Sunshine or Mushroom Farming? should have helped residents to think about transparency and public disclosure.
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Once upon a time, I had the hard copy of the Town's Auditors' Report. It's lengthy and instead of scanning it into my computer, since it was composed on a computer at the Auditors', I sought the electronic version.
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The auditors indicated that the electronic version was considered proprietary by them, but since the Board of Selectmen had commissioned the audit, they were the authority that would have to request the auditors to release the electronic version. [Yes, I called and confirmed this with the auditing firm.]
The auditors indicated that the electronic version was considered proprietary by them, but since the Board of Selectmen had commissioned the audit, they were the authority that would have to request the auditors to release the electronic version. [Yes, I called and confirmed this with the auditing firm.]
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When I submitted my written request for the electronic copy to the Keeper of Public Records (Town Clerk), the request wound its way to the Board of Selectmen, specifically the Chairwoman at the time, Marsha Brunelle. Included in that request was that the Auditors' Report should be posted on the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site).
When I submitted my written request for the electronic copy to the Keeper of Public Records (Town Clerk), the request wound its way to the Board of Selectmen, specifically the Chairwoman at the time, Marsha Brunelle. Included in that request was that the Auditors' Report should be posted on the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site).
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Chairwoman Brunelle requested a determination from Town Counsel who ruled that the BOS didn't have to make available a public record in a format in which it did not exist. Well, I knew that because it's clearly indicated in the Public Records Guide for all to review. But it did exist in electronic format.
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For anyone who cared about TRANSPARENCY, the Auditors' Report was available and could have and should have been posted on the PTWS.
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If we're honest with ourselves, we recognize that the BOS is not interested in TRANSPARENCY, but rather Same Old, Same Old.
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Same Old back room deals, hidden negotiations with the Tribe and Mushroom Farming.
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When voters elect candidates based on friendship instead of who will best represent the Town, maybe you end up with a Selectwoman who confuses blogs and emails.
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Maybe you would never read the Auditors' Report, but you paid for it.
Doesn't it make you wonder what being hidden when you can't get information?
Saturday, April 4th is Middleboro's Town Election.
Maybe it's time for change.
1 comment:
There's a lot of information I'd like to see to understand how the decisions are being made.
Cristello has been a disappointment in this regard. He could do more and doesn't seem to care. Hingham must have forced him to do it. If he pulls the same stuff for the annual town meeting that he did last fall, it's over for me.
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