Canton, MA building could be temporary home to Dedham Probate Court

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Canton building could be temporary home: State officials designate Shawmut Road site best choice for relocation of probate court

By Hartzel

Wednesday, July 24, 2002

DEDHAM - A Canton office building has been identified as the best spot to relocate the Norfolk Probate and Family Court, a state building official testified yesterday as the "sick building" trial resumed after a day off. Bruce Tibot, a project manager for the state Division of Capital Asset Management, or DCAM, said the procurement agency has designated the office park at 35 Shawmut Road in Canton as its top choice among six possible area locations. A five-year lease at the Shawmut Road site, home to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, would cost $550,000 annually for the first two years and $1.1 million for the last three years. Five other property owners from Canton, Westwood and Dedham submitted bids.The selected bid for 40,000 square feet of office space includes an option to renew the contract for an additional five years. The probate court currently occupies 16,500 square feet in the Registry of Deeds building in Dedham Square.The lease space would be considered a temporary home; a master plan for Norfolk County calls for construction of a new probate courthouse. More than 50 court workers, lawyers and citizens are suing the state Trial Court and DCAM officials to force a move from the Dedham courthouse they allege is a public health hazard. Court workers' attorney Milne is asking Superior Court Judge Donovan to order the state to sign a lease for the court even if officials don't know how they'll pay for it. Cross, the court's first assistant register, is scheduled to testify today in Norfolk Superior Court. Cross is the final witness Milne will call before suspending his case and letting the state defense team begin theirs. Today's testimony is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Following Cross' testimony, the defense is scheduled to call Minnis, a project manager for the state Division of Capital Asset Management. Because of scheduling conflicts, Milne will call two witnesses - both defendants in the case - after the defense opens its case. Tomorrow, Dunphy, chief administrative justice of the state trial court, will take the stand. Barbara Dortch-Okara is scheduled to testify on Friday.Although Dunphy and Dortch-Okara are defendants, they are not expected to be hostile witnesses. Dortch-Okara has advocated for the court's relocation and got DCAM to issue a request for proposals for lease space. The bench trial could end as early as Friday or stretch into a third week depending on witnesses' testimony, according to plaintiffs' attorney Milne. Dedham reporter Hartzel can be reached at 781-433-8368 or phartzel@...

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