Frank Magazine Issue 578.pdf - Besthostingplanever.com

HOSE WHO’S
IN CHARGE
BY SMOKEY TEAR
ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE NOVEMBER
9 DEATH OF LONG-TIME WINDSOR FIRE
CHIEF FRED FOX, THE TOWN’S FIVE
MEMBER COUNCIL APPOINTED SCOTT
FIREHOUSE
FROLICS
BURGESS AS HIS SUCCESSOR DURING ITS LAST REGULAR MEETING
OF 2009.
After seeking legal advice on the matter, Windsor CAO Louis
Couthino tells me the town made a conscious decision not to advertise
the position.
“At the end of the day, the question is, what’s the right thing to do?”
he says.
After consulting with members of the volunteer department, it became
clear that they’ve been happy with Scott since he was named
interim chief when Fred went out on sick leave in 2008.
Fred, a carpenter by trade, died of mesothelioma, a cancer common
to firefighters caused by exposure to asbestos. He was 56.
Despite a few naysayers, Louis says respecting the men’s wishes of
“continuity of leadership” was important, adding that Scott is certainly
qualified, having worked himself up through the ranks from lieutenant
to captain to deputy chief.
The position pays between $60,000 and $72,000.
Meanwhile over in Kentville, town and county administrators are
preparing to hold a competition for the job of paid fire chief, despite
the fact that Shaun Ripley has served as volunteer chief for some 20
years.
But Kentville CAO Keith Robicheau says the decision to advertise
isn’t a reflection on Shaun’s abilities.
“There’s no question that Shaun has had the confidence of the volunteer
firefighters for some time,” but, he says, there are “processes”
that have to be followed.
I understand Shaun, who for years worked as a sheriff at the Kentville
New Windsor Fire Chief Scott Burgess and
his predecessor, the late Fred Fox (inset).
Justice Centre, left his job around the same time Kentville Town
Council endorsed the idea of a paid chief in September of 2008.
The volunteer chief receives an honorarium in the neighbourhood of
$20,000, while the permanent position will pay about three times that.
Does Frank Know? atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca
THIS ISN’T GOING TO HURT A BIT...
BY MOE LAHR
Judith Irene Carter, the 59-year-old bookkeeper from Dartmouth
who pleaded guilty to ripping off a trio of Spring Garden Road dentists
over a four-year period (Frank 574) has, not surprisingly, been
issued a conditional sentence.
“I’m very sorry for what happened and all the innocent people I
have hurt,” Judy told Judge Bill Digby last week.
And so she should be. She used her employment with Dr. Gary
Foshay, Dr. Stacey Matheson and Dr. Edward Hannigan as an
opportunity to bilk the threesome out of about $45,000.
Crown attorney Mark Hareema told the court Judy cut cheques to
herself, while making others out to CASH, instead of issuing them to
the proper payees identified in the ledger for expenses.
AVIVA Insurance covered the combined $30,000 in losses incurred
by Drs. Foshay and Matheson. But when it came to his $15,000,
Dr. Hannigan was S.O.L.
In sentencing Judy for her duplicity, Judge Digby ordered her to
pay restitution in the full amount, though I wouldn’t hold my breath
waiting for the payments to roll in. Stand-alone restitution orders
such as the one meted out to Judy are about as meaningful as a
Tiger Woods marriage vow.
Per Judge Digby’s other orders, Judy will spend the first year of
her two-year sentence under house arrest, and the following six
months under a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
She was also directed to complete 100 hours of community service,
attend for various types of counselling, and take part in some
sort of shop-lifting program. Presumably one that frowns on it.
She’s also been forbidden from securing any kind of employment
that involves the handling of money.
Last year, Halifax’s Finest charged Judy with theft and possession
of stolen property after the Sears at the Penhorn Mall reported
that an employee had been caught stealing cash.
At last check that matter was due to go to court in April.
Does Frank Know? atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca
FEBRUARY 16, 2010 ATLANTIC CANADA FRANK 21