Select Board Backs Belmont Fire Chief After Being Cleared Of Alleged Residency Violation

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Photo: Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano in July 2021

The Belmont Select Board rallied to the side of Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano Monday night, April 26, after an independent investigation found DeStefano has not violated the residency clause in his three-year contract requiring him to live no farther than 15 miles from Belmont.

“I’m sorry that you have to continue to be subjected to these kinds of accusations and I want to thank you for your strong service to the town,” said Board Chair Mark Paolillo.

The complaint by former Belmont assistant Fire Chief Angus Davison alleged DeStefano had violated his work contract by not establishing a primary residence 15 miles from Belmont within six months after signing his contract in February of last year.

The residency allegations against DeStefano is the latest in a series of actions by Davison and others questioning his selection to lead the fire department and the process of hiring candidates from outside of Belmont when there are several “inside” applicants with equivalent leadership experience.

“Even before my official appointment as fire chief, a small network of individuals has worked to undermine the fair process by which I was selected as the most qualified candidate to be the fire chief,” said DeStefano. “Since my appointment, the same individuals have attacked and tried to undermine my leadership by attacks on my character.”

“I’m tired of all of the innuendo. I really tired of the continued sort of attacks if you will by certain individuals against our fire chief about not only residency but other sort of matters as related to the appointment process,” said Paolillo.

Using fuel receipts and mileage usage from DeStefano’s town-owned vehicle obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Davison attested DeStefano’s daily mileage total – averaging 150 miles – was well beyond the distance needed to reach the Dedham address the fire chief claimed is his current residence. Davison suggests the distance is associated with round-trip to Cranston, RI where DeStefano was living when he was hired.

Since the mileage has not dropped since his hiring, Davison alleges that DeStefano “has not moved and is not abiding by the the residency clause” and thus is unable to meet the “essential functions” in the job description which requires him to respond quickly to serious incidents and fires as well as medical emergencies and fire investigations.

“Proximity to Belmont is a concern of the town the the ability to respond quickly is of the utmost importance. Responding from Rhode Island doesn’t meet that criteria,” contends Davison.

Davison said if the board did not address his allegations, he would bring them to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and request a fraud investigation be brought against DeStefano.

Presented with what Paolillo called “this serious claim,” the board asked the Boston law firm of KP Law PC to review the charges. Brian Maser, who is Belmont’s labor counsel, pointed to the admitting broad definition of residence by the state’s Civil Service Commission as the physical location of the employee’s house or other dwelling place. So confirming if a location is a residence would include having property records such as a lease or mortgage in your name, a voting record at the location, utility bills, excise tax records and a motor vehicle registration for that address.

Maser said DeStefano has provided the town a lease for a property 15 miles from the town, utility bills in his name and a driver’s license for the address in Dedham. In addition, DeStefano has verbally represented to Belmont officials that his primary residence is in Dedham.

“It’s our opinion that despite not being required to do so, the chief has voluntarily presented sufficient documentation to rebut the spurious allegation advanced against him related to his residency and has been in compliance with this employment agreement,” said Maser.

“Mileage is not an indicator of residency,” said the board’s Adam Dash. “Chief DeStefano has been doing an outstanding job and we’re lucky to have him.” DeStefano stated that in his first year leading the department, he’s revitalized training programs, updated countless policies, will start an EMS bike unit and trained for active shooter incidents as well as push to replace the department’s aging air packs.

“So I reject the pettiness and unsubstantiated claims of one or two individuals who favor the status quo and favoritism over progress and fairness.” he said.

Hiding Out On B Street: Feds Nab Belmont Man Wanted For Murdering His Wife 27 Years Ago

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Photo: Colombian homicide fugitive Acosta following arrest on April 13 by ERO Boston officers near Belmont, Massachusetts. Photo by ICE ERO Boston.

It’s a story straight out of a true crime podcast. A man with a murderous secret was living a quiet suburban life on a dead end street. But it was his wish to be just like most of his neighbors that opened the door to his downfall.

That suburban byway is B Street near Waverley Square and adjacent to Belmont’s Town Yard, and the man who lived for nearly a quarter century with his family in a small condo at the end of the street was Carlos Alberto Rendon.

But Rendon was the alias he hid behind as he attempted to escape from justice … that is until early Wednesday morning, April 13, when special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested William Hernando Usma Acosta for the 1994 murder of his wife, Laura Rose Agudelo, and the attempted murder of her daughter in Medellin, Columbia.

“Acosta is a convicted cold-blooded killer who thought he could evade justice by entering the United States and creating a new identity for himself so he could live under the radar. He needs to face justice for what he did, and today’s arrest ensures that he will,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.

U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE), Boston

On November 14, 1996, a court in Medellin sentenced Acosta to 45 years in prison for aggravated murder of his wife during a domestic assault, aggravated attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. That sentence was later reduced to 28 years and six months based on new sentencing guidelines. Colombia subsequently issued an international arrest warrant for Usma Acosta to serve his sentence.

According to immigration records, Acosta, who was then going by his newly-assumed identity of Carlos Alberto Rendon, arrived in the United States illegally in 1995 when he crossed the Mexican border. In 1998, he married an American citizen and obtained lawful, permanent resident status while living in Somerville. Since that time, Rendon moved to Belmont with his wife and son into a small condo at the edge of the DPW Yard and lived a very quiet life away from all scrutiny.

But in 2020, Acosta decided to become an American and submitted his application for naturalization to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services which began the unraveling of his true identity. As part of that application, Acosta submitted a Colombian birth certificate and fingerprints. The FBI compared his fingerprints against those provided by the Colombian National Police and determined they were an exact match with the murderer Acosta. Investigators also determined the Colombian birth certificate that Rendon/Acosta submitted was fraudulent.

In June 2020, special agents with the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force received information that Usma Acosta may be residing in the greater Boston area. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force tracked Usma Acosta’s whereabouts to his home in Belmont and he was arrested without incident as he was heading to work in Waltham. 

Proceedings to remove Acosta from the United States for violating the conditions of his legal permanent residency status will be commenced by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement which will transfer him to Colombian law enforcement authorities who issued the warrant for his arrest.  

“Today’s arrest has ensured that this dangerous and convicted killer will face justice for his crimes,” said Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE), Boston. “Acosta will no longer pose a threat to the residents of the Commonwealth thanks to the tireless efforts of an outstanding team of law enforcement professionals in both the United States and Colombia.” 

Breaking: Butler Elementary Evacuated Due To Suspected Natural Gas; Students Relocated To Nearby St Lukes

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Photo: The Butler school

The students of Daniel Butler Elementary School have been temporarily evacuated from the building located on White Street due to a suspected odor of natural gas in one of the school’s stairwells reported sometime before 8:30 a.m., Thursday, March 24.

The Belmont Fire Department is on scene, according to a social media message from the Boston Police Department. Due to the rain and cold temperatures, students are being taken by police to nearby St. Luke’s RC Church on Lexington Street.

National Grid which supplies gas to the town “will be arriving on scene shortly,” said police sources. Commuters will experience brief detours in the area.

No Injuries From Monday Afternoon House Fire On Winslow Road

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Photo: Belmont Fire puts out Winslow Road fire Monday afternoon

A smoky fire at a Winslow Road multi-family house late Monday afternoon left the structure heavily damaged but did not result in any injuries to occupants or fire fighters.

According to a Tuesday email press release from the Belmont Fire Department, at approximately 6 p.m., March 14, the Belmont Fire responded to a call for a house fire. When they arrived firefighters found heavy smoke pouring from the top floor and a female occupant who had escaped the fire with the assistance of a neighbor who raised a ladder to her window.

“Firefighters immediately searched the building for any additional occupants and quickly worked to extinguish the fire. The fire was contained to an area of the top floor of the house and brought under control in about 20 minutes,” said the email. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters.

Mutual aid from the Arlington, Watertown and Waltham fire departments covered for Belmont while Cambridge firefighters assisted at the fire scene. The fire remains under investigation by Belmont Police and Fire.

No Surprise Here: Snow Emergency Parking Ban Declared Beginning Just Before Midnight On Friday, Jan. 28

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Photo: It could be the big one.

With a (maybe-not-so) historic blizzard waiting on the horizon, Belmont has declared a snow emergency parking ban on all roadways as well as parking in municipal lots and Belmont Public School parking lots starting at 11:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 28 and continuing until the town sees fit lifting it.

All vehicles parked in violation of the ban will be towed at the owner’s expense. 

The latest update from the National Weather Service at 3:22 p.m. on Friday calls for blizzard conditions for 24 hours starting at midnight, Jan. 29 with total snow accumulations of 18 to 24 inches accompanied with winds gusting as high as 60 mph. Some meteorologists this afternoon have scaled back their earlier assumptions, with one dragging it back to 12 to 16 inches.

Travel could be extremely difficult to impossible as the storm enters Saturday afternoon.

While the snow will be light and fluffy north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, blizzard winds could cause branches to land on electric wires and cut power. For anyone who losses electricity during the blizzard should call the Belmont Light Outage line at 617-993-2800. You can also follow where the lights are out by visiting the outage map at https://www.belmontlight.com/service-map/

All town, school and library activities have been cancelled for both Saturday and Sunday. 

The Department of Public Works asks residents to please exercise caution when walking on or near roadways as visibility for plow truck operators will be significantly reduced.

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Filming At Stadler Road, Winn Brook On Knightley-Led Boston Strangler Movie Set For Dec. 6

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Photo: Yes, this Keira Knightley will star in “Boston Strangler”

Hollywood is returning to Belmont.

This time two locations in the Town of Homes will be in the spotlight as 20th Century Studios will spend a day filming its crime story about the Boston Strangler.

“Back to Belmont after we had such a good experience on Defending Jacob, said Ryan Cook, the supervising location manager for the movie. “Defending Jacob” was the 2020 TV Mini-series film on Belmont Hill starring Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery that Cook also served as location manager.

Stadler Road was selected from 65 other locations as it’s “an iconic street for this movie [as it] really set the tone of Boston in the 1960s,” said Cook. “It’s beautiful, it’s not overdone. It fits in the world we are trying to create.”

The actual house to be featured is a prototypical garrison colonial built just before the start of the Second World War. Cook also noted the scene being filmed on the street is the exterior of the lead character’s house “so nothing bad is happening there.”

The Winn Brook Elementary will be transformed into a Boston Police district station. Belmont Light will be assisting in the production by switching the modern street lights with

Dec. 6th will be a long and busy day: plans call for filming on the street to begin at 9:30 a.m. with the final wrap around 11 p.m. while the Winn Brook will be used for a “quick exterior scene” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Approximately 100-120 actors, crew and support staff will be involved with the production that day.

A tent will be installed on the Winn Brook playing field a few days before filming for the catering crew and support services, said Cook. Barriers will be set up on the street to prevent any non-essential traffic and neighbors cars will be allowed to park on side streets. He also said the production company will rent the driveways on Stadler and some on Waterhouse Road where they can place vintage early 1960s autos.

The production company asked for about 110 parking spaces in the nearby Claflin Street Municipal Parking lot while also using Arlington’s St. Paul’s Church as an additional lot.

Cook said all those involved with film are required to be vaccinated for Covid and are being tested three times weekly.

“We are running a tight operation on that front,” Cook said.

“This being a one day shoot, I anticipate things to go very smoothly,” said Cook, who said meetings with neighborhood residents went quite well. “Everyone is very excited about what we’re doing.”

As for a postponement? Cook said unless there is a Nor’easter or typhon-like rain and wind, like the old adage says “The show must go on.”

And the town will not go home empty-handed. The production team is donating $2,000 to the Recreation Department for using the field to place its tent, $2,000 to the Belmont and the Belmont Center Business Association for use of the parking lot and a $5,000 rental fee payment to the Winn Brook school.

So, what’s the movie about? The firm is helmed and written by Chris Ruskin who directed Crown Heights starring LaKeith Stanfield. A press release from the production company provided a synopsis of the film:

“Based on the infamous Boston Strangler murders, this is the true story of Loretta McLaughlin, the first reporter to connect the murders and break the story of the Strangler. She and fellow reporter Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer and worked tirelessly to keep women informed. Loretta pursued the story at great personal risk and uncovered corruption that cast doubt on the true identity of the Boston Strangler.”

While Cook would only tell the Select Board the film had a “recognizable name” attached to the production, he actually let the cat out of the bag to the Recreation Commission earlier in the evening, telling them international mega-star Keira Knightley (Bend It Like Beckham, Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Duchess,  Anna Karenina, The Imitation Game, Colette, Official Secrets) will portrait McLaughlin.

Others in the cast announced Wednesday, Nov. 17 include Carrie Coon (who starred in cable’s The Leftovers written by Belmont’s Tom Perrotta and the films The Nest and the recently released Ghostbusters: Afterlife) Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark) and Chris Cooper (last seen in Little Women).

Just before the town voted unanimously to accept the fee payments and approve the filming, resident Bill Anderson speaking during the public comment session revealed his inner Ari Gold by suggesting the Select Board request a cut of the royalties as the production crew acknowledged the “intrinsic value” the town brings to the production.

When Select Board Chair Adam Dash attempted to politely ignore the suggestion, Anderson balked.

“Every actor in this production is gong to get paid. Why won’t we get paid?” Anderson inquired reminiscent of the scene in Jerry Maguire, then asked for a mention at the film’s end. Cook said the days when the caterers and second assistant to the director were end-of-the-movie credit worthy are long gone while noting the production company is paying for parking and rentals.

“We aren’t asking the town to expend any money,” said Cook.

But Anderson countered, feeling the town had “something of value that we should consider asking compensation for … above and beyond the incremental costs of what we are laying out in order to make this happen.”

While Anderson’s felt Belmont is an important asset to the production, his position lacks anything resembling leverage since the location manager could find another ideal New England backdrop in a nearby town in the matter of day or the producers can just write out the scenes.

While not as busy as, lets say, Los Angeles, Belmont has had its fair share of movies filmed in town: Otto Preminger’s 1963’s The Cardinal, (on a street car along Belmont Street) the original The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) filmed at the Belmont Country Club, The Judge (2014) with Robert Downey Jr. and My Best Friend’s Girl (2008) featuring Arlington-native Dane Cook in Belmont Center.

Belmont Police Feedback Survey Now Underway ‘til Dec. 4

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Photo: Belmont Police’s newly renovated headquarters in Belmont Center

The Belmont Police Department has embarked on a strategic planning process to map out the department’s direction for the next five years. The first step in the process is a survey for residents, visitors and people who have a commercial interest in the town. 

The survey provides an opportunity for citizens to comment on current conditions throughout the town to include:

  • the perception of crime,
  • quality of life concerns,
  • citizens’ perception of safety and security, and
  • what enforcement activities or services people would like to see improved or strengthened. 

It is important that we hear from our community and what is important to them regarding public safety.

The survey process will be available until Dec. 4. The Department will quantify the survey results and begin producing a plan for further action. The electronic survey can be accessed at this link.

The survey is anonymous.

If you have questions regarding this survey, send an email to: Collaboration@belmontpd.org

Civil Service Could Return For A Second Go-Around At 2022 Town Meeting

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Photo: Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac

Just more than a year after a controversal Special Town Meeting article allowing Belmont’s public service departments to exit the state’s civil service program would implode before being brought to the floor, it appears the Select Board will push for a second go-around of the contensious proposal before Belmont’s annual Town Meeting in the spring.

”We have to talk about revisiting leaving the Civil Service again … because we can not go on like this,” said Select Board Adam Dash after hearing from Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac at its Oct. 4 meeting of the difficulties he’s had attempting to fill positions at the police department in the past two years.

During an update of the department, MacIsaac referred to “an on-going problem” filling four open positions – which included one officer who was laid off due to the defeat of the 2021 override – for patrol officers since October of 2020. MacIsaac said he received five resident applications from the Civil Service candidates list. Of those, one withdrew, another was older than the department’s age limit, and two failed the physical abilities test to enter the police academy.

This year, after a Belmont officer transferred, MacIsaac once again faced trying to fill four open slots. In September MacIsaac received two lists from Civil Service, comprising of 30 residents and non-residents. Five resident and one non resident signed up for the application process.

”As a manager of a department, I don’t have to tell you how important it is in this day and age to fill four positions with six candidates,” said MacIsaac.

While hopeful that some of the candidates can pass the series of exams and tests to become a patrol officer, MacIsaac said that his department “can’t continue to operate the way we’re operating with these vacancies when we need them filled.” He pointed to two superior officers off on National Guard duty and an incident where officers were required to accompany and stay with a prisoner to the hospital all which taxes the entire department.

”It’s been a tough year to manage the operations” of the approximately 50 member police force, said MacIsaac, who praised the employees for doing “an excellent job” adapting and improvising for what they have to work with.

“They deserve a lot of credit,” said MacIsaac.

“It sounds like a real life example of why Civil Service is not working for the town,” said Dash.

MacIsaac pointed to the non-Civil Service Police Department in Norwood which received more than 100 candidates for its entrance exam. He also gave testimony up on Beacon Hill for a bill authored by State Sen. Will Brownsberger that would allow any graduate from a Belmont high school would receive the same residential preference as residents.

When asked by Select Board member Mark Paolillo on how being removed of Civil Service could impact diversity on the force, MacIsaac said “it would certainly give you the opportunity to diversify the candidate pool.”

Supporters of ending civil service contend the town would see significant cost savings by ending a 105-year-old arcane system for hiring and promotions, replacing it with a locally-focused practice that can increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the force.

Opponents – made up last time of the rank and file of Belmont Fire and Police and resident supporters – said by altering age limits of candidates and increasing diversity in the number of candidates through changes to the existing agreement can reach those goals.

It appears the Select Board is envisioning a debate in the spring.

“We have to think about a spring Town Meeting” to revisit Civil Service, said Dash.

Fire Dept. Responds To HazMat Incident At Star Market Monday Night, One Taken To Hospital

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Photo: Belmont Fire’s ladder truck at the scene at Star Market on Monday, Oct. 11

A refrigerant leak in the basement of Star Market on Trapelo Road on Monday, Oct. 11 resulted in the state’s hazardous materials team being called to the scene by Belmont Fire officials.

In a press release from Belmont Fire Department Chief David DeStefano, Belmont Fire personnel responded to a call from the supermarket located at 535 Trapelo Rd. at 8:45 p.m. where they found an active leak of refrigerant filling areas of the store. Firefighters safety removed 18 employees and contractors in addition to customers while the incident commander requested mutual aid from Waltham Fire and assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Team.

“We chose to house the Technical Operations Module or TOMS truck operated by the state here in our [Trapelo Road] Headquarters station for just such an incident,” said DeStefano. “The team was able to assemble and respond rapidly to our request for assistance. Working with neighboring agencies and partnering with the Commonwealth to leverage our capabilities provided efficiency and greater safety for our firefighters and the community in general.”

With assistance from the Haz Mat team and guidance from the refrigeration contractor at the scene, the system was made safe and the area ventilated. One employee was transported to Mt. Auburn Hospital for evaluation. While Belmont Fire companies operated at the incident Cambridge and Arlington fire departments provided station coverage.

Belmont To Observe 9/11 At Fire Department HQ, Saturday, Sept. 11; At The Beech Street Center On Sept. 9

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Photo: Observance at Belmont Fire HQ recognizing those residents killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2014

Belmont will observe the 20th anniversary of 9/11 at two locations in the coming week.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, the town will hold its official observance at the Belmont Fire Department headquarters at 299 Trapelo Rd. with the reading of the names of Belmont residents who were killed in the terrorist attacks. There will also be the tolling of the bell for the first responders who died in the line of duty and the lowering of the flag to half-staff.

The Beech Street Center members to honor and remember this important day in history on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1:15 p.m. 

Participants will have an opportunity to share their own stories and memories about this day after we’ll watch a special documentary commemorating the 20th anniversary. Bob Upton Belmont’s Veterans’ Service Officer and officers from Belmont Police and Fire Department will attend and the Belmont Public Library will provide books and movies for those interested.

To register for the Beech Street Center event, leave a message on our programs and events line at 617-993-2976.