Middleboro Rail Line

In evaluating the cost/benefits of a southcoast connection to New Bedford and Fall River, the following was presented --
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...the Middleboro route would only attract an estimated 700 new riders. Egan said a bus line would be even cheaper and attract 1,750 riders. Both the Attleboro and Stoughton lines would add more than 2,000 new passengers. The Middleboro route would cost an estimated $1 billion; Stoughton an estimated $1.4 billion; and the Attleboro line, $2 billion. Egan said the Middleboro line would rise to $3 billion if it included a one-mile tunnel through Quincy.
Few riders if rail line goes through Middleboro
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What is interesting about the article is the opinion of Mr. Saquet --

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Middleboro businessman Robert Saquet lobbied for a downtown station, calling it a “tremendous opportunity.”

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Mr. Saquet seems to have an opinion of all things Middleboro, including the hiring of a new Town Manager, you may recall --
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D'Agostino removal slippery slope for town

D'Agostino
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Mansfield's current Town Manager came with his own law suit and judgement. The court documents are available on the TalkMansfield site for any unwilling to accept Mr. Saquet's explanation that only a few in Mansfield opposed Mr. D'Agostino.
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In the course of considering the new Town Manager, in the last round, both Patrick Rogers and Steven Spataro would have voted for Mr. D'Agostino because they failed to conduct even a basic internet search that would have revealed the lawsuit, judgement and the Recall Election.

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What's even more interesting about the conduct of this dynamic duo, is that in the previous Town Manager search, the following was also a candidate who was being considered --

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CARVER —
Animal Control Officer Sheila Seery has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the town and Town Administrator Richard LaFond of civil rights violations, sexual harassment and retaliation.
Seery, in 2007, filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Those suits have been withdrawn and re-filed in federal court by her attorney, Joseph Gallitano.

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That was the Town Manager search during which Mr. Spataro made his insulting and embarrassing scene at one of the candidate's interviews.

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That they continue in lock-step regardless of facts presented to them defines their leadership and their lack of consideration of Middleboro's future.

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Board of Selectmen Chairman Patrick E. Rogers and Selectman Steven P. Spataro both oppose a station in Middleboro. Spataro nixed the idea of busing “casino-bound” riders through neighborhoods and Rogers said a line through town would be “terrible.”

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Earlier this month, Mr. Rogers had a bout of NIMBYISM. Trains Won't Smell In Everett Square

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Someone needs to tell Mr. Spataro the Bingo Parlor isn't coming. (He could start with carverchick, Gladys Kravitz, Carl's Casino Quotes, Bellicose Bumpkin or Fiferstone if he wanted the facts.)

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Neither of these Selectmen has expressed concern of the issues surrounding the proposed Brockton Power Plant that threatens to adversely affect air quality in a region with already poor air quality.

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Middleboro needs leadership that reserves opinion until the facts are in and formulates decisions based on what's best for the future.

Talk Mansfield

The Administrator of the TalkMansfield discussion forum has advised of the new URL.
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The link at the right of the screen has been corrected.

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This link was begun after the current Town Administrator from Mansfield, Mr. D'Agostino, with the support of local business owner Mr. Saquet, was seriously considered for the position of Town Manager of Middleboro because of the failure of the Search Committee and the Middleboro Board of Selectmen to accomplish their due diligence.
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The documents pertaining to the court case and judgement are posted within the forum.
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At that time, this was written:
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It should be noted that the two Middleboro Selectmen who would have voted for Mr. D'Agostino, Messrs. Rogers and Spataro are computer savvy and certainly capable of doing their own basic internet searches were it not for laziness. Had they done so, they might have re-considered their votes.
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Steven Spataro has spent most of his last term arriving late to the BOS meetings, sat through one meeting text messaging, sat through another eating his supper, did some kind of strange easel presentation that included inaccurate figures, threw a bizarre and embarrassing public temper tantrum targeting a candidate for Town Manager in the first round of the Town Manager search process, couldn't stop giggling when an applicant for a Used Car Dealers' license explained that he NEVER accepted delivery of his inventory on his property because his business was conducted on the internet, and is generally unprepared for meetings. It's a good thing he's moved his seat, so now he arrives on time. Mr. Spataro has spent all of this time on the BOS and recently was surprised to discover that excise taxes are paid to the Town and retained by the Town. And there's much more, like his current folly for Public Safety Director. That's before we even discuss substantive issues.
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If this were some kind of comedy routine, Mr. Spataro might have a place, but this is a public meeting for the purpose of conducting the Town's business.
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BTW, Mr. Spataro's term expires in April. Along with other municipalities and the Commonwealth, we are confronted with difficult fiscal times. An incumbent who has failed to attend any of the free courses and seminars offered during his tenure to develop an understanding of the Town's finances during his term needs to be replaced. His non-published telephone number speaks volumes about his concern

The following is an e-mail sent to you by an administrator of"TalkMansfield.Org".

Message sent to you follows:
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http://www.talkmansfield.org/phpBB3/index.php

Upgrade is complete.

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Administrator, TalkMansfield

TalkMansfield

The Administrator of the TalkMansfield discussion forum has advised of the new URL.

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The link at the right of the screen has been corrected.
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This link was begun after the current Town Administrator from Mansfield, Mr. D'Agostino, with the support of local business owner Mr. Saquet, was seriously considered for the position of Town Manager of Middleboro because of the failure of the Search Committee and the Middleboro Board of Selectmen to accomplish their due diligence.

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The documents pertaining to the court case and judgement are posted within the forum.

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At that time, this was written:

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It should be noted that the two Middleboro Selectmen who would have voted for Mr. D'Agostino, Messrs. Rogers and Spataro are computer savvy and certainly capable of doing their own basic internet searches were it not for laziness. Had they done so, they might have re-considered their votes.

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Steven Spataro has spent most of his last term arriving late to the BOS meetings, sat through one meeting text messaging, sat through another eating his supper, did some kind of strange easel presentation that included inaccurate figures, threw a bizarre and embarrassing public temper tantrum targeting a candidate for Town Manager in the first round of the Town Manager search process, couldn't stop giggling when an applicant for a Used Car Dealers' license explained that he NEVER accepted delivery of his inventory on his property because his business was conducted on the internet, and is generally unprepared for meetings. It's a good thing he's moved his seat, so now he arrives on time. Mr. Spataro has spent all of this time on the BOS and recently was surprised to discover that excise taxes are paid to the Town and retained by the Town. And there's much more, like his current folly for Public Safety Director. That's before we even discuss substantive issues.

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If this were some kind of comedy routine, Mr. Spataro might have a place, but this is a public meeting for the purpose of conducting the Town's business.

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BTW, Mr. Spataro's term expires in April. Along with other municipalities and the Commonwealth, we are confronted with difficult fiscal times. An incumbent who has failed to attend any of the free courses and seminars offered during his tenure to develop an understanding of the Town's finances during his term needs to be replaced. His non-published telephone number speaks volumes about his concern.

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TalkMansfield.org is now up and running.

Please set your bookmarks to the new URL.

Administrator - TalkMansfield

Land Sold for $1

The Brockton Enterprise reported on an Inspector General's letter to the Carver Selectmen from June 2008 regarding a parcel of town owned land that was sold for $1.

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The June 30 memo, addressed to selectmen chairman Jack Angley, said the town was found in violation of state Chapter 30B laws when it disposed of property at 13 Birch Terrace. The property, which was taken by the town for nonpayment of taxes, was sold to Habitat for Humanity for $1 in April 2002. It was assessed at the time at $42,000.

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In June of the same year, Habitat sold the property to private buyers for $36,000. Last June, after the property was sold two more times over the years, Wells Fargo Bank foreclosed on a $189,900 loan on the property.

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Maybe the details of the property sale aren't that significant to Middleboro residents, but the following comments might be:

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A secretary for Town Administrator Richard LaFond said LaFond was out of town for the week.

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The latest selectmen meeting minutes show that on July 8, selectmen and LaFond discussed the June 30 document, and LaFond acknowledged the issue was not handled properly.

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The minutes show LaFond stated, “mistakes were made and he bears some responsibility of the disposition of tax title property.”

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Some may remember that Mr. LaFond was considered by the Middleboro Board of Selectmen last year as a possible Town Manager and was supported by some. This, yet again, defines the failure of the Town Manager Search Committee and the Board of Selectmen to conduct adequate investigation of potential candidates.

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Middleboro: Does Anyone Do Their Homework?

FOOTNOTE:

For Mansfield letters to the editor in the Sun Chronicle (scroll down)

MANSFIELD

HINGHAM

At the Middleboro Board of Selectmen's Meeting Tuesday, April 22, the 4 finalists for Middleboro Town Manager were announced among the 12 applicants.

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Comment has circulated in a discussion forum, nemasket regarding the finalists and previous comments link to what others are reporting: Middleboro: Impressive Choices!

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The relationship with the Town Manager is intimate and one assumes relatively long term.

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Those who followed the previous BOS fiasco and embarrassment, are more than familiar with the inability of the Middleboro BOS to function effectively.

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Little questioned was the current Town Manager from Mansfield whose actions created a judgement against Mansfield yet to be resolve and legal fees being negotiated.

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The failure of the Search Committee, chaired by Wayne Perkins, known for his failure to do his due diligence, overlooked the issues in Mansfield. That begs the questions of what else they overlooked.

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When the issue was raised in the discussion forum, the following is the response from the editor of the local weekly newspaper, the Middleboro Gazette (emphasis mine):

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WildRice
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:52 am
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Another candidate, John D'Agostino, Town Manager of Mansfield seems to be having problems with political enemies in that town. According to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, he seems to be the impetus for a nasty recall election in progress there. No details were given, however.

At Rotary last night I talked to Bob Saquet, who is town moderator in Mansfield. He said the problem in Mansfield is with a couple local "characters" and not with the town manager, who has behaved very well under pressure and has been on the job for 10 years. From his resume and what I have heard about him from search committee members he is very impressive. Seems like everyone should at least look at the interviews before making a judgment. Yunits, on the other hand...I got him on the phone yesterday morning. He's the lead story in today's Gazette (still only 50 cents).

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Bob Saquet ..... said the problem in Mansfield is with a couple local "characters" and not with the town manager,

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WR, some of us have heard Mr. Saquet speak and fail to consider his words the last authority on ANY issue impacting Middleboro. Sometimes, when you allow personal relationships to color your professional judgement, you fail your task.

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There are some who might wonder how Mr. Saquet ever stopped talking long enough to hear any facts.

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It would seem from a journalistic standpoint, you have failed once again to do your homework.

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Have you reviewed the lawsuit and judgement? Why did you fail to comment in the Gazette article?

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Those couple of local "characters" were not adequate to compel a Recall, as can be said of Middleboro's Recall that you repeatedly condemned to support the Whizz Bang Team of Financial Geniuses currently whining about the need for an override because they can't balance their own checkbooks.

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D'Agostino caused a judgement against Mansfield.

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How many more judgements can Middleboro afford? Some of the information included in the Executive Sessions the BOS refuses to release are applicable to previous legal fees and judgements. No wonder they refuse to release them for voters to see.

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What's happened to the 2 cases that are pending in Middleboro -- the former Town Accountant and the one against the Veteran's Agent? In both of those cases, you have taken a snarky editorial position to defend the Town even though evidence seems to indicate otherwise.

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Were D'Agostino applying for the position AFTER appeals and settlements were concluded, it might be an appropriate discussion. But now? Credentials and resumes don't count, when facts seem otherwise.

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Of Mr. Yunits' relationship with the Liberty Square Group, The Middleboro Gazette reports that the Chairman of Selectmen Adam Bond was unaware of the relationship.

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No wonder Middleboro was easy pickings for international investors who perceived the Town as uninformed hicks. No one seems willing to prove otherwise by doing their research.