First, the good news. The Select Board was advised last night that the town's ambulance contractor, STAT Ambulance, was willing to renegotiate the final year of the contract and reduce the payment due by some $60,000. In addition, they offered to continue service to the town at no cost to the town. The company will also contribute $40,000 toward dispatch services. All together the savings and payment mean a cost reduction in excess of $360,000 over the next five years.
Now the bad news. Local receipts from motor vehicle excise and meals taxes are going to fall well short of the estimates used to determine our FY2010 budget which is drawing ...
... to a close at the end of the month. Budget Director Greg Barnes pegs the shortfall in the vicinity of $250,000. This link is a memo to the Finance Committee from the Budget Director detailing the deficit and how he believes it will impact the town's finances.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Good news and bad news
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69 comments:
How nice! Please take the time to read the link to the Finance Memo. The economy is horrible for enough people(read private sector) that local receipts from things like new cars and eating out are way down. But not to worry, we are going to make it up by taking title to the properties belonging to those who can't afford to pay their property taxes. I wonder how many school teachers and police officers are on the list to have their properties taken.
Bill that standard times article says there is an 80,000 dollar reduction for 2011, 328,000 to $248,000. That is the last year of the current contract which starts in OCT.
In FY 2012 thru the end of the contract the Service is FREE meaning a savings of 248,000 or 328,000 if we work with the current numbers EACH year. Plus the 40,000 they are contribuiting to dispatch functions.
I am no math wiz but 80,000
240,000 x 4
40,000 x 4
Is 1.2 million over 5 yrs, not 360,000 over 5 yrs. so the news is better than you think!
Maybe you meant 360,000 per year?
Eithe way, good work lowering the burden on the taxpayer.
As the economy gets worse there will be even less money from meal and excise taxes. That is the reason why Dartmouth should have waited a year or so before going ahead wiht FDK and the "community park". At Monday nights SB meeting there seem to be a quick little discussion between you and Ms. Stone about the states reimbursement per student. It seems as if Ms. Stone was a little miffed when you said that the state would only reimburse 17 1/2% and the town would pay the other 82 1/2% per student. Was this supposed to be another "secret" kept from us the tax payer? It is a good thing that we have you at least to be truthful. There was a few looks being exchanged by Lara and Joe M. Did you let the cat out of the bag? I for one have a very uncomfortable feeling about this whole FDK/Park project. I hate to see where this town will be in 2 years from now. Also people make sure you watch the reruns of Monday night SB meeting. It could be an eye opener.
Good work, Mr. Cressman and the Select Board, for working out a new deal with STAT Ambulance. That will make a huge difference to the town. I know that Joe Michaud and Michael Watson have been saying that we could achieve some savings from the ambulance contract. They were right.
Bill
Could you please clarify things a little bit more.
STAT Ambulance, was willing to renegotiate the final year of the contract and reduce the payment due by some $60,000. In addition, they offered to continue service to the town at no cost to the town. The company will also contribute $40,000 toward dispatch services. All together the savings and payment mean a cost reduction in excess of $360,000 over the next five years.
Ok, so the town is signing a new 5-year contract ? or are they working at no cost to the town when the final year ends?
Bill,
Lower excise tax receipts are a given for obvious reasons. The calculations used to estimate revenues should have been aggressively revised downward on the excise taxes. I hope a lesson is learned here because it will likely apply for the next several years. As for the meals tax, who created that formula and on what basis?
I should have said in excess of $360,000 every year for the next five years. Yes, the town will sign a new contract for the five years. Next year will not count as one of the five but will be at a reduced cost, not zero.
The excise tax projection was drastically cut from the year before and still the revenue fell short. The state DOR came up with the meals tax projection and were well of the mark. The town had no information other than that DOR guess on which to base a projection.
Monday's Select Board meeting will be rebroadcast tonight (Thursday) at 7:00pm.
Thank goodness for the financial planners who can project into the future and determine with some reasonable accuracy, one hopes, what our monetary situation may look like years down the road. But I too cannot understand how, with just a few months' of meals/hotel tax under our belts, the town can predict how much money we will gain from this tax. Can the town readily predict without even a year into it, just how much money people will be spending on eating out so that it is able to allot money from this tax to the school?
When I think of "eating out," to any great degree, I think of a once-in-a-while treat to do so, especially in today's economy. It's not something I do on a regular basis, much as before or much as I would like to. I think twice before doing so.
So other than the summer people and tourists summering and boating through this area, do many of us spend that often or that much on eating out to be able to reasonably predict what money the town will gain through this tax to thus be able to immediately promise it away?
And while this "community park/playground" is an excellent idea in theory and one that no doubt will be beneficial in the long run (one hopes) it too does seem a bit premature and all-encompassing, given the economy, even if Dartmouth is seeing some financial light at the end of the tunnel.
Guess maybe I'm just a bit wary of spending at this time!! And, I hate to wonder how much of all this spending on the "community" is just good PR for those involved, money coming in second place as consideration, Seems we have seen this once before, with a project bulldozed through, consequences be damned.
Was the bidding process open to all the other ambulance services in town? Did any other submit bids or were told about the bid process?
Have you seen this article Bill? I am interested in your thoughts.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/06/24/do_the_math_on_overrides/?camp=misc:on:share:article
Regarding the override op-ed, the writers make many assumptions which affect their conclusions and its validity. The first is the assumption that perception and reality coincide. They frequently do not. The second is that increased per student spending will result in increased achievement. That is demonstrably false. Finally home values in communities rise and fall for a host of reasons having nothing to do with schools. How does one decide what the cause of a increase or decrease in home value is attributable? There is a difference between causation and correlation. Is the data cited a causal relation or a correlational one?
I moved back to Dartmouth because of the schools.
Demand increases prices and value.(which is basic economics) Most NEW homeowners are young, many with school aged children.
The price of houses also increases and decreases with services rendered to the population(public safety,crime prevention,parks,trash pick up, accessibilty to highways,libraries, elderly programs and open space preservation)
These services decrease home values decrease.
With $12 per thousand here in DARTMOUTH for a tax on property being PRETTY generous..the fact that we are paying for trash pick up is a HIDDEN TAX (republican favorite)...BUT ITS NOT DEDUCTABLE ON YOUR YEAR END STATE BILL.
regular people lose.
An over-ride is tax deductable...as opposed to the so called "Michaud fees" "Romney fees"
"weld fees"
1st Bill what does your statement "the author assumes perception and reality coincide and it often doesn't" refer specifically to? Or is this just a generality to try and discount the value of the article?
Second there is just as much data to demonstrate that increased per student spending does result in increased student achievement. So just because you say it doesn't, doesn't make it so. But I appreciate your opinion as I did ask for that.
Regarding your next statement about causal vs correlational, I don't think they are saying that not passing a Prop 2 1/2 override is the cause of anything. What they are saying is hey we have looked at the home values and students scores of towns that have passed prop 2 1/2 overrides and compared them to towns that haven't and they are higher. It didn't cause anything, it was just a mistake on the voters part and here is the correlation of data to show you why.
I didn't expect you to agree with it, but I expected a better argument then that.
I wish there was a way of getting the names of all of the people who live in Dartmouth and register their cars in Rhode Island.
It isnt a new tax; it's one that is already on the books. we could get back taxes, interest and penalties. Time and again, I have questioned those in power around the New Bedford-Dartmouth area about this issue and no one seems to want any part of it. Is there no political will out there to hold everyone accountable for their tax obligations?!
Time to talk money.
The town selectmen, along with the fincom, have preformed a tremendous joint effort at bringing our town back from the brink of financial disaster. We should also thank the town voters who decided to approve an override that appointed seven new police officers and other town operations. Along with great concerns and extra money our town has kept a frugal attitude toward spending.
During the last couple of months, it's become noticeable that not all our town meeting members are following the advise of the fincom. I mention the 750,000 thousand dollars transferred from the CPC account and approved by town meeting to fix some old stone barn located on property owned by the state Audubon society, that was not recommended by the fincom. I personally visited the site and can report that it shall take another sum of money but that will not res erect the old stone barn, it can't be repaired. This building is intended to be used to house the caretaker and his family. Stupid is what stupid does.
I'd like to take a bite out of the selectman's police appointments. Within the past few months, I've noticed the selectmen making several police appointments. A new police chief, deputy chief, one captain, three lieutenants, and seven sergeants. The police captain position held by the deputy chief has not been filled, what are the selectmen doing ?? At the last selectmen meeting the SB promoted two additional police sergeants and one (provisional) police lieutenant. In the name of good common sense can anyone explain why we need another acting lieutenant and not appoint a police captain to replace deputy chief?? There are three candidate names on the promotional list for captain.
In this posters opinion, and as it relates to police overtime budget, the promotion of the above mentioned positions shall save the town money. In the approved police command structure, approved by the select board, a captain is needed to be replace the vacancy made by the appointment of deputy chief. If the police chief is of the opinion that none of the three candidates on the captains promotional list are qualified to become a captain then make it public and stop playing politics. The same goes for the select board. The top name on the captain list is the same person that was investigated by Joe Michaud that made such a big deal about nothing.
Take note, when the selectmen start making provisional police appointments it's political. It cost the town an additional 15,000 thousand dollars for the select board to make a provisional lieutenant. The provisional appointment reduced the number of sergeants to six. Now the overtime/overspending will begin.
Each additional overtime slot cost the tax payers 500 hundred dollars per 8 hours. Multiply this by 15 slots and you get 7,500 hundred dollars per week, at 52 weeks equals 390,000 thousand dollars a year. The police overtime budget was appropriated at 250,000 thousand dollars. Because of politics, it may cost an additional 140,000 thousand dollars for fiscal year 2011.
How about the nefarious ex-police officer who lives about 11 months a year in Dartmouth and has Florida plates on his car?
8:02 PM
Why do you want everyone who owns a vehicle in Dartmouth to register it in Rhode Island??Can you explain what this will do for Dartmouth??
When your a retired police officer you can do all the (nefarious) things you want to and people like you can't do a thing about it and if you do we can find out who you are and stop you out like the malcontent you are. So eat your heart out and remember why we became COP'S and why the U.S. Congress passed a law allowing all retired police officer to carry a loaded gun in any state at any time.You are such a confused cop hater. Most females will disagree with you and your nefarious thoughts.
11:23 AM
The ex Dartmouth police officer with Florida plates is taking advantage of the Florida laws that allow out of state home owners to register their vehicles in Florida, pay a one time road tax, and never pay excise tax. In Florida people do not pay a state income tax. Unlike Massachusetts, Florida people are allowed to own and carry a firearm. Florida is a nice place to live. The republican state government believes that people should live free, no need to wear a helmet while riding motorcycle. Most speed limits are set at 70 miles per hour. BIG business, such as large automotive manufacturing, doesn't exist. Almost all highways are well maintained. New road construction is on going. I know why the ex Dartmouth cop doesn't have Massachusetts plates on his car, do you??
Bill, after reading the June 29th article in the Standard-Times referencing the Peninsula Compost Group's interest in building a waste recycling plant in Assonet, is it safe to say that Dartmouth is no longer a consideration for such a plant, as the Group had proposed could be constructed in the Energy Park, because of the town bylaw prohibiting such facilities, a bylaw that, unfortunately, was discovered only after meetings between both Dartmouth and the Peninsula Compost Group representatives were held to discuss this endeavor?
The last I think was in the paper was news that this bylaw had been discovered and that the facility could be built in Dartmouth only if the bylaw were changed?
The town folks don't give a hoot about the new police chief or the police department. The select board hired a police chief from Rhode Island because they didn't believe anyone from the Dartmouth police department is qualified to be a police chief. Get over it, please.
I voted for Joe Michaud for reappointment to the select board. You cops decided to take a no confidence vote against Joe Michaud and it's now time for Joe to show just how stupid it was for the police to engage in politics. You accuse the selectmen for playing politicos but the Dartmouth police became political when they decided to vote no confidence. I hope you swing on your own stupidity.
Selectmen Joe Michaud is good for Dartmouth.
1.He voted not reappoint Mike Gagne as town administrator.
2.He supported an override that allowed the police department to hire seven new police officers.
3.He supported a nation wide search for the new police chief.
4.He made an unpopular vote to increase taxes on business while allowing home owners a tax break.
5.He refused to vote for the promotion of a police lieutenant candidate that didn't meet his standards.
6.He requested the investigate of the number of police cruiser crashes. That is what he was elected to do along with many other investigations concerning our town employee's.
7.Joe Michaud has done more to save tax payers money.
8.Joe Michaud voted to erect wind turbines that will save the town money and provide additional money for Dartmouth by selling excess electricity to the electric companies. An additional 850,000 thousand dollars per year.
9.Joe Michaud should remove the police department out of civil serviceand maybe we can rid our self of the old time malcontents who enjoy causing problems. Ask Joe the rag man.
Did anyone read the letter in the S-T today written by the laid off teacher? It was a breath of fresh air.
to 7:50
I am aware of how the state of Florida allows "non-residents" to get a Florida license plate. Answer me this question. What does Mass state law say about a resident being allowed to have out of state plates? Be careful what you say because I know the answer, do you?
to jul 5 3PM "7.Joe Michaud has done more to save tax payers money."
NO! he did what Mitt Romney did..."fee'd" us to death.
Not only do I have to PAY to get through the dump gate..I have to buy 2 dollar trash bags.
This used to be part of the PROPERTY TAXES I paid. Which is DEDUCTIBLE at the end of the YEAR.
FEES are not deductible.
Parents PAID for their KIDS to ride the SCHOOL BUSES...nice job JOE another FEE "not deductible"
Pay to play in a playground in the NORTH END OF TOWN
Anything else JOe?
FEES are just as BAD as TAXES JOE...except the PEOPLE you represent CAN NOT DEDUCT THEM off their income taxes, like you can with Property tax!
Could we go back to the subject and ask how Stat are now able to provide the same service for less than nothing? Perhaps the previous contract was not in the best interests of the Town?
I'm no cop but I wholeheartedly supported the Police Unions vote of no confidence. Joe was (in fact)openly discussing cruiser crashes that were under investigation. Opening the town and individual officers to liabilty. While this may be acceptable as an oversight by most members of the BOS Joe knew better. He is a lawyer.
Joe CANNOT remove civil service protection from the PD. That can ONLY be done by a vote of town meeting. TM members are smarter than to allow those protections to be taken away. Civil service is good for the town and protects us against rouge Select Boards.
Joe got my vote the in his second election but not the last one. He looked in my eyes, shook my hand while campaigning and LIED to my face. He will never have my vote again, but that is just me.
P.S. all unions are political, but you already knew that.
Spending is way up in the 4 yrs Joe has been on the BOS. The only reason Dartmouth remains aflot is increased revenue which has nothing at all to do with Joe.
Joe happened to be on the BOS when were were TAXED oppps "fee-d" to death. Joe raised taxes on all taxpayers and renters with these fees.
Please don't pretend he was looking out for the little guy. I pay much more now than I did before Joe took office.
If you want to take "credit" for the good things then take RESPONSIBILITY for the big mistakes.
It is laughable for you to claim credit on behalf of Joe for the wind turbines since they were in the planning stages for much longer than Joe was on the BOS. The credit for the turbines goes to Town Meeting.
It appears that the selectmen and town administrator David Crestman performed some unbelievable hat trick to lower the cost of our ambulance contract service, from STAT ambulance. As I read this ambulance service, Dartmouth provided a sum of money to respond to all ambulance calls for town services which include transportation and emergency care. As the result of transporting a town person to a hospital, STAT ambulance charged for the transportation. Some of the transportation fee's were over 500 hundred dollars. This money was collected by Stat ambulance through the insurance coverage of the person transported. Am I just stupid or were we in business for STAT ambulance? When you include the money provided to stat ambulance just for housing a couple of ambulances in Dartmouth and add the money Stat ambulance collected for rider fee insurance, Stat ambulance are making dollars in the millions. This is like double dipping. The town of Dartmouth pays Stat to service the town, Stat ambulance receives a three year contract at approximately one million dollars and they charge for the ambulance service for every person transported to the hospital.
Now Stat ambulance wants to service the town for no money for a period of time and pay 45 thousand dollars for the dispatch services. Stat ambulance has been making this money for years and never had to pay for dispatch services.
Something smelling and it's coming from stat ambulance owners and former selectmen. Time to have an auditor look into Stat ambulance and the (people) who kept stat in Dartmouth.
Wasn't it Joe Michaud who initiated the insurance and ambulance review committee that saved us $millions? Thanks Joe. By the way, as we have seen with the beach and busses, fees are a lot easier to rescind than property taxes. A few years ago when former town leaders had led us to the brink of fiscal disaster, they chose to charge more for beaches and busses in an act of desperation. If they had been able to convince taxpayers to vote for an override, we would still be paying those increased taxes. Thanks to the work of people like Joe and others, we have been able to rescind the fees. In this case, it was better to pay a fee for a few years than to pay higher taxes FOREVER, even if they are deductable.
As it relates to Stat ambulance Dartmouth contracts and the sums of money provided to Stat ambulance for ambulance services over the past 13 years. The town SELECTBOARD must call for a full investigation into Stat ambulance for the purpose of providing the tax payers with any allegation(s) of wrong doing or state ethic violation.
How is it possible for Stat ambulance to provide town ambulance service and decide they have 46 thousand dollars to provide our town for dispatch services that they have been receiving for free? To whom/ where was all this money going. Is it possible that someone was collecting an honest package?? Approximately 17 years ago, a former selectman was found to be in a conflict of state ethics violation over a vote taken to allow Stat ambulance a Dartmouth service contract. This former selectman was ordered to pay a 17 thousand dollar fine. What ever happened to the former selectmen or the fine?? Could his family still be in control/ownership of Stat ambulance service??
Everyone knows what a skunk looks like and everyone knows if a skunk has been walking through their back yard. A stinking is coming from inside the Dartmouth ambulance service contract and the odor is traveling to the town hall.
In response to 8:07, it was not the SB and DC it was the ambulance/insurance ad-hoc committee. No one has recognized those folks.
I have to agree with the recent S-T Op Ed piece reflecting on Dartmouth's vast improvement in financial controls and financial responsibility. I find it hilarious and completely transparent some of the criticisms here. Are you back posting here Bob? Or are the unions at it again because they haven't gotten new lucrative contracts? Dartmouth taxpayers have always been considered fair game haven't they? So we spent and spent and depleted nearly ALL of the town's money. Then went back for more in overrides. Doesn't that go against your revisionist history? Now the town has a reserve fund with millions in it. That is called good management. Joe deserves a lot of credit for help making that all happen.
How quickly do you think THAT will happen?
bwalker.......nice to see you back and posting your opinion on Joe Michaud. It's nice to be back on the same side of the issue. Joe Michaud is one of the most impressive town leaders in a very long time. As you know, selectman Len Rose was the most soft spoken and most honest man/selectman I ever met. You were probably too young to remember Len Rose but then again we are all getting older. I can still remember catching you with a hand full of bottle rockets that you had been setting off around the padanaram village. Back then the kids were having fun, but today it's not fun unless someone is getting shot. How times have changed.
Once again, it's nice to see you back on the right side of things. We can disagree with out becoming disagreeable. Keep up the good work on the fincom.
Your friendly P.O.
The owner of Stat Ambulance is the sister of the former selectman.
She also owns Southcoast EMS based in Dartmouth.
The former selectman is still an Assessor in the Town of Dartmouth
He now owns Stat New England based in New Bedford.
To BWALKER,
Tell me BARRY how has JOE and the rest of the SB SAVED ME $$$$.
My taxes went up 2.5% every year.
I pay MORE because my trash isnt pickup by the town unless I pay EXTRA.
I pay more just to ENTER the DUMP
I pay more to enjoy a PUBLIC BEACH and/or PARK
I pay more so my kids can ride a BUS
This is ALL on top of a 2.5% increase.
Services that used to be covered under my tax bill are NOW luxuries.
TELL ME AGAIN BARRY WALKER...how has the SB and JOE MICHAUD SAVED ME $$$.
remember, I am not talking about saving the TOWN $$$. I am talking about ME, personally.
Someone help...I am drowning!
Bill, what is happening with the Peninsula Compost Group? It appears that a previously unknown (or unremembered) bylaw has sunk this worthy project for the town??
2 yrs ago Joe and Cressman signed a new contract with stat ambulance paying almost 400,000.00 per year. This in a time when many other towns were getting free deals like we just got.
Joe and Cressman didn't blaze any trails saving money, they were actually behind many other towns getting the same/better deals. While I applaud the good deal we are getting let's not make it seem like it is the best deal anyone ever got for a town.
I would like to change this topic to allow my concern for the 20 year old man that was killed while operating his motorcycle along Tucker Road. According to standard times information, the cyclist struck a motorvehilce that was making a left turn onto Tucker Road. This section of Tucker Road, according to the newspaper article, was temporarily closed.
If this section of Tucker Road, where the crash occurred, is closed to traffic, how did the crash occur? What type of warning “road temporarily closed to traffic” is provided for the motorist who travel Tucker Road. Was a police officer, or flag person, assigned to that section of road closed to traffic? As I read the standard times article, and the obvious lack of direct information, it appears that some one screwed up big time. Is it the person that was killed who disobeyed the road closure signs ( if any ) is it the towns lack of properly erecting road safety signs? What part did the police safety officer take, if any? For the sake of saving a couple of dollars did the town not notify the section of road closure to the police department?
I'm not a lawyer, but from what I could read, or not read in the standard times article it appears to this poster that the town will take a monetary hit on this crash. My opinion is based on the lack of information provided in the standard times news article.
Hopefully, selectmen Joe Michaud will look into this crash.
I do not know the victim or the family, but I can read between the lines.
The ambulance contract is in the last year of a 10 year contract. No one signed any contract with Stat or any other ambulance service two years ago. The comment above is completely without accuracy.
The road was TEMPORARILY closed while the accident team took measurements to reconstruct the crash. Prior to the crash the road was open.
No one disobeyed road closure signs, there were no police or flagmen directing traffic.
No one dropped the ball.
The ambulance contract is in the last year of a 10 year contract.
I did not think the BOS could enter into ANY contract for longer than 3 yrs. If this contract was a 10 year contract how did that happen Bill?
I was not trying to be less than accurate.
To the poster about Tucker Rd. The article was very clear (I read it twice to make sure) The roadway was CLOSED due to the accident, not the way you stated. I live on Tucker Rd, there is and was no construction (I passed thru there approx 15 min before the crash) There is no "ooops" on the town re-read the article again. Just a note, when a fatal or possible fatal crashes occurs it is common to close the roadway to conduct the investigation (accident r3construction).
Several years ago, Dartmouth was faced with its most serious financial crisis that I can recall. All the money was spent and there were commitments in place to spend a whole lot more. Where was that money supposed to come from? Permanent property tax increases? While I fundamentally oppose implementing new fees and raising existing ones, those were the choices available. Fees can, and have been, reduced. Property tax increases are forever. Blaming Joe and the functional part of the SB at that time, is unfair and inaccurate. They inherited the problem. Despite these very difficult economic times, the problem has been substantially addressed. Including cleansing the SB of the remaining dysfunctional members.
July 9, 9:21, I read the article on the tragedy on Tucker Rd. I think the article meant that Tucker Rd. was closed to traffic AFTER the accident occurred and because of the accident, and not before because of any road work.
I don't think Mr. Cressman was here two years ago to sign ANY contract.
I love how people just make stuff up. And, bwalker, talking about the town saving and spending money. Didn't bwalker vote to spend $700,000 to rebuild a pile of stones (calling it a barn). This is a large sum of money that could have gone to many projects, by bwalker wants to build a house for a caretaker with the town's $700,000. Gotta love it!
If a child has difficulty learning, are they difficult to teach? If a child can not compete academically, at which grade level will this child begin to understand they are not educationally competitive? Teachers and administrative members are aware of every child's academic status. Is this a time in public education when teachers make choices based on educational productivity?
I'm interested in your answers.......thanks.
and why can't taxes be reduced as easily as fees? ISNT THAT WHAT NEO CONS like JOE do? reduce taxes...isnt that what they FIGHT FOR.
JOE INHERITED A PROBLEM?...hmm I've heard that before...LMFAO
yeah, you heard that coming from dummycrats...in regards to the economy and how it was Bush's fault.
Obama-"I inherited the worst economy in a hudred years"...lol
now the NEO-CONS of Dartmouth are using it to defend Joe as they condemn OBAMA for doing the same thing.
Wednesday evening, while traveling to the town hall for the town charter committee meeting, I became involved in a minor fender bender and never made it to the meeting. Was this meeting covered by DCTV??
July 15, 2010 5:35 PM
Re: Obama-"I inherited the worst economy in a hudred years"...lol
Bill, I am disappointed you would allow a posting with such a blatant racist comment.
Bill, I am disappointed you would allow a posting with such a blatant racist comment??
Wow, sensitive much?
greenpan said it Obama agreed with it, how is quoting it racist in any way?
Some people take any opportunity to play the "race card". Sad really.
The Dartmouth select board should sponsor an article to have town meeting members vote to remove civil service from our police department, and it's members. Our Dartmouth police department has an excellent group of qualified officers who can not or unable to pass civil service required test/exams. Civil service has become a hindrance for those police officers who are qualified, but unable to test well. Just because you test well doesn't mean your the best officer for promotion. This is why I believe civil service is no longer needed. Another issue I have with civil service is the protection given to police officers who should not be a police officers, but civil service allows them protection.
The select board have sponsored articles to have our town meeting members remove the chief and deputy chief from under civil service rules. Special legislation was passed and we now have a chief from outside the department and a deputy chief from inside the department. If the two positions were under civil service, the select board members could only chose a person who passed the civil service test for chief/deputy chief, from inside the Dartmouth police members. It's time to remove civil service from our town police department.
The only negative concern with removing civil service from our police department is the politics that come into play. The select board, according to political favor, could appoint police officers based on what have you done for me lately. I'm sure the select board didn't appoint chief Lee, a non-civil service appointment, through any political motivation. I'm sure the select board didn't appoint deputy chief Soares, a non-civil service appointment, through political motivations.
It's time to remove civil service from our police department. Police officers shall receive a three year renewable contract, based on merit, not political favors.
to 7:44
Sounded racist to me as well. Perhaps Amos and Andy is more your style for people of color?
Good news racist. You can keep your hooded white robe in the closet. You don't have to find your John Birch society card either. Guess what, you can call yourself a member of the Tea Party!
The selectmen, along with the police union leadership, wanted Dartmouth police captain Randy Medeiros promoted as the Dartmouth police chief. Removing the chief position out from civil service allowed the selectmen to appoint captain Randy Medeiros.
The select board, all smoke and mirrors, called for a nation wide search for a new Dartmouth police chief. WINK...WINK ...A search committee, selected by selectmen Vincent, Miller, Carney, Siva, and Leduck, were appointed to submit the best four qualified candidates, to the select board. One of the select committee members was the police union president. By everyone's surprise, Captain Randy Medeiros became the Dartmouth police Chief.
Chief Medeiros, a well known qualified police officer, with many years of experience, met with the select board to negotiate a new police union contract. The regular membership received a 2% salary increase, while a certain union member, received a 5% salary increase. Hmmmm!
At the end of three years, chief Randy Medeiros receiving his three highest salaried years, retired from the Dartmouth police department. It should be mentioned that chief Medeiros, had an associate degree in criminal justice.
The same old select board members began a search for a police chief. Deciding to hire from within the Dartmouth police department, the selectmen hiring an assessment center coordinator. Dartmouth police Lieutenant Mark Pacheco, a well respected police officer, was selected by the assessment center and appointed as the new Dartmouth police chief.
Chief Pacheco served the town for five years, and retired in 2009. During his tenure, the town went through many changes, including new select board members, new executive administrative, and a new town direction, led by selectmen Joe Michaud.
Civil service position for deputy chief, supported by chief Pacheco, was voted to be removed from civil service by the town meeting members. Once again the police union remained quiet. Rumor floated, that chief Pacheco may have decided on retirement after the select board refused to appoint the chief's selection of a well known Dartmouth police captain, as the deputy chief. The new select board decided they wanted the option to chose a candidate from outside the town department, and all qualified in house candidates can apply. No Dartmouth police officers met the qualifications.
The town police department has a new, out of state police chief, as it's leader. Prior to the appointment of Chief Lee, the select board promoted one lieutenant to captain, and three sergeants to lieutenant. Prior to the promotions, all hell broke lose. Anonymous allegations of candidate wrong doing where flying through out the town, and the police department. All appointments were made through the civil service promotional list. Thank God for civil service.
Chief Lee has requested, and the select board have promoted a deputy chief from inside the department, four new sergeants, and one provisional lieutenant. All promotions, except the deputy chief, were made through civil service rules and regulation. WINK...WINK.....here we go again!
Another issue I have with civil service is the protection given to police officers who should not be a police officers, but civil service allows them protection.
AAAAAHHHHHH The real reason comes out, you blab about the best test taker is not the best candidate for the job. You have shown your true COLORS, you want to hire and fire Cops at the will of the select Board, with no intermediary party like Civil service who is impartial.!!! AAAHHH "THE POWER OF IT ALL" People like you! is the reason the COPS are protected under civil service. OH and another thing that will grab you by the shorts, the 'COPS" have civil service protection in their contract, Town Meeting can not vote it away it has to be bargained away. GOOD LUCK with that one!
Our Dartmouth police department has an excellent group of qualified officers.
You are very contradictory in your post. If we have such a GREAT Department, why do we need to spend time and money looking for outside employees? Why are you so afraid of an exam, to choose the best candidate? Are you one of the POLITICAL COPS who can not top the list, but wants the JOB. Spend less time CRYING and more tome STUDYING, and maybe you will top the next TEST.
8:00/lnterview for Police Captain Position and Police Lieutenant.
The Board interviewed Sergeant Gregg Rutch for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain, Sergeant Peter Faria for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain and Lieutenant Gary Soares for Police Captain and Sergeant Mark Zielinski for Police Lieutenant.
Where was sergeant Zsala???
Seeing you are no longer continuing with the Dartmouth hitching post why not remove the blog???
It served to keep the people informed but I don't feel you enjoyed the feedback
In the article in the ST today about the $600,000 "community" park I noticed that the article said that the park would be used by children attending Cushman School, children and grandchildren of library patrons and Dartmouth street residences. What about the rest of us peons?
DARTMOUTH HITCHING POST
A political blog from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. I encourage debate of the issues facing our town on this blog.
Bill, how can we debate the issues facing our town on this blog if you don't enter town issues to debate? your blog has nothing new to debate.
Dartmouth educator's union accept new contract....?? No post.
School headmaster stated all increases are covered with in the town school budget for 2010, WHAT, NO POST TO DEBATE.
Dartmouth vehicle crashes result in fatalities, but selectmen Michaud doesn't call for investigation concerning town police traffic enforcement.
Town garbage employee's litter roadways with trash. Papers and rubbish, falling out from garbage trucks are knowingly left along road ways.
Bill, we have alot of town issues facing our town.
Why wasn't the Select Board meeting televised? Was it so that Watson could lead the charge to raid the Stabilization Fund without being seen on t.v.? When will those minutes be available?
I go along with 7:56a. m. on August 9. There are many town issues that we would like to discuss. Your blog is the only one that can do this for us. I realize as SB chairperson you probably can't (or won't) comment about certain issues but at least this opens a dialogue for the rest of us.
One subject that I would like to see discussed is the article in Thursday's ST written by Greg Lynam about the future of Dartmouth's finances and spending. Such as wasteful spending on parks, FDK, monies to the YMCA. Audabon Society, and most of all the Community Park ($600,000 playground) Why in these bad economic times couldn't we just build a normal school play ground like all the other schools have? Why didn't we wait one or two more years before implimenting a FDK until we had enough money to support it? It seems strange how fast the FDK and "community park" were passed. Also how fast the the construction has begun. Kind of makes you wonder.
Now that the library needs a new AC where will that $500,000 come from? What about the $265,000 for Cushman School elevator? How much money has been put into Cushman school so far? How much more will be put into it
Thanks, Bill and welcome back.
What about the mold/air quality problem that is supposed to exist in Cushman? If there is such a problem, what is being done or has been done to address and eliminate it, and at what cost to the town?
As it relates to FDK money, the fincm, selectmen, and the school department, made a “contract agreement” allowing all school department unspent budgeted mony for 2010, to go into a special account, for funding FDK.
This is like making a pact with the devil, in which the devil has been given too many souls to capture, but agreeing to return enough souls to be put into a special soul account, so the devil can continue the capturing of souls. This is a win, win, for the devil. The captured souls are never released, but returned for the use of capturing souls.
The analogy may be poor, but you get the drift. The school department has been given authority to put all unspent school department money, into a special account, for the use of FDK. This would be the same as allowing all town departments, who return unused budgetary money, to be put into a special account for the same department. Departments, such as the school department, are allocated more than 50% of all town monies. This is more like 53 cents on a dollar taxed. When a department is allowed, or mandated a minimum of 37,000.000 million dollars, one can always find enough money to be returned for a special account to be used for a specific use, such as FDK. This is a good political move on the part of the selectmen and the school committee, who are all elected. The question is.....will the town continue to afford all these new programs??? DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE, WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN DARTMOUTH??
I wonder how much money Stat is making in ambulance revenues? It must be a substatial amount if they can provide the service for nothing. Its to bad the town doesn't see any of that money.
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