The current board of selectmen continue to do what they seem to do best, ignore Town by-laws, Massachusetts general laws and their own policies and procedures. So why do they continue to propose more policies and more guidelines when they do not follow the ones already in existence. Also at last nights workshop, they admitted that under the direction of the DOR (at least that is what was stated) the Town is going to basically write off many things (as in dollars) to "clean up" the books and start fresh. Sounds like they are not nor have they "fixed or solved" anything, they just swept in under the rug. In my opinion, anyway.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Last night at the meeting one thing kept crossing my mind. It was a posting you made in reference to a comment of mine back about 2 months ago. You posted the BOS Policies and Procedures which included the policy for the meeting agenda and whose job it was to make sure it was followed.
ReplyDeleteAlong those lines, can anyone tell me how John Caplis is on the economic development committee? They voted in October to expand the committee from 3-5 members.
I can find nothing about the "set up" or "suggested structure" of the EDC but does his appointment pass section 21a?
Is the EDC a subcommittee of the BOS?
Who knows ? Where did they post that there were openings for this committee ? When did they meet, and where ? Caplis wanted to put articles on the town meeting warrant, but missed the deadline. He would have slid them in if he could have gotten away with it. I thought I heard him say they sent letters out to different big businesses ? I feel this is too underhanded from the start, and that gives me a uneasy feeling. Bev.
DeleteThey should be meeting in the evenings in my opinion, not at 9am where the public cannot attend. The board appointed John caplis, I make a lot of the motions out of habit. I know that Kirk Moschetti is now appointed and glen Eaton as well. I don't recall appointing other members. There are warrant articles slated for the Fall meeting, but this needs many more open forums and public awareness and input.
DeleteThe DOR is telling us what to do. Kelli had worked hard to find all the errors in previous years and now has to put hem where they belong. Please don't say we are sweeping one thing under the rug as that is not the case as all. I will send you the meeting minutes that are in our book.
ReplyDeleteDiane, Is the EDC a "subcommittee of the BOS" I ask this as you nominated John for the position on the EDC and if its a committee it would appear, unless more info is available, that he is not eligible to be on that committee.
DeleteIt just seems we have placed BOS members on/in multiple committees, boards, etc with good intentions, for continuity, but the practice seems to have acted more like a virus. Accepting statements, info based on the idea of continuity is great if the info is good, but when it's bad it removes discussion, debate, and denials.
I've asked Holly for copies of all Board, committee and Commission members as it appears it cannot be found in one location, at least by me. How many people serve on multiple boards, Committees and commissions? Do any of them have a conflict. Do they all have a right to be there?
Diane,
DeleteIt seems are we fortunate to have Kelly. I just hope that since we've identified a competent person we don't over burden her with babysitting, prodding, reminding everyone else to do their jobs.
Policies and Procedures. The town needs to give its employee the ability to succeed. Thats managements job. Employees need to know whats expected of them and be held to that standard. It's not like much of this stuff is a mystery. The town has some fairly basic functions.
Setting up the town to be more proactive and less reactive is a good plan. Capital planning and Capital management can't be handled so carelessly.
We are extremely fortunate to have kelli and at this time she is willingly doing what needs to be done. There are times I am sure she is burnt and that is why we have vacation time. She takes time she needs to recoup. I agree we cannot mishandle committees and what needs to be done. We are working on that, but there is only so much time in a day for us as board members also. EDC is a committee on its own. The BOS doesn't have any subcommittees we serve on other committees like I am on the school building committee and facilities committee at the school and school budget subcommittee. I bring information back to the BOS and TA. I am not aware of conflict and I will look at the by laws again but I know I looked at them before and I believe we are fine.
DeleteAnd Bob, I would welcome a sit down coversatiin anytime as it's easier to communicate that way. You have good questions and thoughts and I like to reason things out.
DeleteWait a minute. You are on the facilities committee for the NRSD? Well then tell everyone why the windows have had peeling paint for YEARS with nothing done about it?
DeleteDiane,
DeleteI'd be willing to sit down sometime and talk.
Take a look at :http://www.mass.gov/ethics/education-and-training-resources/educational-materials/explanations-of-the-conflict-of-interest-law/selectmen-summary.html
Section E: Appointments by the Board of Selectmen (Section 21A)
As a Selectman, you generally cannot be appointed to any position, paid or unpaid, that is both appointed by the Board of Selectmen and is under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen. You must wait 30 days after you finish serving as a Selectman before you are eligible to be appointed to such a position (5) or you must receive approval for the appointment at an annual town meeting of the town. You may submit a resume or otherwise indicate an interest in such a position while still being on the Board, but the Board may not take any actions regarding your expression of interest until after the 30-day cooling off period. For more information about this restriction, see Advisory No. 96-01: Municipal Officials Being Appointed to Positions under their own Boards
Appointments~ Ms. Haley brooks made a motion to appoint John Caplis to
Deletethe Economic Development Committee for a term ending June 30, 2017. Mr.
Columbus seconded the motion. The vote was 4 yes.
Why is Holly still employed here, purposely breaking up bids to get 1 contractor all the work is illegal, she knew it, it's part of the job to know. By keeping her employed shows the BOS does not give a shit
ReplyDeleteIt kinda concerns me also that ,if my memory serves me, the IG reviewed this and thats why we town hall had the "training" maybe back in March. I think it was on the same day as the MFOB thing for some reason or right around there.
DeleteThis all falls under my "accountability" problem. I mean, I'd be the type of ass that would talk to town counsel and see if we can "claw back" wages from Markel who was obviously unqualified, but thats just me.
Anonymous-get your facts straight before you comment. And why do you post anonymously? Is it because you do not want to back up your comments with fact?
Delete(Disclaimer: I do not read this blog or the "other blog"-I was told by someone that does read it that my name was mentioned several times in a derogatory manner, so I decided to see what was being said. I am not here for discussion, only to respond to slanderous comments that have been made about me and only so anyone that may read this blog will know that they are false.)
I work under the direction of the Town Administrator & Board of Selectmen. The Town Administrator is the Procurement Officer. Any bids & contracts I work on are done under the direction of the current Procurement Officer, which means I do the "leg work" and go to the Procurement Officer for ALL decisions, which includes every step of the process- from getting quotes to finalizing the contract. That's why my title has the word "Assistant" in it. If you want to lay blame for what you perceive as a blatant error, you need to look elsewhere. I respectfully ask that you stop slandering my name on the internet.
Holly is now officially part of the liars club by denying the truth, instead of just saying sorry and moving on. She knew what she was doing when she intentionally broke the work into separate jobs to be under the bid limit. The attempt to blame others for her actions speaks to who she is as a person. Again an apology would have been better than this.
DeleteHolly,
DeleteIf you come here to defend yourself against what you feel are unfair attacks you probably should realize that assisting someone in violating rules is not a blameless roll.
I'm not 100% sure what your title is as I've sen it listed in many ways, but an administrative assistant, senior legal assistant or whatever your position is called requires you to follow laws regardless of what you are told by administrators.
Coming on here and saying. I only "assisted" the TA in violating bids/contracts. He told me to do it is, well, bullshit!
Lets also get something clear. This was NOT and ERROR! You are not telling me that either of these men who have held this position lately did not KNOW exactly what was happening. If they didn't, well they lied expressing their qualifications.
How do you feel you were slandered? When you "Assist" someone in breaking the rules you have broken the rules. Joint venture, Conspiracy these speak to "assisting".
I understand that you nor anyone else likes to be called out for doing things improperly, but facts are facts. You admitted you "assisted" in the process. Take responsibility and move on or out. The idea of coming here and denying any responsibility because you were only the "assistant" is childish and is exactly the reason we are in this mess to begin with. You cannot come here and call it "slander" because you don't like the truth. You did assist. It is part of your job.
Your telling us that at no time did any of this seem odd to you? The bids/contracts never once made you question these actions? Scary!
Slander= make false and damaging statements about (someone).
Anon
ReplyDeleteHaven't you been paying attention!!
The schools don't do maintenance so they just run them in the ground and expect a new school in 50 years
What floors me about the new school there saying life span of that building is 50 years he'll just finish paying it off and time for a new one !!
Two people in town hall have put a dark cloud over the whole place, and that is not fair to the other people, that do they jobs and work hard to make things work. Holly owes these people and the public an apology for her actions. She did not think she was going to get caught, and it was our money she threw away, by not going out to bid. She has proven that she is not trustworthy, and should not be in the position she is in. Bev.
DeleteBev: As a representative of the Town's Advisory Committee, you should be ashamed of yourself for what you write on these blogs without fact to back up your comments. I owe nobody an apology! I work very hard and do my job to the best of my ability and I do it under the direction of the Town Administrator/Procurement officer. You have no idea what my job entails and have no right to comment on my performance, especially in public on the internet in a defamatory manner.
Delete(Disclaimer: I do not read this blog or the "other blog"-I was told by someone that does read it that my name was mentioned several times in a derogatory manner, so I decided to see what was being said. I am not here for discussion, only to respond to slanderous comments that have been made about me and only so anyone that may read this blog will know that they are false.)
As I told "anonymous", I work under the direction of the Town Administrator & Board of Selectmen. The Town Administrator is the Procurement Officer. Any bids & contracts I work on are done under the direction of the current Procurement Officer, which means I do the "leg work" and go to the Procurement Officer for ALL decisions, which includes every step of the process- from getting quotes to finalizing the contract. That's why my title has the word "Assistant" in it. If you want to lay blame for what you perceive as a blatant error, you need to look elsewhere. I respectfully ask that you stop slandering my name on the internet.
So it looks like Holly is saying Carter did this illegal hiring of 1 contractor for all jobs regardless, In his position He ABSOLUTELY knew the rules.
DeleteWhy is he still here getting raises
Mike, I didn't expect DHB to respond to am Anon. But the question remains out there. Why has there been no action taken, for YEARS, to fix the peeling paint. Gansett (not so) greatness. Sad.
ReplyDelete