The Middleboro Gazette (12/18/08 issue) included a Letter to the Editor from Selectman Spataro worthy of note.
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In his letter, Mr. Spataro defends his calling for a Special Town Meeting to call for a Charter Change to provide for creation of a "Public Safety Director," instead of having two separate chiefs heading those departments. He fails to include the cost.
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Middleboro just concluded a Special Town Meeting that might have included Mr. Spataro's proposal, if he hadn't been sleeping.
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Some may recall Mr. Spataro's foolish easel presentation about Town finances that seemed to baffle viewers. The presentation included inaccurate figures, among other things, which seems consistent with Mr. Spataro's public conduct.
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The letter argues that the Town, confronted with a potential $2.6 million deficit next year, should take action to save $150,000 per year, but fails to indicate where the balance of that deficit will be found. And since the Town has hired a new Fire Chief, the letter fails to indicate what that contract buyout will cost or when it might be expected to transpire.
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Remember that Charter Changes require legislative approval. Nowhere is the time projection for accomplishment indicated.
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Selectman Spataro indicated in the letter that he had accomplished lengthy research via the current Police Chief/Fire Chief, Gary Russell and Middleboro's Town Counsel.
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Is that adequate research? Where are the comparisons with other towns? What has been the experience of municipalities that have accomplished this 'compression,' as Mr. Spataro calls it?
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I would instead argue "Where the hell have you been?" In the last several years, if the described Charter Change made sense, why didn't Mr. Spataro call for it then?
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The BOS discussed a Charter Study Committee. Where was Mr. Spataro?
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The BOS just awakened to the potential commuter rail line extension through Middleboro and Mr. Spataro had accepted the responsibility to be BOS representative to SRPEDD, but was never able to attend any of the meetings. Wasn't it discussed there?
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Mr. Spataro sat silently as tax bills were mailed out late. Taxpayers didn't appropriate an amount to fund those costs, but it represents revenue lost in terms of interest income the Town Treasurer would have earned from the G&E cash flow. (The G&E cash flow is used to avoid town borrowing.)
There are a multitude of areas where the Town could have reduced expenses, produced a kitty as a cushion in tough times. I previously commented on some here: Spataro: One Trick Pony, but there are others.
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It has been repeatedly posted that:
1. Mr. Spataro has a non-published telephone number to avoid voters.
2. Mr. Spataro has habitually arrived late to meetings and frequently not at all.
3. Mr. Spataro has been habitually unprepared.
4. Mr. Spataro was text messaging through a BOS meeting.
5. At one meeting, Mr. Spataro sat and ate his supper.
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Is this truly the best Middleboro can do to represent itself?
Isn't it time for change?
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Mr. Spataro's term of office expires in April 2009. Shouldn't we look around for a candidate willing to do the research, arrive prepared, arrive on time, be available to voters with a published telephone number, and one who follows through on his BOS commitments (like agreeing to attend SRPEDD meeting)? But more importantly, isn't it time to elect a BOS member who sees the entire picture and works to resolve the issues confronting the Town, instead of one who remains focused on one trivial matter?
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If you believe this is the Big Leagues, Mr. Spataro, you need to Get A Clue!
8 comments:
You left out the fact that he spends more time pandering for votes than he actually spends thinking through the consequences of his pandering. He is lost. He is not at all engaged in being a Selectman, and all he cares about is staying a Selectman.
Last year he said he had no agenda and that is why you should vote for him. No agenda means no goals, no aims, no targets--he was telling the truth. Steve Spataro, the meandering member of the BOS!
anon,
While I agree with most of what you have written, remember, you got the government you deserved. Mr. Spataro was elected.
If you want to change it, you need to work toward that change.
Change only happens when the numbers of voters engaged in the process participate, begin to understand how town government works, get their friends, neighbors, acquaintances engaged as well, and more importantly, VOTE.
The voter turnout of 3% or 5% has allowed a small number of people to determine the governance of the Town.
I keep voter registration forms in the car and have handed out more than I care to tally. Several of us distributed voter registration forms in our neighborhoods last year. Are your neighbors registered? Do they read the local papers? Are they on line? If you don't understand the basics of town government, ask!
The nemasket discussion forum is an ideal place to begin asking questions or expressing your interest.
There is always someone who can answer your question, explain the issue or provide a source.
You -- each and every registered voter -- will determiine the direction and future of the town.
We can work for change together.
What I found interesting was a recent BOS meeting where Spataro claimed that Middleboro was at it's 10% affordable housing requirement. It some explaining from others that we were only at around 5%.
How can he not know that?
anon,
Good point!
Although I recorded the meeting, I haven't had an opportunity to view it in its entirety, but caught a portion of Mr. Spataro's comment that indicated he was unaware that excise tax revenues were collected by the Town and went into the General Fund.
The revenue sources are FULLY disclosed in the Annual Town Report.
In the 2007 Annual Report, page 96 which reflects the funds received for the year ended 6/30/06, the amount received from excise taxes was $2,875,726.
MR: You are wrong. I have not gotten the government that I deserve. I actually participate. What steams my bottom is that I get the government that OTHER people deserve who don't participate. If I got the Government I deserved, then everyone would actually be participating.
We get the government that the majority of lazy or unwilling citizens deserve and that just isn't fair.
A small group of us have worked to distribute voter registration forms to unregistered voters, our neighbors. Several people have encouraged others to pay attention.
It has been an informal group working to increase awareness, beyond the attention the casino issue developed.
When I see new faces at public events, such as the Special Town Meeting, I know the small cadre has been successful.
At ATM, I was surrounded by 'newbies.' I have seen others, new to the process, bringing friends with them.
I have witnessed new people rising to the microphone to ask questions, unafraid, for which they are to be commended.
Change takes time, but the last town election, posted a turnout of almost 20%.
Maybe if I run for election again, we can generate a turnout of 30% --if nothing else than to vote against me!
Rather than forming an organized group, you have the same options available to you. The Town Clerk offers a street listing indicating unregistered voters. You can encourage your neighbors to register, as a beginning.
The CPA offers an opportunity to speak to your neighbors about an issue of importance to the town. You can knock on doors, introduce yourself, discuss town issues and listen to what others say.
Good government doesn't just involve voting, but in the pre-historic times within my memory, folks used to discuss town governance. We need to return to that.
Instead of worrying about the unfairness of it all or the failures of others to participate, a focus on gathering more participation seems more productive.
I was one of those who kindly nagged my neigbors until they registered. I think they just registered to shut me up but then they voted. Doesn't get any better than that. 2 atended town meeting. To go from adults who aren't even registered to now they're atending town meeting sure shut me up. You made the point about not whining but geting out there and changing it.
A prior commitment prevented our attendance at the Wamp discussion.
The casino supporters can claim that their is no interest in opposing the casino but the meeting was right before Christmas and families have too many things to do.
We were able to watch the rebroadcast on Tuesday and must comment about our total disgust with Mr. Spataro and Mini Mae and the Gavell Queen.
It was clear that each arrived at the meeting with closed minds and no information and resistent to any reasonable argument.
It is also clear that they haven't read last year's agreement or the most recent information about Glen Marshal that is available from many sources.
Mr. Bond explained to them that negotiations took place with the investors and not with the tribe.
For the Board to pretend they are protecting their friends denies their responsibility to the town.
For the Board to be so uninformed tells you why they need to be replaced.
And did anyone notice that Marsha couldn't shut people up fast enough? What is that lady's problem?
Happy Holiday!
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