In the past, Middleboro has violated the OPEN MEETING LAW - there is no excuse and we're not going to split the fine hairs to justify Mr. Frawley's interpretation of the statute to call a 'MEETING' and EXCLUDE OTHERS.
Life is simple!
When in doubt...POST THE PUBLIC MEETING!
Those present at the 'MEETING' are each aware of the statute....there is simply no excuse...no sputtering....no consideration or justification.
It has long been conspicuous that Mr. Frawley is incapable of acting professionally at times.
It has long been conspicuous that Mr. Frawley is pigheaded and defiant, frequently misunderstanding the law. [For instance, counting vehicles on the property of a used car dealer and much else.]
It is known that others not involved or public have been fanning the flames of petty gossip, venom and dissension, maybe scheming for their own childish ends.
That needs to cease as well!
It's time to behave like ADULTS!
The MEETING should have been PUBLIC, POSTED and TELEVISED with all invited to attend, not merely a select few.
Folks, You are managing a TOWN, not a kindergarten!
Please behave as such....Mr. Frawley!
Rule violation accusations fly at Middleboro board meeting
Thursday Posted May 25, 2017
During tense exchange, one selectmen accused another of holding an informal meeting which she felt could be viewed as a violation of the open meeting law
MIDDLEBORO – Tension between members of the Board of Selectmen became apparent this week when one member accused another of holding an informal meeting which she felt could be viewed as a violation of the open meeting law.
In question was a meeting on May 16 requested by Selectmen Chairman Allin Frawley who invited Selectmen Vice Chairman Stephen McKinnon, Town Manager Robert Nunes, Assistant to the Town Manager Evan Melillo, Police Chief Joseph Perkins, Town Moderator Wayne Perkins, and Selectmen Executive Assistant Coleen Lieb to discuss issue relative to the Oliver Estates.
Selectmen Leilani Dalpe, chairman of the town’s Oliver Estate Advisory Committee, said she learned of the meeting ‘after the fact’ and questioned why other selectmen were not aware of the meeting in which she understood that certain issues concerning the Oliver Estate was discussed but no member of the Oliver Estate Advisory committee was invited.
“It seems highly inappropriate to me,” said Dalpe, noting it was based on “sketchy information” regarding the Oliver House and “no one called me or a member of the advisory board”.
“It’s no secret there is tension between us,” said Dalpe referring to Frawley.
“I’m not naive,” said Dalpe, adding that she is aware that private meetings are held.
When Dalpe brought the matter up under the “unanticipated” portion of the selectmen’s meeting, Frawley responded, saying, “I am not going to discuss it tonight. I am not prepared to discuss it at length.”
Frawley had asked the agenda item be postponed due to the absence of selectmen Stephen McKinnon, saying he wanted a full board present when discussing policy.
“It was a 100 percent legal meeting,” said Frawley.
“I had some items I wanted to discuss with some people,” said Frawley, adding that no votes were taken, no policy set. “There was no violation of any sort,” said Frawley who noted that he invited people who had insight to issues regarding security and safety at the Oliver House.
Frawley said the meeting lasted between 20 minutes to a half hour and included a discussion on adding two agenda items, the first on whether a town employee should be present during the ghost tours for liability reasons and whether volunteers fill out a Cori form for background checks because they act as “agents of the town.” Both items appeared on the agenda under item 9 “Oliver Estate Business.”
“This sounds like a deliberation” said Selectman John Knowlton in regards to the two items discussed at the meeting, having a town employee present for the ghost tours and a Cori check on Oliver Estate Volunteers.
Former selectmen chairman Diane Stewart said she found the discussion “very dramatic” and said it is not unusual for the chairman of the selectmen to call informal meetings.
Dalpe said “it was a disrespectful situation. I want to bring it up so it would be out in the open.”
Knowlton took issue with Frawley’s request to postpone the Oliver Estate discussion because of McKinnon’s absence.
Knowlton urged discussion, saying, “Apparently a lot of people have come here tonight and have an opinion,” in reference to those in attendance to the nearly full selectmen’s meeting.
Frawley said he would take statements from those in attendance but the matter would be placed on the agenda of the June 12 selectmen’s meeting.
Former selectmen Neil Rosenthal said that “any deliberation is an illegal meeting.” He added that “sometimes the best way to go with this is a compromise” and added that it was “reasonable to have a custodian there.” Rosenthal suggested the town help raise the money to offset the cost.
Stephen DelSignore, chairman of the non-profit group the Oliver Estate Historical Society, said volunteers at the Oliver Estate should not be singled out by being required to fill out Cori Forms. If it is a policy of the board, DelSignore said, then “it should be for every town volunteer.”
Ghost Tour volunteer Christy Parrish said the volunteers “are willing to step forth and do whatever it is the town feels is necessary,” adding that the “true goal” of the revenue from the ghost tours “is to restore the Oliver Estate.”
“Please don’t take that revenue away,” said Parrish.
“The tours brought in about $12,000 last year and are projected to bring in around $17,000 this year. Every dime of that money goes directly back into the house to maintain, restore and improve the property,” Dalpe told the Enterprise in a May 23 email.
“The issue that concerns me the most is the proposal to pay a town employee to open and close at every tour which I have been told would be $150 per 4 hour tour. Some tour evenings run longer and would be an additional $31 per hour. At this rate we would be paying the maintenance person 42 percent of the proceeds,” Dalpe told the Enterprise.
The Peter Oliver Jr. House, 455 Plymouth Street, was built in 1769 by Judge Peter Oliver for his son. The family were loyalists and escaped to Canada and settled in England during the early days of the American Revolution. Town Meeting voted funds to purchase the historic property in April 2015.
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