The Tip Of An Iceberg?

The Worcester Telegram Editorial about the state takeover of Southbridge schools ended by noting, “While the state now has the power to do what’s necessary in running the schools, it can’t do this alone. Just as Southbridge’s problems didn’t occur in isolation, neither will its solutions. It’s up to the entire community, both in the schools and outside the schools, to collaborate in making this work.”

In thinking about this, I can’t help but recall the words of Lisa Rousseau, a Southbridge central office worker at the public hearing on making Southbridge a level 5 district. "We need a huge, huge change in the business office…a lot of our staff have been hired because of WHO THEY KNOW and not because they're qualified." 

Southbridge Unemployment Rate Ranks 15th Out Of 351

Ken O’Brien

Of the 351 cities and towns reporting, Southbridge, with an unemployment rate of 6.5%, was tied with Hinsdale for the 15^th highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts for the month of April. Of course Southbridge has a labor force almost eight times the size of Hinsdale's.

Eight other communities with higher rates were either resort communities on Cape Cod or of inconsequential size. Five are dramatically larger than Southbridge. Only North Adams, with a rate of  6.6%, is comparable to our town.

If there was any good news to be found in this fact it was that from March of 2015 the rate of unemployment in Southbridge declined by 1.3 percentage points. However, this was accompained by a 1.4% decline in the available labor force. On balance, Southbridge remained firmly ensconced in the top 5 percent of pockets of unemployment in the state.

The Southbridge Community Supports Our Students

The Local Impact Of Long-Term Unemployment Insurance Cuts

Ken O’Brien

On December 28, 1.3 million Americans were immediately cut off of their unemployment insurance coverage. New data from states across the country highlights the harm local communities will face due to the Republican failure to extend unemployment insurance before leaving for the winter holiday break.

When Congress failed to extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program more than 58,700 people in Massachusetts lost their insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28, according to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. An additional 54,800 people in Massachusetts will lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if Republicans continue to block an extension of the program, according to Department of Labor estimates. 

Failure Rates Double for Southbridge Grade 10 Math and ELA MCAS results

Link To State Website

Link To State Website

Update: Southbridge Town Manager Wants a New Employee

Ken O’Brien

On January 25^th I posted an article titled “Breaking News: Southbridge Town Manager Wants a New Employee”.

In that piece I wrote, “I now have it confirmed by reliable sources within town hall that the town manager has come up with plans for a new position (paid for, presumably, with your tax dollars) that will also reward someone who (in my opinion) showed substantial kindness to the administration in the past.
“The proposal will be to create a part-time director (or whatever title) for the town recreation committee….
“Finally, the same sources confirm that the candidate that the town manager has in mind to recommend is Walter Bird, former Editor of the Southbridge Evening News.”

Two Strikes for Southbridge Police Candidates

Ken O’Brien

On December 19, 2011, the Southbridge Town Council voted to approve the appointment of three full-time police officers recommended by Police Chief Daniel Charette and the subcommittee on the Protection of Persons and Property.

The three candidates approved were Daniel P. Rogers of Southbridge, Miosotis Diaz-Ortiz of Southbridge and Brian A Ruggieri of Brookfield.

Rogers was subsequently compelled to withdraw his candidacy when it was found that he had made videos posted on you-tube that were described in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette of January 7, 2012. “During a scene in one video, a man wearing women’s clothing rings the doorbell to a home, and after an exchange, the respondent points a gun at the cross-dresser’s head, threatening to shoot him.
The sketch appears to make fun of both people in same-sex relationships and, because of the manner in which one character spoke, people who are developmentally challenged.”

Let’s Waste More Time and Money

Ken O’Brien

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” ― John Lennon

In January 19^th’s Southbridge Evening News the headline read, “Seeking vision, town needs people for master plan process”.

The article went on to say, “To Economic Development Director Sandy Acly, ‘The master plan is definitely a visionary process.’ As such, it will need as many people to be involved as possible.”

Dennis Departs

Ken O’Brien

After almost five years as the leading blogger in Southbridge, Dennis Martinek has decided to retire from the arena.

His site, Speak Out Southbridge, became a mainstay of local life in the virtual world.

Often controversial, frequently vilified, it was nevertheless always entertaining.

Thank Goodness for Southbridge Planning and Development Team

Breaking News: Supreme Court Withdraws Decision in Southbridge Landfill Case

Ken O'Brien

I have just received the following email from Kirstie Pecci:

"I found out after the court was closed for the day that on 1/12/12 the SJC withdrew the decision they issued on 1/10/12.  I assume that this was to correct an administrative error -- remember these are the same folks who lost half of the volumes we submitted -- but I don't know why they withdrew it.  I will let you know as soon as I do."

The official notice of the withdrawal can be found at:
http://www.ma-appellatecourts.org/search_number.php?dno=sjc-10852&get=Search

At this time no further information is available.

UPDATE: (9:10 pm, 1/13/2012) Knowledgeable sources, whose names I am not at liberty to disclose, have speculated that another reason that the SJC may have withdrawn the decision is because the court may have erred in dismissing the merits of the case. The dismissal would still stand on the other grounds cited, but the court may conceivably reverse itself as regards the merits of the case.

Bane Capital and Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

I have watched with dark amusement as the debate has evolved over Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital.

In the midst of this, the residents of Southbridge should take into account their own history. It illuminates quite clearly how this issue is being clouded by those who want you to believe that they are merely defending the free market system.

Well, That Didn't Work!

Ken O'Brien

About a week ago the signs disappeared.

The "Make Southbridge Home" campaign skulked quietly into oblivion like so many other schemes of the current town administration.

Announced with all the fanfare of a new street sweeper on the front page of the Southbridge Evening News of  March 15, 2011, this was the bone thrown to Southbridge homeowners who wanted to follow the advice of our current council chair. You remember that immortal dictum where she told us that if we didn't like the way things were being done we could sell our homes and move.

Unfortunately, residents found that homes in Southbridge were selling as quickly as loofahs in a leper colony.

Like Mighty Mouse our Economic Development and Planning Office stepped in to save the day.

Local Groups Prepare for Town Elections

Ken O'Brien

Well, the New Year has come and gone, and in Southbridge that can mean only one thing - the start of election season.

While town elections don't happen until June, various local groups are already preparing for the event.

There is of course the town council as a whole (or at least seven of nine) who are hoping to place their planned charter distortions on the ballot. Their nefarious ambitions were bolstered today by an email from state representative Peter Durant (R - Spencer).

Our "Chief" Celebrity

Ken O’Brien

Andy Warhol observed, “In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.”

With relentless inevitability this prediction has now come true for our top civil servant.

Southbridge Chief of Police Daniel Charette is now starring in a series of public service announcements on behalf of the Central Mass Chiefs of Police Association. The spots have been produced and aired by Charter Cable TV, Channel 3.

Among the topics addressed by the Chief are the dangers of texting while driving and the risks posed by driving in snow.

Can't Sell Your Property In Southbridge?

Neither Can the Town, But Either Way

It's Your Problem!

Ken O'Brien

Tomorrow will mark two years since our town manager announced his plan to sell surplus town buildings to infuse cash into the town coffers.

I want to thank Jim Sottile for reminding me of this fact.

With all the fanfare that can be afforded by the front page of the Southbridge Evening News it was announced on January 6, 2010, "Appraising properties: Subcommittee OKs Estimates Ahead of Town Buildings' Sale".

According to the article, "At issue are properties the manager hopes to sell to raise money for the new school project — Wells Junior High School, 70 Foster St., 115 Marcy St., and 114 and 62 Pleasant St. Except for Wells, they have assessed values between $318,000 and $971,000, but such values are not generally seen as useful on the commercial market because they don’t actually pay any taxes now. That also applies to Wells,which is assessed at about $6.3 million."

Oh Paul, We Miss You!

Ken O'Brien

As we all know the town manager has forced through his "reorganization" of the public access channels.

At the core of this was the dismissal of Paul Zotos as the Director of that operation and the decision to hire three part-timers to replace him. Never mind the fact that, after years of service, and numerous awards, Paul was dismissed months before he would have been eligible for retirement and a pension.

One of the primary reasons cited in Paul's dismissal was a video that he recorded following the June tornado. In it, then town council chairman Steve Lazo was shown helping clear trees that had been devastated in the event.

Through The Looking Glass

Ken O'Brien

With all that is going on in Anne Beinema's situation, I had to ask myself several questions.

First and foremost is, "Why is this case being carried by our local attorney Rob Caprera?"

Don't get me wrong. I know Rob, I like him, and I respect him.

But, with all legitimately due respect, he is not a specialist in municipal law.

Up until a couple of years ago Southbridge was represented by Kopelmann & Paige.

The council subsequently decided to drop that firm (except regarding a few ongoing matters) and hire two attorneys. One would be local and, as a backup when needed, a law firm specializing in municipal law in Massachusetts.

As the local attorney, intended to handle matters of a more everyday and non-specialized nature, Mr. Caprera was chosen.

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.