Courage, Heroism, Arrogance, Cowardice and Truth

As the year draws to a close and our historical custom of reflection surrounds us, the most striking presence has been COURAGE and HEROISM.

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Ordinary, anonymous citizens came together to oppose something they knew was just plain wrong. They sacrificed their anonymity and endured venomous attacks, criticisms, catcalls.

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More than a thousand signed recall petitions to replace a tyrannical board.

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One truly heroic Middleboro Mom stood before a crowd of orange-t-shirted, out-of-town goons and was booed for her public tears.

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One cowardly Middleboro elected official gavelled truth and opposition to silence while allowing cheers, disruptions, signs, supportive out-of-towners like Bob Saquet to ramble endlessly and the ever-present photographer climbing over furniture.

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Five arrogant elected officials decided they knew best the future path of Middleboro and followed like mindless Bobble Heads a scheme that appears hatched by the former Town Manager and Wayne Perkins to avert the fiscal train wreck they created.

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One frail tribal elder heroically questioned tribal finances, a question the state and feds noticed. She was shunned, isolated and expelled for her heroism.

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Amelia Bingham's courage should stand as a lesson to us all about our personal values about 'doing what is right.'

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Ordinary anonymous citizens have crossed Middleboro's borders to offer support, speak out in protest and join the fight to circulate the facts of this flawed endeavor.

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The Regional Task Force has courageously shunned Middleboro's participation.

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Rep. Tom Calter courageously spoke to the facts of a casino presence on surrounding communities and the flawed Middleboro Agreement.

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Middleboro's other reps and state senator instead chose the cowardly path of campaign support.

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An arrogant Middleboro official foolishly challenged Middleboro's Reps. to pledge support, even as his career and image are imploding. (Some may remember that he defended a convicted rapist by saying 'everyone has skeletons in their closet' and criticized the League of Women Voters for their impartial analysis of casino gambling.)

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Middleboro Superintendent and School Committee lacked the courage to gather the facts and make an informed decision, as did the Police Union and others. The Casino Study Committee defined itself, as did its chairman.

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Ordinary anonymous citizens around the state are speaking out, participating and recognizing flawed public policy.

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Organizations have stepped forward to analyze and publicize the flawed figures.

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The greatest cowardice were those too intellectually lazy to examine the facts, review the flaws in the Agreement, reflect on the future or step away from the cheering crowd.

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The greatest heroism arose from those willing to speak Truth to Power and endure the daggers of criticisms because they're winning.

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Let's make the New Year filled with COURAGE AND HEROISM of those willing to speak against well-funded international investors and campaign contributors. Let's fill the year with TRUTH.

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Best wishes for an enlightening holiday season.

Trash Fees

To understand the failure of the Board of Selectmen to appropriately address flawed fiscal policy by continually using one time revenues or bandaid solutions, the genesis of Trash Fees is worthy of note (Additional meeting minutes available on the Town's Web Site provide more information.):

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JUNE 9, 2003

Selectwoman Brunelle noted that Department Heads had presented level funded budgets. $940,000 of the problem goes back to 1990 and has never been addressed.
Mr. Healey noted that layoffs will effect 12 full-time people, 4 vacant positions and 2 part-time positions. He said each week delaying the layoffs creates more of a shortfall.
It was noted that a $200 trash and recycling fee would generated $1.2 million. It still would not give the Town the $1.8 million that it needs. It also would not give the School Department the additional $600,000 that they are requesting. Increasing Local Receipts will temporarily deal with the additional shortfall. Beyond that, permanent sources of revenue have to be established.
Mr. Healey noted that the Building Commissioner and Health Officer would like to come back before the Board to discuss fee increases.
Chairman Perkins said, if he had to make a choice, he would rather see trash and recycling fees implemented. He said a Debt Exclusion only effects people who own property.

http://www.middleborough.com/Selectmen/Minutes/June%20Minutes/June%202003/June%209,%202003.htm



SELECTMEN’S MEETING
JUNE 2, 2003

Selectman Eayrs noted that a fee for trash and recycling could wipe out the rest of the debt.

The idea of maximizing receipts runs the risk of leaving us in a worse position next year. However, at that point trash fees could be implemented.

Empty-Prize, Poor Coverage & A News Vacuum

The Empty-Prize has long since ceased being a reputable source of local coverage, but the article below, appearing on WEDNESDAY pretending to comment on the MONDAY, 11/19 BOS Meeting is more lacking than its usual poor quality.

An examination of the coverage available for surrounding towns indicates that the media group similarly shortchanges the entire region. So much for media consolidation!

The Selectmen's Meeting was + 3 hours long, covered a wide range of issues, several rather significant, and that's all that was Fit to Print?

Selectmen Chairman Marsha L. Brunelle said she was “tired” of the negative statements regarding a casino in Middleboro

Of Mrs. Brunelle's comments, one might ask where and when she allowed the public to ask questions or comment.

Anyone recall the well-deserved nickname 'Gavel Queen'? Anyone remember Mrs. Brunelle reading a determination from the state affirming her RIGHT to ignore voters right to speak at public meetings? When did the Middleboro BOS in their arrogance present unbiased information? How about that 'INFORMATIONAL MEETING' that was to be held prior to the Town Meeting From Hell?

To paraphrase Mrs. Brunelle's comments, when will voters 'tire' of her?

“This is an economic engine for the region and it will bring other things that are more positive,” said Perkins.

Is that why the need to cram it down everyone's throat with no dialogue, discussion or fact finding? Is that why you sold the Town for $7 Million, Mr. Perkins?

Middleboro doesn't belong on the Regional Task Force and the arrogance of the BOS is embarrassing!

Officials: Newsletter unfairly targets casino
By Eileen Reece, Enterprise correspondent
MIDDLEBORO— Selectmen made it clear Monday night that the November newsletter of the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, which targeted the proposed casino in Middleboro, was an unfair attack, and the board voted unanimously to invite the executive director to meet with SRPEDD officials to discuss it.

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2007/11/21/news/news/news18.txt