The annual Town Meeting was held today and adopted the 24 articles that were voted. Two articles were withdrawn. The results can be found at this link. The article to fund the Stabilization fund was withdrawn due to lack of funds. The article to reinstate the funding for the Youth Commission was withdrawn due to the fact that the funding was restored ...
... within the annual budget article, Article 10.
The Finance Committee had recommended against the adoption of Article 6, $350,000 to acquire the former State Police Barracks, funding the Youth Commission, and had reduced the line item for the Grant Department salaries by 15%. Town Meeting members spent considerable time debating these three issues and decided against the Finance Committee recommendations on each.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Town Meeting results
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104 comments:
I see the town heading down the dangerous road of overspending.
Don't worry about overspending. On Schedule A (the town operating budget), Town Meeting didn't spend one penny more than recommended by the FinCom. However, Town Meeting shifted a total of roughly $74,000 among budget lines. The total did not change. There was one exception: the article on the state police barracks/veterans housing. And that was funded through Community Preservation Act money.
Town Meeting worked once again.
The budget passed today is unsustainable. The budget also did not include any pay raises for all the collective bargaining that is currently under way. Does anyone truly believe that Stone, Dias and Watson have the will to negotiate two years of pay freezes? Yes, I included Watson in that group. FY2011 will be a disaster and another override attempt is inevitable. Here is my advice to FinCom. Change your goal of having 10% of operating budget in the stabilization fund and spend it all on the capital improvements that this town so desperately needs. Otherwise it will be raided and squandered on the unsustainable operating budget, if not this year then definitely next year.
Popcorn.. Let's get through this year first, then worry about next year and its pay raises. Go to bed.
4:41AM I say this with all due respect, but what you just said is exactly why we are in so much trouble. That is an inability or refusal to plan ahead.
So we are back to square one. Just when we were on our way to creating a sustainable budget, town meeting chose to ignore FinCom's recommendations. All the hard work that was done over the last couple of years was thrown out the window because as one person said, we need to stop looking at the numbers and think like humans. Brilliant!
anon 10:27 and 4:41. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it is a lack of understanding of how the budget works that would cause you to post those comments. The alternative is just too depressing.
Don't worry about a thing until next year? Next year when the potholes are two feet deep instead of just one? Next year when the library roof blows completely off? Next year when the cronies are still employed with their excessive salaries and the guys who fill the potholes are on the chopping block? Next year when the kids still don't have the computers they need? I could go on but it is an exercise in futility.
The man who said he would find ways to fund the youth advocate is named Michael Travers. I believe him about as much as I believe Kevin Lee when he said that he had no idea the elimination of his position was coming. His memory must be awful short because it has been debated on town meeting floor for about three years now.
popcorn were you at the meeting and if so I did not hear you step up and let your advice made known publicly. If you were not you should have been to let this be known. It sounds like you think you have a handle on the budget and how the town should be managed.
Town Meeting has been the town's form of government for a long time...but with a population of 30,000, we need to look at other more effective ways to govern. Why bother with a finance com. if we never follow their recommendations. The members of the fin com are Dartmouth residents and some are town meeting members who love Dartmouth just as much as the next person. They have the knowledge and information to make the financial decisions and we choose to ignore them time and time again. They do not make any decisions without thinking them through and getting information from all parties.
I see an override on the horizon....
While the budget changes yesterday did not increase the amount that was spent for this year, those changes did create a budget that was not sustainable from ongoing revenue in the future. Discussion at the Town Meeting even acknowledged that. The speakers said they would spend funds and worry about how to pay for next year later. This logic is how the town got in its present shape. The Town Meeting members and members of the Select Board who supported this spending are essentially supporting an override tax increase. If the town cannot sustain its on going operations from available funds, there is no alternative to an override. The question then will be whether or not the voters will support an override. If not, the town will be forced to scale back its operations.
Our town is headed straight into a manure pile.
You've got to take your hat off to the selectmen, finance committee, for making the tough choices on how not to spend money on town jobs we can no longer afford. Most town meeting members are made up of nothing more than liberal spenders, or we need. Just another example of how outdated our town form of government really is.
Town meeting should have followed the recommendations of the finCom. No, to the youth advocate. No, to Dorris Copley. (sp)
Most finCom people don't have an ax to grind with anyone or department. Just a group of educated people who vote with a brain. They have spent numerous hours at meetings with all department heads. They have analyzed all budgets and the towns ability to pay. Were do you think we can find such a dedicated bunch of people that you TMM just kicked in the teeth.
Most town meeting members, don't have the nuts to look into the face of the youth advocate and say NO, we just can't. Instead, they sit at town meeting, knowing that the youth advocate is sitting within a few seats of them. Intimidation, not common sense causes the soft hearted, left wing liberals, mostly teachers or formers to take a solid kick at authority and common sense.
Who wants to be a selectmen, or serve on the fincom? Not me. I'd rather send out this message, knowing that someone will call me a few names or tell me I'm a right wing nut. I'm just a town tax payer who is thankful that we have good descent people who want to be a selectman or a member of the FinCom. I'm convinced that they have the insight and knowledge of what is coming down the financial road and it's not good news. This is not intended to be a swipe at Kevin Lee, I believe he is a good and decent person.
In all my years in Dartmouth, I've never known a more dedicated of non political selectmen and well informed FinCom members. The problem is with our TMM.
Until 2008, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) had sufficient funds in their reserves to retire the outstanding debt that they held. Therefore the town had the option at any time to pay off the debt and opt out of the CPA, thereby removing the surcharge on our property tax. Last year, the CPC spent down those reserves and also created more debt. As a result, the CPC funds are insufficient to retire the outstanding debt for some 5 or more years and the town cannot opt out. The trend of spending more than is coming in continued this year with the CPC recommendations, approved by Town Meeting, to spend over $600K. While only getting $600K in revenue, the CPC have to pay some $350K in debt service in addition to the new projects. As you see, the expense of $950K and the revenue of $600K is out of balance. The result is that time required to retire all the outstanding debt is longer and the amount of reserves available to fund projects without bonding is reduced. Another troubling factor is that the state match on CPC funding has been steadily falling and will be at the minimum 5%, perhaps as soon as next year. This will further reduce the ability of the town to retire the debt.
the YA is funded because the children of Dartmouth are more than line items on the budget...sorry Bill but you are dead wrong for voting against the YA . You have forgotten those children that are helped...maybe YOU should get the 2AM phone call from a disturbed child that cannot trust anyone but the YA. There are a few, but it is more than enough to help....Also thanks for NOT SUPPORTING our VETERANS
It's a sad day for Dartmouth if we ever lose sight of the humanity that the budget affects
Anonymous- I AM a veteran, are you?
Joe is a veteran, also. So is the gentleman who stated he would not want to live in the old police barracks. Get mad at them, too, why don't you?
LEST WE FORGET: I believe it was MICHAEL WATSON who responded to a question or comment regarding sustainability that "we will worry about that next year." Is he for real?? That is precisely the attitude and approach to our finances that got us into this trouble in the first place!
I had mini-nightmare visions of past SB members and administration that held and stated just that same philosophy.
Reliable sources have stated that when we had money, we spent it with no particular regard for the future of our finances. Now even in the opposite of circumstances when we have no money, we are still spending with no regard for the future of our finances. Unbelievable. More unbelievable is the fact that this type of attitude and sentiment about our expenses comes from the mouth of one of our new "fresh ideas, new face" Michael Watson.
Of course, Mr. Watson is the hero of the day. He "saved" the YA position and will eternally have the public's (youth) gratitude. And, yes, this was achieved with transferring from within line items, so no additional funds were spent.
And whether he realized it or not, this was an astute political move on his part, onw he can refer back to come reelection time. Lots of miles to be gained from that political coup.
The facts remain:
1. This is not a sustainable budget.
2. The Youth Commission will be back before the Town again next year.
3. We've robbed Peter to pay Paul.
I applaud the Finance Committee for their hard work and perseverance in the face of the callous disregard of our future financial stability on the part of the majority of TM members and Select Board (Stone, Dias, Watson.) Theirs is a difficult, unpopular, and thankless task. In the wake of what happened yesterday, I will fervently hope that no more of the members will choose to resign from the Committee. We need them, despite the apathy and blatant disregard for their work.
There were a whole bunch of veterans at town meeting who spoke against the purchase of the state polic barracks. The project does not make economic sense. The promise of grant money totaling $800k+ rings hollow. They WILL be back before town meeting asking for more money. I guarantee it.
I guess Michael Travers needs to step up to the plate and put his money where his mouth is. Many at TM heard his statement loud and clear. There will be many people who will be waiting and watching to see if he does so.
I think Ms. Stone also referred to assisting on a grant for the wind turbine project?? If so, perhaps she can assist the Youth Commission and Mr. Travers with a grant(s) to fund the YA again next year.
Ms. Copley apparently is not going to be able to assist. She is busy doing other work, such as human resources. Is she, by the way, a one-woman Human Resources Department in Town?
Whoa, with all this talk about grant money, some grants writer will be kept busy! Won't be Doris, though.
Hold on here. Before you bicker and complain, please get a handle on all the facts. Town Meeting voting WITH the Fin Com recomendations on 22 of 24 articles. That is 92% of the time that TM agreed with FinCom. On article 10, TM did vote did increase 2 line items out of the several pages of items. In doing so for the YC position, TM moved the monies from line areas that admittedly had some "cushion". Both Mike Watson and Ed Iacoponi openly said there was room for change in those areas. To say that funding the YC of approx. $67k from areas where there is some cushion is irresponsible or unsustainable just isn't so. TM made a change to approximately .1% of the budget. Please don't be fooled into thinking that TM has jeopardized Dartmouth's future.
I call the big BS on the last anonymous post. Here are the facts. The money to fund the YA came from money which was slated to pay his accumulated sick and vacation time when he was separated and unemployment coverage for the YA plus $12,679.59 from an account in the Select Board office. Next year the town will owe more in sick time and vacation and will not have the money to fund the position from the revenues. The money to raise Doris Copley's salary came from the Select Board account. This is despite the fact that Copley was paid $81,000 last year when her salary is 71,000. Look it up. Copley was also the one who got the no cut contract language inserted in contracts, who made up the job she holds out of thin air when the Town Counsel didn't need her as a paralegal, and sponsored a Town Meeting article that was defeated to raise her own salary. Just keep paying her a few more years at higher and higher salary and she'll retire and the taxpayers continue to pay 80% of her inflated salary for the rest of her life. Thanks a bunch, Watson and Stone!
Bill
Do you have the e-mail address for your fellow select board members? If so, can you put this information on your blog so that people like myself can e-mail questions/ information??
Thanks anon 11:59 for putting things into perspective. Mike Watson and Lara Stone showed incredible leadership by keeping their campaign promises of fiscal stewardship while persevering what makes Dartmouth a wonderful place to live. I was very proud to be a town meeting member yesterday and very proud to have supported both of our newly elected select board members.
I do not have permission from the others on the Select Board to publish their email accounts. Contact Jean Delahunt in the Select Board office, jdelahunt@town.dartmouth.ma.us
for the information that they have agreed to release.
Mr. Watson and Ms. Stone may have succeeded in maintaining one segment of our quality of life here in Dartmouth, but the fact is still that money was taken from another source, leaving it short. Even if there were some "extra" money in these accounts, it was not for funding a job. The money should be already there for salaries, not pulled from one line item or another, leaving it/them short of their intended expenditure purpose.
I don't understand why Doris Copley's position wasn't eliminated instead of trying to get rid of the YA. She is clearly being overpaid for a job that could be done in half the time. I actually don't believe we need a town paralegal at all. I have worked as a paralegal for over 25 years. I could do the job that Doris purports to do in half the time and would do it for $50,000 a year. I believe Town Counsel's office should pick up the little bit that she does and the position should be eliminated.
I applaud Dias, Stone and Watson for their continued efforts to do what is best for the people of the town and not just blindly what will save a buck or two.
As for the other two SB members, I hope that their time expires as their terms do. I think the voters will see to that.
I was at town meeting and from my perspective it looked to me that Mr. Watson and Ms. Stone exposed a shell game. What was even more impressive was that they did it with respect to the magician. They asked how best to go about it and it was he who led them down the correct path, ingenious!
The Budget Director, the rest of the Select Board and the Finance Committee were playing a shell game on us! You're an idiot if you believe that. Watson talks about being a fiscal conservative but votes and acts the opposite every time so far. Stone has no clue about the budget or what Copley does, just knows she owes one to Bob Miller. She just wants the override request to be as big as possible. All part of the broader perspective
What a bunch of windbags on this site.... Watson showed true leadership in the face of those pushing ideology. No position will ever be sustainable in government. No position "pays" for itself. Governments must choose what is worthy of their dollars. Watson was wise, clear, and thorough in offering a solution to preserve a piece of Dartmouth's identity in the midst of economic uncertainty. Those of you who think you can do better should quit writing and start running. I suspect you don't due to the certainty of your defeat.
oh 2:51 such sour grapes. There was success for both sides yesterday and that's called compromise. That's progress so just appreciate the small steps we have made as a community. Your just sour grapes because it was achieved by our two new select board members.
We'll worry about the money next year. There is nothing wrong in doing that, apparently, in the minds of some, especially if you get what you want the first time around.
It's easy to see why some people in this country get buried by credit card debt and mortgages they can't afford. Rather than do the responsible thing and plan, they just spend today and worry about it tomorrow.
Take everything out of context for political points. I was at town meeting and voted against funding YA. However, the motion made was clearly looking to bridge a tough economic condition with a compromise. Don't shoot the people trying to find solutions in this economy. Give them a chance to serve us.
I'm not sure I would call it a compromise. It was taking money from one source and giving it to another, leaving the first short. And if we need the money from the first source for something, what then? We will be short, and looking for it from somewhere else, wherever that may be.
The Youth Commission has got breathing room for one year. Let's hope they will not put themselves or us in that position again. We are pitted between those who vote from the side of fiscal needs versus those who vote from the emotional, people side. There really is no right or wrong side here. It's a matter of how one approaches the issue.
The problem is that the issue won't go away. We will probably be seeing the YC before the Town again. What will have changed? Certainly not our financial situation to any great extent for the better, if that.
What then?
If there is the option of finding money from grants for the wind turbine project, I think it was, why isn't there the opportunity to find them for the YA position? Certainly some company/organization/corporation must feel this is a worthwhile cause to help fund. If it hasn't been looked into, let's hope it is.
4:52 Do you know what the sources are where the funding was taken from? Were you at the town meeting? It sounds too me like you are someone who opposes government spending, probably thinks Dartmouth's taxes are too high, and is keen only only eliminating government. You are not conservative, you are irresponsible.
The sources are listed a few comments up. Town Meeting and our heroes, Watson and Stone, were given a method by Greg Lynam to retain the YA from ongoing revenue and passed up the offer. Why?
The comments on money being left short keep coming up. These people either were not at town meeting or are just clueless. The line items where money was taken for the YA had at least twice as much money in them from FY 09. Look at scheudle A. Even Bill would have to vouch for this. You people opposing the Watson amendment are looking for political points.
Lynam wanted to turn the street lights off again!! That's the option that should have been taken. Have an idea. Give some serious alternatives if you want consideration. It was obvious funding was going to occur. Watson provided the best alternative.
Two badly needed police cars were not bought for lack of funds. Do Watson and Stone not support Dartmouth's Finest? That would've been a more responsible use of one time money than what was done!
I assume they do.. But you will have to ask them. A pretty wild accusation on your part. Why not ask them??
anon 4:52 - you ask if some company/person/organization thinks the YA position is worthwhile they should fund it. We found that person(s) yesterday - they are the elected representatives of our town. They felt the position worthy enough to fund it by an almost unanimous show of hands. Pretty convincing for me.
4:52 - - yes
I have no problem with the YA position. I think the position should be within the school budget because the position serves the youth of our community. Doris C. is another issue all together. She doesn't even write grants! She was paid $81,000!! The Select Board must meet with Doris and write up a job description for her.I saw her come before the board a few weeks ago and she was not able to articulate her job functions. We need a clear job description. That's crazy!
I hope the Personnel Board has some input in Ms. Copley's contract as well. There needs to be a clear definition of her job.
It sounds to me like she is just trying to create another, new position for herself out of all the bits and pieces of tasks she does. She has been struggling to define herself as early as 2003.
It is just my opinion, but it seems to me that possibly as early as 2003, the need for Ms. Copley's employment in the town might have been waning, hence her scramble to make her self indispensable to the Town back then, and even as it was evident at Tuesday's Town Meeting that she was doing.
(I wonder if you wear that many hats, how can you do any one job effectively? Sounds to me you would be spreading yourself quite thin, and Ms. Copley did sound as if she were overworked, by her own subtly given comments about her workload.)
Click on "contracts" on the left-hand side of Bill's blog pages and you will see the progression of her correspondence and apparent motivation that led up to her asking for a contractual lifetime guarantee of job and financial protection.
There are links to her correspondence with Michael Gagne and Boston attorney Joseph Bartulis regarding protection of her job as well as a discussion of what she did or would do in her employment. It is quite interesting to read as you track the events leading to her contract for lifetime job and financial protection.
THANK YOU WATSON AND STONE...NO THANKS TO TRIMBLE. OH AND ONE MORE...BARRY WALKER WAS THE ONLY PERSON TO OPPOSE THE BUDGET....HOW SURPRISING....HE WONT BE HAPPY UNTIL HIS TAXES ARE A DOLLAR A SQ.FT
The budget presented to Town Meeting was the result of months of meetings by the Finance Committee, Select Board, town employees and the Budget Director. As the chair of the Finance Committee stated before the review at Town Meeting, it was as close to a sustainable budget as could be crafted. There were no extras anywhere. If you think that line items were padded then you clearly have no idea of the rigorous process that was followed by the Finance Committee to arrive at those amounts. As one comment above pointed out, Mr. Lynam suggested that taking the funds from the streetlight account would have preserved the sustainability of the budget but his suggestion was not taken up. What was done has once again set the town on the path where our revenue and expense are out of balance. Not a good place to be during a nationwide economic crisis.
There were clearly 'extras' in the grant department. It's too bad TM saw fit to fund that when it's patently clear to most nobody has a clue what duties the occupant of that position is supposed to be doing. That position should have been zero funded in favor of the YA position to maintain sustainability. Why that path was not taken is a mystery to me.
This Town Meeting is further evidence of the divisiveness that Stone and Watson create. After months of work, these two spit in the faces of the FinCom and go against their undivided recommendation. Just weeks ago, Stone goes out and got a couple of guys who know nothing about CPC and Watson nominates them. Then Stone votes against Barry Walker who clearly knew what he was talking about. That was after she tried to say Diane Gilbert couldn't serve. Savastano wouldn't back her up on that. Why didn't Stone and Watson get this worked out the FinCom with before town meeting. Why didn't Stone check with Savastano before making reckless statement that it wasn't allowed. We've got a couple of loose cannons on our decks, let's get them tied up before the rest of the crew have to abandon ship.
9:25 You should thank Watson for putting Walker on the CPC. He seconded the nominaton and was the third and carrying vote in Walker's approval. How come that is missing from your argument? Interesting that you would only include the details that support your position. Sounds a lot like the political motives of others in the town.
OK, I concede that Watson is only 2/3 as divisive as Stone. Sorry :(
Stone voted against Walker after claiming to be the great uniter who wanted to bring the whole community together and have everyone participate. It is quite clear that Walker has something to offer to the community yet she voted against him. I call that being divisive. Who else did she want to serve on the CPC? She had already said that Gilbert had a conflict (total fabrication) otherwise she would vote for her (total bullshit) so who did she want? She wouldn't nominate Copley so who was left? The guy that didn't bother to show up? There was no reason not to vote for Walker other than to make a statement that his participation is not welcome and he is not part of the community.
Divisive!
I'd like to bring up a new subject. TM voted to give the current ambulance contract 310K for the year 2010. I'm very confused, the town pays 310K, my health insurance pays 80% of the cost of the ambulance ride to the hospital (which I have had a few). I then get billed and have to pay out of my pocket the 20%. In other towns the ambulance service eats the remaining 20% as long as the patient is a town resident. If the ambulance service makes this amount of money why do they charge to town also? The company we have has had the contract for 10 years. maybe it time to make a change and save the town some money.
Watson 2/3 divisive??? The CFRG is one of the most divisive groups in town. You are looking for a reason to attack Watson. Fine.
Watson is willing to "worry about (the money) next year."
Maybe that's not being divisive. But, that's being irresponsible and downright foolish. Is that how he carries on his own finances?
Worrying about it next year is precisely how we got into the mess we are in, even before we hit a global financial crisis.
He may have saved the YA, but we need to remember the statement he made in doing so. It's great to be the beneficial saviour to the community, but not at the fiscal irresponsibility he has shown in doing so. Maybe there was money to wiggle around, BUT the statement speaks for itself, irregardless.
Forget the statement and we will continue along the path of financial destruction ad infinitum, unless someone (and we) all wake up.
This kind of attitude is just what we don't want in our leadership. We have lived under just such a one for too long and are suffering from it.
Yes, he performed well at Town Meeting. He STILL made an irresponsible statement that shouldn't be taken lightly.
While the CPC selection process was obviously influenced by personal politics, I am happy that in the end I got appointed. Having met with the chair and the two new appointees already, I look forward to the first official meeting. Bill has raised some good points about the "big picture" budget of the CPC. I think I have something to offer when it comes to stretching the CPC budget in order to fund as many worthy projects as possible.
My lone vote against approving the final budget at town meeting was merely symbolic of my disapproval. I was not in favor of some of the changes made by TM that clearly went against FinCom recommendations. Can't we all just stick to the issues without the namecalling and childishness?
2:34, ask Ed Iacaponi about the ambulance and make your suggestion to him. Call for his email address at Town Hall. It has occurred to me that all along posters have had questions which could and should be answered by our officials and administration (in addition to Bill.) I think they need to be directed to them. Our officials and administration need to be aware of just what is on our mind, just what questions we do have, and even our suggestions. It was clear at Town Meeting that there was a lot of confusion on some issues, and questions that needed answers on many, many others. If some of these questions hade been asked and answered before TM, the individuals asking might have been better informed prior to voting, and not have had to digest an answer just before a vote.
I think more questions should go to the Town Hall, as well as to our Select Board, in addition to Bill. Call the Select Board's office for the remainder of the members' email addresses.
It is also a good way to express your concern and even anger over whatever is going on. (Not the worse thing in the world to get angry!)
I was surprised to hear a TM member refer to ST articles concerning the wind project. That has been on tv several times at Select Board meetings as well as TM last year. Maybe it was a new member,if so, I think they should do their homework before the TM, not at the TM. As far as people voting against recommendations of the Fin Com. Joe Michaud and Bill T. have worked closely with the Fin Com and voted to support their recommendations. People don't have to agree with it but that is what they did. Voting with our Fin Com is being fiscally responsible. Joe and Bill are both vets and they voted against the housing because it did not make good sense as Shannon J. also stated: We should give our vets better housing. I agree. As far as the YA position. I think we save as a town when we have a YA. I only wish he was within a sustainable budget. If he were licensed, he could be part of the schools. Only my opinion. Also, I agree with Barry W., talk about issues, not name calling.
I find it funny that you consider STONE to be divisive because she didnt side with WALKER the Dartmouth RANGER. Sh'e not a follower she's a leader..Thank you STONE and WATSON for looking out for the youth of our TOWN ...no thanks to TRIMBLE
I was seriously contemplating joining the CPC as I am a certified Planner specializing in Historic Preservation so felt somewhat qualified to serve on the CPC. When I learned that both Ms. Gilbert and Mr. Walker were asking for appointments to the board I decided that I could not work with either of them so decided not to volunteer.
That is not a fabrication that is the honest to God truth as I just could not bring myself to get involved in a group that would be more about managing their difficult personalities then about the important work of the board.
To anon 9:07, There have been vacancies on CPC for years. If your post is sincere, which we know it is not, why didn't you apply sooner? You are just another yuppie with no common sense who thinks you more qualified and superior to everyone else. You are not. By your post it is clear that you are nothing more than a negative, divisive jerk with a difficult personality.
Anon 10:26 I didn't contemplate it before because I didn't have the time due to my job schedule until now. No need for the name calling.
When has Mr. Walker ever been shown to have a difficult personality? Your spin worked with Gilbert and now you are trying to lump Mr. Walker in with her. If you truly felt the desire to join the CPC, your obvious dislike of two individuals asking for the appointment should have motivated you to seek appointment as well.
Mind your manners and things will stay civil.
To anon 10:55, As a neutral observor, it seems to me that you are the one who started with the name calling.
People! Please calm down! It's too bad that residents of this town can not tolerate an opinion that is not their own. Stick to the issues, please! Like my mother used to say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything". The poster didn't have to make comments about Mr. Walker or Ms. Gilbert. Keep it to yourself. This is a place to talk issues, not call names.
Town meeting is our form of government and it good to see more people getting involved. I wish more people would get involved and vote! If you can't stick to issues, visit another blog.
I am a new town meeting member, and this was my first meeting.
I was not in favor of keeping the Youth Advocate position - not because it is not a worthy cause, but because we simply cannot keep paying for items for which we do not have funds! To take money from already strapped budgets and move it to the YC line item was foolish! For those who say those line items were padded, asked the FINCOM about that, because they were not. Ed I. should not have caved to the pressure of the crowd the way he did. He knew that funding the YA was a bad idea, but he was afraid to stand his ground.
I applaud the Finance Committee for their hard work, dedication, and ability to make tough, unpopular decisions. I just wish more folks would pay attention to them!
If you think that smiling and talking in a little girl voice while stabbing the FinCom in the back is leadership, well, you got it then. I think it's divisive and just the tip of the iceberg. Which Select Board member is trying to circumvent the EA search? The problem is that Stone and the guy who SAYS he wanted to serve on the CPC but never got around to it and then didn't because he might have a disagreement are cut from the same cloth. All nice-nice to your face and rip you when your back is turned. That's what I would expect from the teenage girls that Stone talks like, not a leader and not a responsible adult.
To anonomys 3:06 AKA dianne Gilbert supporter..the election is over...move on
Citing my opinion that Mr. Walker and Ms. Gilbert have personalities that I feel are difficult to get along with is not name calling.
But let's see, calling me a yuppie with no common sense and my personal favorite a negative, divisive jerk appears to be name calling to me. But if it makes you feel better to call people names rather then deal with the truth then so be it. Still won't change the reality of why I didn't submit my credentials for consideration to the Select Board for CPC consideration nor will it change the outcome of the last select board race or town meeting last Tuesday.
I'm glad you didn't apply because your attitude would've been very divisive on the CPC and why should other members have to put up with a member who can't tolerate differing opinions!
To anon 4:30, While I must admit that you are more polished than some of the other jerks that post here, you are still a divisive, negative jerk nonetheless.
Citing an unsubstantiated opinion that someone has a personality that is hard to get along with is negative and divisive.
This is utterly ridiculous. Debating the personalities of anonymous bloggers.
And we wonder why people don't take us seriously.
As it has been stated, the state lottery guarantee's a 40% return on all receipts. I'd like to see an article before town meeting to appropriate a sum of money 500,000 thousand dollars for the purchase of 50,000 thousand 10 dollars scratch tickets, through the state lottery. If the state formula is correct, the town will receive approximately 200,000 thousand dollars and with a little luck the town could hit for 100,000 thousand dollars, with a little more luck the town could hit for several 100,000 thousand dollars or maybe a million. What say you, are you a betting person??
A little humor goes a long way....
I'm in for the lottery tickets! I say take the money from the salaries and we'll worry about how to pay them next year.
I'm in too! And by taking the money from salaries we won't have raised the spending one cent. There was probably alot of extra in those accounts anyway. That makes everything OK. right?
I see there has been a personal atack on two officials that I favor so here we go again. Lara Stone is lying about her connections with the owner of the Bakerville rd rest home who is allowed to keep the building in total disrepair without any consequences. Only Lara's buddies are allowed to keep blighted properties in good neighborhoods. Four condos on 1/2 acre in single residence B zoning Lara? I notice there has been no response to this situation from Lara and her buddies. Trying to keep it quiet Lara? Another Stone scandal brewing. She uses baby talk though so there can't be anything underhanded going on there. Mind your manners and things will stay civil.
I hold a masters degree in business finance, was the CEO of a fortune 500 company for twelve years, and chairman of the board of another fortune 500 company for six years. I had every intention of volunteering my services to the fincom but after seeing the work of Lara Stone at the Town Meeting, I have decided that it would only be a waste of my time. It is sad that someone with my superior qualifications would decide not to serve but really, what is the sense if there are people like Stone on the Select Board?
"It is sad that someone with my superior qualifications" Wow! What an inflated value of self-worth. I guess we all here in podunk Dartmouth should feel all badly 'cuz you ain't gonna volunteer yer time to help us po' folks thru these tough times.
Kinda sounds like someone who spoke at Town Meeting who stated "No one is more caring about veterans than I" or "No one cares more about this town than I" or "No one care about historical preservation than I". Talk about placing yourself on a pedestal above all others.
11:17PM. The only people who push thier own credentials that hard are ones who feel the public doesn't "notice them" enough. Grow up, volunteer if you can offer something, and if you are too "qualified" stay home and sit on your couch. Your probably a really qualified tv watcher.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Some people get real testy when their own negative, divisive, B.S. tactics are used against them.
Do you people all realize that by not volunteering or serving on committees, because you feel it is a waste of time because of members like Lara Stone, etc., YOU ARE LETTING THEM WIN?
The more you back off and don't speak up and make waves where need be, the more opportunity you give them to entrench themselves into the politics of Dartmouth the way THEY want to run it.
THEY ARE COUNTING ON JUST THAT: NO OPPOSITION.
If that's truly the way you feel about Lara, then she has already won, hasn't she?
I checked the town website and found that the Bakerville Rd Rest Home is indeed owned by one of the Lincoln Park Developers. The building certainly is a blight to the neighborhood with exposed broken windows and the obvious appearance of desertion. We do know that Lara Stone recused herself from the Lincoln Park Overlay District due to a conflict of interest. This of course was a little late since she had already voted to move the development project forward as a Select Board member. I think anon 9:12 may be onto something here. Does anyone know what the plans are for this property?
If I had the degrees and credentials that some of the posters like 11:17 have, I would have no difficulty taking my pride in my accomplishments and telling Lara Stone when her term is up, to move over because I can do a better job.
If you're that accredited, what a waste that you are not contributing to the town by taking the opportunity to sit on a board or committee and working to make things better for all the residents.
We need people with no special agendas or personal interest to sit on our boards and committees. If I had the skills and qualifications that some here have, there would be no doubt I would be running for something in this town.
At the very least, I hope you are emailing our administrators and officials to let them know your opinions and displeasures, as well, and asking questions on what is happening in town.
Keeping informed is one way of overseeing the running of our town. Making yourself seen and heard is another.
It is so sad that people like Lara make it not worth serving for truly qualified people.
I wonder how much of this posting is simply baiting other posters?
All of it.
amen. thats why noone takes us seriously any discussion ends with name calling.
Let me interrupt the bickering and name-calling for a moment to thank members of the Finance Committee for their efforts to stabilize our town's fiscal situation. Not all of the Finance Committee recommendations were followed by Town Meeting this week, but the vast majority of recommendation were. That is a tribute to the quality of work done by the FinCom members. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again!
To 8:58: I would like to assume that some of it is a person's genuine feeling or opinion, rather than something written just to see who will fall for it and respond.
It's too bad when there is name-calling involved, and "information" that is not factual, especially if it is in the rumor and gossip category regarding someone's personality or behaviour, rather than something that can be verified by checking it out.
Some of these posts are downright nasty and venomous, though, and it is hard to believe that people have no difficulty spewing it out to the rest of us.
I'll second that thank you to the FinCom, and commend them for their willingness to serve on this committee.
Check out the facts of ownership on the Bakerville Rd Rest Home.
Fact: The building is a blight.
Fact: The building is owned by one of the Lincoln Park developers.
Fact: Lara recused herself from the L.P. Overlay District due to a conflict of interest.
Fact: Lara avoids this issue like the plague.
Fact: I would have let this sleeping dog lie if it had not been for some divisive, negative person attacking officials that I favor.
Fact: The days of only tax and spenders going "negative" without reprisal are over. I have no cheeks left to turn.
Fact: If this person minded their manners, things would stay civil.
Another thank you to the Fin Com! These people are dedicated to Dartmouth and we are lucky to have them! I wish the residents could attend some of the Fin Com meetings and perhaps they would understand what a tough job the Fin Com has.
With two vacancies coming right up, maybe someone out there would like to volunteer his/or her time to serve on the FinCom and help shape the financial future of our town.
I don't know what the cutoff date to apply is, but Mr. Sharek is the contact person, I believe, and he makes the appointments.
Let's not forget that Barry Walker still has a pending lawsuit against the Town of Dartmouth. I personally don't want someone suing the town, now representing the town on any one of our boards!
The entire select board also has a similar suit pending and the ten taxpayer suits only bolsters what the Select Board is trying to accomplish. Hats off to Mr. Walker and the nine other citizens for helping the town get rid of those lifetime employment contract clauses. Thank you Barry!!!
Why has nobody commented on the latest Lara Stone scandal regarding the Bakerville Rd Rest Home and her Lincoln Park Development buddies? The facts are there and it is obviously a scandal ripe for exposure. Four condos with an underground parking garage on 1/2 acre in single residence B zoning. Thanks Lara. Mind your manners because this scandal has facts that really show Stone for what she is. A crooked Select Board member shrouded with scandal.
The ones that I don't want representing our town on any committee or board are the ones who signed those contracts. Horan-McLean, Dias, Leduc, Carney, or Miller.
Mr. Trimble -- Please change your policy on anon postings. The level of discourse on your blog will improve considerably if baiters, lurkers, name callers, and bullies had to put their names on their postings. In case you (or they) may ask (or comment) why I am posting anonymously, it is because I do not want to bear the crap that that I am sure this post will receive from the aforementioned individuals.
It seems to me that so many people get involved with the town because they claim to love it so much. Well folks, the month is June, the flowers are blooming and coastal New England is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world to be right now. Might I suggest that people get outside for a walk, bike ride or some other form of recreation that lets them take in the beauty of this great town. I have been spending every spare moment I can lately enjoying the coast with some spring fishing in my little boat. I find that getting in touch with nature puts me in a very peaceful and happy state of mind. This town offers so much accessible natural beauty this time of year. Enjoy it and leave the petty bickering behind. I will be heading out at 6:30 in hopes of landing a big one. Wish me luck.
Good advice, Barry Walker.....
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