Former Waste District Director dies

Dec 26, 2019

MARION — Ray Pickles, the former Marion town administrator, town clerk and director of the Carver Marion Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District, died Dec. 20. 

Pickles passed away in the early afternoon from congestive heart failure, just after he turned 86.  Bartlett Funeral Home in Plymouth is handling his arrangements.

In September of this year, he resigned from his position as town clerk, after Selectmen had asked that he do so in April. He cited failing health for his decision to resign. 

Pickles served as director of the waste district from its founding in 1973 until January 2018, when members of its governing committee fired him after financial irregularities emerged in the waste district’s financial records. 

The district was formed to allow its three member towns to dispose of trash for free with Covanta SEMASS, which was allowed to put some trash and ash from its incineration facility in the Carver landfill in exchange. 

It filed a civil lawsuit against Pickles for fraud and allegedly embezzling more than $800,000 in July of 2018. The district also alleged that retired Carver Health Agent Robert Tinkham co-conspired with Pickles to take $262,000, and charged Pickles’ wife, Diana Bondi-Pickles with one count of fraud. Pickles was also accused of paying himself more than $13,000 to refuel his personal boat. 

In March 2019, the state Attorney General and Office of the Inspector General also indicted Pickles for six counts of larceny in an amount of $675,000, starting a criminal trial against him which is ongoing. The Attorney General’s office said that they were aware of the situation and are currently reviewing it. 

The result for the criminal case will likely include a suggestion of death, which dismisses the case. However, the suggestion is not the same as a “not guilty” ruling and cannot be used as evidence in a civil case. 

Some civil matters can survive a death in civil lawsuit. However, even Diana Bondi-Pickles is named as Ray Pickles’ heir and is a defendant in the civil case, his death will not impact her civil case. 

Pickles’ obituary is posted here.