The Grafton Patch
By Sandra Quadros Bowles
The interior of 1 Grafton Common received a facelift this week, thanks to inmates involved with Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis’ Inmate Community Service Program.
The inmates did some spring cleaning and completed extensive painting work through the landmark building, which once served as Grafton’s Town Hall.
The building is currently undergoing a major renovation by Apple Tree Arts, which will use a portion of the building for their headquarters.
“They did a top-notch job,’’ said Chris Caron said, Grafton’s director of maintenance services. “They really made the building look sharp.’’
He estimated that town taxpayers saved several thousand dollars by receiving the free labor.
The sheriff’s inmate work release crews are made up of nonviolent, non-sex offender individuals approaching the end of their sentence who have earned a place in the Community Service Program.
Since taking office last year, Evangelidis has more than doubled the size of the Inmate Community Service Program.
Last year, the program provided inmate work crews to complete projects at Grafton’s Municipal Center, Housing Authority and Silver Lake Beach, resulting in a savings of more than $20,000 dollars for the town.
Evangelidis said that Worcester County saved $1.4 million through the program last year. This year, he hopes that number will increase.
“The Inmate Community Service Program has provided a true win-win for the Town of Grafton and for the Sheriff’s Department,” Evangelidis said in a prepared statement.
“With local communities continuing to struggle during these tough fiscal times, our inmate work crews are able to complete worthy projects at municipal centers, town halls, and public recreational areas at little or no cost to the town resulting in a significant savings for taxpayers while inmates who are selected for the program appreciate the opportunity of a productive days work.”
For more information on the Sheriff’s Inmate Community Service Program, contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 508-854-1938 or visit www.worcestercountysheriff.com
