Winchendon...Two Perspectives
Winchendon lost its statesman
To the Editor: 10/18/2014
To the Editor:
At the special selectmen’s meeting held Wednesday, October 15, 2014 our town lost its diplomatic voice of reason with the resignation of Jackson Blair.
He submitted his resignation at the end of the meeting without fanfare when most of those attending had left. He resigned in anticipation of the Board giving the town manager a new contract that he wouldn’t vote for.
Anyone who attends the selectmen’s meetings or watches them on cable would agree he was always fair and impartial, and always — yes always — a gentleman.
His absence on the Select Board will be missed by the average citizen who knew they would receive fair and unbiased treatment from him. He brought a sense of dignity and composure to the board, which it often lacked.
As the meeting unfolded, the School Committee had wanted a joint meeting with the select board. They wanted one, Jack Blair thought they should be part of the discussion — after all, the schools finances have been called into question. Wouldn’t it be good to hear from them?
To the Editor: 10/18/2014
To the Editor:
At the special selectmen’s meeting held Wednesday, October 15, 2014 our town lost its diplomatic voice of reason with the resignation of Jackson Blair.
He submitted his resignation at the end of the meeting without fanfare when most of those attending had left. He resigned in anticipation of the Board giving the town manager a new contract that he wouldn’t vote for.
Anyone who attends the selectmen’s meetings or watches them on cable would agree he was always fair and impartial, and always — yes always — a gentleman.
His absence on the Select Board will be missed by the average citizen who knew they would receive fair and unbiased treatment from him. He brought a sense of dignity and composure to the board, which it often lacked.
As the meeting unfolded, the School Committee had wanted a joint meeting with the select board. They wanted one, Jack Blair thought they should be part of the discussion — after all, the schools finances have been called into question. Wouldn’t it be good to hear from them?
After Mr. Niles failed to convince the selectmen that the school committee should participate in the financial discussion, the committee left the meeting. It was obvious that the selectmen didn’t want to share the meeting.
Jack vowed to bring total transparency to the town’s financial problems and would have allowed the school committee to participate if the deck wasn’t pre-stacked against him. Jack has always shown others great respect; unfortunately that same respect was not given to him by the board members.
Early in the meeting, Selectman Fedor Berndt made a statement that he now fully supported the town manager. That was followed by what I perceived were attacks on Mr. Blair from Selectman Barrows. Selectman Barrows appeared very angry and seemed to take that anger out on Mr. Blair.
That was quickly followed by a reorganization of the board, put forth by Selectman Barrows, and guess what? The newly proclaimed town manager supporter, Fedor Berndt, was voted in as the new chair. Will wonders ever cease?
The whole reorganization looked very staged and preplanned to me. Jack’s final vote on the board was not to rescind the vote taken at a previous meeting asking the town manager to resign — he held firm!
Selectwomen Hunt also would not change her vote, but only because she could not take back what she previously said. She then spent several minutes explaining and reassuring the audience that she really looked forward to working with the town manager. She said, they were a team.
In Mr. Blair’s resignation letter he states, “I have no confidence in current town management and I am at odds with my fellow selectmen, and I believe division and lack of an agreed upon approach to our considerable financial problems is not in the best interests of the Town, I have decided to resign as a Selectman effective immediately.”
It’s obvious that the remaining four selectmen support the town manager and don’t hold him accountable for any of the town’s financial mismanagement.
After a very quick Executive Session it was learned that the town manager received an early bird contract, eight months before his current contract ends. Obviously the board felt he was doing such a great job managing the town’s multi-million dollar debt, which of course he had no part in its making, that he needed to be rewarded with a new contract.
If Mr. Blair had only supported the town manager, he would still be the chairman of the Select Board.
Isn’t that how it works?
Robert Zbikowski
Winchendon
**************************************
On Further Review: Winchendon BOS seats will be up for grabs in May
Mark Haranas
Assistant Managing Editor
Mark Haranas
Assistant Managing Editor
As Winchendon’s deficit continues to climb, the Board of Selectmen has reorganized and granted the town manager a new three-year contract.
Last week’s special board meeting answered a lot of questions and raised some new ones as well.
One of the biggest questions in my mind, looking ahead, is how the select board will look in May?
MAY 2015 ELECTION
The board ousted Chairman Jackson Blair as chairman in a shocking turn of events. Mr. Blair then resigned — stating he was at odds with his fellow board members and had no confidence in Town Manager James Kreidler.
With Mr. Blair gone and Selectmen Robert O’Keefe and Keith Barrows up for reelection in May, the majority of the board will be up for grabs.
Some residents blame the selectmen for the $5.7 million deficit — $2 million of which comes from the Winchendon School District, according to the state Department of Revenue. Other residents blame the deficit on Mr. Kreidler.
In both cases, residents who have no confidence or support for their town officials need to step up and run for a seat on the board in May. There will be a total of three seats available, with one wide open for the taking.
More than 100 people were in attendance during last Wednesday’s meeting. There has to be at least a handful of concerned residents willing to step up to the plate come May.
Hopefully, for the sake of Democracy, at least four people will run for the selectmen seats to make it one of the most anticipated election years in Winchendon’s history.
As I’ve stated in several previous editorials, selectmen are just average residents who are interested and somewhat knowledgeable in town matters.
Typically, the board meets about twice a month and selectmen must attend two town meetings each year. It doesn’t seem like much on paper, but most people understand the hidden homework and public scrutiny it comes with it.
Just ask Mr. Barrows.
WINCHENDON AT ITS WORST
In a truly horrific statement, Mr. Barrows brought to light the fact that he and his family have come under attack for standing up for Mr. Kreidler.
“I’ve seen the absolute worst in the community than I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Barrows told the audience.
He said personal information was released about him and his work. Additionally, he accused the school community of releasing information about his family. Both accusations — that I believe to be true — are simply childish. The attacks appear to be from people who didn’t get what they wanted, which is the firing of Mr. Kreidler.
I’ve seen it before in Gardner and Templeton.
A resident becomes upset that a person was elected or not elected, or didn’t vote a certain way, and gets frustrated that the outcome they wanted didn’t come to fruition. So they get personal and try to find anything controversial, in some cases even making up complete lies, to try and bully someone into submitting.
It’s basically adult bullying. This is much easier to do now than ever because of social media.
MOVING FORWARD
The board unanimously voted to give Mr. Kreidler a new three-year contract that included a three-percent pay cut. He will also not get any raises for the duration of his contract.
“He is the best man to fix our problems,” said Selectwoman Beth Hunt, who had initially asked for Mr. Kreidler’s resignation last month.
It appears that the current board is pulling together and putting their trust in Mr. Kreidler to fix the town’s financial problem. This was not the case a few weeks ago.
The dust is starting to settle in Winchendon, and action is being taken on the difficult task of finding a solution by the state’s deadline of Nov. 7.
Last week’s special board meeting answered a lot of questions and raised some new ones as well.
One of the biggest questions in my mind, looking ahead, is how the select board will look in May?
MAY 2015 ELECTION
The board ousted Chairman Jackson Blair as chairman in a shocking turn of events. Mr. Blair then resigned — stating he was at odds with his fellow board members and had no confidence in Town Manager James Kreidler.
With Mr. Blair gone and Selectmen Robert O’Keefe and Keith Barrows up for reelection in May, the majority of the board will be up for grabs.
Some residents blame the selectmen for the $5.7 million deficit — $2 million of which comes from the Winchendon School District, according to the state Department of Revenue. Other residents blame the deficit on Mr. Kreidler.
In both cases, residents who have no confidence or support for their town officials need to step up and run for a seat on the board in May. There will be a total of three seats available, with one wide open for the taking.
More than 100 people were in attendance during last Wednesday’s meeting. There has to be at least a handful of concerned residents willing to step up to the plate come May.
Hopefully, for the sake of Democracy, at least four people will run for the selectmen seats to make it one of the most anticipated election years in Winchendon’s history.
As I’ve stated in several previous editorials, selectmen are just average residents who are interested and somewhat knowledgeable in town matters.
Typically, the board meets about twice a month and selectmen must attend two town meetings each year. It doesn’t seem like much on paper, but most people understand the hidden homework and public scrutiny it comes with it.
Just ask Mr. Barrows.
WINCHENDON AT ITS WORST
In a truly horrific statement, Mr. Barrows brought to light the fact that he and his family have come under attack for standing up for Mr. Kreidler.
“I’ve seen the absolute worst in the community than I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Barrows told the audience.
He said personal information was released about him and his work. Additionally, he accused the school community of releasing information about his family. Both accusations — that I believe to be true — are simply childish. The attacks appear to be from people who didn’t get what they wanted, which is the firing of Mr. Kreidler.
I’ve seen it before in Gardner and Templeton.
A resident becomes upset that a person was elected or not elected, or didn’t vote a certain way, and gets frustrated that the outcome they wanted didn’t come to fruition. So they get personal and try to find anything controversial, in some cases even making up complete lies, to try and bully someone into submitting.
It’s basically adult bullying. This is much easier to do now than ever because of social media.
MOVING FORWARD
The board unanimously voted to give Mr. Kreidler a new three-year contract that included a three-percent pay cut. He will also not get any raises for the duration of his contract.
“He is the best man to fix our problems,” said Selectwoman Beth Hunt, who had initially asked for Mr. Kreidler’s resignation last month.
It appears that the current board is pulling together and putting their trust in Mr. Kreidler to fix the town’s financial problem. This was not the case a few weeks ago.
The dust is starting to settle in Winchendon, and action is being taken on the difficult task of finding a solution by the state’s deadline of Nov. 7.
It's not an easy job. Thank you Mr. Blair for stepping up and serving your town. Winchendon has a difficult road ahead.
ReplyDeleteAccepting money from the state comes with many strings attached.
See Article 31
Section 4 of this Special Act is especially troublesome:
SECTION 4. No official of the town of Templeton, except in the case of an emergency involving the health and safety of the people or their property, shall knowingly expend or cause to be expended in any fiscal year any sum in excess of that official's departmental or other governmental unit's appropriation duly made in accordance with the law, nor commit the town, nor cause it to be committed, to any obligation for the future payment of money in excess of that appropriation, with the exception of court judgments.
Any official who intentionally violates this section shall be personally liable to the town for any amounts expended in excess of an appropriation to the extent that the town does not recover these amounts from the person or persons to whom the amounts were paid. The superior court or a single justice of the supreme judicial court shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate claims brought by the town, or the attorney general, under this act and to order relief that the court finds appropriate to prevent further violations of this section. Any violation of this section shall be considered sufficient cause for removal.
Will the Town of Winchendon be required to pass the same legislation? Only time will tell. I'll be following this issue.