Monday, November 26, 2007

11/26/07 Selectmen's Meeting #2

A WRPD hearing for Alan Majors, Summer Street was held.

Clearly, the Chairwoman was unfamiliar with the information contained in her 'packet' that is hand-delivered prior to the weekend via police officer to ensure that each BOS member has an opportunity to review the packet and BE PREPARED prior to the meeting.

Selectman Spataro conspicuously sat with nothing in front of him as if bored. Didn't Mr. Spataro proclaim that this was the Major Leagues? At least he was on time this week.
This is yet another week when Mr. Spataro has sat without the microphone in front of him. Has he noticed? The audience might want to hear his jokes and giggles.
Water/Wastewater/Trash Fee/Fire Protection liens were discussed amounting to ~ $380K.
Selectman Spataro was reviewing the booklet distributed to him in his packet during the meeting - clearly unprepared.
When Selectman Rogers questioned the BOS's previously implemented policy regarding the dollar amounts for advertising and liens, especially for small dollar amounts, the Chairwoman seemed to vaguely recall previous discussion, but little interest was shown.
Is Selectman Rogers the only one awake on the Board?
Lest you dismiss this as trivial, many of the dollar amounts are trivial -- as in under $10. Several were commented on as being $.17, $1.80 or $5.
When Steve McKinnon rose to ask a question, the Chairwoman's response was 'Quickly, this is not a public hearing.'
Mr. McKinnon's question was whether the town charged a pro-rated amount to re-coup its costs. Seems like a valid question for a resident to ask.
So, townspeople can only ask questions at specified times?
How does she manage to be rude even without her gavel?
Where are the rules posted?
During public hearings, the Chairwoman says the same thing. When exactly can townspeople ask questions, Madame Chairman?
When Bob Dunphy rose to ask a question, the Chairwoman's response was the same.
Bob Dunphy's question was 'can the list be posted on the Town's Web Site?'
The Chairwoman's response was essentially 'No! They know what they owe!'
That's right, Marsha. For Seventeen Cents, let's lien the property, advertise and proclaim the dead-beat! Never mind the cost! Never mind what makes sense. And never mind that you could have researched previous policy if policies and procedures were computerized. But, I'm sorry that I forgot you're not into computer technology and how it could streamline town function.
And they failed to indicate the actual numbers of nominal amounts, but let's not bother with the details.
Watch for the paid advertisement and take a look at the nominal amounts. Some of those might even be Town errors.
More to follow!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

After watching the selectmans meetng last night, I am once again left with questions. I am wondering who if anyone gave the firefighters permission to do mechanical work as mentioned at the meeting to remove a pump, go get anothr pump and replace the pump in one of the town owned vehicles. Are any of the firefighters licensed mechanics or can just any volunteer do mechanical work on vehicles we the town pay for? Was this how all the problems with the fire station handled as well? UNLICENSED firefighters TRYING to Mickey Mouse problems in the fire station?