The Restructure Question – And The Cost

Ken O’Brien

At Wednesday night’s meeting of the EHS subcommittee the vote was taken to adjourn thus recommending the budget approved at the prior meeting. The entire video of Wednesday's meeting is provided in the post below.

However, near the end of the meeting Town Manager Paicos addressed the issue of the proposed restructuring of the Middle/High School. In slightly more than two minutes he summarized the underlying logic of the proposal and the associated costs of that action.

Southbridge School Committee Meeting - April 28, 2015

Below you will find the April 29 meeting of the EHS subcommittee on the School Department Budget

Southbridge School Budget Meeting Should Be Broadcast

Ken O'Brien

Southbridge's Town Councilors are constantly telling us that the real work on the budget is done in subcommittee. After The O'Zone's review of how the General Government subcommittee zipped through its budget responsibility that appears a disingenuous claim at best. 

Only in my wildest dreams would anyone who watched that subcommittee report and felt that “real work was done” offer me or anyone else a job. That would be the ultimate definition of a sinecure.

There can be little doubt that the school budget proposed by the Superintendent is controversial. It is substantially more than the acting Town Manager has proposed. In addition, Mr. Reed has expressed something verging on outrage regarding expected unemployment insurance costs.

Southbridge School Committee Vacancy: Submit Application To Your Future Subordinate

Ken O’Brien

On Tuesday October 29, there was a joint meeting of the Southbridge School Committee and the Town Council’s subcommittee on Education and Human Services.

Item number two on the agenda for that meeting was, “Discuss the process to ‘temporarily’ fill vacancy on the School Committee until the 2014 election.”

On October 30 a memorandum was released to the media that outlined the “process” that was adopted by this joint session. It reads as follows: 

Breaking News: EHS Subcommittee To Consider Changing Trash Fine

Ken O’Brien

The Southbridge town council’s Subcommittee on Education and Human Services will meet Wednesday June 13 at 7 pm in the Rice Conference Room. On the agenda is consideration of a motion to amend the town’s fine for infraction of the trash bylaw.

The subcommittee is chaired by Councilor Denise Clemence who is running for reelection in the June 26 town election.


It is worth noting that any bylaw change requires approval at three successive town council meetings.

Execrable Clemencey

Kenneth M. O’Brien

Last night’s (August 2) meeting of the subcommittee on Education and Human Services began on an interesting (some would say, intimidating) note.

A member of the Southbridge Police Department was present in plain clothes but prominently displaying his badge. When a question was raised as to who had requested such a presence, Chairman Denise Clemence proclaimed ignorance. The officer volunteered that he was there at the behest of his boss to preserve order.

Another Kick In The Charter

Kenneth M. O’Brien

In their ongoing rush to re-establish the controlling interests of our corporate overlords, the Clickolla led town council of Casellaburg has scheduled another palace coup.

As you are most likely aware, the town mangler has been seeking a doctor to replace the resigned member of the Board Of Health, Dr. O’Leary.

In the meantime, however, the new ruling majority has begun preparing for the reestablishment of a five member BOH without waiting to amend the charter.