Oh really! A mighty sensitive bunch up at Miscoe, don't you think? It adds new meaning to the rhyme, “no more teachers, dirty looks”
If in fact the details of this story are correct as told by Cheryl Powers to the MDN, we all have a lot to worry about. Change the time and place and this story could have come out of the Stalinist era in the old USSR. This is just another reason why government schools are a problem.
A gun? What gun? A middle school student says someone has a gun and a full-scale invasion of privacy is unleashed! Certainly an investigation was warranted but unless there is far more to this story the reader is forced to the conclusion that a paranoid school administration backed by an overzealous police department trampled on the civil rights of citizens. This is particularly egregious given the age of the child.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Fiscal Irresponsibility
Well it’s that time of year when the Board of Selectmen set the tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Look for some interesting things here.
Will Momma Cutler get her way and push an onerous tax increase on local businesses?
What will happen with Free Cash? Last year the town had $600,000 and they spent every dime. This year they have about 15% of that amount and all departments are waiting like a nest full of hungry robins.
Will the Assessors raise property values even thought prices are down by 10-15%? Milford did. The rubber will meet the road this year. The BoS has spent wildly with the blessing of the Finance Committee. The only place left to get money from is your pocket.
A suggestion, watch or attend the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday night. If Opie and the DJ cave in to Big Momma we are all going to pay more for our front row seats at the circus.
Will Momma Cutler get her way and push an onerous tax increase on local businesses?
What will happen with Free Cash? Last year the town had $600,000 and they spent every dime. This year they have about 15% of that amount and all departments are waiting like a nest full of hungry robins.
Will the Assessors raise property values even thought prices are down by 10-15%? Milford did. The rubber will meet the road this year. The BoS has spent wildly with the blessing of the Finance Committee. The only place left to get money from is your pocket.
A suggestion, watch or attend the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday night. If Opie and the DJ cave in to Big Momma we are all going to pay more for our front row seats at the circus.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
2006 Election Post Mortem
The following post was left on the last thread:
Anonymous said...
Hey Gardens! Off subject but after yesterday's election you must be down right petrified! All hail the new order! Yipeeeeeee!
November 08, 2006 4:21 PM
Although the post is somewhat childish it provides an opportunity to comment on the election. We will finish with the effects of Tuesday on Mendon so this will be local.
The first thing to say about the mid-term election is that the Republicans had it coming and they got it in spades. Good for the electorate. The republican party had promised for years that they would clean up the government and end the waste, fraud and corruption that the democrats had cultivated for themselves with exclusive control of the congress for decades. What they did in fact was enlarge the feedbag to include their own special interests and began to squander our money at an unprecedented rate. The republicans proved they were/are no better than the democrats at good, honest effective national government.
Enter Election 2006. Voters turned out in huge numbers nationwide and changed the face on national politics. They voted for moderate democrats and republicans. The margin was razor thin in most races. Tuesday was the return of the middle class to the polls. Tired of the far left and far right the voters went right down the middle. The collective message from the people was: Most of us are in the middle and that is where we want you. Yes the war had a lot to do with it but only in getting middle America to the polls.
The Democrats should have been more careful in what they wished for. They own it all now and everyone is watching. 2008 is just around the corner and the moderate republicans will be looking to take it back. Look for Mitt Romney to emerge as the favorite next year. His platform will be inclusive and positive. If the democrats waste their energy on endless hearings, witch hunts and in fighting while not addressing the nations problems, Romney and the moderate middle will toss them out on the street in 24 months. You heard it here first.
-------------------The Local issues: We said early on that Patrick was a bad choice for Massachusetts. Now you will see what we meant. Look for the following things to happen:
The New England Home for Little Squanderers (Mass Legislature) will with Patrick’s blessing begin to pass exceptions to Proposition 2 ½. One by one they will happen and the result will be that Prop 2 ½ will be gutted and your property taxes will begin to rise. Within a few short years the will soar and be on a par with Rhode Island. Count on it.
The Moonbat lefties on Beacon Hill will with PB (Patrick’s Blessing) push through “reforms” that make residence here for Illegal aliens even easier. That coupled with universal health care and generous housing and education benefits will explode the state population and your wallet at the same time. If you object you will be called a racist. Look for playing the race card to be the pass time of choice here in the Bay State.
These things are just the beginning. Patrick sold his soul to the teachers unions, Bechtel Parsons and the Bulger wing of the Winter Hill Gang and they all expect payback.
There is no watchdog anymore, only the lap dogs are left. You wanted one party rule with no checks and balances back in Massachusetts and now you have it… and it’s going to hurt.
Anonymous said...
Hey Gardens! Off subject but after yesterday's election you must be down right petrified! All hail the new order! Yipeeeeeee!
November 08, 2006 4:21 PM
Although the post is somewhat childish it provides an opportunity to comment on the election. We will finish with the effects of Tuesday on Mendon so this will be local.
The first thing to say about the mid-term election is that the Republicans had it coming and they got it in spades. Good for the electorate. The republican party had promised for years that they would clean up the government and end the waste, fraud and corruption that the democrats had cultivated for themselves with exclusive control of the congress for decades. What they did in fact was enlarge the feedbag to include their own special interests and began to squander our money at an unprecedented rate. The republicans proved they were/are no better than the democrats at good, honest effective national government.
Enter Election 2006. Voters turned out in huge numbers nationwide and changed the face on national politics. They voted for moderate democrats and republicans. The margin was razor thin in most races. Tuesday was the return of the middle class to the polls. Tired of the far left and far right the voters went right down the middle. The collective message from the people was: Most of us are in the middle and that is where we want you. Yes the war had a lot to do with it but only in getting middle America to the polls.
The Democrats should have been more careful in what they wished for. They own it all now and everyone is watching. 2008 is just around the corner and the moderate republicans will be looking to take it back. Look for Mitt Romney to emerge as the favorite next year. His platform will be inclusive and positive. If the democrats waste their energy on endless hearings, witch hunts and in fighting while not addressing the nations problems, Romney and the moderate middle will toss them out on the street in 24 months. You heard it here first.
-------------------
The New England Home for Little Squanderers (Mass Legislature) will with Patrick’s blessing begin to pass exceptions to Proposition 2 ½. One by one they will happen and the result will be that Prop 2 ½ will be gutted and your property taxes will begin to rise. Within a few short years the will soar and be on a par with Rhode Island. Count on it.
The Moonbat lefties on Beacon Hill will with PB (Patrick’s Blessing) push through “reforms” that make residence here for Illegal aliens even easier. That coupled with universal health care and generous housing and education benefits will explode the state population and your wallet at the same time. If you object you will be called a racist. Look for playing the race card to be the pass time of choice here in the Bay State.
These things are just the beginning. Patrick sold his soul to the teachers unions, Bechtel Parsons and the Bulger wing of the Winter Hill Gang and they all expect payback.
There is no watchdog anymore, only the lap dogs are left. You wanted one party rule with no checks and balances back in Massachusetts and now you have it… and it’s going to hurt.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Press 1 for Nobody
We blogged about the travesty of the BOS ignoring the DOR report nearly one year ago. You can review what we said here, here and here. You can read the DOR report here.
Basically we said at the time that ignoring the DOR report and hiring another toothless Administrative Assistant would be a waste of money. That was, as it turns out, a major understatement.
The current AA, Michael McCue has become a $63,000 perk laden virtual no-show. In the style of the typical cheesey bureaucrat he is rarely in the office, and does very little when he is there. This is only slightly mitigated by the fact that avoiding Mother Cutler is job one for Mike and everyone else for that matter.
So what has happened under McCue’s “leadership”? The inmates are running the asylum once again. Phones ring and no one answers. Messages left are never returned. Offices are closed at the whim of the employees who work in them. Coffee breaks are boisterous talk orgies that go on for more than an hour a few times a day and are only broken up by lunch. This leaves people who need town hall services wandering about the building too intimidated and embarrassed to ask for assistance.
The selectmen are clueless or complicit in this depending whom your talking about. Lawney Tinio regularly attends these daily hen parties. Any party works for Lawney. David Breen is clueless; he still thinks this is some kind of college class, a workshop that really doesn’t have any real consequences. Note to David: If not you, who? If not now, when? Cutler on the other hand despises the town hall employees and makes their life difficult at every opportunity. This further exacerbates the “us against them” mind set that fuels the current morass.
What a mess. All the while the point man (McCue) is MIA most days except on pay day. It’s your money… do you care?
Basically we said at the time that ignoring the DOR report and hiring another toothless Administrative Assistant would be a waste of money. That was, as it turns out, a major understatement.
The current AA, Michael McCue has become a $63,000 perk laden virtual no-show. In the style of the typical cheesey bureaucrat he is rarely in the office, and does very little when he is there. This is only slightly mitigated by the fact that avoiding Mother Cutler is job one for Mike and everyone else for that matter.
So what has happened under McCue’s “leadership”? The inmates are running the asylum once again. Phones ring and no one answers. Messages left are never returned. Offices are closed at the whim of the employees who work in them. Coffee breaks are boisterous talk orgies that go on for more than an hour a few times a day and are only broken up by lunch. This leaves people who need town hall services wandering about the building too intimidated and embarrassed to ask for assistance.
The selectmen are clueless or complicit in this depending whom your talking about. Lawney Tinio regularly attends these daily hen parties. Any party works for Lawney. David Breen is clueless; he still thinks this is some kind of college class, a workshop that really doesn’t have any real consequences. Note to David: If not you, who? If not now, when? Cutler on the other hand despises the town hall employees and makes their life difficult at every opportunity. This further exacerbates the “us against them” mind set that fuels the current morass.
What a mess. All the while the point man (McCue) is MIA most days except on pay day. It’s your money… do you care?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Business Beware
Here we go again. Sharon Cutler is "leaning" toward a duel tax rate in Mendon. What this woman doesn’t know would fill lake Nipmuc.
A duel tax rate, one for residential and one for commercial properties would establish a higher rate for business and lower the taxes that home owners pay. Sounds good (for home owners) until you look into it. The fact is that there is not enough commercial tax base in Mendon to offset the residential rate in any meaningful way. To have an impact on the residential rate local business would suffer under a huge increase in property taxes.
Boards of selectmen going back to the early eighties have looked at this idea. The conclusion has always been the same; it's a bad idea. It does nothing for home owners and will drive the Mom & Pop operations out of town. Other than one car dealership all we have are Mom & Pop businesses.
Lets hope that Mother Cutler doesn’t drag her apron string boys down the road and get them to indorse this dumb idea. If the BOS wants to help homeowners they can start by listening to the Finance Committee and tightening the belt. Stop trying to buy all the real estate in town and follow the law by putting contracts out to bid.
A duel tax rate, one for residential and one for commercial properties would establish a higher rate for business and lower the taxes that home owners pay. Sounds good (for home owners) until you look into it. The fact is that there is not enough commercial tax base in Mendon to offset the residential rate in any meaningful way. To have an impact on the residential rate local business would suffer under a huge increase in property taxes.
Boards of selectmen going back to the early eighties have looked at this idea. The conclusion has always been the same; it's a bad idea. It does nothing for home owners and will drive the Mom & Pop operations out of town. Other than one car dealership all we have are Mom & Pop businesses.
Lets hope that Mother Cutler doesn’t drag her apron string boys down the road and get them to indorse this dumb idea. If the BOS wants to help homeowners they can start by listening to the Finance Committee and tightening the belt. Stop trying to buy all the real estate in town and follow the law by putting contracts out to bid.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Back to Local Issues
These two pictures were taken on the same day, 15 minutes apart.The top photo was taken in Mendon, the bottom one taken in Uxbridge.
Why the huge disparity in price? It has always been this way. Mendon gas prices are consistently 10-20% higher than the lower prices in the area. The argument has always been that Mendon has no self-service gas pumps. If that were true the price in Milford (also a full serve town) would be as high as Mendon but it is not.
This may not be a huge issue for you but there is another consideration. We are under the impression that all the gasoline used by town vehicles is purchased in Mendon. That is a lot of fuel when you consider police, fire and highway.
Questions: Does the town get a break on the price? If so how much? If not, why not? We will reserve judgment on the possibility of a sweet heart deal here but given the fact that the town’s bill for gasoline each year must be somewhere north of $25,000, by law it should be put out to bid. Anyone know if we bid gas out? Our guess is there are no bids, just a handshake and a wink.
---------------------
TRASH: On another local issue we are asking if anyone is having a problem with trash pick-up. We have gotten 3 emails in the last week complaining about trash pick-up or the lack of it. Is this a widespread problem?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Mark Steyn
America Alone: The End Of The World As We Know It
For those of you who are familiar with Mark Steyn, he needs no introduction. His latest book (Released today 10/16/06) is a great read. His take on the war on terror and a look down the road 10-20 years is an eye opener. If you have young children, Mark paints a picture of what the world may be like during their adult lives. The book is both entertaining and sobering. I have included the review links here. They will connect you to some of people who are still awake in this world. HG--------------------
"This is the best book I've read since the founding of American Compass in '04."Brad Miner, American Compass Book Club
"Mark Steyn at his best: funny and irreverent, even while assembling well-reasoned and complex arguments in support of serious insights."Mac Johnson, Human Events
"For anyone who has constraints on their time but a desire to know how we arrived here and what is ahead, there are four indispensable books... Mark Steyn's America Alone is exactly the sort of unsparing dose of realism that Americans need to absorb, and soon."Hugh Hewitt, "The Indispensable Bookshelf: The Books You Absolutely Positively Must Read", townhall.com
"An absolutely fantastic read."Neal Boortz(Mark will be on Neal's radio show on Monday October 16th at 10.30am Eastern)
"Mark Steyn's excellent and important new book"Stanley Kurtz, National Review
"Mark Steyn is one of Canada's most gifted political writers, a man weirdly able to provoke laughter while forecasting the end of the world"Linda Frum, The National Post
"Mark Steyn fa la Cassandra (witty)"Giulio Meotti, Il Foglio
"Mark Steyn's superb new book."Michelle Malkin
"Mark Steyn is the funniest writer now living. But don't be distracted by the brilliance of his jokes. They are the neon lights advertising a profound and sad insight: America is almost alone in resisting both the suicide of the west and the suicide bombing of radical Islamism."John O'Sullivan, editor-at-large of National Review
"The best thing about Steyn's latest isn't that it's clever and funny and beautifully written - of course, it's all those things - but that it's persuasive. Buy a copy for yourself and another for a friend who perhaps hasn't reached a conclusion on this whole terrorism deal. Also, there's a paragraph on page 152 that will cause peacenik heads to implode."Tim Blair
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Bad News for Gays
Anyone remember this weasel? David Scondras, former Boston City Counselor. One of the elite left wing with a holier than thou attitude and a chip on his shoulder for any heterosexuals who might question self imposed elite version of what is acceptable in modern social circles.He was busted for attempting to rendezvous with what he thought was a willing15 year old. Turned out his mark was a security guard for Lawrence General Hospital, not the young child he thought he was hitting on. Tough luck David, you stupid ass pervert.
‘‘You know a lot of people have prejudices against guys who like to have sex with children,” David Scondras said in a cell phone conversation with his intended mark. Yeah David we have a problem with that. It's the same problem we would have with a 60-year-old guy hitting on our 15 year old daughters. You don’t get it because you are a predator. I will bet you thought the murderers of Jeffrey Curley were misunderstood.
Too bad. I have a number of gay friends who are no different than the heteros we all know. They suffer from the same issues that plague the rest of us and labor under the same rules that we all deal with, except, they don't covet underage children and they respect our values and expect us to respect theirs.
This bozo and Foley should be made poster children for what is wrong with Gay Pride in modern America. Very good people with a different view of their sexuality will suffer because of perverts like Foley and Scondras.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Be Afraid.. Be Very Very Afraid
If the polls mean anything, Massachusetts is in BIG BIG trouble. Deval Patrick is a runaway favorite to become the next Governor.Remember Pee Wee Dukakis the liberal, nightmare who drove business out of the state and turned the Massachusetts Miracle into an economic meltdown. He proposed giving phony social security numbers to illegal aliens so they could get right on welfare. The list goes on but this is about Deval.
Deval is far to the left of the Duke. He favors open borders, in-state tuition for illegal aliens, reparations for slavery and will pay for all this with your and your employer’s money. He is a true blue Moonbat and the darling of the Cambridge Commies.
Politics is bad enough in this state. Deval will be the icing on the cake. Plan your escape now. Pack your bag early and avoid the rush. The lines at the tollbooths will be long.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Comment Moderation
COMMENT MODERATION IS OFF - Please keep your posts on the appropiate threads.
Unfortunately we have a keyboard terrorist who insists on copying 1 post and repeating it on all the threads.
We have enabled comment moderation to weed out the BS posts from this lunatic. We will upload posts several during the day. Sorry for the inconvenience.
HG
Unfortunately we have a keyboard terrorist who insists on copying 1 post and repeating it on all the threads.
We have enabled comment moderation to weed out the BS posts from this lunatic. We will upload posts several during the day. Sorry for the inconvenience.
HG
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
MUDDY WATER
WMRC's Ed Thompson reported this morning that Tussie Kimball has offered his land and building on Providence road to the town for a fire station. Nice timing. So now we will spend another bag load of money to review this new site.
Tussie, where were you 5 years ago? Why now on the day the PSBC votes on the Grey building?
We smell a rat here. Unfortunatly she is out of town this evening. Stay tuned!
Tussie, where were you 5 years ago? Why now on the day the PSBC votes on the Grey building?
We smell a rat here. Unfortunatly she is out of town this evening. Stay tuned!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
20 Ceiling tiles = Catastrophe??
We have blogged here about the need for new public safety facilities. We feel that the Gray property is a huge step in the right direction and have complimented the PSBC for their indefatigable efforts to present a viable solution to Mendon’s infrastructure woes.
BUT…………
What is all this BS about a few ceiling tiles falling down in the fire station? We get statewide press for this story? Yeah right. The Chief should have quashed this incident before it ever got any legs in the media. IT IS A NON-STORY unless the Chief has no control (we have seen this before) over his department(s).
This is an embarrassment to the town. The Chief, Sharon Cutler and Lawney Tinio should have known better than to gush to the press. What the hell are they thinking?
In the old days when the whores of the media came sniffing around after they heard something juicy on the scanner Chief Grady would tell them to pack up their stuff and hit the road. They hated him. The way it should be.
Mendon doesn’t need it’s laundry aired on channel 5 so they can look for stains. Our elected officials and our highest paid employees should know that. Shame on all of them, they do not help their cause or the cause of public service in our community.
BUT…………
What is all this BS about a few ceiling tiles falling down in the fire station? We get statewide press for this story? Yeah right. The Chief should have quashed this incident before it ever got any legs in the media. IT IS A NON-STORY unless the Chief has no control (we have seen this before) over his department(s).
This is an embarrassment to the town. The Chief, Sharon Cutler and Lawney Tinio should have known better than to gush to the press. What the hell are they thinking?
In the old days when the whores of the media came sniffing around after they heard something juicy on the scanner Chief Grady would tell them to pack up their stuff and hit the road. They hated him. The way it should be.
Mendon doesn’t need it’s laundry aired on channel 5 so they can look for stains. Our elected officials and our highest paid employees should know that. Shame on all of them, they do not help their cause or the cause of public service in our community.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Upton parents push for joint Town Meeting
UPDATE: 10/4/06
Read the article the today’s Milford Daily News Here
Upton's crowd of crybabies were out in force last night. They want what they want, when they want it and screw anyone who has a different opinion. They will dismantle the school district over $180,000. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.
Wahhhh. Get a life.
Who raised this entitlement generation anyway?
They want a joint town meeting so they can get Mendon residents in a room and insult them and then FORCE them to pay for their dream school. Will the school committee cave in to this suicidal request? There are only a few thick skins on that committee. All it will take is one weak member from Mendon and we will have our own version of the Hatfields and McCoys. Stay tuned.
The new Super Duper isn’t helping much. He panders to the spoiled brat parents and gets them all worked up. They actually believe that their children are forced to use 30-year-old textbooks. This Fernandes guy is going to be a huge problem.
Hats off to Jay Byer and Judy Leonelli for attempting to point out the obvious but it probably fell on deaf ears. They WANT WHAT THEY WANT> Whaaaaaa.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
On a Personal Note...
In the interest of somewhat full disclosure we will tell you that we author another blog on national and international issues. Yes it is an anonymous blog and no we do not use the HG handle.
That endeavor requires a fair amount time. Although the issues facing our community are serious and affect all of our lives, events and trends in the world at large will in time have a greater effect on all of us living here in Mendon than our local issues.
We try to keep up with both of our blogs but with Riff Raff coming on line and Kevin Rudden going into his second year we feel that there is a lot of exposure to Mendon issues. We are not going away (apologies to Mendon Tao and the various anonymous crazies who dislike us) but we will be inserting some of the broader issues that we are passionate about.
If you have an issue with that we are sure you will let us know. In any event here are some of the hot buttons from HG’s other blog.
-----------------------------
Illegal Immigration: 17% of the population of Mexico now lives in the US; half of them are here illegally. They broke into our country and they intend to occupy it. There will be no melting pot with these people.
Government Corruption: It is rampant on the state and federal level and is working it’s way down to the local level. Neither political party is innocent; in fact there is very little difference between them. They are both on the take at your expense like never before.
Political Correctness: This social/legal movement is crippling the United States. It is used by those who would do us harm to keep us from making common sense decisions. For example, profiling. If it smells like a skunk, keep your eye on it.
Secular Nation: The manic legal obsession with separation of church and state only serves to create a government established “church of secularism”, exactly what the Founders were afraid of and what the First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits.
-----------------------------
If anyone would like to discuss any of these issues and how they relate to Mendon, have at it. If you would like the dialog to stay Mendon only we will try to respect that but be warned, there are 800-pound gorillas in the countryside and they don’t care where you live.
Hanging Gardens
`
That endeavor requires a fair amount time. Although the issues facing our community are serious and affect all of our lives, events and trends in the world at large will in time have a greater effect on all of us living here in Mendon than our local issues.
We try to keep up with both of our blogs but with Riff Raff coming on line and Kevin Rudden going into his second year we feel that there is a lot of exposure to Mendon issues. We are not going away (apologies to Mendon Tao and the various anonymous crazies who dislike us) but we will be inserting some of the broader issues that we are passionate about.
If you have an issue with that we are sure you will let us know. In any event here are some of the hot buttons from HG’s other blog.
-----------------------------
Illegal Immigration: 17% of the population of Mexico now lives in the US; half of them are here illegally. They broke into our country and they intend to occupy it. There will be no melting pot with these people.
Government Corruption: It is rampant on the state and federal level and is working it’s way down to the local level. Neither political party is innocent; in fact there is very little difference between them. They are both on the take at your expense like never before.
Political Correctness: This social/legal movement is crippling the United States. It is used by those who would do us harm to keep us from making common sense decisions. For example, profiling. If it smells like a skunk, keep your eye on it.
Secular Nation: The manic legal obsession with separation of church and state only serves to create a government established “church of secularism”, exactly what the Founders were afraid of and what the First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits.
-----------------------------
If anyone would like to discuss any of these issues and how they relate to Mendon, have at it. If you would like the dialog to stay Mendon only we will try to respect that but be warned, there are 800-pound gorillas in the countryside and they don’t care where you live.
Hanging Gardens
`
Thursday, September 07, 2006
"Katie, bar the door"
It was voted down by 37 votes.
September 11, 2006 11:33 PM
Just when you thought it was safe to count your money. The Mendon Upton Regional School District and their minions will lob another override at the taxpayers of Mendon on Monday.
Empowered (or intimidated) by Edu-crats, pandering politicians and special interest groups of all ilks’, they will attempt to wear down the voters of Mendon with another of their never ending demands for money.
This is simply the arrogance of a government we created to educate or children. This is not about the money. This override is for bragging rights within the self-anointed circle of “educators” that they shook us down for cash after we said no.
Truth is, schools were better educators 40 years ago than they are now. For example, the SAT tests have been dumbed down twice in the last 15 years to make the numbers look better.
Remember this: Government’s first mission is to protect it’s cash flow and make itself bigger. The Pentagon brought you the $900 toilet seat. Public Education has handed you the “Administration”. We’ll be voting no.
Monday, August 28, 2006
More BS from the Gal Pals
We are getting blasted over on Riff's Blog. Mendon Tao has emerged from the cocktail hour once again to explain to all how we are wrong, have an agenda and are actually her... oops, Sharon Cutler's political nemesis in drag. Read the following and note the dates.
"Example, the most recent post on Eye on the Gray property makes the statement that the building comm brought the selectmen to the Morrison property " at least one of them kicking and screaming ". Of course they are refering to the BOS chair that eye has an obvious political agenda against. Do you want to know the real story? The drop dead date for the buyer to come up with the money for the Gray property was Aug 20. The building comm had scheduled a tentative meeting for the 21st in the hope that the buyer would fail to get the money and the town could jump in. However, the buyers realized they would not get the money and notified the Grays a little over a week before the Aug 20th drop dead date. The BOS chair got wind of all this and emailed the building comm with the new info. She further suggested that the building comm post a meeting as soon as was legally possible for the purpose of touring the property and voting on a recomendation to the BOS for them to act upon which they did. To say that anybody on the BOS had to be dragged kicking and screaming is a gross misrepresentation of the facts and a blatant example of someone pursuing their political agenda at the expense of the truth." Mendon Tao 8/25/2006 12:22:00 AM
If the above is true then how do you explain the following. These are from the minutes of the Public Safety Building Committee meeting on JUNE 19, 2006:
"J. Cronin states there is a new development that M. Ammendolia and J. Reed are exploring, and G. Smith presented property at 8 Morrison Drive to the committee.
Looking at plans, J. Cronin states that the Fire Department could move in tomorrow.
J. Reed asks if we bring the Morrison Drive property to the town, will we get a reprieve from the DOS? L. Tinio states yes.
N. Bradley would like the architect to look at this property. S. Cutler wants to wait and consider this property after the survey results are compiled.
J. Cronin states the committee is not leaving without a decision. The BOS needs to pursue this alternative.
S. Cutler states she will not put this on the agenda at a Selectmen’s meeting till the survey results are in. If G. Carell wants to look at it great, at no extra cost. "
The Committee wanted to look at the Morrisson propertya full 2 months before Augest 20 and Cutler said no way. Why you ask? The fact that her good buddy Judy Lionelli was the broker that had a potential buyer may have had something to do with it. Sharon didn't want to cut her friend out of a six-figure comission. Note to self: Do you get a finders fee for NOT bringing in a buyer? Only after Leonelli’s client fell through did Sharon become interested in the Morrison land. Coincidental timing? You make the call.
"Example, the most recent post on Eye on the Gray property makes the statement that the building comm brought the selectmen to the Morrison property " at least one of them kicking and screaming ". Of course they are refering to the BOS chair that eye has an obvious political agenda against. Do you want to know the real story? The drop dead date for the buyer to come up with the money for the Gray property was Aug 20. The building comm had scheduled a tentative meeting for the 21st in the hope that the buyer would fail to get the money and the town could jump in. However, the buyers realized they would not get the money and notified the Grays a little over a week before the Aug 20th drop dead date. The BOS chair got wind of all this and emailed the building comm with the new info. She further suggested that the building comm post a meeting as soon as was legally possible for the purpose of touring the property and voting on a recomendation to the BOS for them to act upon which they did. To say that anybody on the BOS had to be dragged kicking and screaming is a gross misrepresentation of the facts and a blatant example of someone pursuing their political agenda at the expense of the truth." Mendon Tao 8/25/2006 12:22:00 AM
If the above is true then how do you explain the following. These are from the minutes of the Public Safety Building Committee meeting on JUNE 19, 2006:
"J. Cronin states there is a new development that M. Ammendolia and J. Reed are exploring, and G. Smith presented property at 8 Morrison Drive to the committee.
Looking at plans, J. Cronin states that the Fire Department could move in tomorrow.
J. Reed asks if we bring the Morrison Drive property to the town, will we get a reprieve from the DOS? L. Tinio states yes.
N. Bradley would like the architect to look at this property. S. Cutler wants to wait and consider this property after the survey results are compiled.
J. Cronin states the committee is not leaving without a decision. The BOS needs to pursue this alternative.
S. Cutler states she will not put this on the agenda at a Selectmen’s meeting till the survey results are in. If G. Carell wants to look at it great, at no extra cost. "
The Committee wanted to look at the Morrisson propertya full 2 months before Augest 20 and Cutler said no way. Why you ask? The fact that her good buddy Judy Lionelli was the broker that had a potential buyer may have had something to do with it. Sharon didn't want to cut her friend out of a six-figure comission. Note to self: Do you get a finders fee for NOT bringing in a buyer? Only after Leonelli’s client fell through did Sharon become interested in the Morrison land. Coincidental timing? You make the call.
Yes we do attack sometimes but they usually have it coming. Judy Lionelli and Sharon Cutler are two peas in a pod. They are in it for themselves. You go girls.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Hats off to REAL Public Servents!
The Public Safety Building Committee is far and away the best group of volunteer citizens this town has seen in many years. They have labored tirelessly and under the pall of politics and cronyism to fulfill their mandate of producing the most cost effective long-term solution to the infrastructure problems facing Mendon's public safety effort.
This week they hit "Pay Dirt" for the Mendon taxpayers and the Mendon Fire Department and EMS. They brought the selectmen (at least one of them, kicking and screaming) to the Morrison Drive Industrial Park and showed them the future.
Hats off to all the people who put this deal in motion. At the top of that list would be Joe Cronin and the entire Public Safety Building Committee and Mr. & Mrs. Gray who have agreed take the risk that the town will receive their offer favorably and act on it in a timely manner. Kudos also to Gary Smith the broker for the Gray's who understood how well this property fit the town's needs and the money it would save all of us. Gary’s insight and the savvy move of contacting the Committee directly saved the day while the BoS was floundering with the Fino property. The selectmen would have just kept trying to put lipstick on that pig.
----------------------------------------
Ok, now that we have aroused all the nay Sayers lets do the numbers.
The cost of the Gray property is $2 million. The cost of the retrofit to make it a viable fire and EMS facility will probably come in around $500k. That is $2.5 million for a Fire and EMS facility that will serve the town for many decades. Let us add that there are unlimited expansion possibilities in the future. Including the current building there are 7.18 DRY acres on this lot.
Furthermore, the plans still exist to build a police station adequate for the towns needs for 50 years. The cost today would be about $2.5 million to build that building on the Grey property or in its original location in the town hall complex. Either way the TOTAL cost of the ultimate solution for public safety in Mendon would be $5 Million… Hmmmm. Lets be big spenders and assume that our numbers here are off by $500k. That would make the cost $5.5 million. Oh well.
The old proposal for the same thing on the Fino land was $7.5 million not counting the pesticide cleanup. That is a $250 saving for every man women and child in Mendon. You do the math.
Looks to us like the taxpayers save more than $1.5 million dollars and solve several of our town’s most pressing problems. Our numbers are preliminary but we added a million. That should cover contingencies.
Remember, your neighbors volunteering their time brought all this about. Not one of them was elected.
Our hats are off!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
You Don't Count!
It's been 22 days and 2 Board of Health Meetings since we requested some information from the BOH. If you read the exchange below you will see that the Administrative Assistant was very prompt with her reply to our request. That is where "User Friendly" ended. We have not heard a word since then.
Apparently the 3 members of the BOH don't think much of the people who visit this site. They don't publish their minutes or answer our questions. Another Imperial Board that thinks you are peasants who should be kept in the dark. And they wonder why we are cynical. What a farce.
-------------------------------------
From: BOH
To: Hanging Gardens
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: H5N1
Dear Hanging Gardens
I will pass on your request to the Chairman of the Board and will get you the information as soon as possible. If you have any other questions please let me know.
Thank you
Missy Kakela-Bottoms, Administrative Assistant
Mendon Board of Health
----- Original Message -----
From: Hanging Gardens
To: Missy Kakela-Bottoms
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:37 PM
Subject: H5N1
We are under the impression the State has mandated that all cities and towns in the State formulate a plan to deal with a possible human pandemic as a result of the H5N1 virus. There is a discussion currently on our blog with regard to this issue.
We understand that this may be a sensitive issue but the citizens have a right to know how their town government is dealing with the mandate from the State.
We would like to know if a plan has been formulated by the town and what the particulars are. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. We can accept any form of electronic information.
Hanging Gardens
An Eye on Mendon
Apparently the 3 members of the BOH don't think much of the people who visit this site. They don't publish their minutes or answer our questions. Another Imperial Board that thinks you are peasants who should be kept in the dark. And they wonder why we are cynical. What a farce.
-------------------------------------
From: BOH
To: Hanging Gardens
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: H5N1
Dear Hanging Gardens
I will pass on your request to the Chairman of the Board and will get you the information as soon as possible. If you have any other questions please let me know.
Thank you
Missy Kakela-Bottoms, Administrative Assistant
Mendon Board of Health
----- Original Message -----
From: Hanging Gardens
To: Missy Kakela-Bottoms
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:37 PM
Subject: H5N1
We are under the impression the State has mandated that all cities and towns in the State formulate a plan to deal with a possible human pandemic as a result of the H5N1 virus. There is a discussion currently on our blog with regard to this issue.
We understand that this may be a sensitive issue but the citizens have a right to know how their town government is dealing with the mandate from the State.
We would like to know if a plan has been formulated by the town and what the particulars are. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. We can accept any form of electronic information.
Hanging Gardens
An Eye on Mendon
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Step up to the plate!
It's time again for the contest to win a lighting package for the Mendon Little League Baseball Field. We need to get 1,500 online votes to be entered in the drawing. For every additional 1,500 votes we get another entry in the drawing, so the more votes we get the better our chance of winning.Granite City Electric along with Glynn Electric and Reflex Lighting Group are bringing an exciting promotion to your local town! Granite City Electric is not only lighting up Fenway Park this season, but for the 3rd year in a row will give away a sports lighting system complete with installation to a local junior baseball or softball field.
Follow the directions and vote for Mendon. You will be sent a confirmation email after you vote which you must reply to for your vote to count. You can vote as many times as you have email addresses, but only one vote per email address. Every vote must be confirmed. The whole process should take less than two minutes.
Ask your family and friends, lean on your workplace network. Forward to as many people as you can. We can do this for Mendon's young ball players.
Voting will be from August 1, 2006 - September 15, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Poll Results
Here are the results of some of our polling. We did not include the school override polls here. We will be posting a new poll for the September school override.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Days the poll was active: 7
Times the poll was viewed: 97
Votes Cast: 34
YES 26 % --- NO 74 %
-------------------------------------
Should Mendon have a by-law requiring all minutes of public meetings be posted on the town web site?
Days the poll was active: 19
Days the poll was active: 19
Times the poll was viewed: 152
Votes cast: 47
Votes cast: 47
YES 89 % --- NO 11 %
------------------------------------
Days the poll was active: 21
Times the poll was viewed: 171
Votes Cast: 57
Votes Cast: 57
YES 68 % --- NO 26 % --- NOT SURE 5 %
------------------------------------
Days the poll was active: 32
Times the poll was viewed: 334
Votes Cast: 74
Votes Cast: 74
YES 22 % --- NO 65 % --- NOT SURE 14 %
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Jimmy Carter???
Well 20 days on the job and we see that our new Super, Antonio Fernandes has learned is lessons well. Lesson #1 in grubbing money from the taxpayers: Spin a tale.
"We have students reading history books that say Jimmy Carter is the president of the United States," Antonio Fernandes
Tony, Tony, Tony, really now! You may get away with that in Upton or Dedham but the swamp yankees in Mendon have heard that kind on spin for years. We cut our teeth on David Crisafulli. "The roof will fall in and crush students"
You can't have it both ways. A blue ribbon school that has a text book that has been in use for 30 years? What's the real story?
"We have students reading history books that say Jimmy Carter is the president of the United States," Antonio Fernandes
Tony, Tony, Tony, really now! You may get away with that in Upton or Dedham but the swamp yankees in Mendon have heard that kind on spin for years. We cut our teeth on David Crisafulli. "The roof will fall in and crush students"
You can't have it both ways. A blue ribbon school that has a text book that has been in use for 30 years? What's the real story?
--------------
Hats off to Lawney Tinio for a no vote on this absurd attempt at override number two. He just killed any chance of getting re-elected but he made a statement. Apparently Breen will have to be surgically removed from Cutler's apron strings later.
-------------
The classic Joe Reed statement involving wolves and red meat was a hoot. Joe, you will not be invited to the school cocktail party this year. If they get in your face Joe, you know what to do.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Illegal Immigration - It's not just for people anymore!
The post below was posted to another topic and we felt it warranted more exposure. The poster seems to be reasonably knowledgeable about the topic and presents a sobering scenario. Read the post and come to your own conclusions.
Many thanks the the anonymous poster. We would love to hear more.
We have another comment at the end.
Anonymous said...
For those of you who think that disease transmission is not a threat of unrestricted emigration let me offer the following... Wait till the first case of human transmittable Bird Flu hits the states.
You do understand how that will happen right? In case you don't here are the facts.
The virus is located primarily in the migratory flyways of southeast asia. Wild birds are the carriers, who intermingle with domesticated birds and pass the virus interspecies.
There are roughly 37-40 mutations of the H5N1 virus (bird flu) identified. At present none have demonstrated the ability to be transmitted from human to human, though the most recent mutations in Turkey and elsewhere are moving in that direction.
Human contraction of the virus at this time is the result of the consumption of undercooked infected fowl (there are countries that eat a sort of bird sushi) or significant absorption of infected fowl feces. Many SE asian families live with fowl in their homes and/or in their living areas outside.
At some point in time it is possible that the bird flu virus may mutate on its own to become contagious among humans, or more likely, a human will contract a form of Asian Flu (the human variety) and bird flu simultaneously. The two strains of virus will attach and mutate into a form of avian flu that has the contagiousness of Asian Flu.
With avian flu beginning to spread among bird populations across the world, this scenario is not solely limited to humans residing in SE Asia any longer. It could occur in any country where people live closely with fowl.... many South and Central American cultures fall into this category.
Unrestricted emigration in this case could prove catastrophic to the US.
As to other diseases that are coming in through our borders, I suggest you research the strains of TB that we are fighting and a brand new one that will really make your skin crawl (literally as well as figuratively), Morgellons Disease.
One other point, Milford Regional Hospital use to set aside approximately 5-10% for "free" medical assistance. It is now approaching 30% with much of it provided to illegals.
July 18, 2006 11:51 AM
The EOM (Eye on Mendon) learned several months ago that the State has requested (Ordered) every community in the Commonwealth to report in with a plan to deal with any pandemic arising from H5N1 virus. We have heard nothing from the Mendon Selectmen, Police Chief , Board of Health or the School District about the required action plan. We hope they have one and it better be a good one.
The virus will be in the western hemisphere soon and it could make landfall as a full blown human to human pandemic. Running home and hiding under the bed will not be an option.
Many thanks the the anonymous poster. We would love to hear more.
We have another comment at the end.
Anonymous said...
For those of you who think that disease transmission is not a threat of unrestricted emigration let me offer the following... Wait till the first case of human transmittable Bird Flu hits the states.
You do understand how that will happen right? In case you don't here are the facts.
The virus is located primarily in the migratory flyways of southeast asia. Wild birds are the carriers, who intermingle with domesticated birds and pass the virus interspecies.
There are roughly 37-40 mutations of the H5N1 virus (bird flu) identified. At present none have demonstrated the ability to be transmitted from human to human, though the most recent mutations in Turkey and elsewhere are moving in that direction.
Human contraction of the virus at this time is the result of the consumption of undercooked infected fowl (there are countries that eat a sort of bird sushi) or significant absorption of infected fowl feces. Many SE asian families live with fowl in their homes and/or in their living areas outside.
At some point in time it is possible that the bird flu virus may mutate on its own to become contagious among humans, or more likely, a human will contract a form of Asian Flu (the human variety) and bird flu simultaneously. The two strains of virus will attach and mutate into a form of avian flu that has the contagiousness of Asian Flu.
With avian flu beginning to spread among bird populations across the world, this scenario is not solely limited to humans residing in SE Asia any longer. It could occur in any country where people live closely with fowl.... many South and Central American cultures fall into this category.
Unrestricted emigration in this case could prove catastrophic to the US.
As to other diseases that are coming in through our borders, I suggest you research the strains of TB that we are fighting and a brand new one that will really make your skin crawl (literally as well as figuratively), Morgellons Disease.
One other point, Milford Regional Hospital use to set aside approximately 5-10% for "free" medical assistance. It is now approaching 30% with much of it provided to illegals.
July 18, 2006 11:51 AM
The EOM (Eye on Mendon) learned several months ago that the State has requested (Ordered) every community in the Commonwealth to report in with a plan to deal with any pandemic arising from H5N1 virus. We have heard nothing from the Mendon Selectmen, Police Chief , Board of Health or the School District about the required action plan. We hope they have one and it better be a good one.
The virus will be in the western hemisphere soon and it could make landfall as a full blown human to human pandemic. Running home and hiding under the bed will not be an option.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Commonwealth of Corruption
First our hearts go out the family of Milena Del Valle. No one should die as a result of greed, graft and indifference to what will turn out to be the crime of the century.
The lesson here is: Ignore what your government is doing in your name at your own peril.
We didn’t think this was a local Mendon story until we realized that we had been thru the tunnel 4 times in the last 3 weeks. One of our children passed under the 3-ton panels less than 20 hours before the collapse and another with our grandson is due in to Boston this weekend. We are sure we are not alone. This is a very local story.
It is worth noting here that our fellow countrymen have invested $8.5 billion of the $14.6 billion cost of this project so far. They resented it when the pork flowed our way in unprecedented amounts and they will relish the opportunity to make Massachusetts pay the price. We are not well liked in most of the country due mainly to our arrogance and politics. The rest of the country can’t understand how we could allow our state government to be controlled by a crime family for decades and how some of us treated them like folk heroes rather than the murderers and thieves that they are. The Big Dig is just an extension of that perverted culture that is Massachusetts’s politics.
If you think that the tragedy in Boston is just a local story, guess again. It is a front page/lead story all over the country and some foreign countries as well.Here is a partial list. We got tired after 18 pages of Google results. A search for "Big Dig Collapse" returned 2,220,000 results. This is not a local story.
The Cincinnati Post
Houston Chronicle
CBS News
Fox News
Washington Post
Chicago Tribune
Canton Ohio Repository
The Austin American-Statesman
New York Times
New Jersey.com
WRAL TV
WLBZ - Bangor
The Guardian - London
Comcast News
Yahoo News
AOL News
WTOP - Washington DC
Doe Jones News Wire
WFAA.com - Dallas Fort Worth
WPBF TV - West Palm Beach FL
The Guardian - England
San Jose Mercury News
Star-Tribune - Minnespolis, St Paul
Forbes.com
WBIR - Knoxville TN
KWTX TV - Waco TX
WXIA TV - Atlanta GA
KFAQ - Tulsa OK
KNBC TV - Los Angeles
Arizona Daily Star
The Cincinnati Post
Houston Chronicle
CBS News
Fox News
Washington Post
Chicago Tribune
Canton Ohio Repository
The Austin American-Statesman
New York Times
New Jersey.com
WRAL TV
WLBZ - Bangor
The Guardian - London
Comcast News
Yahoo News
AOL News
WTOP - Washington DC
Doe Jones News Wire
WFAA.com - Dallas Fort Worth
WPBF TV - West Palm Beach FL
The Guardian - England
San Jose Mercury News
Star-Tribune - Minnespolis, St Paul
Forbes.com
WBIR - Knoxville TN
KWTX TV - Waco TX
WXIA TV - Atlanta GA
KFAQ - Tulsa OK
KNBC TV - Los Angeles
Arizona Daily Star
Sunday, July 09, 2006
"It's time to get tough -- they'll get the message"
Photo Credit: Josh Reynolds - San Francisco Chronicle
Milford's own Marie Parente made Section A-15 of the San Francisco Chronicle today. Marie's strong stance against illegal immigration got her noticed on the Left Coast.
Way to go Marie.
Read the article by Anna Badkhen and tell us what you think.
Don't forget to take the poll-------------------------->
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Just for Fun
Blacksmith Shop Mendon Mass. c.1910It was still active in 1910. The building is no longer standing but portions of the foundation are visible from the street today. Do you know where it was?
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy 230th Birthday America
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
In Congress, July 4, 1776,
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Lest we forget...
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - THE SIGNERS
Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence? This is the price they paid:
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned, two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. These men signed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor!
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned, two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. These men signed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor!
What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and large plantation owners. All were men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts. Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him.
Vandals or soldiers or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.
Perhaps one of the most inspiring examples of "undaunted resolution" was at the Battle of Yorktown. Thomas Nelson, Jr. was returning from Philadelphia to become Governor of Virginia and joined General Washington just outside of Yorktown. He then noted that British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters, but that the patriot's were directing their artillery fire all over the town except for the vicinity of his own beautiful home. Nelson asked why they were not firing in that direction, and the soldiers replied, "Out of respect to you, Sir." Nelson quietly urged General Washington to open fire, and stepping forward to the nearest cannon, aimed at his own house and fired.
Francis Lewis's Long Island home was looted and gutted, his home and properties destroyed. His wife was Captured by the British and thrown into a prison cell. The Lewis's son would later die in British captivity, also.
John Hart was driven from his home when British and Hessian troops invaded New Jersey just months after he signed the Declaration. His thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. All winter, and for more than a year, Hart lived in forests and caves, finally returning home to find his farm destroyed. Rebuilding proved too be too great a task. A few weeks later, by the spring of 1779 John Hart was dead. Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
New Jersey's Richard Stockton, after rescuing his wife and children from advancing British troops, was betrayed by a loyalist, imprisoned, beaten and nearly starved. He returned an invalid to find his home gutted, and his library and papers burned. He, too, never recovered, dying in 1781 a broken man.
William Ellery of Rhode Island, who marveled that he had seen only "undaunted resolution" in the faces of his co-signers, also had his home burned.
Only days after Lewis Morris of New York signed the Declaration, British troops ravaged his 2,000-acre estate, butchered his cattle and drove his family off the land. Three of Morris' sons fought the British.When the British seized the New York houses of the wealthy Philip Livingston, he sold off everything else, and gave the money to the Revolution. He died in 1778.
Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward Jr. went home to South Carolina to fight. In the British invasion of the South, Heyward was wounded and all three were captured. As he rotted on a prison ship in St. Augustine, Heyward's plantation was raided, buildings burned, and his wife, who witnessed it all, died. Other Southern signers suffered the same general fate.
Among the first to sign had been John Hancock, who wrote in big, bold script so George III "could read my name without spectacles and could now double his reward for 500 pounds for my head." If the cause of the revolution commands it, roared Hancock, "Burn Boston and make John Hancock a beggar!"
Here were men who believed in a cause far beyond themselves.Such were the stories and sacrifices of the America revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this Declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
What should we take from all of this? The signers of the Declaration of Independence did take a huge risk in daring to put their names on a document that repudiated their government, and they had every reason to believe at the time that they might well be hanged for having done so. That was a courageous act we should indeed remember and honor on the Fourth of July amidst our picnics, and baseball games." But we should also not lose sight of the fact that many men (and women) other than the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence — some famous and most not — risked and sacrificed much (including their lives) to support the revolutionary cause. The hardships and losses endured by many Americans during the struggle for independence were not visited upon the signers alone, nor were they any less ruinous for having befallen people whose names are not immortalized on a piece of parchment.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Their all Bozos on that Bus
As we predicted, it's going to be a great year for the blogs with Sharon Cutler at the helm. We didn't think that she would get so much help from Jay Byer.
--------------------------
The Queen of Condescension
Sharon Cutler was at it again, big time last night. Looking down her snout at her subjects and pontificating on the greatness of her reign. She is truly a legend in her own mind.
Referring to Mendon’s elderly as “the gray hairs” was brilliant.
Sharon we know that you despise the town employees and use every opportunity to stick it to them. Nice move with the payday change. You managed to get half of them to show up last night for your dog and pony show. Good thing for you they left the rotten fruit at home.
The Never Ending Override
When it comes to large seeds, Jay Bayer & Co has them. Undaunted by defeat the school lackeys are planning to throw another override at the voters. What part of "NO" don’t they understand?
Byer's quote" the district is only trying to maintain its current standards." Sure by lowering everyone else’s. Our guess is that poor Jay has been getting a major amount of heat from the spendthrifts in Upton. Remember where you live Jay. If we wanted to pay Upton taxes we would move there. Can a Joint Town Meeting be far behind?
Bring it on Jay but you may want to wear the floral jammies and the hard hat for this one. The natives are truly restless.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
"Well We Blew It"
Leave town for one weekend and all hell breaks loose! We could not have been more wrong about the Gift Barn Caper.Our source was inside the Ober family so apparently they will say anything to get the taxpayers to bail them out.
Maybe we should just change the name of the town to Boondoggle.
If this flies with the voters of Mendon we will be very surprised. The track record of land dealings in this town speaks for itself. Elected and appointed insiders lying, spinning and covering up to get the taxpayers to bail their friends out of bad real estate. There seems to be no end to it.
The 8-acre gift barn property is an albatross. It will not perk, it has no usable frontage and on the open market it will fetch nothing near the 2 million dollar price tag. They are trying to stick to you again, don't believe a word of it!
If the property is worth that amount of money let them market it and give the town a 45 day first right of refusal. That will be plenty of time to schedule a town meeting and there will plenty of exposure and debate in the meantime. We dare them to do it.
The building will not pass code for ANY public use. No library, town hall, police station, fire station or public restroom... NOTHING!
The end result a purchase would be another $400 in taxes for the median home and the Ober's laughing all the way to the bank.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Who Do You Trust?
Here are links to all the Public Safety Advisory Committee meetings since the failed first votes. Notice that the committee is grappling with questions that were posed on this blog a month prior to the vote. They got no support from the selectmen. Lawney Tinio seems particularly adept at the smoke and mirrors game.
If it requires $24,000 to test 3 acres of the Fino property then the simple math question is: How much would it cost to test all 22 acres of the old orchard? Answer: $176,000.
What will the cleanup cost? Answer: Who knows!
Should we spend all this additional money? Answer: We have no choice.
---------------------------
If we ever intend to use this land for anything we have to do what the board of selectmen should have done before they blithely sold us down the river for $3,500,000. All of the costs incurred from here on out for testing and cleanup of that land should have been borne by the sellers not the buyers.
If you read the minutes of the Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting from June 5th you will see how pervasive the architect has been in all of this. Do not forget that Greg Carell stands to make $750,000 for the design of the building. He attempted to soft peddle the contamination problem at the town meeting that defeated the question the first time. He reminds us of the clothes salesman that pulls your suit from the back while you look in the mirror, telling you what a great fit it is. “Grain of salt” comes to mind when he says anything about the soil issues.
The lesson here is that trust is earned not elected or appointed. The BoS was aware of the problems with the Fino land before the purchase. The Finance Committee also knew about the problem according to one of our sources and recommended the town buy it anyway. Who do you trust?
If it requires $24,000 to test 3 acres of the Fino property then the simple math question is: How much would it cost to test all 22 acres of the old orchard? Answer: $176,000.
What will the cleanup cost? Answer: Who knows!
Should we spend all this additional money? Answer: We have no choice.
---------------------------
If you read the minutes of the Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting from June 5th you will see how pervasive the architect has been in all of this. Do not forget that Greg Carell stands to make $750,000 for the design of the building. He attempted to soft peddle the contamination problem at the town meeting that defeated the question the first time. He reminds us of the clothes salesman that pulls your suit from the back while you look in the mirror, telling you what a great fit it is. “Grain of salt” comes to mind when he says anything about the soil issues.
The lesson here is that trust is earned not elected or appointed. The BoS was aware of the problems with the Fino land before the purchase. The Finance Committee also knew about the problem according to one of our sources and recommended the town buy it anyway. Who do you trust?
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Making of a Double Chief
Here are the Executive Session Minutes from the BoS meeting on Feb. 8, 2005. We want to thank one of our regular posters for these. We will not divulge the posters identity, that is up to the poster. 
This appears to be the meeting where the selectmen and Chief Horn worked out the details of his assuming the duties of Fire Chief.
It is interesting to note that Sharon Cutler was in charge of this session. She was not the Chair at the time so we get a glimpse of the structure of the board 9 months after her arrival. She was calling the shots, at least as far as the chief thing went.
It's your turn. Read them and let us know what you think.
This appears to be the meeting where the selectmen and Chief Horn worked out the details of his assuming the duties of Fire Chief.
It is interesting to note that Sharon Cutler was in charge of this session. She was not the Chair at the time so we get a glimpse of the structure of the board 9 months after her arrival. She was calling the shots, at least as far as the chief thing went.
It's your turn. Read them and let us know what you think.
Friday, June 16, 2006
The Gift Barn Caper
Just when we thought we would take a break for a while the show heats up!The inside word on the town buying the Mendon Country Gift Barn property is that the owners do not have nor ever had any intention of selling it.
The rumor got started by Sharon Cutler nosing around with more of her grandiose ideas. Furthermore the owners of the Barn are livid that the story circulated. People began a rush to cash gift certificates and the story hurt the Barn's business.
We will be surprised if the owners of the Barn don't sue Cutler and the town for this fiasco. Keep your eye on Cutler she is a loose cannon.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Riff Raff of Mendon
We have a new addition to the Mendon Blogsphere. One of our favorite long time posters has created a blog. Welcome to Riff Raff.
Riff has contributed much to the discussion here over the past 8 months and is quite knowledgeable about current events in our town. We are going to keep to ourselves for a week or so and let Riff have the stage. We're not leaving in fact we have some great stuff to print but right now we are lawyering up for the next expose. Good luck Riff, we will be reading.
Hanging Gardens
Monday, June 12, 2006
School Override Upton-Yes Mendon-No
Mendon
Yes - 463 (44%)
NO - 591 (56%)
YES - 609 (62%)
NO - 370 (38%)
Upton Vote Count 979
Yes - 463 (44%)
NO - 591 (56%)
Mendon Vote Count 1,054
---------------------------------------------
UptonYES - 609 (62%)
NO - 370 (38%)
Upton Vote Count 979
NOTE: We had bad numbers for Upton. The correct count is now posted. Nothing changes. There were a few more no votes that we first reported. HG
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Potholes vs “Dream Scenario”
Don't Forget to Vote Today
Due to the recent rains the town roads are mess. Pothole damage to cars is the order of the day. Yes the Highway Department has tried to mark the bad spots with signs and has done a good job of getting the signs up in a timely manner but that hasn’t stopped many front ends from finding their way to the mechanic over the last few days.
When you go to the polls on Monday keep that in mind. The School wants you to fund their "Dream Scenario" while there are many other immediate needs for your tax dollars. It would seem that the educational elite should understand that if you can’t get the children to school over safe roads it might be time to put down the wish list and focus on the needs of the entire town.
Yes, we are still voting no on the override.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Polling Suggestions
As you can see we have added polling to the blog. The first poll has to do with the school override ballot vote.
We would like to add additional polls in the future. If you have an idea for a poll question lets hear it here.
We would like to add additional polls in the future. If you have an idea for a poll question lets hear it here.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
More Land Shenagians???
New Comments 6/08
As reported in the MDN 6/1/06.
"Selectmen also announced preparation to sell the 15 Millville Road lot, pending an approved septic design.
Tinio said the town needed to be sure to set a minimum price before making the property open to any bids. "I don't want to give the property away," said Tinio."
Will someone tell Tinio that the town cannot sell land without a town meeting vote. That's Government 101 Lawney.
Also while we are at it, where the hell is the money coming from for a septic design? Anyone remember voting for that?
Obviously the selectmen have learned nothing from recent history and still feel that they are the "because wesayso board". Message to the Troika: It's our land and our money and most important of all, you work for us. Get it?
Questions for the selectmen: Why the pressing need to sell a building lot? Do we need more development? Where will the money go?
Given the track record of real estate dealings by the selectmen we suspect something is going on here.
As reported in the MDN 6/1/06.
"Selectmen also announced preparation to sell the 15 Millville Road lot, pending an approved septic design.
Tinio said the town needed to be sure to set a minimum price before making the property open to any bids. "I don't want to give the property away," said Tinio."
Will someone tell Tinio that the town cannot sell land without a town meeting vote. That's Government 101 Lawney.
Also while we are at it, where the hell is the money coming from for a septic design? Anyone remember voting for that?
Obviously the selectmen have learned nothing from recent history and still feel that they are the "because wesayso board". Message to the Troika: It's our land and our money and most important of all, you work for us. Get it?
Questions for the selectmen: Why the pressing need to sell a building lot? Do we need more development? Where will the money go?
Given the track record of real estate dealings by the selectmen we suspect something is going on here.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
School Override - Open Forum
New Comments 6/06
In a very short time we will be asked to raise our taxes by hundreds of dollars a year to support the district school budget. Is this a million dollar heist or necessary spending to maintain the education of our children?
We have our opinion . . . We are against it! . . . How do you feel?
NOTE: We have dropped “Comment Moderation”. You can now post directly to the blog. This will allow more of a dialog without the delay. If it gets out of hand with libel or bad language we will put it back.
HG
In a very short time we will be asked to raise our taxes by hundreds of dollars a year to support the district school budget. Is this a million dollar heist or necessary spending to maintain the education of our children?
We have our opinion . . . We are against it! . . . How do you feel?
-------------------------------
NOTE: We have dropped “Comment Moderation”. You can now post directly to the blog. This will allow more of a dialog without the delay. If it gets out of hand with libel or bad language we will put it back.
HG
Friday, May 19, 2006
Ken O'Brien
New Comments as of 6/10
Why did this man quit?
Rumor has it that Ken stepped down as a selectmen because he covets the Administrative Assistants job. Under Mendon town by-law an elected official cannot become an employee of the town for 1 year from the date of leaving office. The word on the street is that our current AA, Michael McCue will put in a year or two here and move on to a more lucrative and probably saner environment.
What do you think? Would Ken make a good AA? He spent 3 years as a selectman and a year on the Finance Committee.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Regionalization
New comments as of 6/03
We received this email from the Deacon. He/She is a regular poster on the Millville Blog. What do you think?
The Deacon's concept of Regionalization is based on a phrase from the " Old Salesman's Handbook". "What got you by in the past will not get you by in the future".
Millville is simply too small to justify the expense of maintaining a full time dispatch function. I also believe the same is true for Blackstone, Hopedale, Mendon, Uxbridge, Douglas, and Upton. There is simply too much duplication of service in a small geographic area. There is strength in numbers and economic efficiencies. However, I realize that "startup" costs will be an issue.Regionalization is present in New England. Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid in New Hampshire dispatches from one location to 36 towns covering 1494 square miles. York County Maine Sheriff dispatches Fire, Police and EMS from one location for a minimum of 14 towns. These are not small towns. Most of the time two dispatchers are on duty. Several Worcester County Towns have a Regionalized Dispatch Center located in New Braintree. Participating towns include: The Brookfields, Brimfield and others. Anything is possible. "Home Rule" has been the biggest obstacle. Support from Dick Moore and Jennifer Callahan has been non-existent.
OK, who is next? Much more can be stated.
THE DEACON
We received this email from the Deacon. He/She is a regular poster on the Millville Blog. What do you think?
The Deacon's concept of Regionalization is based on a phrase from the " Old Salesman's Handbook". "What got you by in the past will not get you by in the future".
Millville is simply too small to justify the expense of maintaining a full time dispatch function. I also believe the same is true for Blackstone, Hopedale, Mendon, Uxbridge, Douglas, and Upton. There is simply too much duplication of service in a small geographic area. There is strength in numbers and economic efficiencies. However, I realize that "startup" costs will be an issue.Regionalization is present in New England. Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid in New Hampshire dispatches from one location to 36 towns covering 1494 square miles. York County Maine Sheriff dispatches Fire, Police and EMS from one location for a minimum of 14 towns. These are not small towns. Most of the time two dispatchers are on duty. Several Worcester County Towns have a Regionalized Dispatch Center located in New Braintree. Participating towns include: The Brookfields, Brimfield and others. Anything is possible. "Home Rule" has been the biggest obstacle. Support from Dick Moore and Jennifer Callahan has been non-existent.
OK, who is next? Much more can be stated.
THE DEACON
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Scam Averted
New Comments as of 6/02
This is the original Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. If you’re over45 you probably remember the TV series that ran from 1959 to 1964. You youngsters will just have to take our word for it.
The cartoon has little to do with this post other than Mendon has a duo of it’s own who are nicknamed after the two pictured above. Mendon’s pair bears more resemblance to the villains Boris Badunov and Natasha Fatale from the same show.
Our daring duo are long-term employees at town hall. They are Jean Berthold, Assistant Assessor and Claudia Cataldo the Town Accountant. They attempted a snow job at the Annual Town Meeting that failed. This is how the story goes.
It seems that there has been a move afoot for several years to change the ratio of the town’s contribution to employee health care from the current 90% to something that more resembles the real world. Say 80% or, god forbid 75% that is what our teachers get. Soaring insurance costs coupled with additional employees and retirees (yes retirees get the 90% contribution until they die) has created a huge expense for taxpayers. Health care costs in Mendon have grown by double digits every year for the last decade and promise to go even higher. Several boards of selectmen have tried to change the split from 90/10 to something more reasonable only to be met with nasty opposition spearheaded by our very own pair of loyal employees.
A few months ago this pair hatched a plan to get an article on the annual town meeting warrant by petition that would adopt the town’s personnel policy as a by-law thus making the 90/10 split the law of the town and impossible for the selectmen to change without voter approval. An article by petition for the annual meeting only requires 10 signatures so the task was not too daunting and Article 32 was born.
The selectmen or more precisely their administrative assistant quickly countered with Article 33 which would have made the split 80/20 and nullified Article 32 if it had passed.
Jean Berthold (a/k/a Bullwinkle) and Claudia Cataldo (a/k/a Rocky) were quick to promote their cause on the town meeting floor. Their arguments were persuasive if you didn’t know what they were up to. Jean Berthold attempted to raise her voice above everyone and was quickly shut down by Moderator Holmes. He is probably the only man who has ever shut her up. Good Job Art! In the end cooler heads prevailed and the article was defeated.
The problem came with the next article. The Selectmen (Cutler) moved to pass over article 33. Why would they squander the best chance in years to change the split? Cowardice comes to mind. This “pair” intimidates this board of selectmen and many others. The Eye is hearing a lot about these two. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Mendon's Rocky & Bullwinkle.
This is the original Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. If you’re over45 you probably remember the TV series that ran from 1959 to 1964. You youngsters will just have to take our word for it.The cartoon has little to do with this post other than Mendon has a duo of it’s own who are nicknamed after the two pictured above. Mendon’s pair bears more resemblance to the villains Boris Badunov and Natasha Fatale from the same show.
Our daring duo are long-term employees at town hall. They are Jean Berthold, Assistant Assessor and Claudia Cataldo the Town Accountant. They attempted a snow job at the Annual Town Meeting that failed. This is how the story goes.
It seems that there has been a move afoot for several years to change the ratio of the town’s contribution to employee health care from the current 90% to something that more resembles the real world. Say 80% or, god forbid 75% that is what our teachers get. Soaring insurance costs coupled with additional employees and retirees (yes retirees get the 90% contribution until they die) has created a huge expense for taxpayers. Health care costs in Mendon have grown by double digits every year for the last decade and promise to go even higher. Several boards of selectmen have tried to change the split from 90/10 to something more reasonable only to be met with nasty opposition spearheaded by our very own pair of loyal employees.
A few months ago this pair hatched a plan to get an article on the annual town meeting warrant by petition that would adopt the town’s personnel policy as a by-law thus making the 90/10 split the law of the town and impossible for the selectmen to change without voter approval. An article by petition for the annual meeting only requires 10 signatures so the task was not too daunting and Article 32 was born.
The selectmen or more precisely their administrative assistant quickly countered with Article 33 which would have made the split 80/20 and nullified Article 32 if it had passed.
Jean Berthold (a/k/a Bullwinkle) and Claudia Cataldo (a/k/a Rocky) were quick to promote their cause on the town meeting floor. Their arguments were persuasive if you didn’t know what they were up to. Jean Berthold attempted to raise her voice above everyone and was quickly shut down by Moderator Holmes. He is probably the only man who has ever shut her up. Good Job Art! In the end cooler heads prevailed and the article was defeated.
The problem came with the next article. The Selectmen (Cutler) moved to pass over article 33. Why would they squander the best chance in years to change the split? Cowardice comes to mind. This “pair” intimidates this board of selectmen and many others. The Eye is hearing a lot about these two. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Mendon's Rocky & Bullwinkle.
The next episode:
Good Jobs at Good Wages
Good Jobs at Good Wages
– or –
My Way or the Highway...
.
.
Photo Copyright © Jay Ward Productions, Inc - Many thanks to Jay for a great cartoon.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Special Town Meeting Tonight
New Comments as of 5/30
The town meeting tonight will have a heavy tilt toward public safety money.
We can only hope that the meeting is not stacked and the vote is decided when people walk through the door. The issue of public safety is far too important to have people grinding their personal axe.
If you can attend, do it. The more people with common sense that are there the better the outcome. The following posts from Kevin Rudden’s blog illustrate in the first case how dangerous a stacked town meeting can be to the town and in the second case that concerns and questions can be reasonable and productive.
"we just like messing with ernie. we were in the same situation last year when the money for fd wages got voted down. ernie had to lay off two full time fire fighters. it will be interesting to see what he does this year. he has no house to clean."
# posted by Anonymous : 4:57 AM
"Some of us don't just like messing with Ernie. We just want to see his spending curbed. He does it with the police department and now he's doing it with the fire department. A good manager knows how to manage his budget and I'm not seeing that with him. The town gives him everything he asks for without question and many of us out here are sick of it. He needs to be held accountable for the increase in spending at the fire department and he needs to explain why he needs to keep coming back every three or four months in Special Town Meeting for more money. When he took over he said that he would reduce the FD budget by 6%. I'm not seeing it. If you go through the Annual Town Reports for 2004 and 2005 and compare the requests for money by the FD in the warrants, you will see a huge difference in the amount of money asked for. Someone has some 'splainin to do and I hope he's ready to do it tonight."
# posted by Anonymous : 5:06 AM
The town meeting tonight will have a heavy tilt toward public safety money.
We can only hope that the meeting is not stacked and the vote is decided when people walk through the door. The issue of public safety is far too important to have people grinding their personal axe.
If you can attend, do it. The more people with common sense that are there the better the outcome. The following posts from Kevin Rudden’s blog illustrate in the first case how dangerous a stacked town meeting can be to the town and in the second case that concerns and questions can be reasonable and productive.
"we just like messing with ernie. we were in the same situation last year when the money for fd wages got voted down. ernie had to lay off two full time fire fighters. it will be interesting to see what he does this year. he has no house to clean."
# posted by Anonymous : 4:57 AM
"Some of us don't just like messing with Ernie. We just want to see his spending curbed. He does it with the police department and now he's doing it with the fire department. A good manager knows how to manage his budget and I'm not seeing that with him. The town gives him everything he asks for without question and many of us out here are sick of it. He needs to be held accountable for the increase in spending at the fire department and he needs to explain why he needs to keep coming back every three or four months in Special Town Meeting for more money. When he took over he said that he would reduce the FD budget by 6%. I'm not seeing it. If you go through the Annual Town Reports for 2004 and 2005 and compare the requests for money by the FD in the warrants, you will see a huge difference in the amount of money asked for. Someone has some 'splainin to do and I hope he's ready to do it tonight."
# posted by Anonymous : 5:06 AM
It's raining there is nothing else to do. Be at Miscoe Hill School at 7:00. If not you, who? If not now, when?
Hanging Gardens
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Public Safety Meeting Tonight
New Comments as of 5/10
The Public Safety Building Advisory Committee will meet tonight at 7:00 at the Senior Center.
They will address the direction the effort will go from here. There are sure to be Selectmen and Chief Horn in attendance.
If you can make time to go it may be very enlightening. At the very least if Sharon Cutler and Dennis Shaheen are there it will be entertaining.
We will be looking for your observations tomorrow.
The Public Safety Building Advisory Committee will meet tonight at 7:00 at the Senior Center.
They will address the direction the effort will go from here. There are sure to be Selectmen and Chief Horn in attendance.
If you can make time to go it may be very enlightening. At the very least if Sharon Cutler and Dennis Shaheen are there it will be entertaining.
We will be looking for your observations tomorrow.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Sharon Cutler Lies with a Straight Face
New Comments as of 5/13
Don't miss the Milford Daily News article today about Mendon's Public Safely Building. It is very clear that Cutler is doing damage control over the defeat of the proposed project. Rather than getting a plan in place to deal with issues the selectmen should have dealt with prior to the purchase of the Fino land, she claims that everything was done correctly. Oh Really Sharon.
"We did a full environmental study before we agreed to purchase the property," she said. "We spent $22,000 for it."
Apparently Sharon missed the warning in the Tighe & Bond report that appeared in two places. “ A full risk assessment … must be done.. before any development” What part of you blew it doesn’t she understand?
The, in Sharon's words, full environmental study was only preliminary and contained the above warning in the executive summary and in the body of the report. There was also a separate letter strongly recommending further testing. Hello, anybody home?
Sharon still claims there are 90 contaminated farms in Mendon. Like that is going to make her sin look any less egregious. It is not true but Sharon would throw anybody under the bus to make herself look better. Just ask the former firemen.
"They want more information on the soil and we'll be meeting with the Board of Health on that to see if they can put together an order of conditions.”
The Board of Health does not have the expertise or the resources to deal with this type of thing. There is no way they will be able to conduct a full risk assessment of the property. That has to be done by an outside firm that specializes in such things.
The sooner Cutler stops practicing damage control and playing the CYA game and gets down to the task at hand, the sooner Mendon can address the public safety issue. We have the plan and we have the site. Too bad we still don’t have the leadership.
Don't miss the Milford Daily News article today about Mendon's Public Safely Building. It is very clear that Cutler is doing damage control over the defeat of the proposed project. Rather than getting a plan in place to deal with issues the selectmen should have dealt with prior to the purchase of the Fino land, she claims that everything was done correctly. Oh Really Sharon.
"We did a full environmental study before we agreed to purchase the property," she said. "We spent $22,000 for it."
Apparently Sharon missed the warning in the Tighe & Bond report that appeared in two places. “ A full risk assessment … must be done.. before any development” What part of you blew it doesn’t she understand?
The, in Sharon's words, full environmental study was only preliminary and contained the above warning in the executive summary and in the body of the report. There was also a separate letter strongly recommending further testing. Hello, anybody home?
Sharon still claims there are 90 contaminated farms in Mendon. Like that is going to make her sin look any less egregious. It is not true but Sharon would throw anybody under the bus to make herself look better. Just ask the former firemen.
"They want more information on the soil and we'll be meeting with the Board of Health on that to see if they can put together an order of conditions.”
The Board of Health does not have the expertise or the resources to deal with this type of thing. There is no way they will be able to conduct a full risk assessment of the property. That has to be done by an outside firm that specializes in such things.
The sooner Cutler stops practicing damage control and playing the CYA game and gets down to the task at hand, the sooner Mendon can address the public safety issue. We have the plan and we have the site. Too bad we still don’t have the leadership.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Annual Town Meeting Tonight
New Comments as of 5/13
This is where all your money gets spent. If you can possibly be there to protect your investment in the town you live in, do it!
Your attendance tonight may save you hundreds of dollars over the coming year.
There is not much left of our Republic. Town meeting is one of the few remaining ways to have a direct affect on the system that governs you.
See you there!
This is where all your money gets spent. If you can possibly be there to protect your investment in the town you live in, do it!
Your attendance tonight may save you hundreds of dollars over the coming year.
There is not much left of our Republic. Town meeting is one of the few remaining ways to have a direct affect on the system that governs you.
See you there!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The School Override
New Comments as of 5/18
Total Pupil Expenditures ( Per Mass Dept of Education)
District----------------------------Number of students (FTE)
1999 . . . . . . . . . . $10,192,294 . . . . . . . . . . .1,914
2003. . . . . . . . . . $16,028,479 . . . . . . . . . . .2,546
2007 (est) . . . . . $25,000,000. . . . . . . . . . .3,000 (est)
1999-2003 funding - 36% Increase
1999-2003 students - 25% Increase
2003-2007 funding - 36% Increase
2003-2007 students - 15% Increase
The 2007 numbers are before the override.
Question: Over the two five year periods here, why does it cost 10% more for the same increase in student population from 2003 to 2007? What percentage are teacher salaries and what percentage is administration?
Question: If these numbers hold true over the next ten years does that mean the school budget will be $34,000,000 in 2012 and $46,000,000 in 2017, nearly double what it is today?
Remember none of these numbers include the cost of building new schools. New students entering the system have been dropping for 2 years. Yes, utilities are way up, we pay them also. All the more reason to question the affordability of the extra 4% for "improvement" the District wants in an override this year.
Is the override necessary? We don't think it is.
Total Pupil Expenditures ( Per Mass Dept of Education)
District----------------------------Number of students (FTE)
1999 . . . . . . . . . . $10,192,294 . . . . . . . . . . .1,914
2003. . . . . . . . . . $16,028,479 . . . . . . . . . . .2,546
2007 (est) . . . . . $25,000,000. . . . . . . . . . .3,000 (est)
1999-2003 funding - 36% Increase
1999-2003 students - 25% Increase
2003-2007 funding - 36% Increase
2003-2007 students - 15% Increase
The 2007 numbers are before the override.
Question: Over the two five year periods here, why does it cost 10% more for the same increase in student population from 2003 to 2007? What percentage are teacher salaries and what percentage is administration?
Question: If these numbers hold true over the next ten years does that mean the school budget will be $34,000,000 in 2012 and $46,000,000 in 2017, nearly double what it is today?
Remember none of these numbers include the cost of building new schools. New students entering the system have been dropping for 2 years. Yes, utilities are way up, we pay them also. All the more reason to question the affordability of the extra 4% for "improvement" the District wants in an override this year.
Is the override necessary? We don't think it is.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Election Returns
New Comments as of 5/8
If you think it wasn't worth your effort to go vote today, you were wrong. The Public Safety Building question lost by 25 votes. Readers of this blog made the difference. Our hat is off to all 700+ of you who visited this week. Now because you have spoken the powers that used to be will have to do this project in the light of day and get it right this time.
Other Results: Your new selectman is David Breen. Art Holmes remains your moderator and Robert Gilchrist replaces Shirley Smith on the Water Board. Donald Morin will sit on the School Committee for 3 years. Congratulations to the winners. We look forward to reporting on how you handle the public trust.
THE RESULTS
Selectman
BREEN 813
Shaheen 298
School Committee
MORIN 510
Harmon 422
Moderator
HOLMES 597
Duffy 450
Water Commission
GILCHRIST 638
Smith 392
Public Safety Building Over-ride
NO 570
Yes 545
Remember YOU made the difference.
Hanging Gardens
If you think it wasn't worth your effort to go vote today, you were wrong. The Public Safety Building question lost by 25 votes. Readers of this blog made the difference. Our hat is off to all 700+ of you who visited this week. Now because you have spoken the powers that used to be will have to do this project in the light of day and get it right this time.
Other Results: Your new selectman is David Breen. Art Holmes remains your moderator and Robert Gilchrist replaces Shirley Smith on the Water Board. Donald Morin will sit on the School Committee for 3 years. Congratulations to the winners. We look forward to reporting on how you handle the public trust.
THE RESULTS
Selectman
BREEN 813
Shaheen 298
School Committee
MORIN 510
Harmon 422
Moderator
HOLMES 597
Duffy 450
Water Commission
GILCHRIST 638
Smith 392
Public Safety Building Over-ride
NO 570
Yes 545
Remember YOU made the difference.
Hanging Gardens
Sunday, April 30, 2006
The MDN Pimps for Mendon Selectmen!
New Comments as of 5/17
We predicted that the spin would continue until the election and the local print rag came in right on schedule.
If you are a regular reader of this blog don't miss the front-page puff piece written in the Milford Daily News today by one of their premier lap dog reporters, Danielle Williamson. Yes, the powers that be at the old local rag are pimping for their favorite causes again. Higher taxes and bigger government any cost.
Danielle goes on for 765 words about the dire situation with Mendon’s public safety infrastructure. She lies, twists, spins and uses all the scare words. She relies on quotes from only one side of the issue as if no other side exists.
It is not until the article is 600 words into the selectmen’s gospel that there is even a mention of the real environmental cost concerns voters had about the project at Wednesday’s town meeting. Then 96 words are devoted to a careful weaving of outright lies by the Milford Daily News and quotes from Joe Reed a Public Safety Building Committee member and close friend of Sharon Cutler. We can guess that Joe was taken out of context allowing the paper to slip in its BS.
Read the article and if you see what we see. Tell your friends. This bold attempt to snow the voters should not stand. Vote NO on Monday and tell the selectmen to do this the right way.
HG
We predicted that the spin would continue until the election and the local print rag came in right on schedule.
If you are a regular reader of this blog don't miss the front-page puff piece written in the Milford Daily News today by one of their premier lap dog reporters, Danielle Williamson. Yes, the powers that be at the old local rag are pimping for their favorite causes again. Higher taxes and bigger government any cost.
Danielle goes on for 765 words about the dire situation with Mendon’s public safety infrastructure. She lies, twists, spins and uses all the scare words. She relies on quotes from only one side of the issue as if no other side exists.
It is not until the article is 600 words into the selectmen’s gospel that there is even a mention of the real environmental cost concerns voters had about the project at Wednesday’s town meeting. Then 96 words are devoted to a careful weaving of outright lies by the Milford Daily News and quotes from Joe Reed a Public Safety Building Committee member and close friend of Sharon Cutler. We can guess that Joe was taken out of context allowing the paper to slip in its BS.
Read the article and if you see what we see. Tell your friends. This bold attempt to snow the voters should not stand. Vote NO on Monday and tell the selectmen to do this the right way.
HG
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Spin, Spin, Spin
Well that didn't take long. When it doesn’t go your way... spin it!
Kenneth Michael O'Brien claims that all the yes voters were at other events last night. Hey Ken, has it occurred to you that the voting mix that wasn't there might be the same as the one that was?
In their typical style the selectmen deny that they did anything wrong. They deny that they screwed up the purchase of the land. They deny the problem of pesticide contamination is really a problem and they deny that they wasted a year of hard work by everyone involved in the project. As they say “Denial is not a river in Egypt.”
Sharon Cutler attempted to poo poo the idea that soil contamination was a problem. In another of her classic statements she claimed the whole town was contaminated. Nice work sister! Sharon said there was probably poison at her house. Yes Sharon we have known for some time that there is a poison element at your house.
The little tyrant from North Avenue claimed that the Kelly property is “loaded with pesticides”. Why then Dennis, did you approve the purchase 5 years ago? Dennis Shaheen will lie with a straight face and then scream at you if you question him. Nice guy! Hard to believe he is the lesser of two evils.
Yes the SPIN is on. It will be hot and heavy until the town votes on Monday. If they get a simple majority yes vote they will schedule another town meeting. Probably at 3:00am on a holiday and round up the usual suspects to attend.
Here is a piece of advice for the selectmen. Why don’t you find out what it will take to solve the problems and present a comprehensive plan to the voters including what will become of the existing public safety buildings? Oh and while your at it, find out why this Carrell Group building costs so much more than a much bigger building in Seekonk? .
Kenneth Michael O'Brien claims that all the yes voters were at other events last night. Hey Ken, has it occurred to you that the voting mix that wasn't there might be the same as the one that was?
In their typical style the selectmen deny that they did anything wrong. They deny that they screwed up the purchase of the land. They deny the problem of pesticide contamination is really a problem and they deny that they wasted a year of hard work by everyone involved in the project. As they say “Denial is not a river in Egypt.”
Sharon Cutler attempted to poo poo the idea that soil contamination was a problem. In another of her classic statements she claimed the whole town was contaminated. Nice work sister! Sharon said there was probably poison at her house. Yes Sharon we have known for some time that there is a poison element at your house.
The little tyrant from North Avenue claimed that the Kelly property is “loaded with pesticides”. Why then Dennis, did you approve the purchase 5 years ago? Dennis Shaheen will lie with a straight face and then scream at you if you question him. Nice guy! Hard to believe he is the lesser of two evils.
Yes the SPIN is on. It will be hot and heavy until the town votes on Monday. If they get a simple majority yes vote they will schedule another town meeting. Probably at 3:00am on a holiday and round up the usual suspects to attend.
Here is a piece of advice for the selectmen. Why don’t you find out what it will take to solve the problems and present a comprehensive plan to the voters including what will become of the existing public safety buildings? Oh and while your at it, find out why this Carrell Group building costs so much more than a much bigger building in Seekonk? .
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
New Information??
We received this email from Dale Pleau this morning. With permission we are publishing it here. You can draw your own conclusions.
From: "Dale Pleau" <d.pleau@comcast.net>
To: "Hanging Gardens" <hanginggardens@comcast.net>
Subject: New Information
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:44:52 -0400
HG,
I have been in contact with one of the cooler heads in town regarding the "New" information they are touting. Bottom line is they don't have any. The only thing they have is the final "Limited" report from Tighe & Bond dated November 2004. It says what you have heard in the past: Quote:
"These contaminants detected in the soil may present a risk to human health and the environment and therefore, a full risk assessment must be conducted...prior to development of these properties.."
Pretty clear to me that Tighe & Bond spelled it out for the selectmen prior to the purchase. They ignored it, tried to bury it and now are practicing damage control. Not a good start to a $7.5 million project.
I will forward a copy of the report to you via email soon (many pages to scan). That's the view from the trenches. Enjoy the blog, keep up the good work
Dale Pleau
Remember, 7:00 tonight Town Meeting
From: "Dale Pleau" <d.pleau@comcast.net>
To: "Hanging Gardens" <hanginggardens@comcast.net>
Subject: New Information
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:44:52 -0400
HG,
I have been in contact with one of the cooler heads in town regarding the "New" information they are touting. Bottom line is they don't have any. The only thing they have is the final "Limited" report from Tighe & Bond dated November 2004. It says what you have heard in the past: Quote:
"These contaminants detected in the soil may present a risk to human health and the environment and therefore, a full risk assessment must be conducted...prior to development of these properties.."
Pretty clear to me that Tighe & Bond spelled it out for the selectmen prior to the purchase. They ignored it, tried to bury it and now are practicing damage control. Not a good start to a $7.5 million project.
I will forward a copy of the report to you via email soon (many pages to scan). That's the view from the trenches. Enjoy the blog, keep up the good work
Dale Pleau
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Public Safety - Do the Math
The same architectural firm (The Carrell Group of Hopkinton) that designed the proposed public safety building for Mendon also designed the same type of facility for the town of Seekonk MA. The Seekonk building was occupied in the fall of last year. We feel a comparison of these two projects poses some questions for the voters of Mendon.
The numbers are interesting:
Area Square Miles - Seekonk 18.4 - Mendon 18.3 (Virtually Identical)
2004 Population (rounded) - Seekonk 14,000 - Mendon 6,000 (Mendon 43% Smaller)
Median Family Income (2000) - Seekonk $56,364 - Mendon $71,164
Cost of construction - Seekonk $6,000,000 for 24,000 Sq Ft- Mendon $7,500,000 for 18,700 Sq Ft
Cost per square foot - Seekonk $250 - Mendon $400 (Mendon 38% More)
Square Feet per Citizen - Seekonk 1.70 - Mendon 3.10 (Mendon 55% Bigger)
Ask yourself these questions:
How do you get a nearly 40% increase in the cost of Mendon's building in 2 years? Gold Toilets? Inflation, even in the building industry hasn’t put up those numbers since 2004.
Why does Mendon require 55% more space per citizen? Crime Rate... Hardly! Go to the state crime stats on the web and compare. Mendon is Camelot compared to Seekonk. Seekonk borders on East Providence RI with a major interstate highway and 2 exits inside it's borders.
Maybe it's the fire danger that requires so much more space per citizen. Guess again, Seekonk has many older wood frame multi-family housing units and large commercial buildings. Most of Mendon's housing stock has been built within the last 25 years.
It would be helpful if someone from town government would post some answers to these and all the other questions posed by us and our visitors. But then again they ignore the blogs hoping they will go away… Not a Chance.
HG
The numbers are interesting:
Area Square Miles - Seekonk 18.4 - Mendon 18.3 (Virtually Identical)
2004 Population (rounded) - Seekonk 14,000 - Mendon 6,000 (Mendon 43% Smaller)
Median Family Income (2000) - Seekonk $56,364 - Mendon $71,164
Cost of construction - Seekonk $6,000,000 for 24,000 Sq Ft- Mendon $7,500,000 for 18,700 Sq Ft
Cost per square foot - Seekonk $250 - Mendon $400 (Mendon 38% More)
Square Feet per Citizen - Seekonk 1.70 - Mendon 3.10 (Mendon 55% Bigger)
Ask yourself these questions:
How do you get a nearly 40% increase in the cost of Mendon's building in 2 years? Gold Toilets? Inflation, even in the building industry hasn’t put up those numbers since 2004.
Why does Mendon require 55% more space per citizen? Crime Rate... Hardly! Go to the state crime stats on the web and compare. Mendon is Camelot compared to Seekonk. Seekonk borders on East Providence RI with a major interstate highway and 2 exits inside it's borders.
Maybe it's the fire danger that requires so much more space per citizen. Guess again, Seekonk has many older wood frame multi-family housing units and large commercial buildings. Most of Mendon's housing stock has been built within the last 25 years.
It would be helpful if someone from town government would post some answers to these and all the other questions posed by us and our visitors. But then again they ignore the blogs hoping they will go away… Not a Chance.
HG
Friday, April 14, 2006
The Fino Land Test Results - September 2004
These are the test results for the Fino land. We recieved them from Dale Pleau as promised a few days ago. Rather than attempt to explain them ourselves we have posted the email they were attached to. By clicking on the image you will get a full sized image. They are somwhat difficult to read but it would seem that a few people have some "splanin" to do.
HG
My apologies for not getting these to you sooner. Frankly I don’t think very many people really care but I appreciate your effort in getting the word out.
Attached are the scans of the test results and the site map for the hazardous waste testing done on North Ave and Route 16 in September 2004. These were preliminary tests and the consultant; Tighe & Bond recommended to the Board of Selectmen that further testing be done based on these findings. The selectmen ignored their consultant and passed over an article on a Special Town Meeting Warrant to fund additional testing. Cutler and Shaheen were the loudest voices in support of killing the article.
Let me explain what you are looking at. Testing was only done in the 12 test holes indicated on the site locus map. Not all of these test holes were tested for every substance listed on in Table 2. The designation NA indicates that no testing was done in that hole for that substance. The original reason for the testing was to establish the level of arsenic in the soil. Arsenic is commonly found in apple orchards, the Taft Orchard was no exception.The ambient level of arsenic is fairly consistent and somewhat above the RCS-1 standard in a number of the test holes. The minimum work needed to correct the problem would require the covering of the contaminated soil with several feet of clean fill. Covering an area of 5 acres with 3 feet of fill would require 25,000 yards of fill and an additional 2500 yards of more expensive topsoil.This all has to be decided on the state level by the DEQE so the numbers and the cost could go much higher after they order the tests that should have been done before the purchase.
Now for the real problem. Yes, it gets worse. The real gorilla in the room is DDT. Only four of the test holes were tested for DDT and it’s by-products. Two of these holes, SB-01 and SB-05, have very high levels of DDT contamination. In SB-01 the level of 4,4-DDE was 1300, the standard is 2. Ditto for 4,4-DDD, the tested level was 420 the standard is 2. And again for 4,4-DDT and Dieldrin, levels of 670 and 360 respectively with a standard of 2 and 0.05. This begs the question of what will be found when full testing is done.
The problem of cleaning up DDT contamination is not just a matter of burying it. The soil must be cleaned, usually by a process using extreme heat. This specialty work is only done by a few companies and at a very high cost. I would hazard a guess that that portion of the Fino land will not be usable for at least a decade and the cost to Mendon taxpayers will be huge.
You can do a Google search of any of the terms used here for more information.
I obtained these documents during my run for selectman in April of last year. I provided copies to WMRC radio, The Milford Daily News and the Town Crier. Not one of these public outlets mentioned the issue or did any investigation. All any of them had to do was call the testing company, Tighe & Bond and ask questions. Apparently the fix was in, local media will not step on the toes of their advertisers and friends. Mendon is not the quaint little village it appears to be. Again, thanks for the blog.
Dale Pleau
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)