A Quick Recap Of Last Night's Southbridge Town Council's Action On Bylaws

Councilor Peloquin Makes By-Law Revisions Available To Public

Ken O’Brien

A shout out to Town Councilor Amelia Peloquin.

Those who watched last night’s Town Council Meeting will remember that the Council voted to postpone the second reading of the proposed changes to the Town By-Laws that were recommended by the By-Law Review Committee.

During the discussion on this subject it was pointed out that a December 2^nd memo from the Town Attorney had recommended that the marked up version of the old By-Laws with proposed revisions be made widely available as a means of avoiding the Charter-mandated requirement to read the entirety of such changes at each meeting. 

Taxpayers Aren’t Santa

Ken O'Brien

Note: At last week’s town council meeting the town manager noted that the tax rate was determined by the town budget which had already been settled upon last May. In what is becoming an annual ritual I thought it appropriate to reprint a post that The O’Zone first published on December 6^th of 2011. If so inclined, you may wish to examine the comments that were made by certain readers at the time this article was first published or last year when it was repeated. 

Bylaw Brigandry?

Ken O’Brien

Councilor Nikolla

Apparently there are some things that former Town Council Chairman Nikolla has learned.

One is clearly how to undertake a major project and keep the product out of public view until it is a fait accompli.

Such is the case with the work of the Bylaw Review Committee.

The lesson learned came from the experience of the Charter Review Committee (CRC).

Taxpayers Aren’t Santa

Ken O'Brien

Note: At last week’s town council meeting the town manager noted that December 3rd’s meeting would address the annual setting of the tax rate. He reminded us that the rate was determined by the town budget which had already been settled upon last spring. In light of this I thought it appropriate to reprint a post that The O’Zone first published on December 6^th of last year. If so inclined, you may wish to examine the comments that were made by certain readers at the time.

Southbridge: Last Democratic Bastion In Southern Worcester County

Ken O’Brien

From President to State Representative, Southbridge stood virtually alone in its support of Democratic candidates in election 2012 in southern Worcester County.

While President Obama did carry a few towns within this geographic Gulag, Southbridge stood alone, a blue oasis in a desert of red, in its support for Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren and Democratic candidate for State Representative Kathleen Walker. 

The Burning Bird Blister

Ken O’Brien

One possible side effect of the addition of chloramines to the Southbridge water supply warrants investigating. While I know of no research supporting the conclusion, casual observation of events in town inclines me to believe that they may lead to the long term loss of short term memory.

Case in point; it’s my understanding that when someone is given an interim appointment, it is pending the hiring of a permanent employee for the position in question. 

The Upcoming By-law Fiasco In Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

At the Town Council meeting of December 19, 2011, Council Chair Nikolla announced the membership  of the town’s By-law Review Committee.

This Committee is appointed in accordance with Section 12-5-3 of the Town Home Rule Charter which reads as follows:

In every year following the issuance of a report by a charter review committee, the chairperson of the town council shall appoint a by-law review committee.  The committee shall consist of five members, and shall report its recommendations to the town council within one year from the date of its appointment. 

We Don’t Need No Stinking Rules

Ken O’Brien

As we are all well aware, the town manager has appointed former Southbridge Evening News Editor Walter Bird as Director of the town’s Recreation Committee.

It was formally announced in the Southbridge Evening News of February 16, 2012.

The O’Zone had reported that this appointment was in the offing on two occasions prior to the official announcement.

In both of those articles I raised the question why this appointment could be made when the current town bylaws read as follows: 

Bylaw Returns Without Industrial Development Financing Authority

Ken O’Brien

The Agenda for February 6^th’s Town Council Meeting is now available on the town website.

In keeping with a recent pattern, there is very little real business. In fact, there is only one item that constitutes town business.

“9. Vote to amend the By-law to adopt an Economic Development Commission under Chapter 3, Appointed Officers, Section 3.223 deleting the previously proposed Section 3.224, Industrial Development Finance Authority.”

Breaking News: Southbridge Town Manager Wants a New Employee

Ken O’Brien

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.

Now, in the first place, the town recreation committee is in somewhat of a legal limbo. The current town bylaws, last revised on October 3^rd, 2011 says about this committee:

“Section 3-215 Recreation Committee
                         Reserved”

What does that mean?

So Why Was I Trashed Over Trash?

  Ken O’Brien                                                                 



Well finally.

It's about damned time.

On October 3, 2011 I appeared before the Southbridge town council and made a statement that began:

“It is my opinion that virtually all penalties and fees assessed against Southbridge residents and/or property owners regarding garbage and trash collection or recycling have been done so unlawfully since at least 2007.

As a result, such penalties and fees should be refunded to Southbridge residents and property owners along with appropriate interest from when the charges were paid.”

The full text of the presentation is available on the web-site of United Southbridge.

Taxpayers Aren't Santa

Ken O'Brien

December 5th's Southbridge town council meeting illustrated the upside down nature of town government.

Councilors and citizens were informed that they had no choice regarding the property tax rate. Their only choice was whether there would be a single rate for all property owners or different rates for industrial, commercial and residential properties.

Now, whether you're a household or a business, the first thing you do when you prepare a budget is determine your income. Then you formulate a budget that fits within that income.

Not so for town government. First you establish your budget and later you set the income you will extort from the taxpayers.

I believe that it is time to institute a change that will correct this topsy-turvy situation.