The Politics Of Expediency In Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “If you sit by the river long enough you will see the body of your opponent floating by.”

The pollution swollen river that is Southbridge politics has flowed on for many months since The O’Zone first began. Over that time this forum has documented the many distortions of process, reason and intellect that have dominated the decision-making process that has governed this community. 

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.10

Ken O’Brien

UPDATE: June 25, 10:30 am - A late addition by contributor I.M.Townie.

Well, for the residents of Southbridge, it’s all over except for the yawning and recriminations.

On balance the campaign for the key elective offices has been not inspirational, but rather (if I might coin a word) dispirational.

There are enough candidates about who I am enthusiastic enough to have recommended to the voters.

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. 

Southbridge Tax Rate will go up 4.2%, Water Rate Up 2% Under New Budget

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge Town Manager Chris Clark

Last night the Southbridge town council, by a six to two vote (councilors McDonald and Vandal against, councilor Livengood excused) approved a fiscal year 2013 budget just shy of $45 million.

The key revelation came in response to a question posed by councilor Laurent McDonald. He asked what the impact of the proposed budget would be on the town’s property tax rate. Town manager Clark referred the question to chief assessor Wilfred Cournouyer. After hemming and hawing, his response is quoted in an article by Brian Lee in today’s Worcester Telegram and Gazette. 

Bravo Butch!

Ken O'Brien

Monday's Southbridge Town Council meeting was a combination of laughable incompetence, amusing non-sequiturs and sinister despotism.

The incompetence was the repeated emergence of failures to proof read official town documents rife with typographical errors.

The agenda contained at least three. 

Southbridge’s Rogue Regime

Ken O’Brien

John Adams famously observed that a republic is “a government of laws, and not of men.”

This view was subsequently enshrined in the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780. Article XXX of the Bill of Rights states:

“Art. XXX. In the government of this commonwealth, the legislative department shall never exercise the executive and judicial powers, or either of them; the executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them; the judicial shall never exercise the legislative and executive powers, or either of them; to the end it may be a government of laws, and not of men. “

At January 23^rd’s meeting of the Southbridge Town Council, the ruling majority threw this concept out the window

Southbridge Town Council Rescinds Board Of Health Ruling

Kenneth M. O'Brien

At it's meeting tonight (August 8) the town council voted 7 2 to adopt the following motion:

"Vote to rescind the precedent created as a result of the ruling of Ex-chairman Lazo on a Point of Order at the Town Council Meeting of Monday, July 19, 2010 whereby Ex-chairman Lazo ruled that “the 2004 by-law creating a five-member Board of Health was null and void”. (Roberts Rules, p.294, line 28) “

Voting no were councilors McDonald and Vandal.

This sets the stage for the town manager and the council majority to attempt to appoint a fourth and fifth member to the Board of Health thus restoring a pro-Casella majority.

Out-Of-Town Council Meeting Erupts

Kenneth M. O’Brien

The Southbridge town council met starting at 9:00 this morning at the Southbridge Savings Bank location on Route 20 in Sturbridge.

The meeting rapidly ran into another controversy, not unlike the numerous others that have developed in the short tenure of the current leadership.

A press release from Councilor Laurent McDonald summarizes the events as they unfolded.

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.