Jack Healey and the Casino Investors

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

Casino investors engineered secret deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Speeded up for budget

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

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

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

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Southbridge, Landfills and Mr. Healey

Jack Healey and the Casino

Southbridge and Mr. Healey

Perry Property and Jack Healey

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey #2

Mr. Healey: Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

Mr. Healey and Those Ever Changing Laws

Mr. Healey's Legacy Continues to Haunt

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey Inflicts Slap-Dash on Southbridge!

Thanks, Jack!

Middleboro's Gain is Southbridge's Loss

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Middleboro slows 'frantic' casino pace

Betting the farm

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

Jack Healey and the Casino

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 9, 2007

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Auction Sale of Town-Owned Property

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 17, 2007

Auction – Town-Owned Land

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

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

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

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

Southbridge, Landfills and Mr. Healey

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

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Lara DeRose

DEP asked to nullify hearings LINK

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

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

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

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

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

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Check out the recent articles about casino profits:

Truth to Power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Healey For Hire

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

HEALEY FOR HIRE

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

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

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

Jack Healey

RATS Not Forgotten!

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

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

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

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

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


Southbridge: Not Forgotten

Southbridge and Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey and Those Ever Changing Laws

Talking Trash with Mr. Healey

Mr. Healey Inflicts Slap-Dash on Southbridge!

Thanks, Jack!

Middleboro's Gain is Southbridge's Loss

Perry Property and Jack Healey

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

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

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

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

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

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

MARCH 5, 2007

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

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

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

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MARCH 12, 2007

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OTHER

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

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

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

Vice-Chairman Brunelle suggested the auction be videotaped.

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 2, 2007

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

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

You Can't Blame the New Town Manager

You can't blame the new Town Manager because the Middleboro Board of Selectmen failed to explain the surrounding issues to him.

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During the BOS Meeting (Monday, September 8, 2008), the Town ownership and disposition of the Rock Village School on Highland St. was discussed.

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The sale of property by the Town of Middleboro, and specifically by the retired Town Manager, Jack Healey, has an inflammatory history that Town voters are unlikely to dismiss as quickly as the BOS. (Matt Carroll of the Boston Globe also wrote about some of the questionable dealings, but the articles are no longer in the Globe archives.)

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Jack Healey presided over poorly advertised Town property auctions himself on the pretext of 'Saving the Town the money of hiring an auctioneer.' Sorry, Jack, but not all of us were or are that stupid. Jack Healey

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Should someone be unfamiliar with auctions, and require an explanation: an auctioneer charges a 'Buyer's Premium,' which means the Town nets X dollars, the auctioneer receives a % of X dollars, above and beyond the bid price. (If you read some of the auction ads in a newspaper, you'll see a Buyer's Premium disclosed.)

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Simply put: Let's say the Buyer's Premium is 9%, you bid $100 for an item, the Buyer's Premium that goes directly to the auctioneer is $9. You pay $109.

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Those land parcels that were auctioned, even at the height of the real estate market, were sold far below the revenue they should have provided for the Town. Casino property for $14,000 an acre?

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And then there was the Perry Property. And Marsha, I spoke to you, personally about this. And we might discuss the school buildings that had been allowed to fall into disrepair. And how 'bout the Cherry St. property? Wasn't that the one where Town Counsel represented both the Town and the Buyers? Or could we toss in the Green School that is slowing rotting? The Washburn property?

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Since Middleboro wasn't on Mr. Cristello's radar when this transpired, he wouldn't have known. But most of the same Board of Selectmen stills sits there. They are the ones who remained silent as Town assets decayed or were given away without generating the revenue they should have. Taxpayers were shortchanged.

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And the taxpayers remember!

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And the Middleboro Board of Selectmen have apparently forgotten the 2007 ATM when voters unanimously REFUSED to vote the Rock Village School to the BOS to be sold. (There was another parcel, as well.) Voters figured out that they couldn't trust the BOS to make the wisest decisions.

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Victor Sylvia stood up at that ATM and spoke about the Rock Village School and that the land had been given to the Town to be used for education. Others made comments about the questionable decisions of the BOS.

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The Rock Village School became vacant because the church group that had occupied the building was delinquent in their rent, hadn't maintained the building, as was required in their lease and Town Counsel opined that occupancy by the church was illegal.

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In the intervening + 1 year, has anyone heard mention of RFPs (Request for Proposals)? Has there been any solicitation for ideas about using the property for community purposes?

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Instead the BOS is considering using the Rock Village School property for storage by the DPW to allow the Forest St. building, where the DPW currently has storage, to be used by veterans' groups. Or, possibly selling the Rock Village School property, in a depressed real estate market, which would allow for residential construction .

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At an earlier date, the BOS established a policy in which, land that could be used for residential construction would not be sold because real estate property costs the Town money in terms of services, specifically cost of education. Wasn't that the issue with the Cherry St. property?

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This one clearly bears watching because mostly the same short-sighted BOS is in place.

**Middleboro Eyes Wide Shut

Once upon a time, Wayne Perkins waved the banner and proclaimed that communities with casinos paid no real estate taxes.....


HUH?  We know where that comment originated.

So continued the Middleboro Brain Fart of misinformation.....

How'd that go fur ya?


The TRIBE now owns swamp land and pays nothing to the Town......

Jack Healey auctioned the LAND for a pittance along with other parcels on the pretense that he was saving the Town money by not hiring an experienced auctioneer, advertised only in the Middleboro Gazette not known for its wide circulation...sole bidder? Ahhhh....what a surprise!

Neil D. Rosenthal was in attendance...what was it Jack Healey stopped and whispered in Neil Rosenthal's ear on his way out of the auction?


For years, the Brain Dead Middleboro Republicans elected a State Rep...over...and...over...and...over...and...over...who never seemed to find his way into Boston, the Big City.....that never stopped the Brain Dead from continually electing him and 'earning' a PENSION....and much else if anyone was paying attention.....

And then of course, there's the STONE STREET DISASTER.....is anyone asking questions?

Gee....wasn't the retired Town Manager Jack Healey responsible for 'inspections' ?

How did more dirt get removed than was authorized and approved?



Now Middleboro Property Owners are asked to open their wallets and fund a sorely needed HIGH SCHOOL.....

...only an additional $500 per year for the next 30 years.....how long are you gonna live?


Local Real Estate listings rate:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL   POOR 

[How can you screw up ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?]

MIDDLE SCHOOL    FAIR 

HIGH SCHOOL     FAIR 



People flock to communities in which schools perform well...they don't flock to communities that offer a shiny new facility......

It's not a new paint job they are buying.


A recent drive to surrounding towns offered some insight about their expanding COMMERCIAL TAX BASE that reduces tax burdens on all.


Talk to developers or banks.

They refuse to consider Middleboro for commercial development because of its reputation and antics.

BOS Chairman Allin Frawley's temper tantrums are widely known and discussed.

Middleboro BOS meetings are watch by other communities.

Sad commentary.


Look around and wonder...who;s in charge?

MIDDLEBOROUGH: Irony or Hypocrisy? This isn't what it seems!

Under # 9, Hearings, Meetings & Licenses 

You will note that at: 

7:30 PM   A NEW HEARING was scheduled for the disaster on STONE STREET 


http://www.middleborough.com/selectmen/documents/BOS9-11-17.pdf




Watch the re-broadcast. 

You will note that former Town Manager Jack Healey got up and spoke....wasn't he Town Manager at the time ti DISASTER was created? 

As Town Manager, wasn't he responsible for earth removal inspections? 

How many times was Jack Healey called to that site when STUMPS were being buried? 


You will also note that former Selectman Neil Rosenthal rose to speak, failing to provide his street address.......wonder why? 

Was Neil Rosenthal Selectman at the time the DISASTER was created? 
Was he aware of it? 


Lots of things happened in MIDDLEBOROUGH because folks weren't paying attention...

maybe it's time to watch. 


This is YOUR TOWN and the DISASTERS that were created were KNOWN. 

For Former Town Manager Jack Healey and Former Selectman Neil Rosenthal to stand and speak against the DISASTER that was created during their times in office...... 

Is it IRONY OR HYPOCRISY? 



This deal SMELLED BAD from the beginning....WHY? 

There are photos available of this DISASTER. 

Part of the problem is that the entire Board of Selectmen lack the HISTORY of this DISASTER. 

Middleboro's Financial Geniuses

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

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

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September 2008, this was posted (emphasis mine):


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Healey's Legacy Continues to Haunt

Retired Middleboro Town Manager, Jack Healey is credited with being the architect of a scheme to purchase Chapter 61 land to prevent a 40B subdivision from being constructed abutting the Town's Plumbing Inspector on Fuller St.

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Since the Town had no money, the land was purchased for $1 MILLION through the Water Department Enterprise Account on the pretext of a Town Well Site which, of course, failed to appear.

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Didn't they need DEP approval to do so?

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Since the Board of Selectmen is charged in the Town Charter as Water Commissioners, some might wonder about their fiduciary responsibility to water ratepayers.

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Little noticed by most was that ONLY the back land was in Chapter 61 and Town Counsel ruled that the Town could NOT purchase the street frontage or ACCESS.

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When the developer offered deeded access to the Town free of charge, it was declined.

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So, now the Town owns a landlocked parcel and is looking for a use to justify the cost and repay the Water Enterprise Account and the folly.

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Using a right of way, gravel removal is underway that Mr. Healey explained would generate $4 MILLION. Endangered turtles got in the way, but not to stop!

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This parcel was discussed at last night's BOS meeting yet again and continues to haunt: an expensive purchase in pursuit of a use.

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It's in the records: Selectmen's Meeting Minutes

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The following discussion about the gravel project pertains to the Fuller Street property:

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SELECTMEN’S MEETING
APRIL 17, 2007

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Gravel Project – Black Friday News – We May Have Box Turtles!

Mr. Healey informed the Board that the site of the proposed gravel project, athletic playing fields and future school site may also be the home of the Eastern Box Turtle according to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program People.

We must hire an expert to see if they can find a turtle. Then we have to put a transmitter/locational device on the turtle and monitor his habitat area. Then maybe the State will allow us to hire someone to protect the turtle(s) we find from the heavy equipment while we mine the site and build the fields!

Life is good! (Especially if you are a turtle) LINK

Retired town manager willing to help town

The Herald News reports --


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

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

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

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

Consider it done --
Jack Healey

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?

Anyone know?

When the Brockton Enterprise announced the interim appointment of Retired Middleboro Town Manager Jack Healey to the ACTING position in Southbridge, the last sentence, little noticed, contained an almost ominous comment:

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Middleboro residents haven’t seen the last of Healey. He said he’s still volunteering at the Hub, at a children’s reading program. And he’s giving selectmen a hand sorting out drainage problems on Plain Street, and will meet with the engineers on Feb. 22. Enterprise

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No one seems able to answer who charged Mr. Healey with responsibility for those drainage problems. Maybe I dozed during the Selectmen's Meeting when it was discussed. Isn't that the road, that after many years of delay, was finally paved by Saxon Partners, owners of Oak Point?

Mr. Healey Inflicts Slap-Dash on Southbridge!

Retired Middleboro Town Manager, Mr. Jack Healey is known for his Slap-Dash Management style in which he auctioned land at a poorly publicized town auction to casino investors for a pittance of its value (~ $14,000 Per Acre), leaving the town to negotiate a flawed Intergovernmental Municipal Agreement with no bargaining chip left.

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(Of course, the money earned at that auction, one-time revenue, was used at the Fall Town Meeting to fund budget shortfalls, euphemistically called the Structural Deficit, a customary Middleboro practice.)

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Mr. Healey has taken his ill-considered management style to Southbridge to inflict a Mega Landfill on the region.

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With his vast scientific comprehension, he assures the leachate involved is essentially “dirty water." Telegram

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It looks like Southbridge needs more accurate reporting.

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One must wonder if Southbridge town leaders have the sense to recognize that more time is required to consider the ramifications of the project since Middleboro's leaders were easily lead down their primrose path.

Mr. Healey: Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

For inexplicable reasons, the Middleboro Board of Selectmen charged the Town Manager with inspection and enforcement of the Town's Earth Removal By-Laws.

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Those By-Laws allow Gravel Removal Operations on the pretext of creating cranberry bogs because after all, Middleboro is the Cranberry Capital.

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Many of those in their efforts to comply with their engineering plans complain of Mr. Healey's difficult dealings, but one of the biggest complaints seem to be from those who complied, but witnessed others being allowed to work with no permits with Mr. Healey's full knowledge.

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Ooops!

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One such project continued to excavate after hitting water. The gravel operation filled the deep holes with stumps cleared from the gravel removal and was covered with dirt to produce the weedy appearance of a bog, an adjoining subdivision created and the project abandoned.

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The stump dump will cause problems after Mr. Healey's demise, so who can blame him? What's a little methane between friends? inter alia.

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Don't you just hate those satellite photos that document these project, Jack?

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And don't you just hate those trouble makers who bothered to take photos?

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Keep in mind, Jack, that your casino sham activated folks who are participating, asking questions and wondering about what you have done to their Town.

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Democracy is NOT a Spectator Sport!

MASSterList: Charter commotion | McGee out | JOBS BOARD MONDAY

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 09/12/2016 Charter commotion | McGee out | JOBS BOARD MONDAY Jobs Board Monday MASSterList is your direct connection to Massachusetts' political news and commentary and our more than 14,000 subscribers who are scouring our Job Board for job openings in government and public policy organizations. Want to reach our engaged professional base at half the cost of average job posting sites? Please contact Bill Bagley at bbagley@massterlist.com for more information.

Happening Today

Baker meets with legislative leaders   Meetings between Gov. Charlie Baker and legislative leaders have tailed off since the end of the session on July 31, but they privately meet again today at Senate President Stan Rosenberg’s office, State House, 2 p.m.

'Higher Ground Moral Day of Action’   Local clergy, advocates and activists with gather at the State House as part of "Higher Ground Moral Day of Action" to call on lawmakers and candidates to embrace policies such as a $15 minimum wage, State House steps, 11 a.m.

Carmen protest privatization   Prior to today’s meeting of state transportation officials, the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 will hold an informational rally in opposition to planned privatization of MBTA services, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 11 a.m.

Green Line extension update   MassDOT officials and the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meet to get updates on the Green Line extension and other matters; an executive session is planned for a "discussion of strategy related to litigation and collective bargaining," 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 12 p.m.

South Coast rail hearing   The Department of Transportation and MBTA hold a public meeting to discuss the South Coast Rail project to restore passenger rail service between New Bedford and Boston. Bristol Community College, 2 Galleria Mall Dr., Taunton, 6:30 p.m. Today's News   Charter school commotion over education chair’s $100K donation   A personal $100,000 donation from the chairman of the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to the committee pushing the ballot question to expand charters schools is drawing intense fire from opponents of the question, reports the Herald’s Jack Encarnacao and Hillary Chabot. Paul Sagan, the board chair and a venture capitalist, is defending his contribution to the Campaign for Fair Access to Quality Public Schools, saying it was “completely appropriate.” But Question 2 opponents say the donation calls into question Sagan’s ability to be impartial on future charter school applications. “He should step down,” Steve Crawford, spokesman for the campaign to defeat Question 2. Boston Herald     Globe, UMass Boston, WBUR to host ballot-question debate   The Boston Globe, WBUR and the University of Massachusetts Boston will host the first of a series of debates on the four state ballot questions, starting Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. and featuring a proponent and opponent debating the Question 2 charter-school expansion initiative, UMass Boston has announced. The debate will be broadcast live from the McCormack Theatre on the UMass Boston campus on WBUR radio and will be live-streamed at BostonGlobe.com, WBUR.org, and umb.org. Boston Globe reporter David Scharfenberg and WBUR’s Meghna Chakrabarti will moderate the debate. UMass Boston     ‘Congressional bullying’   In an editorial, the Globe is blasting U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s investigation of Attorney General Maura Healey’s investigation into what ExxonMobil has known about climate change over the decades. The case has sparked heated debate on both sides, with Healey backers saying she has every right to explore the oil company’s past knowledge about climate change while critics say Healey is merely grandstanding on the issue. But the Globe said Smith, a Texas Republican, is crossing the line by interfering with Healey’s probe and demanding she hand over her own emails and documents to Congress. The Healey-vs-Smith showdown will be addressed later this week at a subcommittee hearing in Washington. Boston Globe     Email good-bye: McGee calls it quits as state Democratic chair   Embattled state Democratic party chairman Thomas McGee, who has been facing a growing list of potential challengers, won’t be seeking a second term as chair, reports Kevin Franck, a party activist and occasional Herald contributor who has posted McGee’s email to the party faithful last night announcing he won’t be running. McGee’s message is classy and urges Dems to fight hard to get Hillary Clinton elected president and to help other Dems win contests this November. But if McGee hadn’t voluntarily stepped down, he might well have been pushed out by disgruntled party members who say he hasn’t been tough enough on Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, among other things. Over the weekend, the Globe’s Jack Sullivan reported that two more candidates -- former lieutenant governor nominee Stephen J. Kerrigan and former Fitchburg mayor Lisa Wong – were poised to take on McGee, in addition to Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff. FranckTalk Remains of military veterans left in storage lockers amid cemetery dispute   The remains of more than 100 veterans of the U.S. military and their spouses sit in storage lockers, awaiting final burial as a contractor finishes an overdue expansion of the Agawam Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mike Deehan of WGBH reports. The project is four months behind schedule and the state agency overseeing the federally funded work has expressed frustration with the lead contractor, who in turn has blamed the state for some of the delays. "They're (in) like what you'd have for lockers in a gym where you lock up your clothes when you're taking your gym class, you know?"  said veteran Paul Cool, 87, who has been waiting for his late wife Jean, who died in February, to be interred in the new portion of the cemetery, Deehan reports. WGBH     Will Tito side with masses over booze tax?   Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson isn’t exactly saying “no” to a proposed 2 percent tax on all alcohol sold in the city, but he is saying he’s worried it might hurt local restaurants and other businesses, reports the Herald's Hillary Chabot. Jackson, who’s apparently mulling a run for mayor, may also be eyeing the fact that Massachusetts voters in 2011 rejected the legislature’s attempt to apply the state’s 6.25 sales tax on alcohol sold in the Bay State. Bottom line: The masses have signaled they don’t like sin taxes on top of sin taxes (there’s already a state wholesale tax on liquor and state and city restaurant meals taxes cover alcohol sales). In an editorial today, the Herald goes after the latest booze-tax idea: “The Boston City Council may be revisiting an ill-advised plan to raise taxes on alcohol sales in an effort to raise funds for addiction treatment and services. The councilors backing the proposal have identified the right problem but have concocted a predictable, punitive ‘solution.’”     Judge clears way for body camera launch    Some Boston police officers could begin wearing body cameras as soon as today after a judge on Friday denied an officers union’s request for an injunction to halt the pilot program. Michael Jonas of CommonWealth Magazine reports that Suffolk Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins denied the injunction after two days of hearings, saying that state law gives police commissioners broad authority over their departments. The BPD is expected to assign 100 officers to wear the devices after no volunteers came forward initially. CommonWealth Slots-parlor strategy seeks to put Revere first   The developer who managed to get a referendum question on the statewide ballot to allow a second slots parlor wants to first build local support and win an electoral victory in the host city of Revere, Sean Murphy of the Globe reports. Time is running out to schedule and hold a local referendum vote before the Nov. 8 statewide election, and developer Eugene McCain’s plan has both local support—the campaign claims a poll showed 66 percent support in Revere—and its share of detractors, including Mayor Brian Arrigo. “These are outside forces attempting to push their agenda at the expense of the city,” Arrigo said. Boston Globe     Brockton pols defend ‘trust act’ proposal   City councilors in Brockton are expected to vote Monday night on a proposed “trust act” that would assure illegal immigrants they will not be reported to federal officials unless they commit a crime. But officials say the measure stops short of making Brockton a Sanctuary City, Jack Encarnacao of the Herald reports. Some officials worry the move could put Brockton in a bind with federal funding should Donald Trump become president after the November election. Boston Herald     NH ballot selfie ban to be decided in Boston court   Because there is always a Massachusetts connection: A judge in Boston will hear an appeal of a lower-court decision to strike down a New Hampshire law that bans the online posting of ballot selfies, the Associated Press reports in a story carried by the Cape Cod Times. The case will be heard Tuesday in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Cape Cod Times Today's Headlines   Metro   Judge says body cam pilot can move forward - CommonWealth Magazine $500M Google-backed diabetes startup will set up Cambridge HQ - Boston Business Journal The MBTA chooses aptly-named ‘Transit App’ as its favorite smartphone program - Boston Globe Warren rallies with janitors for better pay and working conditions - Boston Globe   Massachusetts   Veterans ashes left in limbo as contractor and state clash over cemetery project - WGBH Superintendent turnover high across state - MetroWest Daily News Sanctioned site considered for homeless in Worcester - Telegram & Gazette To carry the state, slots developer seeks local support - Boston Globe Question 2 opponents slam $100G gift - Boston Herald Brockton politicians say Act isn’t ‘sanctuary’ - Boston Herald Denise Andrews of Orange withdraws from state rep. race - Telegram & Gazette New MassPort hire will have Worcester airport in his sights - Worcester Magazine   Nation   Clinton has long kept her personal health under wraps - Washington Post How Trump retooled his charity to spend other people’s money - Washington Post The man who tried to kill Reagan walks free-with conditions - WBUR