Selectman Spataro: Get A Clue!

The Middleboro Gazette (12/18/08 issue) included a Letter to the Editor from Selectman Spataro worthy of note.

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In his letter, Mr. Spataro defends his calling for a Special Town Meeting to call for a Charter Change to provide for creation of a "Public Safety Director," instead of having two separate chiefs heading those departments. He fails to include the cost.

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Middleboro just concluded a Special Town Meeting that might have included Mr. Spataro's proposal, if he hadn't been sleeping.

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Some may recall Mr. Spataro's foolish easel presentation about Town finances that seemed to baffle viewers. The presentation included inaccurate figures, among other things, which seems consistent with Mr. Spataro's public conduct.

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The letter argues that the Town, confronted with a potential $2.6 million deficit next year, should take action to save $150,000 per year, but fails to indicate where the balance of that deficit will be found. And since the Town has hired a new Fire Chief, the letter fails to indicate what that contract buyout will cost or when it might be expected to transpire.

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Remember that Charter Changes require legislative approval. Nowhere is the time projection for accomplishment indicated.

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Selectman Spataro indicated in the letter that he had accomplished lengthy research via the current Police Chief/Fire Chief, Gary Russell and Middleboro's Town Counsel.

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Is that adequate research? Where are the comparisons with other towns? What has been the experience of municipalities that have accomplished this 'compression,' as Mr. Spataro calls it?

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I would instead argue "Where the hell have you been?" In the last several years, if the described Charter Change made sense, why didn't Mr. Spataro call for it then?

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The BOS discussed a Charter Study Committee. Where was Mr. Spataro?

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The BOS just awakened to the potential commuter rail line extension through Middleboro and Mr. Spataro had accepted the responsibility to be BOS representative to SRPEDD, but was never able to attend any of the meetings. Wasn't it discussed there?

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Mr. Spataro sat silently as tax bills were mailed out late. Taxpayers didn't appropriate an amount to fund those costs, but it represents revenue lost in terms of interest income the Town Treasurer would have earned from the G&E cash flow. (The G&E cash flow is used to avoid town borrowing.)

There are a multitude of areas where the Town could have reduced expenses, produced a kitty as a cushion in tough times. I previously commented on some here: Spataro: One Trick Pony, but there are others.

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It has been repeatedly posted that:

1. Mr. Spataro has a non-published telephone number to avoid voters.

2. Mr. Spataro has habitually arrived late to meetings and frequently not at all.

3. Mr. Spataro has been habitually unprepared.

4. Mr. Spataro was text messaging through a BOS meeting.

5. At one meeting, Mr. Spataro sat and ate his supper.

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Is this truly the best Middleboro can do to represent itself?

Isn't it time for change?

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Mr. Spataro's term of office expires in April 2009. Shouldn't we look around for a candidate willing to do the research, arrive prepared, arrive on time, be available to voters with a published telephone number, and one who follows through on his BOS commitments (like agreeing to attend SRPEDD meeting)? But more importantly, isn't it time to elect a BOS member who sees the entire picture and works to resolve the issues confronting the Town, instead of one who remains focused on one trivial matter?

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If you believe this is the Big Leagues, Mr. Spataro, you need to Get A Clue!

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.

I Can't Stand Whining!

Even when whining isn't accomplished in whining tones and doesn't have comparable laments, it's still whining.

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The Commonwealth and each and every municipality in the Commonwealth, with several exceptions, will confront major fiscal problems in the coming 2 years.

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To hear Mr. Spataro 'whine' about the budget shortfalls at this late date as an argument to oppose CPA (Community Preservation Act) does not negate that he has been slumbering during most of his term.

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His most recent 'compression' theory about calling a Special Town Meeting for the sole purpose of a Charter change to mandate a 'Public Safety Director' seems to have been discarded as a whim.

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Some might have noticed that Selectman Spataro was the sole occupant at the Selectmen's table when the October 20, 2008, Special Town Meeting failed to achieve a quorum.

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When the STM (Special Town Meeting) was reconvened the following week and achieved a quorum, Mr. Spataro was NOT in attendance.

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When STM reconvened, had the Board of Selectmen included the warrant article that has been customary about establishing committees and hearing committee reports (someone neglected to inform the new Town Manager about this maybe), Selectman Spataro could have introduced his warrant article regarding a single issue Charter Commission to consider a 'Public Safety Director.'

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Taking serious consideration of a 'Public Safety Director' one step further, it would be suggested that voters actually watch the BOS meeting.

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Former Selectman Lincoln Andrews condemned CPA because of supporters' failure to have an appointed study committee, public discussion and lengthy debate regarding CPA.

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So how does the Mr. Spataro's slap dash approach to amending the Town Charter somehow seem consistent with Mr. Andrews' position on CPA? Where was the Study Committee for the 'Public Safety Director'?

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NOTE TO NEWCOMERS: When all else fails, watch the BOS appoint a Study Committee. Much like Congress, you'll never hear the results, see the report or know about the meetings. There was a Study Committee appointed to ..... another day!

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Don't forget that Mr. Spataro has been sleeping through most of his tenure on the BOS, so instead of addressing the issue of a 'Public Safety Director' let's say two (2) years ago when it might have made sense, he suddenly rallied around that flag, knowing he was up for re-election in April 2009.

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As far as Mr. Spataro's current lament about the cash shortfalls within the Town, where have you been, Steve? You had opportunities to save taxpayer dollars that you slept through. Maybe you were text messaging when the opportunities presented themselves.

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Let's just say a Green Committee had been created by the Town of Middleboro when other municipalities were doing just that. Could you have saved 10%? 20%?

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And Steve, how about the Pathetic Town's Web Site (PTWS - a term coined by an anonymous admirer of the Town's IT Department)? Might that have reduced foot traffic and phone calls to the Town's offices were it user friendly? and in doing so, maybe allowed information to flow more smoothly? A cost savings, maybe?

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The Middleboro School Superintendent stood before the BOS last year and when reviewing his line item budget, said of energy costs that they couldn't be reduced. It's strange how that pronouncement changed.

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There were and are opportunities to save tax dollars. But let's follow Mr. Spataro, wait until the last minute when your options are exhausted, whine and do nothing.

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Bad government at its best!

Spataro: One Trick Pony

Voters can always tell when Steven Spataro runs for re-election. Devoid of any ideas, he drags out the old Compression Solution, the tired old horse. Didn't his previous Compression Solution include combining the positions of COA Director with the Park Department and the Library? Didn't he want the Town Planner to act as Conservation Agent as well?

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Did Selectman Spataro ask any single candidate for the Fire Chief's position about a Public Safety official? Since the meeting wasn't videotaped by ComCast, you wouldn't know unless you were there (and few were), but he didn't. The candidates would have withdrawn their applications had he asked.

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And since the interviews weren't broadcast, you wouldn't know that one candidate actually applied for and obtained a GRANT ---- FREE MONEY -- to purchase a BRAND NEW LADDER TRUCK. That's the same truck that Middleboro approved for long-term bonding, but not a peep from Mr. Spataro.

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Has Selectman Spataro ever presented information about other municipalities having combined the positions into a Public Safety Officer? There might be areas where Middleboro should be a trendsetter, but it's doubtful this should be the issue.

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There are areas within the budget where dollars can be saved, but Mr. Spataro never sees those.

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Allow me to quickly list several that come to mind, but there are others:

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1. GRANTS

Other towns are applying for and receiving grants. One town that was previously commented on received a grant to install energy efficient pumps on their town's wells.

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2. Health Care Costs
Middleboro ATM: Page 35 Employee Fringe Benefits
Middleboro Health Care Costs #2: Nothing to sneeze at!

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3. Town Owned Vehicle Tracking

The discussion has arisen several times regarding the need for an audit and the need to charge Departments for the vehicles that are used by each department for several reasons. It eliminates the potential of vehicles remaining insured when the Town no longer owns them and it allows each department to address and reduce vehicle use costs. A key card system that tracks use could more appropriately address which departments might benefit from alternative fuel vehicles instead of the current method.

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Towns that are reducing their ENERGY COSTS have addressed the issue.

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4. Town Owned Vehicle Insurance

When a list of Town Owned Vehicles was produced, it indicated that a $500 deductible was included on most. Most frugal folks have increased their deductibles because the savings quickly satisfies the risk. The Waste Water Department's vehicle that was replaced at ATM, was how old and still had full coverage? Has anyone reviewed what it costs to carry complete coverage on some of these vehicles?

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5. Workers' Compensation

The Town Treasurer explained that at one point the Town self-insured for Workers' Compensation, but when it became less expensive to do so, the Town amended that option. Earlier this year, she indicated that the Town might save $100,000 to return to self-insurance. This is a decision of the BOS.

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6. ENERGY

The issue remains ignored by Mr. Spataro. Other Towns are leading the way and tackling the low hanging fruit and saving tax dollars. Not so Middleboro!

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EVERYBODY, it seems, is talking about ENERGY, except Middleboro BOS. Even the Middleboro School Department is reducing its ENERGY COSTS.

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12/02/2008 Hingham Wind Power Forum

Tuesday, December 2, 6:30 PM

Hingham Town Hall, Central Street , Hingham

More information, contact info@southshoredemocrats.org

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12/03/2008 Pembroke DTC Energy Forum

Wednesday, December 3, 7 - 9 PM

Pembroke Public Library, Center Street

All are cordially invited to attend an energy forum

sponsored by the Pembroke DTC to learn how to

save on entery costs and reduce one's carbon footprint.

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It would seem that Middleboro could do better than re-elect a candidate who promotes nonsensical ideas with little factual information, unless you want to look forward to another bizarre easel presentation.

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.

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

The "...More Happy Than Upset..." Election #2

BIG LEAGUES was the last theme that Steven Spataro invented for his opening comments.

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Tonight's theme was "Are you more happy than upset with me because I did this for you..."
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And he enumerated accomplishments that had little to do with him.
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He claimed he 'saved you a quarter of a million dollars with the Public Safety Director.'

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Has anyone figured out why we're hiring a new police chief?

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What will it cost to buy out the contracts of the Police Chief AND the Fire Chief when and if the Charter change is approved? And how many years will that Charter change take to accomplish? Charter change requires legislative approval, AFTER town meeting has approved it. Steve, that must mean that we're looking at minimum 2 years before we see that $250K, right?

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Maybe your supporters don't pay attention to the details, but some of us do.
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Steve, you just gotta stop quoting figures when you make public comments.
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You said the Town's budget was $50 MILLION. Ooopsie! It's + $60 MILLION, but that must have been the night you were text messaging.

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After Steve's BIG LEAGUES speech, he continued to arrive late to meetings, text message during meetings, eat his supper and arrive unprepared.

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Steve Spataro accepted the position of BOS representative to SRPEDD but after many months, indicated he hadn't attended any meetings and needed to be replaced.

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To the detriment of the Town, Steven Spataro made a commitment to act as rep and ignored his commitment.

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Until recently, he hasn't appeared at any meeting other than the Selectmen's Meetings on Monday nights.

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Mr. Spataro never has the time needed to devote to the other duties of Selectmen, still refuses to have his phone number public -- his response this evening was 'call Jackie (the BOS secretary) and she'll give you my cell phone number.' He refused to make an email address public because of those horrible things sent to others.

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Get a life, Steve!

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All of us get spam emails daily for penis or breast enlargements, Viagra, phony lottery winnings. That's what they make the delete feature for.

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Sometimes people just need to make a quick one line comment or ask a question that doesn't involve writing a letter.

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When you can defend Sick And Tired Of This Crap there's a serious problem in Town Government.

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The BOS was wrong and the meeting minutes are wrong.

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When you received gifts and a free meal from the Town's business partner and believe it's acceptable, you can't continue to defend it.

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When ComCast broadcasts Candidates' Night, it's worth the watch! Even if only to hear Steven Spataro claim credit for things over which he had no control and invested no time.

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PS. Steve, you might want to read Carcieri v Slazar. It's not coming.

Compression Obsession

A candidate for re-election to the Middleboro Board of Selectmen has one obsession: COMPRESSION. Whether the option is viable or not, his narrow focus has allowed him to remain silent when he has support other actions where money might have been saved.

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In this case, he was wrong both times.

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Posted on the PTWS -- in his own words -- after all of these years on the BOS, wouldn't you think he'd have a clue?

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[Of the discussion regarding hiring a new town accountant, the following are some of the comments]

EXECUTIVE SESSION
APRIL 9, 2007

Selectman Spataro asked about appointing Judy MacDonald as Acting Town Accountant.

Chairwoman Brunelle said this couldn’t be done as the positions are “checks and balances” for each other.

Selectman Spataro asked about appointing a Finance Officer.

Chairwoman Brunelle said you would still have to have a Town Accountant, Treasurer/Collector, and Assessor.

Selectman Spataro asked if it would cut out a layer of management.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
APRIL 25, 2007

Selectman Spataro noted that it was announced in open session that an Interim Fire Chief had been appointed.

Selectman Spataro clarified that it was legitimate to take the vote in executive session, but it just has to be announced in open session rather than taking another vote.

Did you see....?

If you didn't watch tonight's BOS meeting, you really need to.

ComCast will rebroadcast the meeting on Tuesday, February 24. You need to watch.

A Middleboro resident, taxpayer and active citizen who has been paying attention to the antics of this ........ Board of Selectmen raised the issue of an omission in the Selectmen's Meeting Minutes for February 9, 2009 that failed to indicate the gifts that were received.

It was only because the issue was raised that Mr. Spataro returned gifts that he received from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Regardless of their value, he never thought to check state law. He allowed his ego to be stroked by appreciative Tribe members and was just tickled at the attention.

The Gavel Queen, Marsha Brunelle was clearly frustrated that the gavel was not in her hand!

But .... you need to watch the irrational outrage of Steven Spataro, up for re-election!

Yet another irrational outburst by Mr. Spataro! We've seen this before.

This is NOT appropriate conduct when addressing the respectful comment of a Middleboro Taxpayer .......

This man needs to be voted out of office.

Watch the exchange.

The Middleboro Resident was respectful in spite of the rudeness of the Board of Selectmen.

This needs to stop.

Mr. Spataro yelled at the Middleboro voter that he should take out papers and run for office.

Mr. Spataro, if you don't like the questions and the challenges, maybe you shouldn't run for office. You've slept through most of your tenure. Or you've been text messaging. Or eating your supper. Or you've arrived late or been absent. You haven't done your homework.

Remember, this is the Big Leagues, Steve. If you can't handle the questions, get out of the hot seat!

If Middleboro voters continue to tolerate this level of unprofessional conduct by Board Members, you have a serious problem!

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

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Executive Meeting Minutes 1-7-08

Reviewing the Executive Meeting Minutes that are supposed to be released regularly and promptly according to the statute [Once Upon A Time...] ---

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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.

I discovered that the regular public meeting minutes are posted for 1-7-08.

The following request will be submitted to the BOS requesting a correction --

Re: Executive Meeting Minutes 1-7-08

A review of the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site) will indicate that the item posted as the following:

Wednesday, April 01, 2009 4:39 PM 50176 E.S. 1-7-08.doc

Represents the regular meeting minutes for the public session.

This requires correction.

Your prompt attention would be appreciated.

OMG! An astute reader pointed at that the Executive Session was posted at the end of the public meeting that was re-posted! Who would have thought? Who would have expected any consistentcy in the method anything is posted on the PTWS?

The following represents those meeting minutes and since they represent collective bargaining matters that have been resolved, one must wonder why they weren't previously released since this is what the statute says --

Executive session minutes must be released to the public as soon as the stated purpose for the executive session protection has ceased.

EXECUTIVE SESSION January 7, 2008
Middleborough Board of Selectmen
At 9:55 PM, upon motion by Selectman Perkins and seconded by Selectman Bond, Board voted by Roll Call to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy relative to collective bargaining and pending litigation. Roll Call: P. Rogers, Yes; S. Spataro, Yes; W. Perkins, Yes; A. Bond, Yes; M. Brunelle, Yes. Chairwoman announced Board would not return into Open Session.

Board met with Attorney Leo Peloquin to discuss collective bargaining issues.
Upon motion by Selectman Perkins and seconded by Chairwoman Brunelle, the following Roll Call Vote was recorded:
“To designate Labor Counsel, Town Manager, and designated Selectman as the Town’s negotiating representative with the two Police Unions

SELECTMAN P. ROGERS YES
SELECTMAN S. SPATARO YES
SELECTMAN A. BOND YES
SELECTMAN W. PERKINS YES
SELECTMAN M. BRUNELLE YES.”

Board agreed that the Town Manager will stay involved in Union negotiations, while on vacation, via telephone. Letter is to be drafted by Labor Counsel notifying the Unions of the Board’s policy decision.

Labor Counsel assured Chairwoman she did not need to leave the meeting while discussing GMEG Union as Board discussed position of Deputy Fire Chief only.

Regarding retirees and the health insurance co-pay reimbursement issue, Chairwoman asked Labor Counsel to call Town Counsel and discuss language in article. The following Roll Call vote was recorded:
“To support the Town Meeting article, which supports retirees and their spouses regarding health insurance co-pay reimbursements

SELECTMAN P. ROGERS YES
SELECTMAN S. SPATARO YES
SELECTMAN A. BOND YES
SELECTMAN W. PERKINS YES.”
Chairwoman M. Brunelle Abstained

Board requested Building Commissioner, Health Officer, and Town Counsel attend Board’s meeting on Monday, January 14, 2008 to discuss Holton lawsuit.

At 11:03 PM Board voted by Roll Call to adjourn meeting. Roll call: A. Bond, Yes; W. Perkins, Yes; P. Rogers, Yes, S. Spataro, Yes, M. Brunelle, Yes.

________________________________________________
Jackie Shanley, Confidential Secretary, Board of Selectmen

Obsessive Compression

Middleboro's Town Charter charges the Board of Selectmen with the responsibility to act as Water Commissioners. Their failure to act to increase water rates, when Marsha Brunelle was chairman caused real estate tax bills to be sent out late.

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A Water Rate Hearing was held to increase rates and restored solvency to the Enterprise Account.

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The supporting documentation was presented during the pubic hearing, from Selectman Patrick Rogers' lap top. When I requested a copy of that documentation from the Selectmen's Secretary, I was informed that no records existed within Town Hall. When I requested the information from Patrick Rogers twice, I was finally told that he had not retained the information.

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So, water rate payers are paying increased fees and no one felt the need to respect the Public Records and Archive statutes enough to preserve information? Baffling! When issues of Transparency are raised repeatedly, this is why.

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Because the Board seems frozen in inaction and merely continues to add to the long list of items never addressed, I had suggested that a sub-committee of sorts be appointed by the BOS to act as Water Commissioners, maybe meeting quarterly to review rates, fees, ongoing projects and plan for the future.

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That suggestion was met with the predictable knee-jerk response by the illustrious Town Fathers.

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During a subsequent conversation with Selectman Patrick Rogers, he indicated that he had participated in a committee that studied aspects of combining the Water and Sewer Departments, traveled to other municipalities to evaluate their solutions.

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It was determined by that committee that the most effective solution was combining Water, Sewer and DPW.

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The Chairman of the committee was Tom White, from whom I requested a copy of the report. Never received.

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There is no indication that information or meeting minutes were ever received by the Town Clerk.

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Although this is Mushroom Farming in its purest form, it ignores that a member of the Board of Selectman is obsessed with Compression.

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That Selectman, always after the fact and oblivious to reality, waited until hiring a Fire Chief was imminent before campaigning for a Public Safety Director.

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Now that both the DPW Superintendent and the Water Superintendent have announced their retirement intentions, it might seem a good time to consider Mr. Spataro's Compression Theory. Or will Mr. Spataro wait until replacements are about to be hired before raising the issue?

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Let's not forget that Mr. Spataro, in questioning the DPW Superintendent's comment about road salt tripling in price, asked the cost. When the cost was quoted, Mr. Spataro then asked if the cost was for a pound.

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This is not the way other Towns operate.

What Are The Issues?

Focus on the issues rather than the source and emotions of the "Bogus Letter" the Middleboro BOS received regarding the selection process for the new Fire Chief.

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A Middleboro Selectwoman has participated and offered her opinions in all discussions regarding the Fire Department.....

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...selectman Muriel C. Duphily, whose husband, Wilfred Duphily, has been a call captain in the department for 30 years.

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Maybe Mrs. Duphily was unaware of the Ethics issues surrounding a firefighter forced to resign from the BOS, as she clearly appears to be unaware of many other town issues.

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Ironically, on the home page of The Official Website of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission this is offered

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In House Seminar
The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission is presenting a

FREE EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR

on the Conflict of Interest law for state, county and municipal employees on

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. and

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

One Ashburton Place, Room 619, Boston, MA.

Call 617-371-9500 to reserve your seat.

SPACE IS LIMITED!

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Mrs. Duphily is personable and kind and extraordinarily talented. But Mrs. Duphily seems to believe that Town Government is her personal playground to do and say as she chooses, legal issues be damned! She is clearly too overbooked and distracted by personal commitments to focus on Town issues. She arrives at BOS meetings clearly unprepared and having failed to research ANY issue or reviewed the documents that are hand-delivered to each Bored [sic] member via Police Department courier. Intellectual curiosity is not her forte.

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Mimi, Dear, you need to avail yourself of the resources that have been made available to understand how government works and stop embarrassing us. And you need to find the time to ensure that you fully understand that laws, statutes, and those silly things like 'Ethics' that govern your conduct.

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Dear Mimi, that you felt the need to express your anger at the Fire Department when you said (in the Middleboro Gazette still only 50 cents)

"There's infighting in the department, there's no discipline....This has got to come to an end."

"We did it in this way so the politics would be taken out of it."

"This is hurtful."

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reveals that you fail to understand what Ethics means.
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Or in the Brockton Enterprise when you were quoted
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"Ethics felt I shouldn't be there...If that's what they're pushing for, I guess they won."

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Dear Mrs. Duphily, you either need to inform yourself, do your research, invest the time in the programs that are offered that explain town government, or you need to do us a favor and resign so that a candidate willing to take the time can conduct Town business.

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Dumbfounded #2

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Footnote: Town Counsel's Advice:

Duphily said that Town Counsel Daniel F. Murray said she wasn’t violating any ethics rules, but that when Murray questioned the state Ethics Commission, he was told the opposite, and that Duphily was liable for a $2,000 fine.

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Town Counsel wasted his taxpayer paid time traveling to Boston TWICE to fight me on an issue that he lost. The last time he lost, the judge clearly cautioned him to settle the matter and not return to court. At a future date, I may blog about the surrounding issues, but in this case, I had researched the issue and while I make absolutely no pretense of any legal expertise, Town Counsel was wrong. How many other times is Town Counsel wrong because he fails to do the research? Is Middleboro paying +$60K a year for flawed legal advice because 'that's the way it's always been done' ?

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Note to casino supporters: You supported and elected an unqualified candidate based solely on a single issue that bloggers told you would NOT come to pass. Could you give serious consideration to other issues next time around because they really matter to the rest of us?

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Note to Spataro supporters: Mr. Spataro, who told us this was the BIG LEAGUES was again ABSENT from the BOS meeting. You may recall that Mr. Spataro spent a BOS meeting text messaging, eating his supper, has been frequently unprepared and late, has no listed phone number to avoid voters.

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Is this truly what we want and need from Town Government? Is anyone watching this?

Middleboro BOS Meeting Selects A Fire Chief

The Brockton Enterprise reported on the selection of the new Middleboro Fire Chief. If you didn't attend the meeting, it's worth watching the re-run on cable.

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Fellow blogger, Bellicose Bumpkin has commented on the Matrix Report that was discussed at the meeting and is a related issue, that of a town owned ambulance service. This represents a major expense to the Town - an expense the Town has no money to fund. Under the circumstances, it would seem important that residents fully understand the numbers tossed around.

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Middleboro picks new fire chief
Middleboro selectmen pass over Halifax fire chief and hire N.H. man
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MIDDLEBORO —
Middleboro’s gain is not Halifax’s loss, as Middleboro selectmen on Wednesday hired a fire chief from out of state.

Michael W. Carrier, a former chief of Londonderry, N.H., was chosen by a majority of board members.

Other finalists were Halifax Fire Chief Lance Benjamino and Michael A. Walker, current chief of Pelham, N.H., who received support from Selectman Marsha L. Brunelle.

Selectman Steven P. Spataro failed in an attempt to convince board members to consider a commissioner of public works instead of hiring a fire chief. At first, Spataro said he would abstain from the vote on a new chief because he opposed filling the position and spending money the town didn’t have.

However, later in the meeting, he joined Selectman Patrick E. Rogers lobbying for Carrier.
Selectman Muriel C. Duphily did not vote as her husband is a call fireman.

Before Carrier can take over the position, currently held by Police Chief Gary J. Russell, a contract still must be negotiated with Town Manager Charles J. Cristello and approved by selectmen.

Firefighters filled the meeting room as selectmen made their decision.

“I’m glad they came to a conclusion, stayed the course and went with a chief,” said union chief Richard Cummings, a fire lieutenant.

Selectmen also heard an evaluation of the town’s Fire Department by Travis Miller of Matrix Consulting Group Ltd. The 46-page draft report contained recommendations for expanding fire protection and having a town-run ambulance service. The report is posted on the Resort Advisory Committee’s Web site, http://www.resortcommittee.com

Miller said that for the town to increase fire protection and man the south and north stations it would cost $1.28 million. But that cost would drop to $811,552 if the town includes an ambulance service, by eliminating an annual $250,000 payment to a private ambulance service and collecting revenue.

The cost increases to $1.5 million if a casino with a tribal fire department is added and escalates to $2.7 million without a tribal fire department.

The Resort Advisory Committee will use the report to come up with recommendations for selectmen. Selectmen acknowledged the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has agreed to purchase the first two ambulances to start the service and said it is likely they will revisit the clause in the town and tribal intergovernmental agreement if the added costs of an ambulance service are not self-supporting.

Middleboro Board of Selectmen 3-9-09

With Middleboro's April Town Election fast approaching, it should be noted that when I raised issues of concern about the PUBLIC RECORDS requests that had been submitted, Stephen Spataro said "WE SHOULD STICK TO OUR POLICY."

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There is no OUR POLICY.

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The Town has NO policy.

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The Policy that Town of Middleboro follows is the state's Public Records Law.

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Stephen Spataro has been on the Middleboro Board of Selectmen for how many years and never figured out that there is no policy or Town By Law governing Public Records? Does that mean he has never read the Town By Laws? BTW, where are they posted? On the PTWS (Pathetic Town Web Site)?

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If you find the By Laws, Town Vehicle Use Policy, the Zoning Regulations, Planning Board Regulations, WRPD please post a comment immediately because I haven't found them yet.

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At tonight's Middleboro Selectmen's Meeting, Bob Dunphy rose to question when Executive Meeting Minutes would be posted.

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For those who believe this is a trivial matter, PUBLIC RECORDS are an important part of a Selectmen's duties.

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The link to the guide from the Secretary of State's Office is below, as well as the information about Executive Meeting Minutes.

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Other Towns conform to state law. Why not Middleboro?

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Public Records Guide
In the interest of open government, all records custodians are strongly urged to waive the fees associated with access to public records, but are not required to do so under the law.

Public records that are of great interest to a large number of people must be readily available within the office of the records custodian and should be provided at a minimum cost, if any. These records include minutes of local board meetings, town meeting documents, warrants, street lists, municipal financial documents, etc.

When must minutes of an open meeting be made available to the public?

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.

The Massachusetts General Laws broadly define "public records" to include "all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee" of any Massachusetts governmental entity.

Middleboro: Last To Act, First To Whine

The Middleboro Board of Selectmen, incapable of walking and chewing gum at the same time or addressing future planning along with current business whine about budget shortfalls, but fail to act. Well, that is, unless you consider Selectman Spataro's recent rant about a Charter change to hire a Public Safety Director that he might have accomplished two years ago had he not been text messaging during meetings. His current attentiveness is only due to his upcoming re-election in April.

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Other than individual town employees applying for grants, Middleboro misses out repeatedly.

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Remember the candidate for Fire Chief who told the Board during the interviews that he applied for and received a grant for a new Ladder Truck?

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The Brockton Enterprise offered an article about GRANT MONEY received by Rockland, but pay attention to this part ---

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The grant for the solar panels was applied for in November by the Rockland Energy Committee, which formed in 2007. Since then, the committee has established a partnership with National Grid; that led to an energy audit of the high school.
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In December, the state Department of Energy Resources awarded a total of $2.7 million to Rockland and 16 other towns. Rockland will use its $150,000 grant to make energy-efficiency improvements at the elementary schools.
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Kudos to Rockland for being proactive.
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Rockland is but one community that began to address ENERGY while it's not even on the Middleboro BOS Agenda.

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While ENERGY is my personal concern, there are many other areas that other municipalities are addressing, while Mr. Spataro text messages, Mrs. Brunelle says 'we've tried to do this in the past....', Mrs. Duphily fails to grasp any issue beyond her mindless support for the casino, facts be damned! You get the point.

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And remember that Mrs. Brunelle was Chairwoman when Real Estate Tax Bills were mailed out late and the entire rest of the Board failed to speak up, make a motion to prevent it or even protest.

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It's time to elect people to the Board of Selectmen willing to devote the time, effort and energy to do the research, inform themselves, and maybe even venture beyond the Town's borders to look at what other towns have accomplished.

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You copy success instead of being mired in dysfunction.

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The new Town Manager, Mr. Cristello seems to be doing his best to inform this Board that there is life beyond the borders of Middleboro, but when the dinosaurs from the past step forward to protest CPA, his success is doubtful.

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And, by the way, where is the Middleboro Gas & Electric Company?

Middleboro BOS: Misplaced Indignation #3

At the polite request of a Town resident, each member of the Board of Selectmen responded regarding their contact with the Tribe and its representatives, including Stephen Graham.

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That the Board of Selectmen chose to put townspeople on the defensive simply because they were asking for a public answer that reasonably should have been expected and were entitled to, is unacceptable.

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Mrs. Brunelle indicated that she had attended the same social events as Mrs. Duphily, as well as other conversations looking for money for the Town's engineering projects. Was that ever disclosed or discussed at a BOS Meeting? Why not send a letter to the Tribe? What is Stephen Graham's official position that he is responsible for dispensing money? It seems rather illusive.
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For Mrs. Brunelle to now include comments about the importance of the projected $3 Million town deficit having priority should make voters wonder where she's been the past 2 years. During the Recall Election, that was precisely the point I continually raised about the failure of the BOS to address the Town's budget, the 'structural deficit' and get costs under control. Costs have been rising faster than revenue projections and the BOS has ignored it. (The information about the budget increases is contained within the Town's Annual Report.) According to my calculations, we could have accomplished the task without cuts had we begun 2 years ago.

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During the Recall and since, I have continually raised the issue of the BOS' solitary focus on a casino that will probably never come, to the exclusion of all other Town business.

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The Department of Revenue prepared a report that recommended a 5 year budget plan. Some might recall that I continually reminded them of the failure of the BOS to adopt any of the recommendations contained within the report. Mr. Wayne Perkins continued to state that 'they' had done budget projections, when in fact, 'they' never had.

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"Fuzzy Math" and Management by Crisis were the hallmark of Jack Healey's management style, endorsed by the Board of Selectmen. Marginalizing the Finance Committee that did their job, as voters ignored them, helped. Maybe Jack thought it convinced voters of his importance in averting catastrophe.

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Mr. Stephen Spataro, who is up for re-election in April, recently returned the 'gifts' he received as a consequence of this controversy. He also didn't think about the "gift concept" until these issues were raised anonymously on the blogs. Notice his great enthusiasm in defending the Town's "Business Partners" and his willingness to 'welcome them' at social events. Would we accept the same were this any other developer? Mr. Spataro has been on the BOS long enough to familiarize himself with the Ethics Statutes.

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Mrs. Bassette rose to make a statement about the presence of Tribal members at BOS meetings. This issue isn't the presence of Tribal members at public meetings, but rather the inappropriateness of socializing with business partners, attending Tribal functions, accepting gifts without thought of the appropriateness, appearance or legality regardless of the value, and the personal contact that seems to have transpired.
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