In a strong endorsement of the planning powers of local towns, a superior court judge this week upheld Edgartown’s right to stop a Chappaquiddick resident from using a backyard “heliport” to fly to and from his property.
The Hon. Cornelius J. Moriarty, an associate justice of the superior court, upheld the town’s cease and desist order relating to the heliport and permanently enjoined the owner, William S. O’Connell, from using his property as a site for launching and/or landing helicopters.
Tommy Osmers’s behavior at the benefit function thrown for him last Sunday night belied the dire state of his health. He cruised the party, chatting, joking and checking out the women. He danced, played a little boogie woogie piano, and even used the occasion to give a little talk on the state of the marine environment.
“I was charged right up,” he said a few days later. “I don’t think I looked a sick man.”
Tisbury selectmen have ordered a comprehensive report into operation of the town police force, driven by internal conflicts which this week forced Chief John Cashin from his job.
Mr. Cashin stepped down from the position on Wednesday, less than a week after he labeled his department dysfunctional and accused selectmen of undermining his authority with the force.
His departure, engineered at two extraordinary meetings of the selectmen on Friday and Monday, came two and a half months before the expiration of his three-year contract.
Tisbury selectmen have sacked the town’s police chief, John Cashin, following his outspoken criticism last week of dissident officers within his department and of selectmen for alleged meddling in his running of the department.
On the eve of contract negotiations with the town, Tisbury police chief John Cashin yesterday mounted an extraordinary attack on dissident members of his own department, threatening to sue some officers for defamation over a whispering campaign against him.
He also accused one of the selectmen — whom he declined to name but who was identified by several other sources as Jeff Kristal — of undermining his authority by interceding on behalf of an officer Chief Cashin wanted to discipline for abuse of sick leave entitlements.
Tisbury selectmen this week instructed the police chief to write to town restaurant owners, warning them that they face criminal penalties if they sell alcohol to customers on the sly.
And there was a suggestion that if there continued to be evidence of the practice, police might be brought from off-Island to try to catch them doing it.
