Email Web Sites

Remembering a certain Middleboro Gavel Queen who protested that she didn't want her personal email web site to become public, and the rest of the Middleboro BOS protested that they didn't want to be bothered by emails from residents and taxpayers, the Bridgewater Selectmen don't seem to have the same problem --

[A Bridgewater resident] took the opportunity to comment on Kravitz’s [Chariman of the Bridgewater Board of Selectmen] previous comment that he does not have an active e-mail account with the town since he resigned his post as health agent in June.

[A Bridgewater resident] said all selectmen have e-mail accounts by virtue of their elected positions, but if Kravitz isn’t using his, people may call him on his cell phone.

Being played for fools?

Sometimes, when you think you don't have the money to pay for an attorney, that's exactly the time to pay for an attorney well-versed in the applicable laws.

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1. Two Supreme Court decisions now appear to render Land Into Trust and Casino Shopping a non-issue. Would a discussion with an attorney well-versed in Constitutional Law, IGRA, IRA, Supreme Court decisions or comparable expertise be a wise investment?

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29 states signed on to the Hawaii decision. Somehow, 30 states supporting the case might negate any quick fix. Much the same as a Carcieri Fix.

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2. The land proposed for a Mega Casino Bingo Parlor in Middleboro is NOT owned by the "Tribe" that proposed to impose this Monster on the region. It's owned by casino investors.

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3. The Agreement the Tribe has or had with investors has an unknown expiration date at which time the Tribe must repay the investors' money. Their only asset? It seems to be land in Mashpee.

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4. The waters are rather murky about who planned to pay for the Middleboro Fiasco, but deep pocket investors Kerzner and Wolman, now divesting themselves in bankruptcy court of their Twin River money pit, seem none too credit worthy.

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Keep in mind that ANY development that includes 50,000 cars per day, mandates upgrades of "infrastructure" -- ROADS!

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SRPEDD offered information that hurt Middleboro's itty biddies.

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The Middleboro Agreement includes a provision that the "Tribe" (meaning casino investors) would pay for Route 44 upgrades. Although that's inadequate, what commercial venture would accept such terms in an economic downturn in which each of the pro-casino experts who testified at Senator Spilka's "educational forum" indicated that gambling is not as profitable as it once was? And some have said that Middleboro successfully shot itself in the foot and sacrificed a potential "shovel ready" project for some "pie in the sky" that evaporated with the SCOTUS decisions.

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Some have questioned if the "investors" pursued this location to prevent competition for the Twin River Money Pit. After all, those investors were generous in their campaign advertising to defeat a Rhode Island referendum and keep Harrah's out. And much the same was done in England.

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Some have even questioned why Middleboro never did an impact study.

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Someone say the "investors" were only paying the "planning fees" to keep competition out and pending a commercial venture.

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5. Apparently, no one has reviewed the BIA submission because rumor has it that it was grossly deficient and flawed.

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6. Someone questioned if spending $22 MILLION for water improvements to benefit the "Tribe" should be paid for by the "Tribe"

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And, yet the Middleboro Board of Selectmen, instead of gathering factual information, investing in legal expertise, continue to follow the Fool's Gold.

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True to form, Middleboro's very own Gavel Queen knows the facts:

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Selectwoman Marsha L. Brunelle said the selectmen gave the Resort Advisory Committee an extensive list of areas that needed to be addressed and a timeline.

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Marsha, could you point out where we could easily find the LIST on the PTWS (for the uninitiated, Pathetic Town Web Site that the Town Manager is supposedly working on)?

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All I've heard has convinced me It T'Ain't Comin'

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Plan all you want with other people's money, but do you think you could resolve the mess of the Zoning Regulations and Planning Regulations so that a readable copy is available for purchase and available online, just like other towns?

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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Middleboro Town Accountant's Contract

Town Accountant

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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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Mrs. Duphily?

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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?

What Are They Hiding?

When I addressed my questions to the Governor during his Community Forum, I explained to him how "undemocratic" the process in Middleboro had been.

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Casino opponents, or even those who were undecided but wanted to ask questions, were gaveled to silence by our very own Gavel Queen, recognized far and wide for her gavel wielding abilities.

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Doesn't anyone wonder what it is that they're hiding?

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Doesn't anyone wonder why they don't want questions asked?

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Doesn't anyone wonder why they don't want a discussion of the facts?

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Doesn't anyone wonder?

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What are they hiding?

Cheap Seat Revisited After The Election

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Steven Spataro said:
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Take out the nomination papers. Run and see if you get elected.

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How'd that work out for you, Steve?

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There is no word if Mr. Spataro is available for the starring role in Cheap seats - the musical

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In the aftermath of the disrespectful comments by 3 members of the Board of Selectmen: Steven Spataro, Marsha Brunelle, Patrick Rogers, I hand-delivered a letter to the Board requesting that they publicly apologize for their offensive comments.

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(Incidentally, Mrs. "Gavel Queen" Brunelle is incorrect about what the law says about meeting minutes.)

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Instead of an apology, Mr. Spataro, at Candidates' Night launched into another attack, labelling those who raised issues and asked questions as "Rabid Followers," whatever that means.

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How'd that work out for you, Steve?

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Voters appreciate all of the work Mr. Spataro did to elect Steve McKinnon to the Board. Thanks Mr. Spataro for all the work you did helping to change the tone of the Town and the tone of the Board!

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In the aftermath of the close elections, voters have expressed unsolicited comments to me about the conduct of the remaining incumbent members of the Board of Selectmen, in particular, our very own Gavel Queen, Marsha Brunelle seen in the video commenting about being Sick and Tired of This Crap, and Patrick Rogers referring to people of a certain caliber.

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Note to Patrick Rogers: Those PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN CALIBER? Might you be referring to voters?

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The arrogance of the 3 Selectmen in the Cheap Seats video defines how the few have run the Town and treated voters they were elected to represent. Apparently, they decided that they only represented those with whom they agreed.

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Voters seem to have decided that it's not the way it works.

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On a separate related note, it needs to be noted that Wayne Perkins, historically assured of re-election based on generous contracts he negotiated that put the Town in this hole (36% pay raises, anyone? A secretary making $86K a year?*), was elected as Town Moderator by a narrow margin, in spite of vigorous campaigning, against a relative newcomer. Mr. Perkins, unaccustomed to campaigning for re-election, was planning to run for Board of Selectmen next year. Think again, Wayne!

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Can anyone even imagine such a close contest for Town Moderator?

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It needs to be reiterated that Wayne Perkins, as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen thought nothing of ignoring those who stood at the microphone wanting to address the BOS.

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Wayne, we hope you will conduct yourself in a different fashion as Town Moderator. It is a position that can be subject to Recall. You wouldn't want that now, would you, Wayne?

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*Newcomer to the BOS, Mr. Rullo noted during his first BOS Meeting that the Fire Department has "Quinn Bill" benefits. That is, the state program that is partially reimbursed by the state for educational incentives for the Police Department ONLY that is known as the Quinn Bill, was negotiated by Wayne Perkins and extended to the Fire Department. Not to worry! It only costs you, the taxpayer $100K plus per year. Want to know why fire stations are closed?

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Kudos to Mr. Rullo for publicly asking the right questions! Please keep it up and explain to the viewing public what these little goodies mean and what they cost. That's how we got in this mess!

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Annual Town Reports are available in the Town Clerk's Office. They're worth owning and saving to review. They're worth reading and provide some interesting information if you take the time and want to know where your tax dollars go.

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

Marsha, dear, sometimes the strangest things strike my funny bone!
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In the midst of well deserved congratulations to Steve McKinnon for now being in your midst, a voice of reason who, unlike the rest of the BOS, is accessible....and was quoted as saying --

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"In this town, we've been too focused on the casino. We need to look at the whole host of problems we face."

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And, OMG (Marsha, that means "Oh, My God!"), he won't make stupid comments like "Sick and Tired of This Crap"!

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He even has a widely circulated EMAIL address.

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Marsha, dear, his email address is not to be confused with BLOGS.

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In the midst of the congratulations on finally unseating the Cheap Seats Champ, the Boston Globe published an article about the election --

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At the height of the debate,

Selectwoman Marsha Brunelle

would bang her gavel down when

residents dissented.

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OMG!

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Marsha, dear, you are reported in the Boston Globe as being the Gavel Queen that rules with an iron fist!

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Nice job, Marsha!

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Middleboro 10/22 BOS Mtg. or THE RETURN OF THE GAVEL QUEEN

Wisdom?

Wisdom is knowing when a scenario with which you are involved is beyond your expertise and requires advice and counsel of competent EXPERTS.

Wisdom is knowing your skills well enough to comprehend complexities and undertake the pertinent actions to solicit opinion from appropriate parties.

The following 2 quotes seem to confirm residents' suspicions that the Middleboro Board of Selectmen can NEVER being accused of acting wisely --


When they meet in April, Selectwoman Marsha L. Brunelle said she would like the tribe to address rumors that they may be scaling back the size of the proposed casino.

Selectwoman Muriel Duphily said she would like to know the status of the casino after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in February that Congress must approve all applications to take land into federal trust for Indian tribes.




There seems to be some confusion about this matter --

The selectmen initially made a request in January to meet with the tribe but had not received a response until last week.
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How was the BOS notified? Writing? Phone call? For those who have been paying attention to the questions that have been asked during BOS Meetings, this seems to be a new BOS game of dodging questions. Or can the origin be explained by the meetings the Town Manager, Charles Cristello has had with the Tribe that he seems confused about?

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Transparency, anyone?

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Thanks Ms. Elwell for confirming what residents already know.

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Footnote:

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To:

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Marsha Brunelle, who confuses blog and email, and

Mimi Duphily, who confuses her duties with planting flowers,

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You might try reading what friend and fellow blogger Carver Chick had to say. CC has already answered your question.

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I hand-delivered a copy of Carcieri v Salazar, the SCOTUS decision, to your secretary and respectfully requested that you have counsel review the decision and provide a legal opinion for the benefit and protection of the Town of Middleboro. I included a pair of glasses since the the BOS seems not to see clearly.

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To:

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Middleboro Voters:

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Town Elections are Saturday, April 4th.

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It's an opportunity to vote for change.

Sunshine or Mushroom Farming? #2

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.]

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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).

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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.

Once upon a time .....

Once upon a time, there was a DOR (Department of Revenue) Report.

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That incidentally, should probably be repeated since it would appear little progress has be made.

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That DOR report was requested by the Finance Committee, who seem to have done the best they could addressing the town's finances.

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The DOR notified the FinCom that the Board of Selectmen were required to request the review.

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Chairman Wayne Perkins, duly embarrassed by his oversight and being upstaged by the FinCom was forced to require the request by the BOS.

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The report itself contained many self-evident recommendations that a town government novice, such as myself, could recognize were significant money savers, silly things like quarterly tax billing, a 5 year budget projection.

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The report commented on the Town's failure to employ 'technology' to its fullest. PTWS maybe?

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The report also recommended that committees post their meeting minutes on the PTWS.

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Remember the whining at the DOR hearing about how the BOS had no control over committees?

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It might seem they have control over a committee they appoint, of which there are several including CRAC.

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Although the PTWS is user hostile, have there been any additional meeting minutes posted?

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The subject again reared its ugly head at tonight's BOS meeting since the public is uninformed without attending those meetings.

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The subject of Executive Sessions was again questioned.

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This is what Public Records Guide has written about Executive Sessions [Middleboro Board of Selectmen 3-9-09 ] --

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Minutes of executive session meetings must be reviewed and released regularly and promptly. Executive session minutes must be released to the public as soon as the stated purpose for the executive session protection has ceased.

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When the issue was raised during this evening's Middleboro Board of Selectmen's meeting that since the 2007 Executive Meeting Minutes were recently released, when would the meeting minutes of 2008 be released? The response by the Town Manager, Charles Cristello was that he had decided the meeting minutes would be released annually, right before the town election in April.

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So ANNUALLY must constitute 'regularly and promptly.'

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Thanks for that clarification!

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Gavel Queen (who gavelled any dissent or opposition to silence regardless of how polite), Selectwoman Marsha Brunelle and star of Sick And Tired Of This Crap assures us that nothing secret is going on with the Tribe. The BOS must have made a resolution since they negotiated a backroom deal with Glenn Marshall.

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Just put that gavel back in her hand and she won't have to make those outrageous claims!

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We can all sleep well knowing that we have Marsha's word!

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I wonder.....Would we keep re-visiting the same issues if they were resolved?

Sick And Tired Of This Crap

Fellow blogger, Bellicose Bumpkin has kindly posted the Middleboro Board of Selectmen's Meeting View from the cheap seats

Mrs. Brunelle has yet failed to indicate gifts she received, but at least she revealed the Ethics Statute cumulative limit of $50.

For any desiring to wade through the pertinent statutes to which Mr. Solimini referred --

Open Meeting Law

Chapter 39: Section 23A. Definitions

Chapter 39: Section 23B. Open meetings of governmental bodies

Chapter 39: Section 23C. Regulation of participation by public in open meetings Secretary of State Public Records Division
Public Records Law M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 5A.

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE X. PUBLIC RECORDS

CHAPTER 66. PUBLIC RECORDS
Chapter 66: Section 5A. Records of meetings of boards and commissions; contents
Section 5A. The records, required to be kept by sections eleven A of chapter thirty A, nine F of chapter thirty-four and twenty-three B of chapter thirty-nine, shall report the names of all members of such boards and commissions present, the subjects acted upon, and shall record exactly the votes and other official actions taken by such boards and commissions; but unless otherwise required by the governor in the case of state boards, commissions and districts, or by the county commissioners in the case of county boards and commissions, or the governing body thereof in the case of a district, or by ordinance or by-law of the city or town, in the case of municipal boards, such records need not include a verbatim record of discussions at such meetings.

History of the issue --Did you see....?

Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #1

Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #2
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #3

Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #4

Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #5
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #6

Much Ado About A Casino That Isn't Coming

As each town appointee and elected official is sworn in, they receive a copy of the Open Meeting Law for which they are required to sign with the Town Clerk who maintains a signature log.

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When a Middleboro Resident rose to call it to the attention of the Board of Selectmen that they failed to include any indication in the Meeting Minutes that they had approved for the previous meeting that they had discussed the gifts they had received, all hell seemed to break loose!

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The Open Meeting Law isn't creative writing to allow Marsha Brunelle to interpret as she chooses.

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Marsha, you need to go back and read the law and not depend on your sometimes foggy memory. You were incorrect in your comments. And Marsha, you may recall that you were wrong when you discussed the Fire Chief/Police Chief thing in Executive Session. You wrongly believed you only had to hold the vote in public. You violated the Open Meeting Law then and you misquoted it now.

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And Marsha, let's not get all huffy about having to hear about issues endlessly when you have more important things to do. I was the one who said during the last election that too much time was being spent on your casino obsession (that isn't coming!) and not enough attention was focused on the budget disaster that I foresaw 2 years ago that is now upon us.

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Steven Spataro, who is up for re-election in April, was irate at the accusation questioning his integrity, even though he had failed to inform himself of the Ethics statutes.

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The fact is that Mr. Spataro received gifts, participated in social events of a business partner of the Town. He hadn't even bothered to investigate the dollar limit of the statute. Mr. Spataro didn't return those gifts until he was told to do so.

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As a footnote, the Tribe was believed to be a 'business partner' of the Town, but Carcieri v Kempthorne has just dashed their hopes! There will be NO CASINO in Middleboro! The Dreams That You Dare To Dream...

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Marsha Brunelle, Middleboro's own Gavel Queen, indicated that she had reviewed the statute and the limit was $50, but was cumulative, seeming to indicate that it would include all the little incidentals, like maybe a few free meals that the Tribe has provided, and maybe some limo service, and maybe who knows what else since they are convinced they've done nothing wrong.

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Mrs. Duphily was assured by Town Counsel that there was no "Conflict of Interest."

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Mimi, Hon, did you think to ask Town Counsel if by accepting gifts and free meals you might be violating certain Ethics rules? Instead of wasting taxpayer money by asking Town Counsel each time you do questionable things, you can call the Ethics Commission yourself. They have attorneys on duty to answer your questions. Or better yet, you might consider reading the information that's posted on their web site first. This isn't to pick on you, dear, but we all know you are a single issue candidate who really has no interest in anything other than the casino that we know isn't coming now! Did you think to ask Town Counsel about the conversation you had with Stephen Graham who appears about to be indicted?

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Give SCOTUS some hugs and kisses from Middleboro and the surrounding Towns for that decision!!!!!

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When residents of the Town ask questions and raise issues, even though as Steve Spataro would say they sit in the CHEAP SEATS, they deserve to be treated with respect and not irrational outbursts of Mr. Spataro's often seen temper.

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Mr. Spataro habitually arrived to BOS meetings late, until I sent a letter of protest to the BOS and to Mr. Spataro's home address (you may recall that he has a non-published phone number so he can't be bothered by voters, the press). Chairwoman Marsha Brunelle would waste everyone else's time recapping the meeting that Mr. Spataro had missed. It was rude, inconsiderate and not consistent with the BIG LEAGUES Mr. Spataro for bizarre reasons feels he is part of. Mr. Spataro has eaten his supper at meetings. Mr. Spataro has spent meetings text messaging.

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Give me a break! It's time to use your vote wisely in April and replace Mr. Spataro. If he had to be told to return gifts he received, he shouldn't be on the Board. And if he verbally attacked a voter for calling an error to his attention, the man's got an anger problem.

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When Pat Rogers feels the need to attack a voter with his 'your caliber' comment, Pat, you need an attitude re-adjustment!

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3 Members of Middleboro's Board of Selectmen conducted themselves in an unethical manner. They accepted gifts. They attended social functions. 2 of those members had private conversation with Stephen Graham regarding the conduct of Town business.

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This needs to stop and the Board needs to recognize their illegal conduct! Or let's replace them beginning in April.

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Middleboro deserves better!
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There will be NO CASINO IN MIDDLEBORO!!!!!

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!

Now, let's change the Board of Selectmen one at a time and elect qualified and competent candidates.

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Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #1
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #2
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #3
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #4
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #5
Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #6
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As a footnote, anyone who didn't see this mess of pending indictments coming was pretty dumb. Check out Abramoff.

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!

Maybe....

In the case of the Mashpee Wampanoags, sometimes the wheels of justice grind slowly, but the long overdue housecleaning appears to be moving forward.

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Cape Cod Today is reporting --
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No information was available Friday on whether William McDermott, the West Roxbury lawyer who plans to resign next month as counsel to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal council, has become the subject of a federal investigation.
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In other developments, the tribal council voted in an emergency meeting Friday night to place chairman Shawn Hendricks and secretary Desire Hendricks Moreno on paid administrative leave.
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Marshall resigned his post in 2007 after it was revealed that he had lied about his military record and was a convicted rapist. [Glenn Marshall and, in alphabetical order, about 1/3 of the way down the page, Stolen Valor , CCT, Globe, cctoday]
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There is no indication of why William McDermott's name is being included at this time.

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The Cape Cod Times is reporting:
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The shunning of tribe members Amelia Bingham, her son, Stephen, Stephanie Tobey-Roderick and Michelle Fernandes was also rescinded immediately.
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You may remember that Amelia Bingham was the elderly woman that Middleboro Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Marsha Brunelle, nicknamed The Gavel Queen for her willingness to gavel people into silence, refused to allow to speak after forcing the woman to stand in the sweltering heat of the Town Hall Auditorium.

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Of Scott Ferson, Mrs. Bingham said "He (Scott Ferson) doesn't speak for me or the tribe. He's not even one of us. He's a white man from Boston."

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Peter Kenney included McDermott in his comments in February 2008 --
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We can certainly see that open government is not something Shawn Hendricks or his masters -- Ferson, McDermott, Kirzner and Wolman -- want. Instead of shunning tribe members who demand access to the records of their own affairs and instead of allowing outsiders to run their tribe's future, perhaps the Mashpee Wampanoag should fire the outsiders who have corrupted their culture and sold their future, elect a Tribal Council that responds to members and hire some real fire eaters -- lawyers of the type who can gain for the tribe and all Wampanoag descendants what is rightfully theirs.
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cct in 2006 ---
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The Wampanoag's tribal council last year paid $100,000 to lobbyists Kevin Ring and Michael Smith, who worked with Abramoff at law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP until 2004, said Scott Ferson, an outside spokesman for the council with Liberty Square Group in Boston. The council hired the lobbyists in 2003 because it was frustrated with the languishing application, Ferson said.
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Maybe the Mashpee Wampanoags will regain control of their heritage.

Maybe the Tribe will re-negotiate the terms of the casino agreement with the investors.

Maybe the Middleboro Board of Selectmen will address this as a business agreement.

Maybe casino supporters will recognize that this is what is inherently wrong with gambling.

Maybe .....

January 5, 2009 Middleboro Board of Selectmen's Meeting

According to the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site), the
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Special Town Meeting RESCHEDULED to
Monday, October 27th, 7 p.m. at Middleborough High School

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A reasonable person might expect to find the cancellation of the Monday, January 5, 2009, Board of Selectmen's Meeting posted on the PTWS. Or maybe even a reasonable explanation.

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Alas! This is Middleboro, where Mushroom Farming persists in spite of valiant efforts by its citizenry to request, protest, demand, expect, beseech, and whine about

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transparency

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Rumors are flying in Middleboro about a water leak in the basement of the Town Hall that successfully knocked out internet connections. Although some have questioned how that would be determined since the email addresses seem ultra Top Secret to the residents of the Town who might desire the ability to actually communicate with their Town Government by means other than sending their emails to the IT Director for forwarding in hopes it reaches the appropriate person.

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And the BOS secretary is likewise blamed for her failure to post the meeting and agenda. Hmm...seems to me I raised the issue in ancient history about posting the agenda at an earlier date, but memory fades with age.

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In a letter to the editor of the Middleboro Gazette (still only 50 cents and worth every penny) last week, Marsha Brunelle was taken to task for questioning why voters were actually communicating with the ONLY member of the Board of Selectmen who is available by a publicly known email address.

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Mrs. Brunelle, it should be noted, was the Selectman who actually requested that there be a time limit on citizens' comments at the last meeting. Marsha didn't earn the title of Gavel Queen for nothing! If given the opportunity to arm wrestle the Chairman for that gavel, bets are that Marsha would win! (Aaahh! The video that Gladys could create!)

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The irony of Marsha protesting citizen input going to ONLY one member of the Board is breathtaking! It simply begs the question "Marsha, You actually want to listen or is it control or jealousy?"

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And, Marsha, you and I had a conversation about your lack of internet savvy last year when you were Chairman. You called me. Do you remember? This is after all, the 21st Century and rapid communication is expedited with quick emails that ask questions, get immediate answers, instead of snail mail that requires hand-delivery or postage and time.

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The failure of this Board to address the longstanding issues surrounding the IT Department and hosting the web site within Town Hall (with the potential for hacking by a teenager) and much else has been addressed for years.

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It should be noted that one Selectman, Steven Spataro actually has a non-published telephone number to avoid communications. You just can't allow voters to sway your opinion! Right, Steve? Incidentally, Steve Spataro is up for re-election in April. Is there any candidate willing to consider the Big Leagues, as Steve would say?

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No one is quite sure if Mrs. Duphily has yet discovered the internet, although she commented about an email she received from her friend who was a member of the Mashpee Wampanoags, that seemed to sway her appropriate representation of the Town of Middleboro.

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And we're not quite sure of Mr. Rogers' silence. It would seem to be spineless silence and not commitment either way.

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Beyond all other issues, You Guys Have A Problem.

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Your inability to address and resolve issues as they are brought forth has created a backlog, beginning with Rockland Industries. You continue to build on unresolved issues until each issue becomes one from the past. The Town Web Site (PTWS) and the failure of the Board of Selectmen to address the IT issues of the Town will continue to haunt.

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Those computer geeks have quietly explained about hosting the web site in the Town Hall. You were offered a site, designed free of charge, hosted elsewhere.

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But there will remain those of us who are convinced that the Mushroom Farming takes place in the basement of the Town Hall which explains the lights remaining on when the Town Hall was otherwise unoccupied.

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It's not ghosts. It's Mushroom Farming!

Stupid Comments I Have Known

From the Brockton Enterprise --

“Good faith has been breached,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Adam M. Bond.

Ya think? By the Board of Selectmen with townspeople or the Tribe?

“We need expert legal assistance to get through this,” said Selectman Marsha L. Brunelle.

Classic, out of touch, Marsha comment! Does anyone remember Marsha wanting some 'local' attorney to handle the negotiation? Does anyone remember Marsha REFUSING to allow Amelia Bingham to comment at a public meeting? Maybe if you had listened, Marsha, you would have heard ALL of the evidence contained in the indictment because Amelia had it. Does anyone remember Marsha gravelling voters to silence when they attempted to raise questions? Does anyone remember Marsha's refusal to allow voters, the townspeople who elected her, to discuss the auction of the casino property? Something to hide Marsha?

“The town entered an agreement with the tribe and not the man,” said former selectman Wayne C. Perkins. “I think we still have an agreement.”

Just keep repeating Scotty's Mantra, Wayne "It's Inevitable! It's Inevitable!" after all, you were the one negotiating with Glenn Marshall before anyone knew and you admitted such in a public meeting.

The rest of the Board claimed ignorance (during the 9/15 meeting) because the indictment was newsworthy in the afternoon and the other members at the 7 PM meeting had not received or digested the news.

From Cape Cod Times

Tribal council spokeswoman Gayle Andrews said in a statement that the tribe is deeply saddened. "For the past year-and-a-half, the tribal leadership has worked successfully to get the government up and running and will continue to work on behalf of its 1,600 members."

This is the same Gayle Andrews Peter Kenney wrote about who seems to have difficulty with her heritage and ethnic identity unless $$$$ is involved --

Gayle Andrews: Mashpee or Aquinnah?
While Andrews lived and worked in Florida she identified herself as black -- African American -- and she traded on that racial identity exclusively even though she was also a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. At one point -- before the Mashpee had gained federal recognition -- Andrews and her mother applied for membership in the Aquinnah (Gay Head) Wampanoag tribe and were accepted. (See 12/04/07 WampaGate link at the bottom) Andrews surrendered her Mashpee membership. Suspicions arose within the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe over the Andrews' historical material and genealogy submitted in support of their application. A year-long investigation resulted in their expulsion from the tribe.

And from Shawn Hendricks suspicious silence ---
Current tribal council Chairman Shawn Hendricks, who served as vice chairman under Marshall his entire seven-year term, ignored a request for comment yesterday outside Barnstable Town Hall.

Cat got your tongue, Shawn? Scott Fearsome not available to present the script? Or are you next? after all, you did participate.

Friend and fellow blogger, at Carl's Casino Quotes pointed out --
This was shady from the beginning and we knew it. Land deals, rammed through agreements, closed door meetings, vilifying any and all opponents, etc.

When you can't discuss the facts and statistics in a respectful manner in a public forum to arrive at a well informed decision and are forced the resort to name-calling, slanderous comments and accusations of racism to defend your position, you know you're wrong.