
side, that is. Having no children before
all this, the couple had the opportunity
to adjust to not just one child, not two,
but three children.
The maternal grandparents include
John and Lucy Russo of Revere.
Concetta Villalba of Revere is the
children's maternal great grandmother.
Cta their father's side, John and Peg
Pay of Milton are the grandparents.
,-., Because the children were born
after only thirty-two weeks instead of
a nine month period, it was in their
best interest to stay under constant
hospital supervision. They're still too
young to be released. It is expected
that they will remain in the hospital for
two and a half more weeks.
Things are going to be a little bit
different in the Day house. It will be
a while for Julie Day to go back to
work as an administrative assistant for
a clinical lab. Michael Day, however,
will continue his work as Vice
President of a regional development
of Bright Horizons (a child care
company). Bristol, their dog, will
have to get used to three little baby
girls around the house. He'll now
have to share his attention. Less
doggie biscuits for him and more
formula for the babies! And lastly,
diapers and baby wipes are going to
be the top items on their grocery lists.
But hey, just because two's a couple
doesn'talwaysmeanthree'sacrowd!
Bits & Pieces...
Bits & Pieces will take on a new look from now on. The
Town Crier will expand B & P to include more topics, and
we will call this new page Names & Faces contact B.D.
as usual at the Town Crier 658-2346 or home: 658-2907
nights and weekends
...Names & Faces
offset by the assets remains to be seen,"
said Miceli.
Sen. Bruce Tarr, who also attended
the meeting, reaffirmed the board that
the abolition of county government,
and allowing the state to assume con-
trol of county property and finances
stands as the most viable option at this
time.
There was no way to triage this. It
had to be eliminated," Tarr said.
Miceli also informed the board that
specific funds are being ear-marked to
finance the construction of a handicap
accessible fishing pier at Silver Lake,
and that the project will most likely be
included in the state's next annual bud-
get. The cost of the pier has been
estimated at $70,000.
The main focus of the evening re-
garded the issue of renewing the town's
contracts with the North East Solid
Waste Committee (NESWC).
NESWC, which serves 23 communi-
ties in the state, has offered an
am mended set of contracts containing
provisions designed to lower the af-
fected communities' costs.
The first of the two am mended and
restated agreements, would replace the
existing contract and bind the commu-
nities until 2005, as was originally
planned. This contract states that tip
fees, which currently fluctuate based
upon total cost of the destruction and
tonnage of trash, would become fixed.
It has been projected that Wilmington
will pay approximately $13,249,000
in tip fees through the existing 2005
contract. Estimates for the ammended
agreement contrast that figure greatly,
with a projected savings of nearly
$1.5 million. Presently, NESWC com-
munities are paying twice_the state
average.
One reason why these tip fees are
double the average is largely due to
construction and 'retrofit' debts. The
retrofit, which is required under the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,
reduces the emissions of dioxins into
the air. Wheelabrator Laboratories,
which owns the North Andover based
treatment plant that serves the entire
NESWC community, has offered a
retrofit at a fixed fee of approximately
$43 million. The plant has until the
end of 2000 to become retrofitted and
meet the standards of the Clean Air
Act.
A second provision contained in
the ammended contracts, including the
proposed 2015 agreement, would
lessen NESWC's liabilities concern-
ing the costs of changes in law and
unforeseen circumstances. Currently,
NESWCpays 100 percent of the costs,
should these occur. Under the newly
drafted contract, NESWC will only be
responsible for paying 40 percent of
these costs.
"The issue is fantastically
complicated...But, unfortunately, there
are regulation's that force us to make a
choice. We are forced to make the
least terrible choice," said Town Coun-
cillor Alan Altsman.
NESWC Director Steven Rothstein
suggested to the selectmen that costs
will continue to rise if Wilmington,
along with the other communities in-
volved, take no action by the Sept. 30
signing deadline.
"I would unequivocally suggest that
you get away from the existing con-
tract as quickly as possible," said
Rothstein.
Finally, the board approved a pro-
posed pay raise contract for the police
department. The contract spans over
two years and will increase salaries
by two percent the first year and
zero percent over the second. The
Quinn Bill, which is an education
incentive created in 1995. will go
into effect during the second year
of the contract.
fires.
Being a woman on the job has it's
advantages and disadvantages. For
example, if a victim in the back of an
ambulance would prefer a woman to
ride with them, she takes the role. On
the other hand, if she's standing on the
ground and wants to reach a ladder,
there might be some difficulties in
doing so. She isn't as tall as most of
the guys, and so they might be able to
complete the task with more ease.
Overall, though, she feels that she is
capable of doing the job, despite her
gender.
Giles is married and is the mother
of three children, two of which still
live at home. They are in her corner
and support her in her profession. A
"go for it" altitude is one that they
possess.
Another woman, Julie Lambert, can
also identify with Giles'determination
to succeed in her field. Lambert is a
member of the Wilmington Police
Department. She has been a full time
police officer for a little less than a
month now, but she has been a
dispatcher for a year previous to
changing positions. Her co-workers
consist of mostly men, with the
exception of two police clerks and one
dispatcher.
Mark Lambert, Julie's husband,
whom she met in college, is very
supportive in her decision pursue her
goal, despite her gender. He. as well
as the men at the Department, want
the best for her.
The only limitations Lambert sees
are the ones that one would make up in
their own mind. If they were to tell
themselves that they weren't going to
be able to do something, then they
probably wouldn't do it. Strength,
obviously is an aspect in and of itself,
but what it all comes down to is the
amount of effort they're willing to
put into something. Lambert sees
common sense, intelligence, training,
and a good head to be the key items
one would need for the jcb.
As of yet, Lambert believes that
her co-workers see her desire and
eagerness to learn through her ability
to ask questions. With that realization
comes the respect that they for her.
She offers these words of wisdom:
""if there's anything that anyone wants
to accomplish, regardless of their
gender or capabilities, if they have it
within themselves to achieve their
goals, then no one can stand in their
way." Lambert said.
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