Dennis Recognizes Resident Judges; Schools Embrace Emergency Drills

DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Committee held its April 5 meeting and honored two of its high-performing teams, both in the sport of basketball.
Dennis seventh and eighth grade girls’ basketball team coached by Dan Williams and Assistant Coach Jim Herlihy played in the South Shore Basketball League and won two tournaments, Bishop McHugh and their South Shore League.
Middle Township girls’ basketball team was also honored for winning the Cape Atlantic League championship led by head coach John Leahy, who was selected Coach of the Year for the league.
“We like to celebrate all our kids’ achievements so recognizing these two teams is especially nice. The newspapers like to put on their front pages and give lots of space when kids are in the wrong place or do something wrong but we have great kids and they are really deserving of being recognized like tonight,” said Deputy Mayor Brian O’Connor in presenting certificates to each girl.
Remember Ruth Fisher
Mayor John Murphy asked all attendees to remember Ruth Fisher during a moment of silence. The South Dennis resident died March 31 at age 86.
“She was a long-time resident and will be missed,” he said. Committee member Lisa Salimbene added, “Ruth was a real environmentalist and activist, even chaining herself at one time to trees for their protection.”
Agenda Items Pass
Committee approved its consent agenda with no public comment.
Items on it included a resolution which approved specifications of and authorization to receive bids for a project to reconstruct and realign the intersection of Academy and Fidler roads.
Like other municipalities in the county, Dennis has chosen a health issue to highlight, in its case a resolution which provided for the township to proclaim April as National Autism Awareness Month.
Committee member Donald Tozer reported that he had a good conversation with the township school board about emergency and live-shooter drills.
“They fully support our efforts now and will be cooperating with us going forward on these drills,” said Tozer. This stance is a turnaround by the board from one reported at the last committee meeting when Solicitor Jeffrey April said he would be sending the school district a letter regarding its non-compliance and non-cooperative position.
Resolutions Passed
On its regular agenda, committee passed three resolutions related to its budget.
The first certified self-examination of the budget. “Every other year we can self-certify alternating with the state’s review and by doing so we save some time and paperwork,” explained Township Clerk Jacqueline Justice.
Another introduced for first hearing the township’s 2016 municipal budget, Murphy said, “This budget has zero increase, we’ll be making some adjustments down the road and still have a little work to do before the May 3 date for its public hearing and final adoption on second reading.”
Salimbene reported that all are asked to wear purple April 15 for Alcohol Awareness Day. “This is a county-wide effort which is organized by the Municipal Alliance,” she said.
Judges Take Oaths
Concluding the meeting, April said, “I’d like to share some news regarding an unusual, even unique event. Tomorrow (April 6) two judges, Michael Donohue and James Pickering, will be sworn in as new county (Superior Court) judges. This is unique in and of itself to have two sworn in at the same time, especially with the dispute between the governor and Legislature about judicial appointments. But also both these men are from Dennis with Donohue having been a solicitor for the township, so one of my predecessors, and Pickering having served as a committee member and then mayor of Dennis during the 1990s.”
Both also served as county chairmen of their political parties, Donohue as Republican, Pickering as Democrat.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.