Making thinks clearer

Just to clarify a few thing – the tax rate can not be sent until we have the Special Town Meeting to reverse the vote that was taken the May Annual Town Meeting. You see we had finally received MEMA reimbursement from the 2008 ice storm. We had already paid for those expenses and paid back the short term  loan we had taken out to pay those expenses. The money that we  received (finally) from MEMA was suppose to go to free cash. This is the law – it is the same if we get money on old tax bills or sell off 252 Baldwinville Rd or other property – goes to Free cash , gets certified by the state, then in the following year we can spend it or save it.

Now let’s review- when the Town Meeting warrant was being worked on last year,  Julie had been recalled (as well as Bob M) Patrick Mullins and Virginia Wilder had been voted in.  Chairman at the time was Bob Columbus, Bob, Virginia and Patrick proceeded to FIRE newly hired Town Coordinator Jeff Ritter and brought back Carol Skelton. They also fired the newly hired law firm (sorry their name escapes me) and rehired Kopelman and Paige.  Now we paid Carol Skelton and Kopelman and Paige to look over the TM Warrant and we paid K&P a lot. Guess what the vote was illegal. so these three selectmen Bob Columbus, Virginia wilder and Patrick Mullins with told disregard for the towns well being brought back a town coordinator Carol Skelton and a law firm K & P that obviously didn’t know how to do their jobs and didn’t care.

Makes you want the investigation of Pauly’s and Julie’s to happen to happen doesn’t it. Makes you wonder what else has happened over the past years. Oh yeah and where was the town Accountant Scott Sawyer in all of this – the one who was supposed to know all the “DOR accounting laws for town”. We the taxpayers of this own paid these people – for what. And don’t forget we paid the selectmen Bob Columbus, Virginia Wilder and Patrick Mullins at the time. Paid them to screw up things.

Now This issue is going to leave us with a $163,000. Shortfall for this year, YES, THIS FISCAL YEAR. That means that we have to find $163,000 from now to June 30, 2013!!!  We have already cut hours of employees, cut departments budgets. Where will it come from???? Yes, we will have the $163,000 next year in Free Cash but this year’s budget is short – very short. Thanks Bob Columbus, Virginia Wilder, Patrick Mullins, Carol Skelton and K&P for getting us here. You all should be run out of town for this. People will lose their jobs and town offices will have to be closed more for the remainder of the fiscal year. Thanks for letting your personal agenda ruin the town!!!

Now next subject we need a new school the school needs more money, we know this where is it going to come from? So let’s look at the past again, yes we will have that $163,000 in Free cash for next year (if we want to use it) But we also have a debt of $700,000. Thanks to Gerry Skelton, Dennis Obrien,  Bob Columbus we bought a building, paid too much, spent too much on architect plans and now we have to pay back the $700,000. that was wasted. Again people will lose jobs, town departments will have to work with less, etc.

Why and I bring up all of this? We continually say we need a new school, we need more money for the school dept., Highway needs better equipment, the roads are a mess, etc, etc. We all need to do our due diligence, we need to attend Selectmen meetings, advisory meeting, school budget meeting, Town Meetings, etc. and VOTE. Pay attention to what is going on in our town, pay attention to how money is being spent. Write or call Sen. Brewer and Denise Andrews and tell them you want the investigation to proceed.  Pay attention to who is on a commission or board and if they know what they are doing or if they have a personnel agenda.  Look at what depts. in town are getting raises every year  and what departments keep getting cut and have employees losing jobs.  And to Dana Blais Light & Water commissioner who stated you people (town) got yourselves there (where we are) No Dana it was your good friends Gerry and Carol Skelton, and Bob Columbus, Virginia Wilder, Patrick Mullins and Kopelman and Paige. 

So here’s a  good plan Vote at the Special Town Meeting to have the Light & Water MUNICIPAL department come under the Selectmen, then Vote for some good people that will be running for Selectmen. Not for people who only want to do Jerry’s work. Unfortunately Virginia Wilder is not up for reelection. (wonder how her family (teacher, grandkids in school ) feel about her loyalties to her good friends (Skeltons) and what they and she, Virginia cost this town. Bet the school could have used that $700,000 My “Anonymous” opinions. Thanks Pauly for this forum.