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Middleboro Review 2

NEW CONTENT MOVED TO MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2

Toyota

Since the Dilly, Dally, Delay & Stall Law Firms are adding their billable hours, the Toyota U.S.A. and Route 44 Toyota posts have been separated here:

Route 44 Toyota Sold Me A Lemon



Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Cost of Cable Worth It!

The cost of cable was worth it this week just to watch the BOS meeting of Monday, June 22, 2009!
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Brian Giovanoni stands up and extols the great success of the Town Hall Lawn Concert last year, the high attendance, the money raised for the Park Department and the Animal Shelter, blah, blah, blah....posters will be up around town.
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We attended all except I believe one lawn concert last year.
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At no time did I see Brian Giovanoni, Mimi Duphily, Willy Duphily, Helen Belmont, Diane Bassett, or any other member of Middleboro Friends. Steve Spataro lives on School St., was Selectman at the time (before he lost re-election) was our "Big Leagues" Selectman who coined the "Cheap Seats" phrase, just around the corner and couldn't be bothered to attend. Marsha Brunelle lives on Bourne St., within walking distance and couldn't be bothered to attend.
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Jean Spaulding, the Health Agent, to her credit, along with a small number of dedicated volunteers organized and cleaned up after the concerts and did the heavy lifting. They arranged for raffle prizes from local businesses, brought the food, tables, supplies.
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Brian, where were you? When I missed that single concert, was that when you swooped in to help out?
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There were a number of people who did attend, including Adam Bond, his wife, Victoria and their lively daughter, Bill Marzelli and his wonderful wife, Patty.
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And if you're going to stand up and pitch for solitary events because you know someone who's involved, how about putting together a list of events that benefit the Town? I don't recall seeing you at the Christmas Wishes' yard sale that was held on Saturday. Did I miss you?
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Christmas Wishes is an organization of hard working residents who ensure that families in need in Middleboro and Lakeville have Christmas presents and Christmas dinner. The money is raised locally and stays local.
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There are numerous other organizations that quietly go about their fundraising that are being ignored by you, Brian.
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Worth a few laughs or stomach churns was the Part Time Town Accountant who made a mistake that just happened to be almost $600,000.
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This is the comment a faithful reader sent:
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What is more important is how much of a raise did our blundering accountant get? Was it 10%?
Does he work only 4 days a weel? And he gets mileage to drive to work?
Yet, he made a $592K mistake. Oops? I'm not happt with this performance and would cut his pay.
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Maybe next time, the Board of Selectmen who don't seem capable of balancing their own checkbooks (with the exception of the 2 new members) will allow others with greater expertise to interview candidates. What happened with the last accountant? It cost how much to settle? And this one only works 4 days a week? Remember who appointed him!
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The SEMASS contract.....insert Big Sigh!
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The original contract has years to run, but SEMASS is pushing to re-negotiate. The meeting is worth watching.
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The newbie, Steve McKinnon questioned the contents of the original contract that's currently in force and not provided to the Selectmen.
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Good point!
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Where is it? Who negotiated it? Jack Healey you say? Ya wanna look at what Jack did in Southbridge?
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Voters just might like to review the contract. Is it on the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site)?
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Newbie Al Rullo indicated that he had picked up a copy from the Town Clerk to review.
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Wouldn't it be worthwhile if voters who paid these bills had as much information as you have available?
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Please keep in mind that if voters request that information, they have to pay for it.
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Isn't this what is needed for transparency?
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That must mean that the 2 other Board Members present, Muriel Duphily and Marsha Brunelle, our very own Gavel Queen, were fully familiar with the current contract.
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Right?
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We all know that Marsha remembers everything. Maybe she doesn't remember it accurately, but she at least remembers it.
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Some may remember that Mrs. Duphily is a single issue candidate for the casino that isn't coming who is ethically challenged and couldn't figure out that because her husband is a call fireman, she shouldn't participate in 'all things fire dept.,' is really a wonderful person who has been very active in town and she's extraordinarily talented. But worry her head about details of her office? Phewt! She clearly has more important things to do rather than bother with the responsibilities of being Selectman, like.....Town Groundskeeper, a position suggested by "Smoking Owl."
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Note to Charter Commission: Please add position of "Town Groundskeeper" to Charter changes.
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There was really more to the meeting that made it worth the cost of cable, but time is limited. Take the time to watch and you might formulate a few questions of your own.
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Are you beginning to understand why it makes sense to elect competent people to serve on the BOS?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You got it right. Watch Brian's body language. He needs to work on it.

deborah said...

You knocked on our door, told us to watch the meetings and we're "adicted"!I feel like one of those religious people who tries to convert everyone and try to convince friends to watch.Some watch and make coments to me.It takes time to figure out whats going on and how it works.After awhile things make sense.What you wrote doesnt describe half of it.
How is a $592,000 mistake acceptable?The man should go if he cant do his job.