Town Meeting May 26th, Tuesday 7 PM at MHS

Since the Middleboro...Bored of Whatever has finally called for the Town Meeting to be convened on

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May 26, 2009,

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TUESDAY

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AT 7 PM

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as in the past, there will be signs available.

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A number of Middleboro voters have posted signs with the dates on their property, at intersections and around town to remind voters of the date.

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If you're interested in taking part in the purist form of participatory democracy, add a comment (that will not be made public) expressing your interest in posting a sign.

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Maybe we could work to distribute a synopsis of the town meeting warrants since they're finally available for distribution.

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One must wonder if this is being deliberately done to discourage voters from attending.

Middleboro Board of Clowns

When the presence of ghosts in the Middleboro Town Hall was discussed, our very own Gavel Queen, Marsha Brunelle, recognized far and wide for stifling debate and squashing the democratic process, and currently for re-writing history, said --

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“I don’t want the ghost to go away,” Brunelle said, after Ventosi suggested the building be cleansed. She’s admitted she found the whole adventure fascinating, but other people are more skeptical.
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Middleboro's newly elected Town Moderator, veteran politician who was elected by the wide margin of .... was it 50 votes, Wayne? said ..

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“I’m still not a believer, but I’m intrigued....”

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That's the same Wayne Perkins who said that Towns in CT with casinos, don't pay taxes and who believed that the 36% pay raises he negotiated guaranteed him re-election. And we can't wait for him to ignore voters waiting at the podium, much as he did when he was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. You might have noticed if you were paying attention to those little details.
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It's been established that Cheap Seats pretty accurately represents the Middleboro Board of Clowns, but in case you were wondering about the Annual Town Meeting ???? Maybe you were wondering because first it was going to be June whatever, but our new super duper Town Moderator, Wayne Perkins was going on vacation and unavailable, so it was changed to June Whatever. And now, it's going to be Tuesday, May 26.

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Well, if you think you're confused, don't count on looking for the information on the PTWS previously located here -- Town of Middleborough -- it comes up that the link is broken.

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You can find both the Special Town Meeting Warrant and the Annual Town Meeting Warrant here --- Town of Middleborough.org. (This is a site maintained by a private citizen.)

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So, if you missed a BOC Meeting and wanted to review the meeting minutes? Don't!

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If you wanted to review the Executive Sessions that Town Manager Cristello opined could be released annually? Don't!

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If you wanted to see who your elected officials were? Pay a bill? Review the Vision Appraisal information? Review the BOS Agenda for their next meeting?

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Just don't bother!

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The Board of Clowns finally sets yet another date for Town Meeting even though the Warrants have been available since March, but don't look for details!

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When the Board of Clowns can't set a date for Town Meeting or even decide if they really need rules, don't wonder why there's no quorum!

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And don't look for things to improve!

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It's Same Old! Same Old! Until we elect a whole new competent Board of Selectmen!

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Look around you. No other Town operates like this.

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Note to Charter Committee: This needs to be changed!

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Is it something in the water?

Middleboro Annual Town Meeting Tuesday, May 26 7:30 PM

The following represent the Annual Town Meeting Warrant posted on the new PTWS --

ANNUAL MEETING WARRANT
Middleborough, Massachusetts
To Gary J. Russell, Police Chief or any of the
Police Officers of the Town of Middleborough
Greetings:


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify
and warn all the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet in the
Auditorium of the Middleborough High School, on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at 7:30 P.M., to act on the following articles:


ARTICLE 1. To hear the report of any committee or officer of the Town, to appoint any
committee, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money by taxation
or from available funds in the treasury to defray expenses of the Town for the fiscal year
beginning on July 1, 2009, relating to all or any of its officers, boards, or departments and for
purposes authorized by law, to vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers, or
act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the income from the sales of gas and
electricity a sum of money to the Assessors for the purpose of fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year
2010, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to transfer $66,972.60 from the receipts reserved for
the Water Pollution Abatement Trust Loan Repayment Account in order to meet the Town’s
obligation for payment of the Water Pollution Trust Loan, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300,000.00 by
borrowing under General Laws, Chapter 44, by borrowing from the Massachusetts Water
Pollution Abatement Trust pursuant to General Laws Chapter 29C or by raising and
appropriating said sum from some other source for the purpose of funding the Town’s program
to repair, replace or upgrade septic waste disposal systems, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote pursuant to Section 53E ½ of Chapter 44 of the
General Laws, as amended, to authorize and/or reauthorize establishment of one or more
revolving funds for the purpose of funding certain activities and operations of certain
departments and programs of the Town during Fiscal Year 2010, or act anything thereon.
Municipal Fire Alarm System Not to exceed $15,000.00
Hazardous Materials Incident Training & Materials Not to exceed $50,000.00
Recycling Program Not to exceed $100,000.00
Herring Fishery Program Not to exceed $100,000.00
Composting Bin Program Not to exceed $2,500.00
Recreation and Sports Program Not to exceed $100,000.00
Zoning Map, Bylaws and Not to exceed $2,500.00
Subdivision Rules & Regulations


ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer a sum of
money from taxation, free cash, another specific available fund, the Stabilization Fund, an
existing appropriation, or account, or other available source, for the purpose of reimbursing
Town employees and retired Town employees and other persons enrolled in the Town’s health
insurance plans for increases in health insurance HMO and PPO deductibles and co-payments
paid by said employees and other persons during Fiscal Years 2010 and in excess of the amounts
of such deductibles and co-payments applicable during Fiscal Year 2009, and to pay any related
costs, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to borrow the sum of three hundred fifty thousand
dollars ($350,000.00) for the purposes of replacing older water mains and curb to main
connections throughout the water system and to meet this appropriation, to authorize the
Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow the sum of $350,000.00 under
General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 8 and to provide that the debt shall be paid from the revenues
of the Water Enterprise System, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds or
borrow a sum of money to refurbish the two (2) universal power supply units (1-18Kv 1-15Kv)
and replacement equipment for the Bank building and the Town Hall through the Information
Technology department and to meet this appropriation to authorize the Treasurer with the
approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow under General Laws Chapter 44, Section 7, or act
anything thereon.


ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer a sum of
money from taxation, free cash, another specific available fund, the Stabilization Fund, an
existing appropriation or account or other available source, or by borrowing to pay for all
relevant and necessary expenses associated with the clean-up of an oil leak at the Green School
site, 251 East Main Street, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer a sum of
money from taxation, free cash, another specific available fund, the Stabilization Fund, an
existing appropriation or account or other available source, or by borrowing to pay for all
relevant and necessary expenses associated with alterations to the Lincoln D. Lynch School site,
49 Union Street, or act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 12. Local Adoption of Chapter 43D Expedited Permitting – Middleborough Park at
495
To see if the Town will approve the provisions of chapter 43D of the MA General Laws as
amended pursuant to Section 11 of chapter 205 of the acts of 2006, and to approve the filing of
an application with the Interagency Permitting Board for the designation of land at
Middleborough Park @495 (113.342 acres, Assessors Map 039, generally bounded by Bedford,
Clay, Ash, and Old Center Streets and Route 44) as a Priority Development Site, or take any
other action in relation thereto. Assessors Map 039 and lot numbers: 1938, 2987, 2868, 2895,
2886, 4436, 2754, 2769, 3539, 4316, 3438, 4223, 3457, 3492, 4381, 5157, 5151, and 4392, or act
anything thereon.


ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section IV of the Zoning By-laws by
revoking Section E in its entirety and adopt the following in its place:
E. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
1. PERMITTED USES:
a. Religious, education, municipal or government uses.
b. Commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or
viticulture.
c Child care facilities.
d. Any use permitted in a Residence District, except those prohibited in Section 3.
below.
2. SPECIAL PERMIT USES:
a. Manufacturing or industrial use.
b. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall be the Special Permit Granting Authority
(SPGA) under Section VII, provided that no special permit shall be granted unless
the Board makes the findings set forth in Section VII.C.2.a.
3. PROHIBITED USES:
a. Dwellings, multiple dwellings, house trailers, and mobile homes, or act anything
thereon.


ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the
General Court for special legislation to provide that all withdrawal penalty taxes paid to the
Town pursuant to General Laws, Chapter 61, Section 7, all conveyance taxes and roll-back taxes
paid to the Town pursuant to General Laws, Chapter 61A, Sections 12 and 13 respectively, and
all conveyance taxes and roll-back taxes paid to the Town pursuant to General Laws, Chapter
61B, Sections 7 and 8 respectively, shall be deposited in a special account to be known as the
Land Acquisition Fund with any money in the Fund to be expended by the Board of Selectmen
duly authorized by vote of the Town Meeting to purchase the fee or other rights in land for
purposes of recreation, conservation, agricultural, open space, or other municipal uses with the
income derived from the land Acquisition Fund to be credited to the Fund, or act anything
thereon.


ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the
General Court for legislation to authorize the use of certain property owned by the Town of
Middleborough located on and off Fuller Street and on and off Plympton Street in
Middleborough and bounded and described in a deed of Annamarie Barnhart dated September
30, 2002 recorded in the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds in Book 23007, Page 244 and in an
Order of Taking dated October 7, 2002 and recorded in said registry in Book 23193, Page 343
and property bounded and described in a deed of Jonathan D. White, Trustee of Preserve Realty
Trust dated October 1, 2002 recorded in said registry in Book 23007, Page 258 for purposes
other than public water supply protection/aquifer protection and public water supply storage, or
act anything thereon.


ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey the
rear portion of the South Middleborough Fire Station property containing 1.7 acres to White
McGill Realty, LLC or some other party in exchange for a 1.3 acre parcel to be conveyed to the
Town and located on the southerly side of Wareham Street (Route 28) abutting the easterly side
of the Fire Station property, such exchange to be on such terms and conditions as the Board
determines, and to transfer the management and control of said 1.7 acre parcel to the Board of
Selectmen for the purpose of making conveyance of said parcel as part of such exchange, or act
anything thereon.


ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following by-law
PUBLIC USE OF MARIHUANA (MARIJUANA)
1. No person shall smoke, ingest, or otherwise use or consume marihuana (marijuana) or
tetrahydrocannabinol as defined in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94C, Section 1, as
amended, while in or upon any street, sidewalk, public way, footpath, passageway, stairs,
bridge, park, playground, beach, recreation area, boat landing, public building, schoolhouse,
school grounds, cemetery, parking lot, or any area owned by or under the control of the Town of
Middleborough or any of its boards or officers, or in or upon any bus or other passenger
conveyance operated by a common carrier; or in any place accessible to the public.
2. The term “place accessible to the public” as used herein shall mean and be construed to
include any way or place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees.
3. Whoever violates Section 1 of this by-law shall be punished by a fine of Three Hundred
($300.00) Dollars for each violation,
or act anything thereon.
Given, under our hands at Middleborough, this 27th day of April, 2009.


PATRICK E. ROGERS
MURIEL C. DUPHILY
MARSHA L. BRUNELLE
STEPHEN J. MCKINNON
ALFRED P. RULLO, JR
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Pursuant to the instructions contained in the above warrant, I have notified and warned all
inhabitants of said Town of Middleborough, qualified to vote as expressed in said warrant, to
meet at the time and place for the purpose specified by causing an attested copy of the same to be
published in the Middleboro Gazette on the 7th day of May, 2009, that date being more than
seven days before the time specified for said meeting.
GARY J. RUSSELL
Police Chief

Middleboro's Annual Town Meeting

At last week's Board of Selectmen's Meeting, the June date was delayed for an additional week and set for Town Meeting, based on the schedule of the newly elected Town Moderator, Wayne Perkins.

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Discussion ensued about the need to set the date for the public hearing for the Warrant that was closed in March.

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It's April.

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What are we waiting for?

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Last year's town meeting went very smoothly because voters worked hard to research the articles and surrounding issues. But that was under an interim Town Manager.

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Middleboro's new Town Manager, Charles Cristello screwed up big time for the Special Town Meeting held in the Fall.

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Mr. Cristello withheld the contracts he negotiated until the last minute in spite of several requests to distribute them. They were never made available to the Finance Committee in time for their review.

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Those of us who attended the Special Town Meeting are aware that the initial date set failed to achieve a quorum. STM was then postponed.

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Still, Mr. Cristello managed to Dilly, Dally, Delay and Stall.

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Mr. Cristello:

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We held out high hopes that you would be an improvement in providing information in a timely fashion and improving transparency.

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We could excuse the Special Town Meeting by saying you were new to the position.

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You are no longer new. The Warrant was completed in March.

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Voters of Middleboro trust that you will work to provide information in a more timely fashion.

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Voters of Middleboro trust that you will work to be more forthcoming, dare we say more honest in your comments.

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Voters of Middleboro spoke recently about the need for change.

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We hope you will work to provide a public disclosure of information in a more timely fashion.

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It's truly time for change!

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And By The Way --- It's time to work to educate voters about the Warrant Articles to ensure adequate turnout. And maybe we could work to get more signs posted on lawns this year!

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.

Middleboro School Department: Science Fluff and No Substance?

Middleboro residents have long been aware of the threatened loss of accreditation of the Middleboro High School due partly to the science labs.

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As the Superintendent read the list of items being considered in the upgrade to satisfy the state, conspicuously missing from that list was EQUIPMENT that would enhance students' educational experience.

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Hopefully, the School Committee will give greater consideration to the $250,000 expenditures beyond replacing cabinents and superficial changes.

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A number of people with diverse educational backgrounds availed themselves of the opportunity after town meeting to comment on their disappointment with the proposed school changes.

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Someone seems to have their priorities skewed when cabinets are more important than equipment.

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Some of those parents who commented have taken their children out of Middleboro's Public School System for precisely this reason. And a few commented on the need to go to a voucher system.

Middleboro ATM Continued Thursday May 15, 2008

Annual Town Meeting voters concluded the ATM Warrant with Article 19.
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The ATM will re-convene on

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 7 PM

at the High School.

Middleboro ATM: Page 34 Debt Service

On Page 34 of the budget, total Debt Service Expenses are:

$5,864,664.00

Keep that in mind!

Middleboro ATM: Article 34 Voting Machines

The Town of Middleboro is being asked to appropriate funds for those new glitzy touch screen machines that lack a paper audit trail and seem to have a pattern of glitches, like actually miscounting votes.

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For those of us who have watched the issue, those little GLITCHES such as significant UNDERVOTES and OVERVOTES have been problematic.

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One must wonder how a computer produces more votes than are cast or a significant undervote in hotly contested races.

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And then of course, there are power outages and fluctuations that can be blamed for the results. How will we know?

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Below, are just a few articles that are readily available regarding the importance of a paper audit trail for research and consideration prior to Middleboro's Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

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Make your Town Meeting vote informed.

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Middleboro's Voting Machines
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GOP objects to bill allowing recounts

Voting rights activists who hoped the federal government would help local governments pay for paper trails and audits for electronic voting machines have gone from elation to frustration as they watched Republicans who supported such a proposal in committee vote against bringing it to the House floor. The result: The elections in November will likely be marred by the same accusations of fraud and error involving voting machines that arose in the aftermath of the 2004 presidential race.

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While some election reform activists would have preferred a mandatory bill, many saw it as the best they could hope to get in time for the next election. “On Election Day, if machines are breaking down and there are no paper ballots, the failure of this bill will be one place to look for explanations,” said Norden. Holt is predicting exactly that: Ultimately, he said, the bill’s failure will mean that “millions of voters will leave the 2008 election questioning the process and whether their vote means anything.” Politico

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HAVA explained on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's site.

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philly.com

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Judge muzzles Sequoia e-voting attack dogs
NJ machines to be inspected, after all
New Jersey voting rights advocates will have the chance to have independent experts inspect electronic voting machines they say malfunctioned during the recent presidential primary election, a state judge has ruled.

Sequoia Voting Systems, the manufacturer of the touch-screen machines, previously forced New Jersey officials to scrap plans for an independent review after threatening legal action. Lawyers for the company claimed the audit would violate its trade secrets.

Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg of Trenton gave the go-ahead for the experts to test software and firmware of Sequoia machines that were used in the February 5 presidential primary in New Jersey. Officials from New Jersey's Union County requested the review after discovering that paper-tape backups showing the number of Democrats and Republicans casting ballots didn't match the same data contained on cartridge printouts. Officials from four other counties later identified the same errors. The Register

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The BreakdownsIn Los Angeles, badly designed ballots kept a quarter of a million independents from voting in the Democratic primary. In Arizona, Louisiana, and New Mexico, thousands of voters found their names missing from registration lists, because of new statewide voter databases that scrambled names and assigned people to other political parties, or mistakenly indicated that they had to vote by mail. Across the country, election officials underestimated voter turnout and ran out of ballots. Meanwhile, the administration is not allowing volunteers onto V.A. campuses to ensure that wounded veterans are properly registered to vote.

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Will your vote count in the next election? Maybe not! How will we even know?

The Verified Voting Foundation champions reliable and publicly verifiable elections in the United States.
We advocate the use of voter-verified paper ballots (VVPBs) for all elections in the United States, so voters can inspect individual permanent records of their ballots before they are cast and so meaningful recounts may be conducted. We also insist that electronic voting equipment and software be open to public scrutiny and that random, surprise recounts be conducted on a regular basis to audit election equipment. verified voting

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Test the Machines
By Ed Davis

Jan 08, 2007

When Congress passed the Help America Vote Act four years ago, one of the problems it was intended to eliminate was the incestuous system of testing voting machines. Now, we find that the system is not improved -- rather the Election Assistance Commission has joined in the incestuous relationship among the vendors and testing labs.
This is how it works: The private companies making voting machines pay the testing labs (only a couple do this kind of work). The testing process and results are all secret. The system was cobbled together years ago by some elections officials and vendors, with little government oversight (or funding - a big problem) and over the years has become a joke.
The passage of HAVA and creation of the EAC gave at least some hope that the process would change and there would finally be some oversight. But, as the NY Times reported last week, the EAC decertified of one of the testing labs, but didn't see fit to tell us, the voters, about it.
Back to the drawing board. Here's what the NY Times says today in an editorial:
The veil of secrecy that hangs over certification is good for the companies that make voting machines and for the ones that test them. The government should not be protecting those private interests. It should be protecting the voting public. CommonCause

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UTC reaffirms $40 per share cash proposal to Diebold
HARTFORD, Conn., March 5, 2008 --

United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX) today issued the following statement regarding its offer to Diebold Inc.’s (NYSE: DBD)
United Technologies Corporation remains committed to its offer.

Diebold’s financial and stock performance and the inability of Diebold’s leadership to file timely financial statements are not valid reasons to avoid a dialogue with UTC. UTC

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War Machines/ Voting Machines McCain/ Clinton "The Connection"
United Technologies Lobbiest Group=Lincoln, Charlie Black,head of Lincoln is Political adviser to John McCain. Black is CEO of BKSH which is owned by Burson- Masteller and the CEO would be the same Mark Penn who is the political adviser to Hillary Clinton. Oh, did I fail to mention... United Technologies is now planning a hostile take over of DEIBOLD yes the same Diebold with all the Voting irregularities from past elections. A new level of corruption? Is this the experience Hillary is referring to? BuzzFlash

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Diebold rejected a $2.6 billion takeover bid from United Technologies. Diebold makes cash machines and security systems,

but is best known for electronic voting machines, a relatively small part of its business. Conspiracy theorists had a field day when some Diebold gizmos malfunctioned during an election in California in 2004.

The Economist

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SOME CAST DOUBTS ON VOTING MACHINES
At Florida Polls, Touch Screens and Crossed Fingers

The new touch-screen machines were in place in Sarasota for the election, and they were assumed to be an improvement. But after the polls closed, a troubling anomaly appeared in the results.
There were 18,000 "undervotes" in Sarasota County -- that is, 18,000 people showed up to the polls and chose candidates in other contests but not in the prominent and hard-fought congressional race. In the four other counties where voters cast ballots in the same race, the undervote percentage was far smaller.
What happened?

If the machines had left a paper trail of each voter's actions -- such as the punch cards or the lottery-ticket ballots -- many believe auditors would have had important clues to what happened.

In the wake of the investigations and ambiguity, the Florida legislature moved earlier this year to switch to voting machines that leave a paper trail.

But if they're reliable, why did the legislature move to get rid of them? "Floridians have said they want to be able to cast a ballot on a piece of paper," Ivey said. "We're moving to a paper system to help restore confidence." WP

Voting bill advances
Paper-ballot plan clears committee despite opposition
A paper-voting proposal cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, despite stiff opposition from county clerks and Secretary of State Mike Coffman.
A Senate committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 189, which calls for voters statewide to cast paper ballots at polling places but also would allow those who ask to use electronic voting machines. Rocky Mountain News

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Optical scan voting works in Ohio

More than 400,000 voters went to the polls yesterday in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, using a new optical-scan system that appears to have worked with no more than the usual number of complaints in an election day plagued by foul weather and a closely contested race. GCN

Middleboro's Gain is Southbridge's Loss

For the first time, the Middleboro Town Meeting Warrant Articles and the Town Budget were actually available for town residents 3 WEEKS BEFORE TOWN MEETING!

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Historically, town meeting voters have picked up their copy of the Warrant AT Town Meeting.

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The budget appears balanced and budget projections, never previously done, appear within reach.

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This accomplishment was under the tutelage of the interim Town Manager, Steve Lombard.
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Mr. Lombard has a low key style and got the job done without a fuss, and by working to make the information available on time, voters have circulated the warrant and discussed it and investigated it PRIOR to the public hearings. It seems that Mr. Lombard focused on working with Department Heads, working with the Finance Committee and presenting the budget in a timely fashion to the Board of Selectmen, and it was accomplished.

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The Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen are working together toward a common goal, instead of the previous hostile relationship created by Mr. Lombard's predecessor.

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In short, greater transparency has been created. We're not where we need to be as a Town with the current condition of the pathetic Town Web Site, but the availability of the budget information has been a good start.

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And Middleboro's future appears brighter with a new Town Manager arriving who can proudly advertise a triple A bond rating from his current employers. Not so Middleboro with our current A2 bond rating that costs a premium for historical poor choices.

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While Middleboro's future seems bright after a legacy of FUZZY MATH, courtesy of the creator of the method of municipal finance, pity poor Southbridge that seems to have taken on our problems.

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It seems Middleboro's Retired Town Manager, from whom no one ever asked for the Town Hall keys, has pursued his great love of spreading the FUZZY MATH model to other towns, as well as spreading comparable loosing landfill deals.

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Rumor has it that the same attorney who negotiated Middleboro's Waste Management Whopper recommended Mr. Healey for the Southbridge Landfill Fiasco. And Mr. Healey's FUZZY MATH prevails! Anyone remember how the numbers changed?

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Mr. Healey's revenue figures are a source of wonderment like a Chia Pet he waters at night.

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Middleboro has much to be thankful for during Mr. Healey's reign. One major accomplishment might be a casino agreement that should have netted the Town of Middleboro + $20 MILLION for a percentage of slot revenues that Mr. Healey successfully reduced to $7 MILLION.

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Great job, Jack! We're forever thankful!

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To Southbridge residents: Jack won't overstay his welcome. He'll run out of assets to sell to fund expenses, but could you return the Town Hall keys?

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You might want to check what the carefully worded Department of Revenue Report had to say about Middleboro funding expenses with one time revenue sources and other things or what the Auditors reported. Sorry! You won't find it on the Town Web Site! But you'll find it HERE.

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If you have any doubts about the Waste Management deal in Middleboro, you might want to check out the Southbridge site. At least the residents appear better informed and more concerned about their environment, like those nasty things that get dumped in rivers: RATS

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Gee, do you think the stuff dumped in the Nemasket River could have anything to do with the decline of the herring? Does anyone know? And what do you suppose will happen if the mega monster comes?

Swampscott Town Meeting

For those who overlooked it, Ryan Adams commented on Swampscott's purchase of a new fire truck and transparency of process (excerpt below):

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Town Meeting, Part Two

So, here's to the voters of Swampscott - who will this year be given the chance to vote for a new fire truck, to replace the 1988 gem, by increasing taxes for one year only to pay for it, instead of paying for it with interest over the next ten. After the truck is paid for, taxes go back to normal and things move on. People like to know where their money is going and, thankfully, at the local level there's the ultimate potential for this kind of transparency and small d democracy. Let's hope more and more towns start to do this, because it's exactly the kind of creative thinking that could avoid some overrides to begin with.

Middleboro: Town Meeting May 13, 2008

In addition to the information program being broadcast by ComCast:
Middleboro: Understanding Town Meeting

the Secretary of the Commonwealth offers a guide to assist in undertanding how Town Meeting works:

Citizen's Guide to Town Meetings

An Important Message for all Massachusetts Town Residents

The purest form of democratic governing is practiced in a Town Meeting. In use for over 300 years and still today, it has proven to be a valuable means for many Massachusetts taxpayers to voice their opinions and directly effect change in their communities. Here in this ancient American assembly, you can make your voice heard as you and your neighbors decide the course of the government closest to you. This booklet outlines the forms and procedures used in Massachusetts Town Meetings. As the Commonwealth's information officer, I urge you to read it and make use of it as you engage in the debates and votes that give shape to your Town Government.

William Francis Galvin

Secretary of the Commonwealth

LINK

Middleboro: Understanding Town Meeting

ComCast will broadcast the program explaining how Town Meeting works:

Monday and Tuesday at 6:00 PM on Channel 95

Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM on Channel 9

The programs will be broadcast this week and the following week.

Please watch and if you have any questions, please ask before ATM so accurate answers can be posted.

Middleboro: Town Meeting May 13, 2008

To the credit of many people, working together, Middleboro's budget and ATM Warrant are available for consideration on nemasket. (To reduce spam, you need to register.)

There are significant zoning and by-law changes that voters should examine and consider before their presentation at ATM.

DON'T FORGET TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

MAY 13, 2008

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A NUMBER OF EMAILS HAVE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE ON NEMASKET.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDING THE WARRANT, BUDGET AND DISCUSSION MAY BE FOUND ON THE FORUM.