Southbridge Town Council Education and Human Services Subcommittee Meeting - May 20, 2015

Breaking News: EHS Subcommittee Votes In Favor of Reducing Trash Fines

Ken O’Brien

At it’s meeting of Wednesday, June 13, the Education and Human Services Subcommittee voted to request the town council to discuss at its next meeting a reduction of the current trash fines to $25, $50 and $100 for the first, second, third and subsequent offenses. This would be a dramatic reduction from the current level of $250 for a first ticketed offense.

The vote was three to one with the only dissenting vote coming from citizen subcommittee member Holly Christo.

However, there is no guarantee that the item will appear on the Monday agenda. The town charter provides that the agenda is made up by the council chair. 

Breaking News - Southbridge Council Chair’s Trash Ticket “Fixing” Being Investigated

Ken O’Brien

Multiple sources have now confirmed that the statements made by town council Chairman Catherine Nickolla at Tuesday, May 15^th’s meeting of the subcommittee on Education and Human  Services are being investigated.

The matter at issue is her intervention in the disposition of a ticket issued for violation of the town’s trash collection bylaw (page 104). At that meeting she stated (substantiated by this video of the meeting) that she made a call and had it taken care of.

According to these sources, local police are looking into the matter and have been offered a copy of the video of the meeting.

In addition, at least one private citizen has raised the matter with the State Ethics Commission.

The particular matter of state law that such an action may have violated is Chapter 40, Section 21D of Massachusetts General Law.

It is also reasonable to ask whether the Massachusetts “no fix” law should have broader application to non-traffic related matters.

EHS Subcommittee Violated Open Meeting Law – Council Chair “Fixed” Trash Ticket

Ken O’Brien

UPDATE: The video of Tuesday, May 15^th’s, EHS subcommittee meeting is available in three parts HERE.

Last night’s meeting of the Education and Human Services subcommittee lived up to expectations.

Among the revelations was the fact that the Attorney General’s office found the subcommittee to be in violation of the Open Meeting Law. The finding related to the meeting of August 2, 2011. In its report the Attorney General’s office determined that the subcommittee had failed to state there would be a discussion about Ann Beinema, even though the Chair reasonably anticipated one would occur.

The AG’s office did not find that the second complaint, that the subcommittee did not give Mrs. Beinema notice that her "reputation, conduct and character" would be discussed during an open session meeting on August 2, 2011, constituted a violation of the OML.

Tuesday’s Southbridge EHS Subcommittee Agenda – It’s a Doozy

Ken O’Brien

Rarely does the general public get a preview of what goes on in town council subcommittees.

While those in power complain that nobody shows up at these meetings, one has to ask “Why”.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that, unless you are among the privileged few that are advised in advance to be there, you don’t know when they are happening or what will be discussed.