Discrepancies over earnings at the Barnstable Fire Department are currently being scrutinized by Jake Berry of the Cape Cod Times and Gary Lopez of www.capecog.com. Consider items in reference to the Hyannis Fire Department and its relationship with the homeless community. Correspondence was forwarded to Alan Burt, advocate for the homeless in 2003 regardng The Hyannis Fire Department and firesafety laws pertaining to overcrowded conditions at the NOAH Shelter. The shelter continues to operate at a negligent standard and crack houses and clustering of active alcoholics jeopardizes inhabitatants and residents living in adjacent properties.
There have been a number of fires, incuding apartment dwellings in the area requiring the intervention of the fire department and American Red Cross. This correspondence was intitially forwarded to protest the comments made by Alan Burt after a homeless man was rescued from a blazing abandoned building. The firemen used a new thermal imaging unit, begrudged by Alan Burt as a frivolous expense. Propane tanks were in proximity to the site of the rescue. The firemen were commended for their skill and bravery at the Massachusetts State House by then governor, Mitt Romney.
Firestarting and firesetting continue behind the Armory, set by homeless individuals in the woods behind the building. There is a slide show presented in a former post outlining such activity, with singed materials extinguished by the fire department. There is still no resolution on the proliferation of unrehabilitated homeless to the Cape Cod area, and emergency rescue services continue to respond. Executives have yet to take responsibility for mismanagment and malfeasance of funds. There have been several efforts to relocate the shelter to a larger facility. Litigation and liability issues have consistently been brought to the attention of potential contributors and developers, including Stuart Bornstein and Chris Wise of Assisted Living, Inc.
Both Joe Chilli, of the Barnstable Fire Department and Arthur Kimber sit on the Executive Branch of the Barnstable Housing Authority. Most public officials are aware of the difficulties created by negligent services. Tom Lynch, former Director of the Barnstable Housing Authority, and currently the Assistant Town Manager is well aware of the problems created by Housing Assistance Corporation. So far, he has only compounded municipal corruption by signing the campaign paperwork for Taryn Thoman for Charter Commission.
Mary Clements
72 North Street
Hyannis, MA 02616
December 19, 2003
Mr. Alan Burt
Barnstable County Courthouse
Rt. 6A
Barnstable, MA 02616
Dear Alan,
I have enclosed some documents that have been previously forwarded to a number of parties regarding the homeless crisis here in Hyannis. Some may be persuaded that the current human service establishment may indeed be so substandard and negligent in operation that it is doing so at risk to the entire community. I realize that we have great differences in philosophy as to what course of action would best meet the needs of this difficult to serve population. Some legislators and elected officials may be unsure as to how to proceed in regard to this issue and in particular the human service monopoly Housing Assistance Corporation they have so far zealously supported.
I recall you laughed during an advocacy meeting for homeless clientele when a young man named Aaron recounted his plight. He was unreasonably banned at the mercy of Paulette Heath. Ms. Heath had a predisposition to target vulnerable clients and an established history of abusing clients as she saw fit. I remember distinctly that her insistence on continuing this pattern provoked my ire and your amusement. Please refer to letters written previously regarding the quality of staff at NOAH.
I appreciate that you attempted to understand that my “unreasonable anger” toward this grossly negligent and substandard organization. I know we had many discussions where at times I agreed that there is some level of unfairness directed toward the homeless. You insist that this includes not only the community in general, but also town officials, law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel. I know that you pressured Mr. Royden Richardson of District 4 to have the “foyer” opened after NOAH refused to accommodate the clients removed from the woods after the dismantling of the makeshift camps. You told me these were desperate times. You also pushed for the premature opening of the Pilot House and you stated that the Fire Department was being unreasonable in regard to fire safety laws. You confided in me that this resulted in a “rather angry call this morning from Mr. Richardson.”
I know that the Fire Department can be real sticklers about fire safety. They have chided me on two occasions for dismantling my smoke/heat detectors on a spot check after Mr.Wayne Viera set the alarms off smoking narcotics in a neighboring apartment. You will recall that Glenda McMullen, a parolee from Framingham, also an active crack addict and narcotics dealer maintains an apartment adjacent to the evicted Mr. Viera. She is also not rehabilitated by HAC/DUFFY or the probation department of which you were her supervising officer. Mr. Viera is now residing at The Pilot House.
It is true that fire personnel respond with tremendous alacrity when lives including their own are at risk. I remember when you were criticizing the fire personnel for enforcing stringent fire safety policies you suggested that department personnel were deliberately targeting the homeless. You went so far to suggest that the Fire Department’s requisition requesting and expensive thermal imaging unit at a price tag over $10,000 was “outrageous and ludicrous”. You stated the money could better be spent “helping the homeless”. You also challenged churches to dismiss the admonitions of fire personnel in regard to the “Overnights of Hospitality”. I reminded you of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire where eleven men lost their lives trying to rescue two homeless squatters. The two intoxicated individuals in question had started the fire and fled. They observed the disaster over drinks from a nearby bar. The two survivors were nearly charged with negligent homicide. Approximately two weeks before Hyannis’ very own candle factory inferno your words verbatim included:
“The loss of life is always tragic. The Homeless are incapable of understanding the consequences of their actions. The fire fighters are paid well for what they do. Do you have any idea how much those guys make?”
You continue to condemn the actions of law enforcement and the public works department at the discretion of the Barnstable Town Manager, John Klimm. Mr. Klimm is on record approving the police action to dismantle the makeshift camps in an effort to recognize the magnitude of the crisis and initiate a relief effort. As the town began to make concessions and accommodations you continued to criticize the action of town officials while demanding more resources to expand and negligent albeit over-saturated human service monopoly.
You did indeed suggest that the Fire Department stigmatized Tim Furlan and his girlfriend Roxanne by referring to them as “homeless” in the accounts in the newspaper after a fire started in the abandoned candle factory. You stated that they should have been referred to simply as “two people who happened to be in the candle factory when the blaze began”. You also said the event was not very good PR for The Overnights of Hospitality Program. I suggested that these types of disasters may be the impetus for the thermal imaging units requested by the fire department. You then stated “ I forgot about that!” All of the town’s services will use this to get more municipal funds.”
You lost my support completely when you recruited members of The Council of Churches to resist the scheduled clean up of neighborhoods. You labeled the follow up event to survey the camps as “an effort to target the homeless.” You placed in writing a phone number where church member could complain to the police department about their “slick and deceptive” action of the part of law enforcement. Livia Davis spoke about the importance of the “Dana’s Field’s Project at this particular Saturday meeting at the Federated Church. The handout with your comments resisting this effort was last in the possession of Sergeant Sean Sweeney.
Lastly, I have enclosed Friday’s article commending the Hyannis Firefighters for their honor and valor rescuing Tim Furlan with a Thermal Imaging Unit. Publicity on six brave firemen who used not only cutting-edge technology but also sound judgment must really insult your sensibilities.
I know you consider yourself to be an outspoken advocate for the homeless and a quiet supporter of Housing Assistance Corporation(HAC) formerly known of as Cape Housing Office Assistance (CHAOS). There are times when I have come to rely on you for not only what to think but also how I am supposed to feel. I recognize on behalf of CHAOS that the Almighty Alan Burt has spoken.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Chief Howard Brunelle
Chief John Finnegan
Sergeant Sean Sweeney
John Klimm, Town Manager
Gary Brown
Royden Richardson
(Click on to enlarge the heroes).
The Boston Herald, January 5th, 2003
A distraught homeless man barricaded himself in an abandoned candle factory in Hyannis and set fire to the place in an apparent suicide attempt, officials said. "He didn't want to go. We rescued him against his will," Hyannis fire Capt. Joseph Cabral said of 41-year-old Tim Furlan.
Firefighters responded to the vacant building, located on Route 132 across from the Cape Codder resort, after Furlan's girlfriend called 911 to report the fire. "She said that he had locked himself inside the building and started a fire and wasn't coming out," Cabral said.
HYANNIS - An apartment building fire in Hyannis has left 16 people homeless. (watch youtube video posted below) Everyone made it out safely from 161 Winter Street after the fire broke out around 6 a.m. Hyannis firefighters quickly knocked down the flames but not before the fire caused extensive damage to the building. Fire investigators believe the fire may have been caused by careless disposal of smoking materials.
Note Barnstable Police maintaining order after the evacuation of homeless individuals from a building in proximity to the NOAH Shelter. Intoxicated and compromised clients cluster in placements in these buildings. Police, Fire, and Rescue continue to pick up slack, as executive responsible for creating the mess acquire job promotions, and better jobs. Livia Davis and Tom Brigham, Executives reponsible for the lavish Dana's Field's Project both work in policy development postions for Governor Deval Patrick.
72 NORTH STREET, THE KENDRICK'S BUILDING. Note correspondence presented above to Alan Burt was forwarded from a tenant who lived in 2003, at this very address. This tenant continued to warn authorities of the clear and present danger to the community from malfeasance.
HYANNIS - Firefighters have gotten a reported fire at Kendricks Nightclub on North Street in Hyannis under control. An automatic alarm alerted firefighters to a problem just before 9 AM Saturday morning. Eight occupants in apartments upstairs were safely evacuated and are being temporarily assisted by the Red Cross.
The fire apparently started outside the building and extended into a wall of the old converted inn building. Firefighters from Hyannis and Centerville battled to save the building opening up that wall to make sure the fire did not extend to the second floor.
Investigators from the Hyannis Fire Department and Barnstable Police are on scene and preliminary say it appears the fire may have been started by homeless people living in an alley possibly from a dropped cigarette.
7/12/08 homeless fire
Smoke filled the inside of the building and firefighters had to break several skylights on the roof to clear it. The club has been the focus of several incidents including shots fired and a stabbing in the parking lot and has been the subject of reviews by town officials.
At 8:22 p.m. Tuesday, Yarmouth firefighters responded to a request for mutual aid for Tower 41 to the corner of Route 28 and Spring Street in Hyannis. Upon arriving at the scene, Captain Phil Simonian and crew searched for potential victims, but none were found. The crew then assisted with ventilation and was released back to Yarmouth at 8:53 p.m.
