Override meeting report
I attended the first 30 minutes of the override meeting. IMO, the people running the override need to work on the reasons the override is needed. It is going to take a very compelling argument to get this bird to fly. Since I only attended about 1/3 of the meeting, it’s very likely I missed a lot of important stuff. The override is being headed by Paul McManus who did a decent job translating the proposed cuts with the actual effect on the classrooms.
There were about 2 dozen people including Dr. Sullivan. Selectman Al Rullo showed up as well. It’s easy to forget how much effort these people put in when you get mad about an issue – such as the dumb casino or the insane raises that have been handed out in the past that led us to needing an override.
I recorded the meeting – at least the 30 minutes I attended. Quality is poor – it was recorded with my laptop microphone and I was several rows back, and typing. On a side note, it’s cool that the library has wireless Internet – it was very convenient. Speaking of cool, I’m writing this post in the waiting area of a Rhode Island hospital. For some reason I wasn’t able to hook up to my company VPN, but I did a number on my email inbox working in offline mode. Ain’t technology grand?
Themocracy
FYI (Not a huge deal) but it’s Paul McManus. : )
If the argument was that Middleboro residents couldn’t afford a nominal amount that is less than they spend for 1 coffee each week (or even the millions of dollars spent on lottery tickets) to accumulate a piggy bank for CPA, why would they vote to support a permanent override?
If the override were to pass, which is doubtful in the best of times, the following year, it goes into the “General Fund” and would be needed again.
Residents overwhelming supported a debt exclusion override for a new school building, but have defeated other efforts because of the failure to witness efforts to economize elsewhere.
Middleboro has been blessed with many fiscal advantages that have been ignored and misused.
The G&E allows the Town to avoid borrowing – even when tax bills are sent out months late, as they have been.
The Peirce Trustees, Friends of the Library have generously supported the Town, as have others.
When residents see “Good Fiscal Management,” I believe they might support an override.
I’m not seeing that and would love to hear the arguments.