Friday, April 26, 2013

Paul H. Cosentino, Candidate for Selectman


My motto has always been “put in on paper,” so here it is.

I have lived in Templeton my whole life. I own two businesses with my sons, Cosentino Salvage & Recycling, Inc. and C.O. & S. Garage, Inc. No one can deny that I am a hard worker and I will work hard for the taxpayers of Templeton.

I have served on the Conservation Commission for 14 years, where my goal has been to help the taxpayers and treat them with respect. I have attended many Town meetings along with Selectmen meetings, Advisory Board meetings, and others over the years. My education comes from working hard, researching laws and bylaws, gathering information, and public record requests.


I believe that the people of Templeton should have a strong voice in our government. It is very important that every citizen/taxpayer be allowed to ask questions. I also believe that government should be transparent. Because my businesses are in town, I am always available to residents, employees, and taxpayers for help, questions, and concerns.

My granddaughter attends Baldwinville Elementary School and my great granddaughter attends Templeton Center School, so I am well aware that the schools need money.  The School Building Committee has done a good job in securing land at no cost to the town. This a huge step forward. I know that there are many people struggling to keep afloat financially, but we need to do what we can for the schools.

Templeton is facing financial challenges because of wrongdoings and waste in the past. We have no money in stabilization, and we are millions of dollars in debt. Town department budgets have been cut to bare bones. As we move forward, we need to spend our money wisely, control our debt, and plan for the future. There is no doubt that the town needs many things—roads need fixing, the highway department needs equipment, the fire/rescue departments need equipment, and our infrastructure needs upgrading. But we can’t afford everything at once. We cannot afford to make the taxpayers go broke. We need to bring industry and commercial businesses to town (in the areas zoned for them) to build up the tax base to lessen the burden on the home owners.

If elected to the Board of Selectmen, I will work hard for our town. I will make sure the town bylaws are followed and enforced. I will continue to push to keep the people of Templeton informed. I will work for financial stability with transparency and accountability for every dollar.

Thank you,
Pauly

Paul H. Cosentino


14 comments:

  1. Pauly, we need people like you, to work for all of us. I am getting very tired of people who will do anything, and say anything, to get what they want. This town needs strong people for selectman. We need people who do not live a life of falsehoods. One lie leads to another, with these people. I am beginning to wonder if they know the difference. This election is so very important, but if you have been reading the blog, you already know that. Please try to get all the people you know, to go and vote. Sometimes people get busy and just plain forget. Give them all a reminder. Every vote counts. Bev.

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  2. Paul,
    I have been a resident of Phillipston and Templeton almost my entire life with 8 years in service to our Country as an Airborne Infantryman in US Army. I have recently been medically retired and am moving back to my home after 8 years abroad. I am glad to see someone who obviously loves his community and is willing to step up and do something about it before it is gone. I will support you in your campaign and hope you get elected.

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  3. the town needs people like yourself and Doug Morrison - no personal agendas, just working for what is right for the Town. I have heard that Kenn Robinson's partner/husband is soliciting to people to "write him in on the ballot next to Kenn's name" - now that would be a conflict of interest if i ever saw it if they both were voted in.

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  4. Actually J if you read the laws and by laws it's perfectly legal! A conflict of interest would be if one was the boss of the other or the candidates worked for the town! Fact! Happy Voting!

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    2. After reading you post closely, you agree with Jeff that a conflict of interest could be if one was the boss of the other. Well the DOR also agrees with you. When Candidate Skelton was on the BOS (and at times, Chairman) his wife Carol was the Town Coordinator. The BOS is in fact the “boss” of the coordinator. The DOR had a problem with the appearance of conflict and the potential of town business done over the kitchen table without full oversight of the entire BOS.

      The residents are in fact the “boss” of the BOS. We get to show who we want to be the boss by voting, so I also agree with you in that I too feel happy that we all get to vote. If you choose to vote for someone who ignored the suggestions of the DOR and was hand in hand involved with millions of dollars of debt for the town, that is your right. I however will choose to do otherwise.

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    3. Actually, a true conflict of interest would not be so much as a family member or spouse working for the town while a selectmen, a true conflict of interest happened when Gerald Skelton, serving as a selectmen signed off on payraises for his wife who was serving as town coordinator, now that meets the real definition of conflict of interest, financial gain for you or your family

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    4. i stand corrected, it would not be a conflict of interest if they both were on the board, but it doesn't seem right. i agree with Jeff, when GS was on the board and his wife was coordinator - there is no mistaken that was a conflict of interest. Let's hope that the town clerk is not sick and the ballot counter is not broken tomorrow!

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  5. A true conflict of interest would be Doug being on the board when his wife works for the town!

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    1. This link (if copied and pasted) will take you to a summary of what truly are conflicts of interest as defined by the Commonwealth.
      http://www.mass.gov/ethics/education-and-training-resources/implementation-procedures/municipal-employee-summary.html

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    2. Doug's wife works for the "elected" BOH so it would only be a conflict if he was on that board. I think he's smart enough to know that if any voting issues come up regarding employees or the BOH he would abstain.

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    3. I would agree Zebra! I was just giving an example. ;)

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  6. So for the people, you mean all those years Mr. Skelton was in conflict because he was a selectmen and his wife was coordinator and selectmen are in charge and oversee the coordinator...who knew. So if you are for the people, I have a question for you, since Sean Hamilton signed a land lease agreement on behalf of the town of Templeton, was / is that legal? I do not recall a vote to allow the general manager of the light dept to speak, sign for or represent Templeton in things financial or legal for Templeton. Maybe that investigation can look into that.

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  7. Writ-ins are perfectly legal just as only voting for one candidate is legal, 2 seats open and a person enters the voting booth and only choses one candidate so that ballot is counted as 1 vote for A and 1 blank. That is a way for say 1200 citizens to show up to vote and 600 people only choose one candidate and leave the other blank which leave 600 people to vote which ever way and if there are two seats available with 4 people running and 1200 voters show up with say 600 voters go to the polls with the intention of only picking one candidate that leaves 600 votes to be devided up between 4 people. Some candidatse send out cards and letters asking people to vote that way to try to ensure the vote is diluted and that a certain candidate can gather as many votes as possible without giving any other candidate a vote. Perfectly legal and is the reason why it is so important to go vote, the more the better.

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