Town Council Secrets

It is interesting that no video exists of the Town Council meeting as a committee of the whole on March 9.

The only item scheduled for public discussion on the agenda for that meeting was the goals and objectives for the Town Manager during 2016.

The agenda for the upcoming meeting on March 21^st does not contain the reading of any minutes from the March 9^th meeting. 

Pulawski Was Right About Casella Contract

Ken O’Brien

At Monday’s Town Council meeting Councilor Clemence added an item to the agenda relating to the landfill reimbursement receipt study,  the so-called MFN clause of the town’s contract with Casella. That clause calls for a review of the contract every seven years from the effective date of the contract so that Southbridge will receive the highest compensation from its arrangement with Casella.

As he had previously, citizen John Pulawski protested the action. He argued that with the closing of numerous landfills around the state in the coming year the town was acting prematurely.

He also argued that the side letter signed between former interim Town Manager John Healey and Casella had set the effective date of the contract a year later than was being assumed by the Town Council.

Review of “The Blacklist” in seven words

Hannibal Lecter is partnered

with Dana Scully.   

This would appear to be the emergence of a new template spurred by the success of Breaking Bad.
Series creator Vince Gilligan characterized it as "Mr. Chips becomes Scarface".
This leads me to wonder what the people who pitch pilots to the various networks will come up with in the season ahead.

Oversight: A Contrast Of Imbalances in Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

Two issues have come to a head in Southbridge and will result in either decisions or ongoing indecision in the near future.

The issues are the question of whether there will be one or two Principals at the new Southbridge Middle/High School and the growing disaffection between the Chief and the rank and file in the Southbridge Police Department.