Voters can always tell when Steven Spataro runs for re-election. Devoid of any ideas, he drags out the old Compression Solution, the tired old horse. Didn't his previous Compression Solution include combining the positions of COA Director with the Park Department and the Library? Didn't he want the Town Planner to act as Conservation Agent as well?
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Did Selectman Spataro ask any single candidate for the Fire Chief's position about a Public Safety official? Since the meeting wasn't videotaped by ComCast, you wouldn't know unless you were there (and few were), but he didn't. The candidates would have withdrawn their applications had he asked.
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And since the interviews weren't broadcast, you wouldn't know that one candidate actually applied for and obtained a GRANT ---- FREE MONEY -- to purchase a BRAND NEW LADDER TRUCK. That's the same truck that Middleboro approved for long-term bonding, but not a peep from Mr. Spataro.
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Has Selectman Spataro ever presented information about other municipalities having combined the positions into a Public Safety Officer? There might be areas where Middleboro should be a trendsetter, but it's doubtful this should be the issue.
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There are areas within the budget where dollars can be saved, but Mr. Spataro never sees those.
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Allow me to quickly list several that come to mind, but there are others:
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1. GRANTS
Other towns are applying for and receiving grants. One town that was previously commented on received a grant to install energy efficient pumps on their town's wells.
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2. Health Care Costs
Middleboro ATM: Page 35 Employee Fringe Benefits
Middleboro Health Care Costs #2: Nothing to sneeze at!
Middleboro ATM: Page 35 Employee Fringe Benefits
Middleboro Health Care Costs #2: Nothing to sneeze at!
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3. Town Owned Vehicle Tracking
The discussion has arisen several times regarding the need for an audit and the need to charge Departments for the vehicles that are used by each department for several reasons. It eliminates the potential of vehicles remaining insured when the Town no longer owns them and it allows each department to address and reduce vehicle use costs. A key card system that tracks use could more appropriately address which departments might benefit from alternative fuel vehicles instead of the current method.
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Towns that are reducing their ENERGY COSTS have addressed the issue.
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4. Town Owned Vehicle Insurance
When a list of Town Owned Vehicles was produced, it indicated that a $500 deductible was included on most. Most frugal folks have increased their deductibles because the savings quickly satisfies the risk. The Waste Water Department's vehicle that was replaced at ATM, was how old and still had full coverage? Has anyone reviewed what it costs to carry complete coverage on some of these vehicles?
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5. Workers' Compensation
The Town Treasurer explained that at one point the Town self-insured for Workers' Compensation, but when it became less expensive to do so, the Town amended that option. Earlier this year, she indicated that the Town might save $100,000 to return to self-insurance. This is a decision of the BOS.
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6. ENERGY
The issue remains ignored by Mr. Spataro. Other Towns are leading the way and tackling the low hanging fruit and saving tax dollars. Not so Middleboro!
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EVERYBODY, it seems, is talking about ENERGY, except Middleboro BOS. Even the Middleboro School Department is reducing its ENERGY COSTS.
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12/02/2008 Hingham Wind Power Forum
Tuesday, December 2, 6:30 PM
Hingham Town Hall, Central Street , Hingham
More information, contact info@southshoredemocrats.org
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12/03/2008 Pembroke DTC Energy Forum
Wednesday, December 3, 7 - 9 PM
Pembroke Public Library, Center Street
All are cordially invited to attend an energy forum
sponsored by the Pembroke DTC to learn how to
save on entery costs and reduce one's carbon footprint.
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It would seem that Middleboro could do better than re-elect a candidate who promotes nonsensical ideas with little factual information, unless you want to look forward to another bizarre easel presentation.
11 comments:
The Police Chief wearing 2 hats was supposed to keep the other stations open. What happened? Steve isnt even asking. Voters cant be watching the meetings to vote for him.
Steve sits there and says nothing until he's up for re-election. There are at least 2 members on that Bored that need to go and he's one of them. Can't we find any intelligent candidate willing to run who isn't as lazy as Spataro?
ENERGY - Whatever happened to the green energy committee?
There is a lot of talk and ideas in town but little follow through.
I'm so tired of Steve, I hope somebody runs against him. Anyone stepping forward? If not, how about a write in campaign? It's a waste of a seat at the table.
Spataro has sat like a bump on a log for the last + 1 year. He fell aslep after the recall. Did you see him tonight? He woke up! He hasn't even been text messaging recently. How's that unpublished phone number these days? Will voters be fooled? Not this one!
3 members of the BOS participate in an organization and discuss issues about the town that Spataro suddenly praises?
Give me a break, Steve! Where have you been? Don't run and spare us all your embarassment. Go back to sleep.
You should write about the joke tonights meeting was. Spataro has finally discovered the intenet it seems. The man is really sad. He finally read all the correspondance. How nice after how many years? Sleeping Steve. And he even went to saturdays' craft fair. Is that the 2nd event in how many years, Steve? And you live downtown.
Another easel presentation would be better than tonight.
There isn't an incumbent I would vote for.
When Steve plugged an organization that 3 selectmen have joined over all of the others that have done far more for the town, he lost my vote.
Bellicose Bumpkin, In the years that I have been watching the Bored [sic], it would seem that they operate unlike any other. They mention issues and never follow through. They fail to notice what other towns are doing. And when they do pursue something, they don't act within a reasonable period. And they waste meeting time on non-productive things that accomplish little. Animal complaints might rank high on that list for some.
Energy is on the 'list' of goals, but they could have retained a consultant who easily could have saved his total fee and then some by now (or they could have appointed a committee that could have laid the groundwork and gotten some of the basics accomplished). Each of the town's buildings is overheated. At least with my blogging, the interior lights in the Town Hall are shut off at night.
The G&E could be setting a trend and actually leading, but seems content to do little. They seem pretty impressed with themselves that they have set-back thermostats, never mind that's a 30year old solution.
Other towns have audited their town-owned vehicles and charged them to the appropriate departments as a way of determining a history and reducing costs.
I shudder every time Marsha says, "We've been talking about this for years...." Marsha should know because she was Chairwoman. My response would be that's right and that's one of the biggest problems with the Bored[sic]. They've carried forward so much unaddressed business, like the Rockland Industries' site, they're mired in muck from the past and have NEVER planned for the future.
You can't blame this all on the Bored [sic], the previous Town Manager, or employees. The voters are the ultimate creators of Town government and when this is the leadership they have chosen, it must be acceptable to them.
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