Middleboro utility board ratifies Granahan separation agreement

Former general manager’s resignation took effect Aug. 7

File photo

Middleboro Gas & Electric General Manager John Granahan Jr. has a salary that's higher than any other general manager of a municipal utility in the state.

By Alice C. Elwell

Enterprise correspondent

Posted Aug 09, 2012

MIDDLEBORO —

Gas & Electric Commissioners met for two hours behind closed doors on Wednesday before ratifying in open session a July 31 separation agreement with John P. Granahan, 65, who resigned as general manager.

Granahan’s resignation as general manager triggered a seven-day right of rescission under the Older Americans Act and was not effective until Aug. 7, said Chairman John F. Healey.

Granahan’s $223,373 buyout fell short of the $1 million potential that was provided in his “evergreen” contract negotiated by a prior board of commissioners Healey explained.

“It wouldn’t be productive to have John Granahan continue to work for the current board,” said Healey when he released the terms of the agreement.

A round of applause greeted the commissioners unanimous vote to promote Jacqueline Crowley from power supply manager to interim general manager for up to a year with a $155,000 salary and four weeks vacation. Under the board’s plan, Crowley will fill both positions, which Healey said will allow the utility to recoup Granahan’s buyout within a year and not cause a rate increase.

Crowley, 50, of Barnstable, has been with the town-owned utility since 2006 and was making $115,000 before the promotion. In an Aug. 2 letter to the board, Crowley outlined her goals as general manager.

“A critical area of focus should be fostering a more collegial relationship with town offices” said Crowley said . “We must reaffirm our status as a team player.”

Crowley said she would like to develop a relationship with the School Department, and possibly establish a renewable energy program for upper grade levels.

Crowley said the protracted stalemate between Granahan and commissioners has lead to a tarnished reputation of G&E employees which had a demoralizing effect.

“With a careful transition – we, senior management and commissioners can affirm the commitment to support, empower and educate employees,” she said. “Middleboro is well positioned to go forward to provide safe, reliable and reasonable priced service.”

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x181548061/Middleboro-utility-board-ratifies-Granahan-separation-agreement#ixzz232vI2NQq

Middleboro G&E Mtg Aug 8th 7:30 PM

Please consider attending or watching --


Middleboro utility head resigns

By Alice C. Elwell

enterprise correspondent

Posted Aug 07, 2012

MIDDLEBORO —

John P. Granahan has resigned as general manger of the town’s Gas & Electric Department.
John F. Healey, chairman of the Gas & Electric Commission, declined to discuss the details of Granahan’s resignation, saying his board would make a full disclosure at Wednesday’s meeting in Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.

According to Treasurer and Collector Judy M. MacDonald, Granahan’s buyout is $223,373, which includes $125,900 for eight months severance pay; $48,850 in unused sick time and $48,623 in vacation time.

In a letter dated Aug. 7, Granahan said he was “irrevocably resigning” from his position and released the town from liability.

Granahan was hired as the utility’s business manager in 1999, at a salary of $68,000. By 2008, his salary was bumped up to $135,000 and then increased to $188,000 in 2009 when he was named general manager.

Granahan was paid $196,277 in 2011. His salary was the highest of any public utility manager in the state.

His refusal to provide the town treasurer with a copy of his contract prompted over a year of intense public scrutiny and sparked a flurry of public record requests as well as Open Meeting Law complaints. The controversy contributed to the election of two new Gas & Electric commissioners.

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x356062500/Middleboro-utility-head-resigns#ixzz22xJ34cyS


Middleboro utility board takes action on general manager

Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise

John Granahan, general manager of the Middleboro Gas & Electric Commission

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x2069500209/Middleboro-utility-board-takes-action-on-general-manager#ixzz22xK1Q9jX

By Alice C. Elwell

enterprise correspondent

Posted May 10, 2012

MIDDLEBORO —

Gas & Electric Commissioners this week stepped up the pressure on General Manager John P. Granahan after months of controversy over his contract and other utility issues.

On Tuesday, the utility commissioners voted to take actions regarding the general manager and his department, including:

• Break off contract negotiations with Granahan.
• Hire labor counsel to defend the commission.
• Interview four prospective firms to complete a forensic audit.
• Require Granahan to report daily to the chairman.
• Notify Granahan’s attorney the commission is not conceding his contract is valid.

Commissioner Thomas Murphy, elected to the board in 2007, opposed all votes.

After the meeting, Murphy said he did not support the measures because “it would be an admission I didn’t know what I was doing.”

The actions came after questions surfaced over the validity of Granahan’s appointment as general manager. After reviewing previously unreleased meeting minutes, Chairman John F. Healey contended Granahan’s 2009 appointment and succeeding pay raises were invalid because they were not ratified in open session, as required by state law.

When proposing to hire labor counsel to defend the commission, Healey said, “Mr. Granahan has lawyered up, and rightly so. It is important the commission be represented. ... We need to have an attorney that represents our position.”

Granahan’s personal attorney attended Tuesday’s meeting, but did not address the commission.
The commissioners agreed to send a letter to Granahan’s attorney establishing ground rules during the dispute. They agreed Granahan will continue to perform the duties of general manager, but did not concede his contract is valid and binding.

“The situation is not of our making. It grew out of a culture of arrogance,” Healey said, pointing to a pattern of secrecy that led to alleged Open Meeting Law violations.

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x2069500209/Middleboro-utility-board-takes-action-on-general-manager#ixzz22xJq7H5N

Residents for Alternative Trash Solutions

Southbridge shares a dubious bond with Middleboro since retired Middleboro Town Manager Jack Healey shared his fuzzy math expertise with Southbridge as interim Town Manager.

Just as Jack decided a Tribal Casino was just the thing to resolve Middleboro's fiscal problems, he determined Southbridge needed a Mega Landfill.

Good news, Southbridge!

The DEP has NOT issued the permit to Casella! See below message & attachments.

They have required more information from Casella and proof of approval from the FAA. They responded directly to some of the thoughtful and justified concerns posed by the approximately 150 comments submitted to them.

Enjoy your weekend, knowing that you have had a part in protecting our community and working towards zero waste!

Residents for Alternative Trash Solutions
www.southbridgedump.org



Thank you for your recent comments on the Southbridge Landfill Facility permit modification.

Knowing of your interest, we wanted to advise you of the final permit, as modified and effective June 1, 2010. Attached is the permit and related documents. The permit also contains language governing appeal rights.

Sincerely,

Lynne Welsh
Acting Chief
Solid Waste Program
MassDEP-CERO
508 849-4007

For some background -- RATS:

This website is presented to share information amongst a citizens group of over 300 Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Charlton residents formed to prevent Casella Waste Systems’ proposed extension of the Southbridge Landfill to allow 400,000+ tons of municipal solid waste.



We oppose Casella's plan to make Southbridge a raw garbage dump for the state.


We call on the Southbridge Board of Health to protect the public health from the dangers of contaminated air and water, toxic gases, and overall environmental degradation by denying Casella's application.


Furthermore we call on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the town governments of Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Charlton to further safeguard our region by making Zero Waste plans for waste reduction and safe management of discards.




The Southbridge Landfill is about to become the largest raw garbage landfill in Massachusetts! Casella Waste Systems plans to increase the permitted raw garbage to over 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste - raw garbage - there each year, including Boston's and Springfield’s trash. The trash thrown in Boston's garbage cans will travel over an hour west to be piled onto an already 800-foot high mountain of trash located in the center of three western Massachusetts communities - Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Charlton.



The problem in Southbridge is evident of a more profound statewide crisis when it comes to dealing with waste. Massachusetts residents produce almost 2 tons of trash per person each year, and recycling rates have actually fallen in recent years to 33%. Right now the state Department of Environmental Protection is drafting the next Solid Waste Master Plan, its blueprint for managing the Commonwealth’s garbage from 2010-2020. They are considering lifting a 19-year moratorium on building new incinerators, and allowing new trash-burners to be built in the state.



RATS! Residents for Alternative Trash Solutions, is committed to changing the way we deal with waste - on a local and state-wide level. We have grown our organization to include over a thousand people all not only opposed to this regional landfill and the numerous health and environmental problems it brings to our community, but also committed to moving our state forward towards zero waste. RATS has been working with other major environmental groups across the state in a coalition called Don’t Waste Massachusetts to urge the state to stop going down this burn and bury path and instead reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost to get to zero waste.



Our group's volunteers have accomplished so much in the past year. Our pro bono attorney represented us valiantly in the Board of Health site assignment hearings and the appeal to the Superior court following that decision. She is a Harvard grad, now stay at home mom, who works fearlessly against the waste company's slew of highly paid attorneys. We've founded this in-depth informational website that serves as a resource for other groups fighting landfills and moving towards zero waste all over the country. We've made a short film, with the help of a Washington DC-based film maker to show how decisions like this affect small communities and the importance of adopting zero waste solutions. We also created a short professionally-narrated animated segment to explain how a modern landfill works. Our volunteers have met with numerous state officials to educate them on landfilling and zero waste. We've focused on growing our contact list and educating the community about landfills, incineration, and their alternatives - since many resources available are funded or heavily influenced by the waste industry. We've done this at numerous conferences, gave lectures at colleges, and submitted articles to publications.



Our group has grown enormously since it was formed over a year ago and new opportunities are coming before us all the time. We have the opportunity to move forward with many new projects in this coming year. We plan on approaching the target of Zero Waste in our state with expanded legal efforts. We plan on improving and publicizing our short film and on increasing our communications by implementing new methods of public relations. We'd like to improve our community outreach by implementing a new phone call system to contact those who do not have access to email. We are also working on forming a web-based system to collect complaints and observations (odor, traffic, etc.) from households surrounding the landfill. Once perfected in our community, this same system could be used by any other town looking to gather information about any kind of environmental nuisance.



RATS! is unique in that we are using a grassroots approach to addressing a widespread problem that is severely under-represented in our culture. Our group can serve as a template for many other small groups. Already, we have been contacted from other groups as far as Nevada and Florida for resources and information. When groups like ours become interconnected, share information, and resources, the power of the environmental movement can grow exponentially.

DEP: Recycling/Reuse/Compost

The folks in central MA continue their fight against massive landfills and incinerators (Middleboro's former Town Manager Jack Healey's legacy).

Anyone who considers the full scope of the energy issue and their carbon footprint, begins to understand that how we consider solid waste is a significant part of that equation.

Please sign this letter to encourage the DEP to stop burying trash and start pushing recycling/reuse/composting. Recycling and composting create jobs instead of Superfund sites we will have to pay to clean up later. The DEP claims it wants to shut down problem landfills, thus it is not time for huge regional expansions allowing waste from all over New England and NY to be brought in to contaminate our state. Please pass this along!

Click here to sign http://citizenspeak.org/node/2027

Additional information available at SouthbridgeDump.org

The Film: Now U Know

Now U Know

Southbridge: Now You Know

Southbridge Dump

RATS Not Forgotten!

Although the Southbridge Dump might seem forgotten, the RATS (Residents for Alternatives to Trashing Southbridge, that is!) are active, thriving and as opposed to being trashed as ever!

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Speak Out Southbridge is informative and worth the review.
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Massachusetts might choose to maintain its false image of pristine environmental policies, but this Administration seems hell bent on destroying the last vestiges of the myth, concealed behind green propaganda. Remember that an incinerator to your west rains down its pollution to the east or you get to inhale it. This shouldn't be an issue solely restricted to its immediate vicinity. Scientists are beginning to recognize the import of nano particles and their synergy with other environmental chemicals with which we are bombarded.

A co-mingling of interests intertwined when retired Middleboro Town Manager, Jack Healey, Crusader for the Middleboro Mega Monster Bingo Parlor became Southbridge's Interim Crusader for the Southbridge Mega Monster Casella Landfill.

Coincidentally, this same area of the state is confronting the identical threat posed by Predatory Gambling due to the Fools Gold of a proposed casino.

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Jack Healey does seem to spawn an eruption of grassroots activism and participation in his wake! Thanks, Jack, for waking up voters however unintentionally.


Southbridge: Not Forgotten

Southbridge and Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey and Those Ever Changing Laws

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey Inflicts Slap-Dash on Southbridge!

Thanks, Jack!

Middleboro's Gain is Southbridge's Loss

Healey For Hire

The Brockton Enterprise, clearly devoted fans of the former Middleboro Town Manager, Jack Healey, provided the following --

HEALEY FOR HIRE

Maybe retired Middleboro Town Manager John F. Healey should be teaching a class about job networking. Earlier this week, Healey, who still lives in Middleboro, was mentioned here after being hired in Kingston to fill in as town administrator three days a week. It’s the second temp job (the first was in Southbridge) for Healey, who stepped down from his Middleboro post in 2007 with a $104,000-a-year pension in 2007.

Now, we’ve learned that in a letter to the selectmen in Freetown, he made an offer they can’t refuse: For the low, low price of $800 per week (and no health insurance charges), he’ll work two days a week plus Monday nights. But wait, there’s more: for the entire fiscal 2010, he’d do the job for $38,400 with no benefits — a savings of nearly 50 percent from the $75,000 plus benefits that Freetown’s former manager was making.

HINT TO FREETOWN: Don't let Jack auction any land. And watch out for certain lobbyists.

Jack Healey

Retired town manager willing to help town

The Herald News reports --


Freetown —
A retired Middleboro town manager has offered to serve as Freetown’s interim part-time town administrator for a price of $800 per week after Town Administrator E. Winn Davis resigned last month.

John F. Healey, who lives in Middleboro, offered to work full days on Tuesday and Wednesday for Freetown and be available for the Monday night selectmen meetings. He also said he would help the town facilitate its next town administrator search.

Healey said although he would charge $800 per week, that cost would be free of health insurance charges, and he would make himself available by telephone for consultation. “I would not receive any benefits but would take four weeks unpaid vacation in the summer/fall of the year,” Healey wrote. “Because of my experience, and that of your long-term administrative assistant, I believe that we could continue to provide the town with the professional services that the town needs.”

He further added that if the town needed him for the entire fiscal 2010, it would cost the town $38,400 with no benefits — a big savings from the $75,000 plus benefits that Davis was making.

Consider it done --
Jack Healey

John F. Healey: Interim Town Administrator, Kingston

Kingston: A permanent administrator by May 1

The [Kingston] board decided to give the search committee a timeline for choosing candidates to fill Donovan’s position. Donovan is leaving today (Friday). John F. Healey of Middleborough was named interim town administrator until a permanent administrator is selected (see related story).


Note to Kingston: Watch out for Jack's Fuzzy Math!

Previous Posts

Middleboro's Financial Geniuses

Taking a brief walk down Memory Lane, Middleboro residents would do well to reminisce about past history of land sales and the wondrous job Middleboro's Board of Selectmen has done giving away land to the lowest bidder and buying swampland for far more than its value.

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The short-sighted Middleboro Board of Selectmen hasn't changed and will not change until qualified candidates are elected to the Board, another issue entirely.

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September 2008, this was posted (emphasis mine):


You Can't Blame the New Town Manager excerpts below:
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You can't blame the new Town Manager because the Middleboro Board of Selectmen failed to explain the surrounding issues to him.
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During the BOS Meeting (Monday, September 8, 2008), the Town ownership and disposition of the Rock Village School on Highland St. was discussed.
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The Rock Village School became vacant because the church group that had occupied the building was delinquent in their rent, hadn't maintained the building, as was required in their lease and Town Counsel opined that occupancy by the church was illegal.
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In the intervening + 1 year, has anyone heard mention of RFPs (Request for Proposals)? Has there been any solicitation for ideas about using the property for community purposes?
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...possibly selling the Rock Village School property, in a depressed real estate market, which would allow for residential construction .
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This one clearly bears watching because mostly the same short-sighted BOS is in place.
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In May 2008, this was posted (emphasis mine):
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Jack Healey and the Casino Investors
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Casino investors engineered secret deal
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In a secret deal, casino investors for the Mashpee Wampanoag secured an option on 200 acres in Middleboro two days before they purchased 125 adjacent acres from the town.
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The deal, and the secrecy surrounding it, may have resulted in the town garnering less money than it could have had the deal last April been more widely advertised.
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Former Middleboro Town Manager Jack Healey, who first proposed the auction to raise money for the cash-strapped town, has since retired and could not be reached for comment. Town and tribe officials first met in March to begin talking about a proposed casino, according to Times archives.
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Middleboro selectmen approved the auction April 9 and it was held April 27. The auction was advertised only in the local weekly newspaper, town Treasurer Judy MacDonald said.
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But if the town wanted to get top dollar for the property, it should have done more advertising, Stevens said.
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The Late Victor Sylvia stood at Town Meeting and protested the proposed sale of the Rock Village School because the land had been given to the Town to be used for educational purposes and has been used as such, for many years.
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Illustrious Town Counsel, Daniel Murray ruled the sale is OK!
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I'm not an attorney, but would remind Middleboro residents, that as unskilled and unschooled as I am in the law, I beat Mr. Murray twice in court.

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He wasted the Town's paid time traveling to Boston to challenge me on basic issues and LOST. Novice that I am, I represented myself.

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There are other occasions when Mr. Murray's legal advice has proven defective. The most recent public issue was ruling that Mrs. Duphily could participate in discussions involving hiring the new Fire Chief, although her husband was on the Call Fire Department. The Ethics Commission said No! The Ethics statutes are clearly displayed on the web site for review.

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I am aware of other matters in which Town Counsel's rulings have cost the town money and merely raise the issues regarding this matter to question the validity of retaining that parcel, but urge residents to pay attention to their town's governance.

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All of the background brings me to rumors circulating around Town that the Town Manager, no longer so new, is moving in the direction of selling the Rock Village School.

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The proposed sale, having been defeated once by Town Meeting because of previous failures of our Financial Geniuses guiding the Town, should alert residents about what is being done. Does any potential value, in a depressed real estate market, make sense at this time? These Financial Geniuses have allowed other properties to fall into total disrepair prior to action.

This looks like more Mushroom Farming while you're paying attention to other things.

The honeymoon with the 'new' Town Manager appears over and someone needs to 'xplain past history to him.

The Town Manager's handling of various aspects of the last Special Town Meeting were questionable and we might excuse it because of his 'newness,' but let's not allow town property to be sold without adequate discussion and consideration given to potential community use because I am aware of someone who approached the Town for just such a use. Are we returning to the Lazy BOS Sydrome in which the Town Manager runs amok?

And remember, the Gavel Queen is Chairman again. When residents attempted to discuss the poorly advertised land auction in which the Precinct Street property was practically given away, cheating taxpayers out of money, the Gavel Queen REFUSED to allow residents to comment. Keep that gavel handy, Marsha! And with Wayne Perkins as Town Moderator, you won't even be allowed to comment. He'll simply ignore you!

Southbridge: Not Forgotten

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Middleboro's Retired Town Manager left a legacy to Middleboro that consisted of Fuzzy Math, Management by Crisis, a Mega Casino Deal worth +$20 Million that he negotiated for $7 Million, Million Dollar Land Locked Swampland and much else. (LINK)

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For the sake of accuracy, some might have noticed that Milford is being primed for $50 Million as my fellow blogger, Bellicose Bumpkin noted. Ever one who knows the value of the dollar and is a ducky negotiator, Mr. Healey did a bang up job in Middleboro!

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On discovering that his Fuzzy Math legacy had followed him to Southbridge, it is rumored that he sputtered about lawsuits and much else.

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Unfortunately, Mr. Healey's Mega Casino Deal, conducted mostly behind closed doors, created internet monsters that followed him!

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In Mr. Healey's retirement, he created a Mega Monster of a landfill deal based on much the same flawed Management Style on which his previous employment was based and with many of the same characters:

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Sign on the dotted line or the town will self-destruct

This is the best deal you're going to get

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and the rest of the tired rhetoric Middleboro heard for + 20 years.

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Speak Out Southbridge is offered as a reminder of the consequences of poor decisions and voters tolerating poor management.

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And while you're at it, check out RATS.

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Thanks, Dennis for the update.

By Special Request

Technical problems resolved:


Speak Out Southbridge

Hit the Road Jack?

What could this mean?

I mean, after all Mr. Healey did for Middleboro?

Speak Out Southbridge



For some background information, check out RATS

Jack Healey and the Casino Investors

Excerpts of an article that appeared in the Cape Cod Times on December 18, 2007 (excerpts below, emphasis mine):

Casino investors engineered secret deal

In a secret deal, casino investors for the Mashpee Wampanoag secured an option on 200 acres in Middleboro two days before they purchased 125 adjacent acres from the town.

The deal, and the secrecy surrounding it, may have resulted in the town garnering less money than it could have had the deal last April been more widely advertised.

Former Middleboro Town Manager Jack Healey, who first proposed the auction to raise money for the cash-strapped town, has since retired and could not be reached for comment. Town and tribe officials first met in March to begin talking about a proposed casino, according to Times archives.

Middleboro selectmen approved the auction April 9 and it was held April 27. The auction was advertised only in the local weekly newspaper, town Treasurer Judy MacDonald said.

But if the town wanted to get top dollar for the property, it should have done more advertising, Stevens said.

By comparison, Sandwich officials recently hired a professional auctioneer to advertise and accept bids on property sold by the town this month. The auctioneer advertised the properties in real estate publications in Massachusetts and New York, as well as regional newspapers, attracting 60 registered bidders.

A 34-acre parcel, the Sandwich auction's premier property, fetched $900,000 — about $26,470 an acre, or $12,000 more per acre than the Middleboro land generated.

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Speeded up for budget

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The Middleboro auction was held so quickly to make the funds available for this year's town budget, MacDonald said.

As for hiring an auctioneer, MacDonald said, the town's been doing its own auctions for several years. "Why pay someone when we can do it ourselves?" she said.

Auctioneers, like the one hired in Sandwich, are paid through a premium charged to the buyer over and above the purchase price — usually 9 or 10 percent. CapeCodTimes

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Southbridge, Landfills and Mr. Healey

Jack Healey and the Casino

Southbridge and Mr. Healey

Perry Property and Jack Healey

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey #2

Mr. Healey: Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

Mr. Healey and Those Ever Changing Laws

Mr. Healey's Legacy Continues to Haunt

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey Inflicts Slap-Dash on Southbridge!

Thanks, Jack!

Middleboro's Gain is Southbridge's Loss

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Middleboro slows 'frantic' casino pace

Betting the farm

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The DOR Report and the Financial audit for Middleboro appear on the nemasket site.

Southbridge, Landfills and Mr. Healey

The following was published in response to Retired Middleboro Town Manager Jack Healey's involvement with the proposed Southbridge Mega Landfill:

To the Editor:

Our Board of Health doesn't need any more of Healy's relentless
pressure, which has been deemed inappropriate by both the landfill
Hearing Officer and by Marcia Benes, the director of the Massachusetts
Association of Health Boards. Perhaps Mr. Healy should give the MAHB
lawyer a call before continuing with his fear mongering to intimidate
these five volunteers who are doing their best to do their job: to
make their decision based on health and environmental facts—not fear.

Healey decried fear-mongering then threatened to cut every aspect of
the Southbridge budget. Sadly, Healey does have a poor reputation
financially; he left Middleboro a mess that auditors are still working
to sort out. The Middleboro Gazette coined the phrase "fuzzy math"
when talking about his tactics of trying to use short term revenue to
fund the current budget. His character was "assassinated" by his
hometown, not us, though his history is repeating itself here. Notice
he can't deny any of the facts.

As for recycling, the problem with the "single stream" recycling is
that much of it ends up in the landfill. Check out Recycle Bank
financials. Casella owns 20% of it and it's losing money. Not that
there is any evidence that Casella is interested in recycling. In New
York Casella was fined $90,000 for dumping carefully washed but
less-than-lucrative recyclables in their landfills. The fines were
used to pay back 2000 customers for recycling service they didn't get.

In the landfill hearings the words of public health research David
Carpenter were devastating, especially given that many of us who live
in a three mile radius of the dump have children. Statistics signify
regions surrounding landfills have increased hospitalizations for
asthma, infectious respiratory disease, diabetes, Cardiovascular
disease, hypothyroid syndrome and genital disease in women. Dr.
Carpenter clearly explained how the inhalation of toxins in the air
and known carcinogens leaching into the water were his primary
concerns. He was especially concerned about children because of their
sensitivity to toxins during development. He cited research results of
higher rates of birth defects and hormonal disruption of babies born
of women living in areas surrounding landfills.

None of us are going anywhere, we will continue to fight the landfill
expansion and the bigger fight for state legislation so this doesn't
happen to any community. The Massachusetts DEP needs to join the 21st
century and adopt policies that are truly protective of health and the
environment. If this modification goes through and we have 405,000
tons of unsorted raw garbage coming into Southbridge every year, it
will harm the air and water in the entire tri-community area. It's an
undeniable fact that eventually two layers of plastic and the
imperfect technology of gas collection will not contain the toxins in
that mountain of garbage and then we'll have a Superfund site
here—but
will there be a Superfund to clean it up?
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For Mr. Healey, getting a "free lunch" from Casella seems like the
easy path. However, as a pregnant woman with two small children, well
water and a home no more than a mile from the dump, I can tell you
that in this instance the easy path is not the right one.

Sincerely,

Lara DeRose

DEP asked to nullify hearings LINK

CarverChick raised the issue of the impacts of effluent on the Nemasket River, a treasured resource that Mr. Healey dismissed in his haste to cram a casino onto a Town, while the Middleboro Board of Selectmen behaved like Bobble Heads and blindly followed:

Of Special Concern
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The Middleboro Board of Selectmen authorized Mr. Healey to investigate the interest of the Mashpee Wamppanoags to locate a casino in Middleboro, but specifically instructed Mr. Healey NOT to negotiate the terms.

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Mr. Healey auctioned the proposed casino land to investors at a bargain basement price of $14,000 per acre, at a time house lot were selling for $200,000 per acre, in a poorly advertised auction as was his custom in ALL other Town auctions.

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Mr. Healey (along with Attorney Whitten, who lacked ANY experience in the area of law) instead negotiated an Agreement that set the bar at $7 MILLION AND WAS GROSSLY FLAWED.

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Twin Rivers, the Rhode Island casino, will net the host community + $20 MILLION because it provides for a percentage of slots.

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Check out the recent articles about casino profits:

Truth to Power

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Mr. Healey cheated the Town of Middleborough out of + $20 MILLION per year because he picked a number out of the ethers.

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There are other linked blogs on the right side of this screen that provide greater detail of the casino fiasco that Jack Healey created.

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Fortunately, the Commonwealth House of Representatives has defeated Class III Gaming this year and the Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne has correctly viewed this process as 'Casino Shopping,' in which the newly recognized Tribe has no historical ties to the host community. Mr. Healey's grandiose scheme has been successfully thwarted by others.

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Businesses love to see Mr. Healey coming because he fails to gather his facts or research the details.

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How is $7 MILLION close to + $20 MILLION?

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Please don't allow Mr. Healey's FUZZY MATH to prevail in Southbridge.

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Jack Healey and the Casino

At the April 9, 2007 Middleboro Board of Selectmen's Meeting, Town Manager Jack Healey presented a lengthy list of properties the Town should auction to balance its budget. Although the recorded Meeting Minutes speak for themselves, it should be noted that Mr. Healey indicated none of the parcels were Conservation Commission parcels, when in fact, 5 parcels had been voted by Town Meeting in 2001 to the ConCom.

A Town resident spoke up and prevented those parcels from being sold.

The Middleboro Conservation Commission maintains a list of parcels over which it has charge, yet Mr. Healey claimed otherwise.

The Town Planner had prepared a Memo that was forwarded to the Board of Selectmen that itemized parcels that the Town might want to re-consider selling. In her memo, she called attention to the interest that had been expressed in the Precinct Street property, both by casino investors and for future commercial development, as well as other issues.

Town Manager Jack Healey successfully auctioned the only bargaining chip the Town of Middleboro owned for ~ $14,000 per acre to casino investors.

As a side note, the Rock School parcel on Miller Street that was referred to was a school that constructed on land donated with the stipulation that the property was to be used educational purposes or revert to the family/heirs. At the time of the Annual Town Meeting, that issue had not been referred to Town Counsel for a determination.

Selectmen's Meeting Minutes and links below (emphasis mine):

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 9, 2007

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Auction Sale of Town-Owned Property

Mr. Healey provided the Board with a list of Town owned parcels that could, and should, be offered for sale.

Mr. Healey said not all parcels will be sold as many are “landlocked”. An effort will be made to notify abutters of the auction. He said, although some parcels could bring in significant cash, it won’t repair the structural deficit.

Mr. Healey also asked the Board to open the Special Town Meeting Warrant to add an article to authorize the sale of the 1.3 acre parcel on Water Street shown on Map 58H, Lot 2386, and the Rock School parcel on Miller Street, shown on Map 087 Lot 923.

Upon motion by Selectman Bond and seconded by Selectman Perkins, the Board
VOTED: To open the Special Town Meeting Warrant and add the two (2) above- referenced parcels.
Unanimous Vote.

Upon motion by Selectman Perkins and seconded by Selectman Spataro, the Board
VOTED: To close the Warrant.
Unanimous Vote.

Jane Lopes asked for the projection based on actual Local Receipts.

Mr. Healey said he anticipated difficulty reaching the estimated Receipts, noting that development sensitive revenues are down.

Ms. Lopes asked how much of a shortfall was expected.

Mr. Healey said he won’t know until the excise tax revenue is out within the next month.

Upon motion by Selectman Perkins and seconded b Selectman Bond, the Board
VOTED: To authorize the Town Manager and Treasurer/Collector, to auction the properties as listed in the Town Manager’s Report dated April 5, 2007.
Unanimous Vote.

Ms. Lopes asked if the list had been “shopped around” to Boards to determine if the land is valuable for open space.

Mr. Healey said none of the parcels are ConCom properties. He said it was not reviewed for open space. The land will be sold to get it back on the tax rolls.

If the minimum bid is not offered, the Town will keep the land. LINK

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 17, 2007

Auction – Town-Owned Land

Selectman Bond said he had received a series of questions over the weekend related to the proposed auction of town-owned land. He said the issue, besides the timing of selling in a “soft market”, is that four of the parcels are ConCom properties. There was also a letter from the Town Planner advising of putting restrictions on the parcels before selling.

Mr. Healey said there are five (5) parcels that were transferred by a Town Meeting vote in 2001 to the ConCom. He said there is no record regarding this. He called the Conservation Office and spoke to Phyllis who advised that there is not a “list” of all parcels under the ConCom.

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Discussion ensued on two (2) parcels of land on Precinct Street containing 125 acres.

Mr. Healey said those parcels are valued at $490,500 each. An opening bid has been set for $1.5 million. He said this property should go back on the tax roles. He said most of the frontage is wet, and said there is a considerable question as to how much of the property is buildable. LINK

Southbridge and Mr. Healey

The following are excerpts from a Worcester Telegram article:

A ‘bite the bullet’ budget emerges from session
During the session, Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Vandal strongly criticized Acting Town Manager John F. Healey for working toward a side letter to increase benefits to the town from an extension agreement with landfill operator Casella Waste Systems. It passed 7-2.

After Mr. Healey told the town it was setting itself up for annual cuts in services if a site assignment for the landfill didn’t go through, Mr. Vandal said, “I’ve never heard so much bull and scare tactics.” He said Casella was positioned to give the town anything.

Mr. O’Brien called the timing “incredibly curious.”

“It’s before the Board of Health, which is supposed to be purely concerned with the health issues; and if they approve it, guess what? They get all the money they need to build their own bureaucracy. Sure sounds like bribery to me.” WorcesterTelegram

Perry Property and Jack Healey

Few were paying attention to Middleboro until the casino reared its ugly head, but Matt Carroll, Boston Globe wrote about some questionable land auctions over which Retired Town Manager, Jack Healey had presided.

Mr. Healey insisted on conducting the auctions himself, justifying it to the Selectmen as a cost savings measured. Apparently no one ever heard of Buyers' Premiums.

The land auctions that Mr. Healey conducted were poorly advertised and poorly attended.

And the previous questionable issues that had been raised caused Chairwoman Brunelle to request that the March 2007 auction be videotaped, which of course, it wasn't. But I digress.

The Selectmen's Meeting Minutes for March 5, 2007 reflect the following:

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MARCH 5, 2007

Mr. Healey also noted that there has been an interest expressed in Town-owned land on Beach Street that is bog property. Because the bog is not being treated, there is a threat of pests destroying it. He said he hopes to offer it for sale within the next month. LINK
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The property was Map 104 Lot 2966, 26.08 acres on Beach Street Assessors (note cranberry bogs). The lot is on the bottom right side abutting Wareham Town property line.
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On March 12, 2007, the Middleboro Board of Selectmen voted to 'auction' that piece of Town property that had been taken for taxes.

The advertisement appeared in the Middleboro Gazette on March 15, 2007.

This is residential property in the RR zoning district.
Hadn't the Middleboro Selectmen previously determine that they wouldn't sell any residential property?

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MARCH 12, 2007

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OTHER

Vice-Chairman Brunelle read the Notice of an Auction of Town-owned property on Beach Street . The property contains 26.8 acres and includes a bog and associated upland.

The Auction will be held at the Town Hall on March 31st at 11 AM. Viewing of the property will be on March 23rd at 11 AM.

Upon motion by Selectman Spataro and seconded by Selectman Bond, the Board
VOTED: To authorize the Auction.
Unanimous Vote.

Vice-Chairman Brunelle suggested the auction be videotaped.

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 2, 2007

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Mr. Healey said there was some “good news”. He noted that the Perry property on Pine Street had sold for $435,000. LINK

We'll never know if the Town got the most possible for this parcel, but it was one of Mr. Healey's many endeavors that makes one wonder.

Middleboro ATM Adjourned

Middleboro Annual Town Meeting was adjourned on the second evening after concluding the Warrant Articles that included several controversial items.

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Because the information was available earlier than previous years, voters circulated and discussed pertinent issues and were able to research the details prior to Town Meeting.

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Of particular importance during this process, has been the nemasket discussion forum that allowed consideration of the 43D proposal. It was an invaluable asset to ask questions, toss around solutions and sort the issues with the input of others.

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The budget process resulted from the cooperation of a great many, working together to present a balanced budget at Town Meeting, unlike previous years when dissatisfaction forced department heads to present their issues on Town Meeting floor.

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A town resident, Bob Dunphy suggested that signs advertising Town Meeting be posted on lawns and around Town as an advertisement and reminder.

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Since Town Meeting adjourned on both evenings with a quorum still present, the signs seemed effective.

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As signs were being retrieved, some of the comments of those who had attended previous Town Meetings highly praised the improvement of the process and the professionalism of Mr. Steve Lombard, interim Town Manager.

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There seems to be no greater indictment of Retired Town Manager Jack Healey than the effusive praise of a temporary replacement who has done nothing more than HIS JOB in a professional manner.