KoolAid at the Enterprise!

Letter to editor:

It's certainly rewarding to know that you read my missive!

Disappointing is that you have ignored the facts.

To dismiss Middleboro's current fiscal situation as being similar to all other cities and towns and to assess blame proclaims that you have drunk the Kool Aid, like others.

There are advantages that set Middleboro apart that you have ignored.

That Middleboro has a G&E that has prevented borrowing should set the Town above others.

That Middleboro is blessed with the generosity of the Peirce Trustees should set the Town above others.

The Peirce Trustees' largesse should be used for the 'frills,' but instead has been employed for the necessities that are no longer affordable.

The Middleboro Finance Committee lacked the funds to pay for the cost of an 'audit' and requested the DOR to conduct an audit.

When the Middleboro FinComm received the DOR response, they were advised that the DOR required a written request from the BOS. Were you aware?

That was how the DOR Report came into existence.
Have you reviewed it?

One of the most striking monetary recommendations
contained in the report is the adoption of quarterly real estate tax billing.

The Town Treasurer has estimated that that alone would net the Town $50,000 PER MONTH.

Isn't that the deficit from the ATM?
Do you recall?

Have you noticed how many NEW TOWN EMPLOYEES have been hired?

The DOR Report raised the issue of 'A PLAN.'

Mr. Perkins said the BOS had 'A PLAN.'

Where is it? Have you seen it?
Where is it posted?

Mr. Perkins said the DOR Report had been implemented. Where?

The BOS hired a NEW Town Accountant. Have you reviewed his contract?

Are you aware that the Accountant earned $63,000 in Freetown, was hired by Middleboro for $75,000 FOR A 4 DAY WORK WEEK.

Does that mean he's working 4 - 10 hour days?
It's not in the contract.

Do you have a copy of the Confidentiality Agreement he signed?

When he finds a tv set charged to the Town, as the previous Town Accountant did, what do you think his actions will be according to the terms of that Confidentiality Agreement?

When Middleboro finds itself in the same position as Bridgewater next year, will you simply whine that it's similar to all other cities and towns?

Each time I hear that specious claim, I am reminded of young children who lament that their peers are wearing certain clothes.

Have we become such clones that we are incapable of thought that sets us apart from others?

I raised the issue of 'Legal Affairs' as described in the Middleboro Town Charter. Have you reviewed that section of the Town Charter?

How does Middleboro conform to the prescribed Charter provisions? What is Town Counsel's salary? What is Middleboro disbursing in legal fees? Why is Town Counsel billing Middleboro for $150 an hour?

When I requested a list of Town-owned vehicles, the list was generated by the insurance agency.
There are 212 items on the lists, most with a $500 deductible.

Any frugal person, seeking to reduce their expenses, fully realizes that the first $1,000 is the most expensive to insure.

Have you reviewed the list?

When was the last time the Board of Selectmen conducted an audit of Town owned vehicles?

I was reminded by former Selectman M. Victor Sylvia that the Town, at one time, had insured 2 vehicles that were no longer owned by the Town.

Is that the case now? How do you know?

It would seem to make sense to track ALL town-owned vehicles within town departments to track mileage, maintenance, project replacement, and a multitude of other uses.

Have you read the Auditors' Report?

Should you be interested, I can send you a copy in pdf format. Perhaps it's too dull & boring in its description of lack of fiscal controls, but that's the substance of the recall.

It is my understanding that the matter of the Selectmen's Secretary receiving a 36% pay increase, increasing her salary to $66,000 per year was resolved last week.

My understanding is that the Meeting Minutes from the Executive Sessions become public once the matter is resolved. Have you requested them under FOIA? I understand what transpired. Do you?

Clearly, there are many more issues to be raised.

Should you care to disagree with me based on issues with factual information that would seem justifiable. That you chose to use your platform without facts seems dubious.

Voters are beginning to pay attention, become involved, attend meetings and understand the issues. I hope you'll do the same.


AS A PERSONAL FOOTNOTE: I HAVE THE AUDITORS' REPORT AVAILABLE IN pdf FORMAT, AS WELL AS A DOR REPORT OF ALL CITIES & TOWNS THAT LIST # OF RESIDENTS TO TOWN EMPLOYEES. POST A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS & I WILL FORWARD THEM TO YOU.

Town-Owned Vehicles: What's their cost?

When I requested a list of Town Owned vehicles, it originated from the insurance agent, and not from the Town.

Does that mean the Town fails to generate the list FOR the agent?

There were a total of 212 items on that list, most with deductibles of $500, even a number of items with low values.

Those of us who are 'frugal,' quickly figured out that the first insured increment is the most expensive. Simply put, by increasing your insurance deductible, you quickly reduce your premiums. The first increment, let's say increasing from $500 to $1,000, might pay itself back in cost savings in 2 years. (The actuarial logic of the insurance industry appears to be the impact of trivial 'nuisance claims.')

Former Selectman Victor Sylvia reminded me that when he was Selectman, there were a number of vehicles that were no longer usable or owned by the Town that were being insured.

It has been many years since an audit was done of Town owned vehicles although the Selectmen are charged as 'Auditors' in the Town Charter, but the issues has additional ramifications.

As a taxpayer, do you think it should be audited annually?

There are a number of 'Enterprise' accounts that are not being charged for the vehicles' insurance, use or expenses.

The Water/Wastewater may come quickly to mind, but what of the matter of the Trash fees/Trash department whose costs and expenses remain ignored and unexplained?

It has been disclosed to taxpayers that the Water/Wastewater costs have been underestimated by the Selectmen acting as 'Water Commissioners' and non-users are subsidizing those costs.

While my critics are already groaning that this is yet another petty issue being raised, they fail to note that each of those blue municipal plates cost ~ $ 5,000 to insure.

Shouldn't the appropriate costs be attributed to each department?

Are we misleading ourselves with questionable accounting?

But the broader issue is that with rising fuel costs, those costs are not attributed to the appropriate departments, and no reasonable approach has been established for vehicle use.

Let's say that a department, hypothetically let's say that an employee working for the Health Department, uses her vehicle a great deal, but travels around town. Let's say 'she' travels 50,000 miles per year, so consequently requires a reasonably 'new' vehicle and fuel efficiency should be a consideration.

Hypothetically, let's say that the Assessors need a vehicle, but only travel 5,000 miles per year, but the cost of insurance is ~ $5,000.

Because of the lack of accurate information maintained in the Town, the Selectmen are unable to make an informed decision.

Surely, acting as 'Auditors' the Selectmen should have the information readily available on periodic reports to audit fuel consumption and costs. But shouldn't department heads also have the information recorded to track maintenance, costs, fuel consumption?

And since Selectman Perkins has experience within the insurance commission, shouldn't he be speaking out for periodic reviews of ALL insurance costs? And what of those deductibles?

212 INSURED ITEMS AT ~ $5,000 EACH ISN'T A PITTANCE, unless it's not your money.

Equipment Planning Committee

In a previous entry, I raised the issue of insurance costs and town owned vehicles.

Town Owned Vehicles

The cost isn't cheap and the oversight is non-existent.

It would seem reasonable, since the Town has ~ 212 items insured, that periodic audits are accomplished and departments are aware of the vehicles for which they should be responsible.

Since the Board of Selectmen are charged as AUDITORS in the Town Charter, it is logical the expect them to be progressive in their consideration of the matter.

Voters, who are now paying attention, have raised important issues that a Board that never listened fails to consider.

Does it make sense to conduct periodic mileage reviews and record the use of each department and vehicle? Were that accomplished, could the Town better anticipate vehicle purchases? Should we be examining maintenance costs? Is there a current town-wide maintenance policy or does it get accomplished in a disorganized fashion? Are town owned vehicles being properly maintained?

Does the Assessors' Office usage justify a gas-guzzling SUV?

And what of the fire trucks? Does it make sense to replace the ladder truck when the repairs seem cost-effective?

Are there fleet managers living within the Town who could offer assistance?

Since each vehicle costs ~ $5,000 to insured, voters have questioned whether the 12 spare cruisers parked around the police station make sense.

And voters seem to have many more questions the current Board of Selectmen aren't hearing or addressing.

Would it make sense to have an Equipment Planning Committee?