This week’s Gazette offering is a review of the columns I wrote in the last year. Bumpkin’s Corner graces the Middleboro Gazette every two weeks – its mission is to alienate every resident of Middleboro and Lakeville. I’m well on track to accomplish that goal with my incite insight on town politics.

Of all the issues covered in the last year, I would like to see Middleboro take a closer look at switching town employees and retirees to GIC and investigate the efficacy of expanding the use of call firefighters. Does the Quinn Bill still make sense? Are we getting the best bang for our buck with capital spending? As the old saying goes, if you watch your pennies the dollars will take care of themselves.

The biggest controversy of last year was the Safer grant in my estimation. We all agree that Middleboro has a manpower shortage in the fire department and I think we should explore the expanded use of call firefighters. Since the SAFER grant was rejected, the prospect of adding over $1M in full time career firefighters is a non-starter. If we truly have a safety issue – the only viable alternative is expanded use of call firefighters.

I also want to see us look at adopting GIC. I’d have to see the numbers to believe that it wouldn’t be a benefit – particularly the savings that would be achieved by switching retired town employees to Medicare as required by GIC.