Paul H. Boucher
Encyclopedia
Paul H. Boucher was an American City manager
who served as Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts
and Village Manager of Ellenville, New York
and Maywood, Illinois
.
During his tenure as manager, the town fought the state government to close the M. DeMatteo dump
on Massachusetts Route 107
. After the town declined a request by State Health Commissioner Alfred Frechette to keep the dump open, Governor John A. Volpe
signed an emergency order that would reopen the dump. The town refused to comply with this order and the dump was not reopened until the state Department of Public Health was granted temporary restraining order by the Suffolk Superior Court. The state agreed to shut down the facility by December 1, 1967, however the dump remained open pass this deadline and the issue was once again brought before the courts.
Boucher was also involved in a controversy over the new Saugus Junior High School. On October 4, 1967 he announced that he was launching an investigation into defects in the construction of the school. He later alleged that $200,000 in funds might have been misused and that he wanted the Federal Bureau of Investigation
to investigate if it had jurisdiction. He also told a The Daily Evening Item
reporter that he had filed a complaint against architect John W. Priestley, Jr. with the American Institute of Architects
' ethics committee and that he would seek to have his registration revoked by the State Board of Registration of Architects. The FBI did not investigate Boucher's claims and Priestley's licence was not revoked.
In November 1967, Boucher was hospitalized after a recurrence of a respiratory ailment.
On February 20, 1968, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously not to renew Boucher's six-month contract.
On April 26, 1971 he pleaded guilty to theft of property under $150. Boucher admitted to securing a $2,500 loan from the Maywood Employees Credit Union and pledging the title of a camper truck as collateral. Although the agreement for this loan stated that the title was unencumbered, there was in fact an outstanding lien.
On May 15, 1971 he was sentenced to three years probation and order to repay the $2,500 and $300 interest.
On August 29, 1971, Boucher's probation was revoked after he was unable to make a scheduled $200 payment to the credit union. At his revocation hearing, Boucher testified that he was unable to secure employment and that his main sources of income were a welfare stipend of $256 a month, which he sent to his brother, who was caring for his three children, and unemployment benefits of $74 a week which he used to pay his rent and to care for his wife, who was in an institution. He was sentenced to one year in Cook County Jail
. Boucher appealed the order revoking his probation to the Illinois Appellate Court
on the grounds that his rights under the Illinois and United States Constitutions were violated because his imprisonment would be "tantamount to imprisonment of an indigent for failure to pay a debt". The appellate court affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County's decision on March 14, 1973. The Supreme Court of Illinois
granted leave to appeal and on May 20, 1974 vacated the appellate court's decision.
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
who served as Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
and Village Manager of Ellenville, New York
Ellenville, New York
Ellenville is a village in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 4,135 at the 2010 census. The postal ZIP code is 12428. The telephone exchange is predominantly 647 and an overlaid 210 in the 845 area code.- Geography :...
and Maywood, Illinois
Maywood, Illinois
Maywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It was founded on April 6, 1869 and organized October 22, 1881. The population was 26,987 at the 2000 census.-Overview:...
.
Saugus Town Manager
On July 31, 1967 Boucher was chosen by the Saugus Board of Selectmen to serve as Town Manager on a six month trial basis.During his tenure as manager, the town fought the state government to close the M. DeMatteo dump
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
on Massachusetts Route 107
Massachusetts Route 107
Route 107 is a north–south Massachusetts state route located along the North Shore of Massachusetts. Route 107 runs from Route 16 in Revere to Route 1A at the Essex Bridge in Salem.-Route description:...
. After the town declined a request by State Health Commissioner Alfred Frechette to keep the dump open, Governor John A. Volpe
John A. Volpe
John Anthony Volpe was the 61st and 63rd Governor of Massachusetts and a U.S. Secretary of Transportation.-Early life and education:Volpe was born in 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants Vito and Filomena , who had come from Abruzzo to Boston's North End in 1905;...
signed an emergency order that would reopen the dump. The town refused to comply with this order and the dump was not reopened until the state Department of Public Health was granted temporary restraining order by the Suffolk Superior Court. The state agreed to shut down the facility by December 1, 1967, however the dump remained open pass this deadline and the issue was once again brought before the courts.
Boucher was also involved in a controversy over the new Saugus Junior High School. On October 4, 1967 he announced that he was launching an investigation into defects in the construction of the school. He later alleged that $200,000 in funds might have been misused and that he wanted the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
to investigate if it had jurisdiction. He also told a The Daily Evening Item
The Daily Item (Lynn)
The Daily Item is a six-day morning daily newspaper published in Lynn, Massachusetts, United States. The newspaper has been locally owned by Hastings & Sons Publishing since converting to daily publication in 1877....
reporter that he had filed a complaint against architect John W. Priestley, Jr. with the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
' ethics committee and that he would seek to have his registration revoked by the State Board of Registration of Architects. The FBI did not investigate Boucher's claims and Priestley's licence was not revoked.
In November 1967, Boucher was hospitalized after a recurrence of a respiratory ailment.
On February 20, 1968, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously not to renew Boucher's six-month contract.
Ellenville Village Manager
In 1969, Boucher was appointed Village Manager of Ellenville, New York.Maywood Village Manager
In March of 1970, Boucher was named Village Manager of Maywood, Illinois. On May 6, 1970 he was arrested and charged with theft by deception, improper use of license plates, and failure to register a vehicle in Illinois. On May 15 the village board voted to suspend him indefinitely and on May 28 the board voted to fire him.On April 26, 1971 he pleaded guilty to theft of property under $150. Boucher admitted to securing a $2,500 loan from the Maywood Employees Credit Union and pledging the title of a camper truck as collateral. Although the agreement for this loan stated that the title was unencumbered, there was in fact an outstanding lien.
On May 15, 1971 he was sentenced to three years probation and order to repay the $2,500 and $300 interest.
On August 29, 1971, Boucher's probation was revoked after he was unable to make a scheduled $200 payment to the credit union. At his revocation hearing, Boucher testified that he was unable to secure employment and that his main sources of income were a welfare stipend of $256 a month, which he sent to his brother, who was caring for his three children, and unemployment benefits of $74 a week which he used to pay his rent and to care for his wife, who was in an institution. He was sentenced to one year in Cook County Jail
Cook County Jail
The Cook County Jail, located on in Cook County, Illinois, is the largest jail in the United States of America housing approximately 9,800 men and women. The facility is located at 3015 S California Ave in the city of Chicago...
. Boucher appealed the order revoking his probation to the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court
The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases arising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The Illinois Appellate Court will render its opinion in...
on the grounds that his rights under the Illinois and United States Constitutions were violated because his imprisonment would be "tantamount to imprisonment of an indigent for failure to pay a debt". The appellate court affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County's decision on March 14, 1973. The Supreme Court of Illinois
Supreme Court of Illinois
The Supreme Court of Illinois is the state supreme court of Illinois. The court's authority is granted in Article VI of the current Illinois Constitution, which provides for seven justices elected from the five appellate judicial districts of the state: Three justices from the First District and...
granted leave to appeal and on May 20, 1974 vacated the appellate court's decision.