As of today, there are a three races shaping up for the April town election, two seats on the School Committee and Library Trustee.
The Select Board has two seats up for election and only one candidate has taken out nomination papers for each. Joe Michaud pulled nomination papers to run for re-election and David Gonsalves of Fieldstone Lane has taken papers to run for the other seat which is now held by Ms. Dias. She has announced that she will not seek re-election.
The School Committee has two seats up for election and incumbent Shawn McDonald has pulled nomination papers. Former School Committee member John Nunes, Doug Roscoe of Shipyard Lane and Meagan Monteiro of Old Westport Road, also ...
... have taken out nomination papers for School Committee. Mr. Roscoe has been active with the Dartmouth Parents group. Ms. Monteiro currently serves on the Disabled Accessibility Committee for the town. Unlike the Select Board, I don't think that School Committee candidates must declare for a seat. The two top voter getters will be elected to the committee.
Others seeking nominations are Lynn Brodeur of Flagship Lane, Rachel Charrier of Kirkat St, and Andrew Costa of Bryant St. for Library Trustee, Elaine Lancaster for the Housing Authority, Thomas Hardman for Board of Health, John Haran for Planning Board and Kevin Santos for Assessor. Ms. Charrier and Mr. Costa are incumbents on the library board. Ms. Lancaster, Mr. Hardman, Mr. Haran and Mr. Santos are running for re-election to their respective boards.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Town election roundup
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71 comments:
Can we expect any of these candidates to bring to their respective boards an unbiased position? If not, can we expect them to vote in the best interests of all of us, or will their decisions be skewed to their particular agendas? We would be foolish if we believed none have agendas.
It is not illogical to think that a candidate might want to be on a committee or board to push through a certain issue because he/she feels that strongly about it. In that instance, there might be some sloughing off of what is good for the entire community, if only for the time being.
Is it time for an override again, do you suppose?
NOOOO!!!
Jon Nunes is not an incumbent. He lost last year. So who is the incumbent that is not running
You're right about Mr. Nunes, I stand corrected. Judith Boles is the other incumbent whose seat is up this year.
Bill, will you be chairman this year?
Allow me to state that Bill Trimble should be elected to the select board chair. I have sent out several e-mails and letters with my concerns on certain town issues. I offered my opinions, tried to explain certain state laws as they apply to town business and at times been a down right pain in the butt. Although I never received a response to my e-mails or letters, I know that he applied some of the advise and accepted the provided knowledge.
Bill Trimble is a man of few words. He leads by example and will not be led by anyone or issue. He dose his home work and speaks with a soft voice. When making a decision it appears that he is at peace with himself and his explanation as it applies. His type of demeanor will provide the town with less BS and more straight forwardness.
I make a motion to appoint Bill Trimble as chairman of the Dartmouth select board. Any seconds??
I agree. Bill Trimble is a man of integrity and should be the chair for the final year of his term.
as common prctice the SB member who is up for election the following year usually is the chair...with ONE exception...who was that masked woman?
I personally think McDonald is running for the wrong seat.
Why is everybody picking on me??
I truly feel that Lara Stone is a very nice lady, mother, wife, and supporter of schools. I also consider Lara Stone to be well spoken, thoughtful, and educated. Personally, I feel she would serve the town best by becoming a school board member. In my opinion, school board members are mostly made up of left wing bleeding heart liberals, who want to spend as much money as possible to educate the uneducated and provide the highest salaries for those who teach, all this at the cost to the tax payers. The school board is a group of people who always seem to agree, to agree. Can you recall at any one time when a school committee person said, “No.”?? Well, forget that one, he didn't get re-elected.
Select board members are a different kind of animal. Most, if not all, have an agenda and the ego to go with it. I don't know how other voters feel, but I enjoy watching a group of people who don't always agree with each other. Some of you who criticize my postings are foolish to think that Lara Stone fits into this criteria of jungle survival. Allow me to give an example, four of the five selectmen had already made up their mind that wind turbines will be constructed along the Chase Road town owned land. Lara Stone was the only select person who didn't know how she would vote. As the junior selectman, she had deep concern for the opposition crowd that live along the affected Chase Road area. I'm sure she had many sleepless nights and thoughtful concerns that prompted her to visit homes and the people effected by the turbines. In the end, she voted for the turbines but at a what cost to her doubtful concerns.
The select board is the center board for all town action. Lara Stone always starts off by raising her hand and asking if she can speak. Lara is not sitting in a class room. She doesn't need to raise her hand or ask for permission to speak. Have you ever heard Mike Watson ask to speak, I don't think so....Joe Michaud doesn't have the problem, or Bill Trimble.
It's still time to resign from the select board and run for school committee, where everyone holds hands and have a sing-along. Doe, a female deer.........
Both Ms. Stone & Mr. Watson have been what I suspected they would be. That is non-factors in anything major. No leadership qualities at all. Nothing of any significance added. Unfortunately, this job is a classic volunteer job requiring much time and effort. Resulting in much aggravation. Therefore, it often attracts people with special interests and agendas. Ergo, Ms. Dias. Hopefully, we can add someone who actually is a creative and motivating factor to continue the progress that has been made.
These positions are thankless, have steep learning curves and require a lot of time. Anyone who occupies a Board of Selectmen seat deserves our gratitude and not our scorn.
in regards to progress...what progress has been made?
Hey, we aren't run out of a bar room anymore! Isn't that progress?
Anonymous 12:49
Why do you refer to me as an idiot? I've never called or made derogatory comments about anyone. I don't know you but I will read what ever you print. Opinions are like rectums we all have one. This blog is set up for our political concerns and I have expressed mine. If you were more concerned with how you feel and less emotional by calling me ideologists, we could agree..
If you are so smart, why did you re-enter your first post. Just because you printed misspelled words you don't want me to call you stupid. Stupid people print things without thinking and they also print things with out checking what they have printed. Who's the idiot now??
I still feel that Lara Stone is over her head. Mike whatshis-name is riding on the shoulder of Ken Vincent. Mike is like the puppet ( Charlie McCarthy ) His head goes left to right and up and down. If we could open the top of his skull I'm ceratin to find a DVD spinning around with the name made in China and produced by Ken Vincent. What say you??
Eddy P. that's a creative way to hide your identity. Stone and Watson, hopefully, never read this. The postings here do not reflect the majority of voters in town.
Keep writing Eddy P - you are proving the point made by others on this blog.
Eddy is running for selectman. If elected he shall offer the following.......
(1)He will not vote for a town override.
(2) He will not vote for any tax hidden fee's.
(3)He will privatize all snow plowing and road salting.
(4)He will vote to allow all town tax payers to dispose of trash at the transfer station free of orange bags. ( no charge )
(5)He will vote to bring back the single tax rate system.
(6)He will vote to reopen the town hall building on Monday evenings.
(7)He will appoint three town residents to the Crapo Hill Landfill District who shall vote to return 20% of all supplementary funds back to the town.
(8)All town roadway intersection shall have four way stop signs.
(9)He will vote to have a wind turbines constructed on land owned by the town between Hawthorn Street and Lexington Avenue. Wind energy will be provided for the Quinn school and Middle school, and town hall building. The town will receive an additional 430,000 dollars per year from the energy grid.
(10)He will vote to reconstruct the Department of public works yard to be equip with and provide asphalt to improve and resurface our town roads.
(11)Eddy's motto.....yes we can....
Privatize snowplowing?...does that mean we have too many guys on the DPW payroll, because you will be laying off workers right?
as we all know EDDY can also be known as Dianne Gilbert, Joe Michaud, the Walkers, ....who else?
People. Let's try to stay positive. Just state your opinion. You don't have to bash anyone. We are all town resident and we care a lot about Dartmouth.We may not agree on how to get there, but we all want the best for our town.
No name calling, please!
Eddy...if you're running, take the papers out.... but that'll blow your cover.
Good point...My guess- No one named Eddy will run, and prove Eddy is just some posting name to hide under.
Eddy = internet coward.
With approximately two weeks left to take out nomination papers it appears that Joe Michaud and David Gonsalves will be elected.
Ms. Dias has announced that she will not seek re-election. When do you think Nat could comment on the Oct 2 2009 letter concerning the wind mills .
http://www.env.state.ma.us/dpu/docs/electric/09-71/10509drthcom.pdf
If we are to make real strides toward achieving the Governor's and the ISO region’s renewable energy capacity goals, the Tariff needs to set the highest reasonable Rate Class for community wind and other eligible projects. Otherwise, we risk that most if not all of these projects will not be financially feasible, will be unable to get financing, and will never be built.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments. B r ,
Ronald DiPippo, Ph.D. Chairman, Dartmouth Alternative Energy Committee
Members of the Dartmouth Alternative Energy Committee: Edward F. Iacaponi, Ex-Officio; Nathalie Dias, Kevern Joyce, Arthur Larrivee, Paul Lopes, Raymond Medeiros, Roger Race, Saul Raposo and Joseph Sousa
Cc/ Mark D. Marini, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110 (Original + 2 copies, mailed)
John K. Habib, Esq., Keegan
Can anyone give me some information on David Gonsalves? Does he have government experience? Does he chave the time to do the job effectively? Why is he running?
Has he participated in anything in town?
I think there are some very talented people who are already volunteering their service to the town who would make excellent Select Board members. They serve on the School Committee, Finance Committee and Planning Board.
Government experience?...You should vote for or against based on their ideas and policies.
A person without any governmental experience may have better ideas and policies than those who are now in office.....
Bill Trimble is an example of no governmental experience but some of his policies and ideas have been good for the town
I like Mike Watson. The only thing that I hope for with him is that he begins to realize that some of the people who got him elected don't have the best interest of the town in mind. They are the old power structure that is hoping to regain their stranglehold on Dartmouth. Mike has over two years to go. Hopefully, he will begin to break away from some of the influences that supported his candidacy.
Oh, that he can think for himself, if, indeed, what you say is true.
Michaud has NEVER gone to a regionalization meeting other than the one held at our town hall...he was supposed to meet with other towns throughout the year...but NOTHING happened. It was all glitz and glamour...all words and no deeds
I can confirm by personal observation that Mr. Michaud has been to numerous regionalization meetings including some at different locales than in our Town Hall
Me too - Joe has been to many of these forums off site and off camera.
what about the westport meeting, he never contacted westport, returned calls, or anything.
If i remember correctely that was about either the animal control officer or beach recreation...he never showed
Joe will not even be challenged in the race for his select board seat. Enough said on that. It looks like the "nasties" that visit this blog to attack anyone who actually takes fiscally responsible actions (not those who use it as a hollow campaign slogan)will have to start on David Gonsalves. I am sure the good ole boy network will run somebody for the open Dias seat.
Bob Miller? or Bob Carney?
It has been rumored that Barry Walker is going to take out select board papers at the eleventh hour.
give me an example of policy that ascribes Joe Michaud as a fiscal conservative...other than words...there haven't been any deeds
Barry Walker is a tax cutting machine...
Joe Michaud will have a challange. He is a bad person with his own agenda. Hey Eddie, whay not get back into the game. As much as you have proven to be the village idiot, I would vote for you before the Bully. At least you do not give us double talk. You are a fool but an honest fool. Perfect for this board. Michaud need to go. next will be Trimble. You are a good Lacrosse Coach but as far as Selectmen you are bad. Nothing personal but this job does not fit you. Hey Joe, the question is Split tax or no split tax, That was the question. O ya you flipped on that one. Sorry to bring that up.
Fiscal conservative, hmmmm How about holding the line at ZERO % wage increases across the board for the town. How about force feeding fiscal planning to ensure that town and departments can plan appropriately for the future. How about supporting the split tax when is was APPARENT that it was in the best interest of the taxpayer. How about leading efforts at regionalization with other communities that have resulted in collective purchasing agreements with other communities to save money and other measures that will take time to implement to include regional 9-1-1 that could save us millions. How about leading on wind turbines which will save the town millions. How about exposing the corrupt "lifetime no-cut" contracts that have resulted in a complete change in town leadership and far more accountability to the taxpayers.
Being a fiscal conservative doesn't mean simply cutting taxes it also means accountability and making sure that taxes are spent wisely and efficiently. That said, did you notice that PAYT went down, student activity fees were split in half, student transportation costs were eliminated and beach stickers reduced by half. It's not much but can you identify any city or town reducing fees and taxes? Yeah, I know "What did Joe do?" but if these fees had gone up you'd certainly be blaming him wouldn't you?
This town has benefited greatly from Joe donating his time and efforts.
Ask yourself as a taxpayer is the town better off now than three years ago?
10:22 PM
Hey, Thanks for the plug or was it??
So you want the village fool to run for selectman. You don't like Joey the muscle man. You like the facts without the double talk.
My wife....thats right this fool is married, found my hitchingpost BS and made me promise never to run for town office. I have screwed with you on this forum but allow me to state that if I did run it wouldn't be under the name Eddy. I could fill the seat standing on my head.
Taxing business or home owners is not the way to go. We need to stop paying out monies for state (political)town mandates for schools,police,or any other state mandated programs that are not money supported by the state. It's time to pull the pin on the money grenade and lob it back to the stae house. Pay up or shut up. No more state mandated programs. Don't ever talk to me about an override....it won't happen.
oH eDDY WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! yOU COULD SAVE OUR ENTIRE TOWN! oH eDDY PLEASE PLEASE RUN FOR SELECTMAN. i JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU!
rUN eDDY rUN!
APPARENT it was in the best interest of the TOWN?...uhhh no, he noticed a political switch was needed. Most people wanted it, but he was against until he realized people were for it....so to get in their good graces he changed his vote.
So if a recall proponent like Bob Carney brought up that he was for the recall but is now against THIS BLOG wouldnt hold that against him...he just did what was best for the TOWN....oh wait they did hold that against him..WOW!
How have eliminating transportation fees; splitting activity fees in half; and lowering beach stickers helped the majority of townspeople?
Answer: THEY HAVEN"T! A select few got the benefit of the elimination of transportation fees (PARENTS); a select few got the benefit of halved activity fees (PARENTS) and a select few got the benefit of lowered beach stickers (probably PARENTS again and any other sun worshippers.)
Hello?? The SB could have lowered the PAYT fee even lower; it is an Enterprise Fund, true, which would make it harder to do, as I am led to believe, BUT - - IT IS, WAS, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE ANY OF THE ABOVE FEES WERE LOWERED OR ELIMINATED.) Even two School Committee members were against all this fee reduction for the schools because they understood the wisdom of keeping some money in hand rather than just spending it because you have (were fortunate enough to get) it.
How has the community as a whole benefited from these reduced/eliminated fees? Not at all from where I sit. And Mr. Watson is so fond of saying that we should give back to the community. Neither he nor the other four Select Board members gave much thought about the possibility of taking a little more time and maybe a little more effort to reduce PAYT (yes, again) which would help nearly the entire town.
Took the easy way out. As I see it, that appears to be becoming a trend.
Who on the FinCom should run for SB? thoughts?
No one.
Sure, take your pick. The FinCom has lots of great people:
Shannon Jenkins Chairperson
Mary Louise Nunes Vice Chairperson
Jason Wentworth
Patrick Roth
Peter Friedman
Greg Lynam
Barry Walker
David Ferreira
Stephen D. Mitchell Jr.
Freidman doesn't have time.
Eddy: don't take the village idiot to serious. Moe, Curly and Lara have it covered. I am disapointed with LS. I thought she would have stepped away from the dark side. "Big Bully" I was wrong Unfortunetly there is hope yet for her. I hope she wakes up and takes off the rose colored googles. She is dancing with the devil.
Whats a google??
Rose Colored Google...She's so nice even her Google searches bring back nothing but positive searches..LOL
I take nothing the bloggers say seriously...I remember this was the GILBERT,GRACIE BLOG a year ago...uhhh they both lost...I know the camp most of the writers here are in
Again, Where have they lowered ANYTHING! Where.
At least they are trying to lower costs and fees unlike many other communities who feel the first response to a tight budget is RAISE FEES and taxes.
Where?
Why hasn't Mr. Frank Gracie taken out papers to run for the Select Board?
Great! Another pro-override person running for the School Committee. If Roscoe is elected, that will make 3 people from that group and that parent group on the committee; Roscoe, Lenz and Jones.
And an ally on the Select Board, too, don't forget: Ms. Stone, who along with Doug Roscoe and Shannon Jenkins (Finance Committee chairperson,) were prominent in pushing for the $8 million+ override in 2007. And I'm sure they favored the lesser one, too, that did not pass for the school, either.
And how long before Mr. Watson will get on the override bandwagon, too, if he isn't already, although there is no need to disclose that to the residents now?
Eddy boy would like to see Barry Walker or Greg Lynam run for the open slot for selectman. Both have enough understanding of town government and appear to be fiscal conservatives. They both have put in a lot of time on town committee's and seem to enjoy their contributions. They both appear to be anti override and pro business. To this day I'll never understand why Joey decided to flip flop his single tax rate promise. Lara (grant writer) Stone is waiting for the opportunity to propose a tax override for schools/ town departments. Don't sell Watson short....this guy is so far up Kenny Vincents back yard that the neighbors are talking. Don't get me wrong I like Watson it's his dancing, bobbing, and looking left to right that has me on edge.
Barry Walker and Greg Lynam aren't running.
Precise point: don't take Watson for granted or overlook him.
Don't we already have a grant writer for the town?
C'mon Eddy the internet wonder! Run for Selectman - put your moeny where your mouth is. You've got all the answers, why not stand up and stand behind them?
What say Eddy? Grow a set and let's see what you can do.
Eddy..grow a set. That'll never happen- he's much better at attacking (Stone, Dias, Michaud or Watson) from BEHIND THE SCENES. He will never identify himself for a run for office, and as such, should be ignored like anyone who attacks others without the decency of identifing themselves.
Frank Gracie for Select Board
Has Eddy taken out papers yet???
Not yet. Eddy is considering his options. School board or selectman.
C'mon Eddy stop playing games - it's obvious you prefer sitting behind a computer complaining. You'll never step up and run for either school board or select board.
what a joke.
It'll never happen. Eddy is the type to sit back and bitch. Everyone does it wrong but he knows what's right. Will he ever stand up and be counted? Nope.
Eddy is waiting for the last day to take out papers. He will run for the Michaud seat. This ad is being paid for by the "committee to elect Eddy" for Dartmouth select board.
Oh the suspense is killing me.
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