Archive for February, 2013
02.18.13
Posted in Weymouth at 9:45 AM by Mary A. Parsons
Mayor Kay has recently scheduled public meetings to explain her decisions concerning the former Naval Air Sation South Weymouth. Unfortunately for the Weymouth taxpayers an open microphone will not be allowed lest someone ask a question her experts are unable to answer. I have always found that true experts are capable of answering off the cuff or spontaneous questions. They know the information they are an expert on and can readily answer anyone’s questions. That is why they are claimed to be an expert on a certain subject.
Mayor Kay plans on having three nights of meetings; each night has a different subject matter. Night one explains the history of the redevelopment of NAS South Weymouth and the documents. I am an expert on this subject matter and have the documents to back up my statement.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
02.17.13
Posted in What's Up - South of Boston at 11:31 PM by Tanna K
A listing of what people are doing in the towns of Hingham, Weymouth, Hull, Scituate, and Cohasset. Read our hard copy paper on-line, just the way we publish it: http://tinytowngazette.com
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
02.15.13
Posted in Governance at 4:35 PM by Tanna K
This article was written by several local attorneys, a few Cohasset citizens, and had input from two south shore town managers. It is important that the Governance committee take a new look at its draft proposal and consider the comments here-in. This is an important document. It will govern the Town of Cohasset for who knows how many years to come. What is this document the Cohasset Governance committee has pieced together? Is it a totally new constitution or is it an amendment? Our writers say it may be a Town Administrator form of government. If so, it should go to ballot.
This past week the Cohasset Governance committee posted what it termed a “working draft” for a comprehensive overhaul of the Town Manager Act.
Because it was created following the controversy concerning appointments to the Conservation Commission in July 2011, there has been frustration that the Governance committee focused on the role of the Town Manager rather than on its initial charge that was to look into the reasons why Selectmen Paul Carlson, Lee Jenkins and Fred Koed replaced several veteran commissioners with people sympathetic to the position of the self-styled E-20 citizen’s group on Cat Dam. The posting of the working draft now makes it clear- in a sinister sense- that the future of the Conservation Commission has always been in the forefront of those on the Governance committee particularly, given the its members included Ralph Dormitzer, George Chamillard (who stepped down from the committee last summer only after a local newspaper repeatedly pointed out his conflict on serving on the Advisory committee and Governance), and Michael Milanoski who is presently the acting Town Manager, and who initially served as chairman of Governance.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
Posted in Governance at 10:51 AM by Tanna K
Cohasset Governance Committee
February 13, 2013
Dear Citizens:
In the Fall of 2011 the Board of Selectmen created the Governance Committee to review governance in the Town of Cohasset. Our charge was to “Identify any area of the Cohasset Governance Structure that may be improved to provide better governance including accountability and effective/efficient use of limited tax payer dollars”.
Since the spring of 2012 the committee has been reviewing the Town Manager Act. The Act defines the role and the powers of the Selectmen and the Town Manager in the performance of their duties. We have completed the review and have attached a draft of the Act with our proposed changes for your review. Click to Read: DraftTMAct
Current Town Manager_Act
The objectives of the review were:
- to clearly define the responsibilities of the Town Manager relative to the Board of Selectmen and the citizens of Cohasset
- to simplify and organize the Act so it is a clear and logical document
- to correct errors in content or language
- align the language of the Act with Massachusetts General Law and the town’s by-laws
The next important step in revising the Town Manager Act is to solicit feedback from the community so that your comments and suggestions can be considered in the final draft which will be presented at the Annual Town Meeting on April 22nd for a vote.
Due to the complexity of the document and the anticipated number of comments we expect to receive from the community, we are asking that all comments and suggested changes to the draft be submitted in writing to the Chairman. You may submit your written comments to governance@townofcohasset.org or to the drop box located at Town Hall (Clerk’s Office, 1st Floor). The last day for submission of comments to be considered for inclusion in the article is 5pm Monday, March 4th.
We have scheduled two public forums on February 28th and March 7th at the High School community room at 7:00pm to review the changes to the Act and to answer any questions you may have.
The draft of the Town Manager Act published here is also posted on the town website, along with the Town Manager Act of 1997 for comparison.
We welcome all comments and look forward to seeing you at the public hearings on February 28th and March 7th.
Christine Cunning
Chairman
Permalink
02.10.13
Posted in Bob Montgomery Thomas, State House News, Weymouth at 12:12 PM by Bob Monty
WHAT ALL OF WEYMOUTH AND PART OF HINGHAM ARE STUCK WITH ON BACON HILL
Bacon Hill “representatives” on roll calls from the week of Feb. 4 to 8.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
02.06.13
Posted in Weymouth News at 1:13 PM by Tanna K
by Dominic Galluzzo, Weymouth Resident
I sat at this table in September of 2012 to discuss the many burdens that are being forced on the backs of Weymouth real estate taxpayers. With no discussion allowed of those concerns I left this august body with a challenge to address the issues raised with its taxpayers. You missed the point of the request to discuss issues. However, before years end this Council gushed all over itself and accused one of its own of bullying a representative of the Southfield Residents Association who want you to solve their residential problems at Southfield despite not paying real estate taxes to Weymouth, sorta like friends with benefits!….Your actions have insulted approximately 19,000 real estate taxpayers who pay Weymouth’s bills including your stipends and benefits.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
Posted in Cohasset Selectmen, Tanna Kasperowicz at 1:02 PM by Tanna K
As Cohasset Selectmen get deeper and deeper in trouble, Town Counsel Paul DeRensis’ letters to the Attorney General and others become more tortured.
DeRensis’ response to the Attorney General was written with regard to an Open Meeting Law complaint Selectman Martha Gjesteby filed against her board.
DeRensis’ 3-page letter on behalf of Selectmen noted Gjesteby’s charges and responded that the Board of Selectmen had taken actions to address the allegations and to ensure that future meetings would be posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law. The DeRensis letter also stated that Selectmen would address other matters related to the Acting Town Manager as appropriate when those matters arise.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
Posted in Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 12:49 PM by Tanna K
Thursday morning (Feb 7) at 7:30 a.m. Cohasset Governance will discuss changes to the Town Manager Act suggested by the Town Counsel including part of the original act that allows the Town Manager complete assess to privileged documents and personal information. (See preceding blog.)
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
02.05.13
Posted in Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 8:25 PM by Tanna K
Town Counsel Paul DeRensis met with Governance chair Christine Cunning and her committee for over two and a half hours Monday night regarding the legal ramifications of their work on changes to the Town Manager Act.
A lively and interesting discussion revolved around part of the present act that states, in the original Act. Especially, because Selectman Martha Gjesteby is challenging the right of the town manager to “troll” thorough her E-mail and has filed a complaint with the Attorney General.
The town manager shall have access to all municipal books, papers and documents or information necessary for the proper performance of the duties of said town manager. Said town manager may, without notice, cause the affairs of any division or department under the manager’s supervision or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof to be examined.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink