There have been many comments here and in the newspaper that have questioned what is the new direction that some Select Board members want to take the town. Those who have been reading my posts here should have a pretty good understanding of what that direction is. When I campaigned for election early this year, I said as much (see here). I have posted about priorities, planning (here and here), and changing the way in which the town delivers services through consolidation of departments, privatizing or contracting out services, and regionalizing services with other towns (see here and here). Even though the town government has increased fees ($1.8 million for trash) and the voters ...
...passed a $2.1 million override, our fiscal woes continue. The town is facing a $800K deficit next year even without any pay increases for non-school town employees. What we have done in the past is not going to work going forward. Dartmouth's finances are not in a temporary slump, this deficit is going to be persistent and ever increasing. We need to fundamentally change the way that the town government operates and delivers services in order to change that dynamic.
I and others on the Select Board think that new leadership is needed to provide new direction to meet that challenge. The changes that will be required must be driven by the top administrators of the town. Half measures and temporary fixes have been tried and failed. We need to drastically reduce the number of employees that the town needs to deliver services. That reduction is going to happen whether forced by deficits or by new methods of providing those services. It is not a matter of if, but how these reductions are made.
Some in the papers and in comments have pointed out that our current administrator has not been insubordinate, incompetent or incapacitated. That is not the standard which has lead me to this decision. What I considered is whether or not the current administrator can and will provide the leadership, innovation and new ideas needed to get Dartmouth to fiscal health. I am not discounting his long service, commitment to the town or knowledge. While taking those factors into consideration, I have still come to the conclusion that the town is better served by making this change.
Monday, December 1, 2008
New direction
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52 comments:
So, your saying Mike Gagne has refused to listen to and/or offer any suggestions to help reduce costs for this town? Because after all, that is what your talking about. Reducing costs. I think he has brought more to the table in this regard than you have. What has the three amigos offered or suggested to reduce costs in the town? I know what you wrote sounds nice but what is the substance? Where would you cut, who would you cut, when would you cut? Why were you elected? Just to point out we are in trouble? What leadership have you provided? Are you saying Mike Gagne is incapable of providing sound input to achieve the same means? Please state it tonight and you can show the whole town how ignorant you are.
Frank, I direct you to the town charter, section 3-2(b) which says "Provided however, nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any member of the select board, nor a majority of such members, to become involved in the day-to-day administration of any town agency. It is the intention of this provision that the select board shall act only through the adoption of broad policy guidelines which are to be implemented by officers and employees serving under it." Perhaps you were ignorant of this provision :^)
As far as why I was elected, I think it was because the voters wanted a different direction on the Select Board.
I said we need a change in leadership to get new ideas and new perspectives.
Frank what has Michael brought to the table? You are asking Bill to list his suggestions. Can you list Michael's or does it just sound nice? The town cannot start making cuts, privatizing or doing anything else until we have an executive administrator who can direct department heads to prioritize their budgets and make recommendations. Michael has not done this. Is it because he doesn't understand what needs to be done or is he just refusing to do so? We need someone who can get it done.
Bill was elected because a very large majority of the town didn't share your opinion that he is ignorant. A large majority liked his ideas and the way he conducts himself. He has no agenda, just a genuine desire to do what is best for the town. Anyone reading the posts on this blog can hardly think Mr. Trimble is ignorant. It sounds more like a child's knee-jerk response when not getting his/her way.
Thank you Mr. Trimble. I'm glad you are sticking to your original vote, not in renew Mr. Gagne's contract. I think this is something that should have been done long before now, but better late than never. Dartmouth and other communities are feeling the crunch. We need to do things differently. Thanks, it's about time!
As Trimble has posted the SB can only direct the executive administrator. It is up to the person in that position to carry out what has been outlined by the SB. I have witnessed the SB direct Mr. Gagne to come up with a plan. I have also witnessed the SB direct Mr. Gagne to make public executive session minutes. He has done neither. I would have to assume that these examples are not the only things he has been directed to do by the SB. Is it lack of knowledge or stubborness? Either way it is not to the town's advantage to have him remain in this position.
Good luck at the circus tonight Bill. Don't get run over by all the clowns!
I think the misguided voters have found out they made a mistake by electing Mr. Trimble. He would not win that election if it were held today. It sounds like the SB is looking for a puppet in the administrator's position according to MR. Trimble's comments. If that is the case, we will save Mike's whole salary minus the cost of the puppet. I'll contact Gipetto to see if there is one available.
Its become clear today the Standard Times the areas only large newspaper in a late article today on its website says they are friends with the town administrator and the friendship between the paper and the town administrator is more important than fair and balanced reporting by a newspaper . The paper has printed articles in favor of their friend on a ten to one ratio to try and save their friend. This is an example of the reporting that took place in the 1950s a place where the SouthCoast has remained fifty years behind the times because in part any lack of investagative reporting on behalf of the newspaper ! http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081201/NEWS07/81201004
Trimble is a demagogue. He offers nothing of substance. He never has and he never will. So he's good with words... big deal! All of his cheap talk doesn't do a thing to help the Town. He's just part of a small group of malcontents who managed to capitalize on challenging financial times caused by outside forces to push their agenda.
Trimble and his cronies are professional whiners! But if you ask them to actually DO something - ANYTHING - they'll find a way to rationalize why they don't have to. I mean, really... it's unbelieveable!
The best example is right here in this thread on this blog. Trimble cites his popularity as having roots in people wanting a new direction. What is his new direction? It's the almighty "plan". But what does he do when asked what HE is doing to create a plan? He ducks for cover and says "not my job, man".
If we weren't such in a sad state of affairs because of Trimble and his cronies, stuff like this would be laugh-out-loud funny.
They will go as swiftly as they arrived. And when they do, I say good riddance.
Thank you Select Board for having the courage to stick to your convictions. It was not an easy thing for you to do tonight but in the end we will all be better off for it.
The misinformation given out at tonight's meeting by Mr. Gagne's supporters was amazing. One can hardly blame these supporters if they truly believe what they are saying. The master plan is the town plan??? You've got to be kidding? The Select Board is responsible for the plan??? The majority of the town was being represented at the meeting?
What I found to be really disturbing is some of the statements made by Bob Carney and Nathalie Dias. Mr. Carney accused Ms. Gilbert of wanting Mr. Gagne's job. Ms. Dias who is supposed to represent the town's best interests pratically told Mr. Gagne to sue the town. It is no wonder that some citizens are clueless when you have town officials behaving like this.
Thank you to Bill, Diane & Joe for having the courage and foresight to try and get us out of this mess.
Regarding misinformation. Can you believe that Michael Gagne actually believed that the 34 page document that Kathleen Horan Mclean was waving around during the 2007 override was "the plan"? Pretty scary.
If some of the people speaking tonight claim to love the town, then I respectfully request that they never love me. A select board member encouraging a law suit against the town? Now we'll get to see how much Mike Gagne really loves the town. Will he accept the decision or sue? It cracked me up to hear the opinion of Savastano where he recommends getting rid of the contract clause that he approved of in the first place. These people don't love the town, they love what they extract from the tax base. I don't think there was one special interest that wasn't represented tonight. Thanks Joe, Bill and Diane. It must have been like chinese water torture for you tonight. You are true American heroes. Long live democracy in America.
Trimble got his you-know-what handed to him by the public last night. He sure didn't look too happy during the meeting. Some of those who spoke have enormous political influence in town, and will see this issue through until Trimble, Gilbert and Michaud get tossed out.
Is anyone surprised that Barry Walker chimed in with his desire to get rid of Gagne? He's another of the founding members of the Hathaway Road Gang. And, he's just like Trimble - all talk and no work. But he does love his publicity.
This chapter in the Hathaway Road Gang's "plan" is done now. The Gang's agents (Trimble, Gilbert and Michaud) have gotten rid of Mike Gagne. I'm sure Iacaponi will be next.
It doesn't matter to them if things improve. If they don't, they'll just find someone else to pin problems on. That's what the Hathaway Road Gang does.
I hope Mike Gagne does sue the Town and succeeds by winning a huge financial judgement.
By the way, does anyone know if Barry Walker pays a higher business property tax rate on the portion of his property that he uses for business? Does he write off any of the property as a business expense on his federal tax filings? Because he certainly does run a business from his residence. Massachusetts tax classification laws treat property with mixed (residential and business) uses by taxing each portion of the property at the appropriate tax rate based on percentage of usage for residential versus business purposes.
If you look at his property listings on the Assessors online database, it doesn't appear he pays the higher business property rate on any of the property. Hmmmm.
If Walker uses any of the property for business, he should pay the higher business property tax rate on that portion. I hope the Board of Assessors picks up on this.
What say you, Bill? I'm truly curious on your opinion regarding this issue, as it likely applies to many other properties in Town. As you must know, when any property in under-taxed, the result is the rest of the taxpayers having to pay more to subsidize the under-taxed property. In other words, if Walker is under-taxed, the rest of us are being over-taxed to cover what he should have been paying!
Thank you Bill, Diane and Joe for making a very tough decision. Being a select person is not about cutting ribbons and going to restaurant openings. Our previous boards let the status quo and their comfort zone rule their time on the board. Shame on the previous board for putting that clause in Gagne's contract!
Shame on MILLER,HORAN-MACLEAN,DIAS, & CARNEY, (Diane had the courage NOT to sign).
We now have a board that is looking out for the best interest of the town, not their own best interest. It was not an easy thing to do and I have nothing but great respect for the three that vote not to renew.
Anonymous 6:21. I can tell you are an extremely emotional person because it is obvious you don't think with your head. You hope Mr. Gagne sues the town and wins a huge financial settlement? Are you one of those who claims to love the town?
You keep referring to the Hathaway Rd. gang. I'm assuming you are writing about a citizen's group. The last time I checked we are still in America and citizens have the right to form organizations and voice their opinions. Or is that only good if YOU want to voice your opinions? If the rude behavoir towards Mr. Trimble, Ms. Gilbert & Mr. Michaud from the special interest groups last night is any indication I would have to say this is the case.
If Mr. Gagne decides to sue the town he claims to love he will be basing his case on the automatic renewal clause. For this we can blame Bob Miller, Bob Carney, Nathalie Dias, Kathleen Horan McLean, Jreck Leduc & Savastano for adding clause b to his contract. That clause took away the power of the SB to choose an executive administrator. Again these are people who claim to love the town and yet they were willing to put the town in such a bad position. If the SB chooses to exercise its power to move forward in the town's best interest, the town will be slapped with a lawsuit. Nice going guys.
If Steve Sharek applies for and gets the job as the next Dartmouth Executive Administrator, you'll know this whole thing was a set up from the beginning.
For quite some time I have been wondering what it is about some people that brings out the worst in others. For example Diane Gilbert, Bill Trimble and the mere mention of Barry Walker sends some people into a tizzy. Why is that? Maybe it is because these people speak with substance. They do the research and have the facts to back up what they are saying. They remain calm and rational. There is no way to debate them without resorting to emotional personal attacks.
An exact observation! Some people are frightend when things are no longer in their control. Diane, Barry, and Bill are not afraid to shake up the status quo, frightening some and, as we heard and saw at last night's meeting, angering a lot of others, some even stooping to insults and bad behaviour.
The problem is with Gilbert, Trimble and Walker, and not with the throngs of people they send into a tizzy. LOL There's a fairly common descriptive body part term used to describe people like those three, but it wouldn't be allowed here.
In my life, I have never heard people talked about with such strong negative feelings. It's particularly strong with Gilbert. To have heard the same kinds of negative things said about her by so many people tells me the problem rests solely with her. I've even heard harsh comments about her from people who NEVER have a bad word to say about anybody. That's pretty telling, if you ask me. The same is true for the other two, just not quite as biting. I guess that means Gilbert is in a league of her own. The other two are just minor-leaguers. LOL
To anon 11:08,I guess that means you live in your own little world. Just like during the election last April. K.H-M. supporters thought they had it in the bag...after all with all those signs all over South Dartmouth, she'd have to win right???
If you only talk to people who agree with you and stay in your little comfort zone, you might as well be in OZ.
There is a great big town out there and the majority do not agree with Mike Gagne staying on as E.Admin.
But in OZ, no one has to think about finance, plans, or falling deeper in the hole.
If I didn't live in this town and have to deal with the impact this group is going to instill on us, I would wish for failure and laugh at everyone involved in this blog. But unfortunately I do and I hope just as I do for B. Obama to succeed. Because if he accomplishes what he said he would, we all win. That is a big hill to climb. The problem is these people in on the Select board are novices at all this. What credentials does Mr. Trimble have to direct this community in these hard times? I personally witnessed his work ethic at is previous job and he was a third rate engineer at best. The company is replacing/repairing everything he worked on. Talks a nice game , but no substance. In fact, very reckless and ultimately cost us more money.
Just a thought: you all took your shots at Diane Gilbert first, now you're on to Bill? Gotta keep the ball rolling, huh?
I find it sad that some of our discussion can't rise above that found on elementary school playgrounds. Look at the editorial cartoon in the Standard Times today or read Seaman-Pawlak's column. Oh, you're calling me chicken. Wow, what profound and biting commentary. If I was in third grade, I'd be devastated.
Please define throngs because I seem to be having a problem comprehending it. Bill Trimble, Diane Gilbert & Barry Walker seem to agree on most issues and election results signify that the voters agree with them as well. So I'm having a hard time believing that throngs of people despise them. You may want to address your anger issues. May I suggest contacting Kevin Lee. I'm not sure if he is a licensed counselor but I think he will have a lot of free time in the near future.
What would have happened if on November 13th, Mr. Gagne had announced his resignation? Would Dartmouth still be wrecked?
I thought the cartoon was funny. It did a good job of depicting the three of you cowering as you attempted to hide from the public.
Sue 's column was well written and right on target. You and your Hathaway Road Gang members can whine all you want about the Standard-Times coverage. But if you think they favor Mike Gagne for any reason other than the substance of the issues at hand, you're just continuing to rationalize everything to suit your needs.
The three of you got what you wanted. You got rid of a good and decent hard-working and effective Town manager who is both experienced and competent. You win. We lose. Now you'll apparently go in a different direction. Basically, you'll be moving from a course that has served this Town well for more than two decades. And it isn't just those of us who deplore what you have done who think that way. The DOR report says basically the same thing - Dartmouth has been well managed.
There's nothing third-grade about what you've done, Trimble. You've gotten rid of someone who deserved to stay in his job. That's about as grown up of a mistake as there is. What's worse, you've whipped up your Gang's possee to go out and trash Mike Gagne's good name. I bet you're real proud of that!
You and your possee can term what I write as being emotional, misdirected, unfounded or whatever you choose. I call what you did shameful - in the strictest meaning of the word. Now, it's for you to live with what you've done. I know you won't lose any sleep over it. Heck, you're celebrating the whole thing.
It would be different if this were truly based on performance and the facts of what Gagne has accomplished. But that's not what it's about. This is about the Hathaway Road Gang wanting Dartmouth to exist in their image, complete with Steve Sharek being appointed as the next Administrator.
By the way, when you do appoint Sharek, he'd darn well better have the ability to show you and everyone in Dartmouth an example of a successful "plan" he developed and implemented for a municipality. I'm thinking that might be a problem.
The Barry Walker questions need to be answered. Someone should send a letter to the Dartmouth Board of Assessors asking if Barry Walker is paying what he should be paying in business property taxes.
Bill, as you know with any blog that allows anonymous postings some of the commentary will be less than informative. That's the way these tings go and you've got to take the good with the bad. I have expressed several times my dismay with the way this non-renewal was carried out and asked, not so rhetorically, if, in hindsight there may have been a better way to handle this. Now with the drama of last night behind us would you have done anything differently - again leaving the specific personalities out of the question - could not there have been a better way to achieve a similar result?
The DOR said,
While each of our recommendations will improve operations, there are several related topics that deserve special attention from policy-makers and management alike. Specifically, they are Recommendations 1-4 (Present Multi-Year Financial Forecast, Avoid Use of One-Time Revenue for Current Year Operations, Develop New Reserve Policy and Conduct Quarterly Budget Projections, respectively). Implicit in these individual recommendations is the larger concept of financial planning. A town-wide financial plan is the integration of multi-year revenue projections, adopted polices (such as reserve policies), and analyses of organizational goals and their long-term impact on expenditures. The purpose of this plan is to call attention to the community’s fiscal condition and the alternatives available to manage it. Whatever form such a plan takes, it should contain the following core elements:
1. Multi-year outlook (3-5 fiscal years)
2. Inventory of revenue sources and projected increases/decreases
3. Expenditure projections that reflect labor, expenses and planned service levels
4. Impact of financial goals/policies are assigned a specific dollar value
5. Integration of infrastructure investment based on approved capital plan
6. Current-year revenue and expenditure monitoring
7. Presentation format that facilitates meaningful communication to the public
1,2 and 6 have been done. The rest, not so much.
To Anonymous 7:02. You are whipping yourself into a frenzy.
You ask a lot of questions so I thought I'd ask you some. What do you know of the budget? Have you studied it and do you understand where this town is heading? Do you understand that overrides only make our deficits worse? That salary increases increase benefit costs so that a 3% increase is really much more? Do you understand that we have a huge pension liability? After what has happened in the stock market I can't even imagine what that liability is now. Can't seem to get the exact figure from Ed I. Do you know that the taxpayers have to make up the difference? Do you know what the town's financial plan is really supposed to look like?
If you know the answers to these questions then you know why Michael Gagne cannot stay. If you don't then I would suggest finding out. It takes a lot of research but it is worth seeing for yourself. The people you accuse of doing nothing have taken the time to do just that.
Hathaway Rd. Gang wants Sharek as exec. admin.? You sound just like Bob Carney accusing Diane Gilbert of wanting Michael's job. Where do you get this stuff???
This was not an off the cuff decision. I thought about it, lost sleep over it, and consulted with those whose opinions I value. I came to the conclusion that we must have a different executive administrator, one who was willing to make drastic changes. I found it revealing last night that Mr. Gagne still feels that the Select Board must come up with a financial plan for the town's future, as I heard it. The Select Board meets 4 times a month!
I am not so full of myself that I think that I cannot make a wrong decision. That knowledge makes it harder to decide issues such as this. I can tell you that I took many of the points raised last night in to consideration and, in the end, still decided that the town needed a new adminstrator. That may have been a good decision and it may not. As in everything, we can never know what might have been, we only know what is and was. But I am not a person who agonizes over a decision once made. The matter is decided now, we need to hire a new administrator and I am ready to get on with that task.
From the Town Charter -
"The select board shall serve as the chief policy making agency of the town. The select board shall be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy directives and guidelines to be followed by all town agencies serving under it and, in conjunction with other elected town officers and multiple member bodies to develop and promulgate policy guidelines designed to bring the operation of all town agencies into harmony."
If you read the above, it is the Select Board that dictates policy and they have failed to do. Not renewing Gagne's and Iacaponi's contracts is more of a tell sign of the Board's failures and not of the two.
The town charter also says,
(b) Powers and Duties - The executive administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the town of Dartmouth within the policies and goals established by the select board and shall have the following powers and duties:
(3) overall responsibility for the town budget
(i) Prepare and submit an annual operating budget, capital improvement program and a long term financial forecast.
the executive administrator after consultation with the director of finance and consistent with guidelines issued by the select board, shall submit to the finance committee a proposed operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year with an accompanying budget message and supporting documents. The executive administrator shall simultaneously provide for the publication in a local newspaper of a general summary of the proposed budget. The summary shall specifically indicate any major variations from the current operating budget and the reason for such changes
The budget message of the executive administrator shall, include, specifically, projection of the fiscal and financial needs of the town for at least the next five fiscal years
The budget message of the executive administrator shall explain the budget for all town agencies both in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs. It shall outline proposed financial policies of the town for the ensuing fiscal year, describe important features of the budget, indicate any major variations from the current year in financial policies, expenditures and revenues together with the reasons for such changes, summarize the town's debt position and include other material as the executive administrator deems desirable, or the selectmen may reasonably require.
The guy is out! The above is a major reason for that.
Quoting the charter, " In the presentation of the budget, the executive administrator shall utilize modern concepts of fiscal presentation so as to furnish maximum information and the best financial control. The proposed budget shall show in detail all estimated income from the proposed property tax levy and other sources and all proposed expenditures, including debt service, for the following year. The proposed budget shall be arranged to show the actual and estimated income and expenditures for the previous, current and ensuing fiscal years "
It is rarely helpful to cite a source in which the majority of the evidence contained within it, refutes your argument. Just saying:^)
Trimble stated that he "consulted with those whose opinions I value."
Those opinions would be from the Hathaway Road Gang, right Trimble?
Now they have to figure out a way to give the job to Sharek without causing more uproar. Good luck with that.
Who/what is the "Hathaway Road Gang?
Right about now, receivership sounds like a good option. Ends all controversy about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the situation all around. Gripe about the unbiased leaders of our community then. Fresh start. Fresh new issues to complain about.
Who did Chairman Michaud get a phone call from during the public forum? Why was he discussing his vote (yet to be taken) in the hallway with this person on the phone? Bill, I understand the decision "not to renew" the contract. My issue is the manner in which it was not renewed. I find the "open" process was not quite as "open". I was made clear, this decicion was not based on personal issues, yet Mr Michaud has now attacked Mike G as a "spender". Im very upset at this whole process. I appreciate you standing firm, that takes ingerity, I just hope the BOS didnt make any procedural errors that could be costly. I was approached on 12/2 to sign the recall petition. Again more division among the town. Is that the new direction? Bill real help
please. Now that Mike G is gone what do you envision? what is your ideas? where do we go from here? Do you have any plans or ideas? Be open, honest and tell us (the taxpayers), After all we are YOUR boss. There is a HUGE amount of public-mistrust with our town officials (not just the BOS) what can you do to help repair this distrust?
A recall petition, can you please give me more information on who has it as I would like to sign it.
This is the same group from South Dartmouth that couldn't accept the override vote either. Whine. whine. whine. They can't accept the word NO.
If they want a recall and town meeting voted on it, I know how that will go...town meeting is full of townies, employees, former employees, etc. But when the special election is held, Joe and Bill will get re-elected. I don't think Diane would bother because she already stated that she wouldn't run in April, but if she did run she would also get re-elected.
So lets spend all kinds of money that the town doesn't have and divide it further. Sounds like a plan!
Speaking of whining, "town meeting is full of townies, town employees, former employees " or "those people from South Dartmouth" whine whine whine. Democracy is having the right to voice displeasure over one's elected official's decisions. It's part of the system, get used to it.
Dartmouth needs to begin looking for a replacement for Mr. Gagne. Someone who has a background in finance, and a computer geek wouldn't be bad either. I just hope the committee looks beyond Dartmouth. It would be better if someone without connections to south/north were chosen to fill the position. We need to begin to heal as a community. We have had some tough couple of years. We really need to think outside the box!
Kim, don't you think we should have started that process already before we decided to go in a new direction?
Gee anonymous 7:59 we shouldn't have townies in Town Meeting either. Well then that will only leave people like Bill T. and Diane G.
Oh I get it now!
Wow, just imagine if the SB had done what you are suggesting and started looking for a replacement before the vote was taken not to renew Mr. Gagne's contract. What would the public outcry have been then?
Unfortunately, I don't see healing as a community any time soon. There is little dialogue between oppossing views, no listening and little if any compromise on virtually any issue to date. Not a good recipe for healing in my opinion.
I often wonder how I became a tomn meeting member? Not a townie, elected official, employee of the town in any capacity and not a friend of any power broker either. Oh I remember now, I filled out a form got 20 signatures and had my name put on the ballot. Imagine that! No connections at all.
What is the staus of the recall petition? I want to make sure I sign it.
Bill, how about one of your famous blog votes? Should we recall the Michaud, Gilbert and Trimble?
Or the standard times should run an unoffical vote as well.
If duly elected charter members wanted a recall clause, it would have been part of the town charter. The opinion of most, but not all, was to not have a recall clause. The reason is being played out in todays politics. The three selectmen who refused to reappoint the executive administrators contract did no wrong, so why ask for a recall? When the selectmen signed a town employee contract, in what appears as a violation of the town charter, this can be described as just cause to have a recall because the town charter speaks directly to the position of our executive administrator, it doesn't speak to the contract language of the other town department heads. The town meeting members should vote to have special legislation to include a town charter recall provision, but it must be for just cause, not just any cause.
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