It’s usually hard to sum up one of these three-plus-hour Board of Finance meetings, but the exiting acting chair, Michael O. Peterson, did it for me: “At some point,” he said, “we have to bite the bullet and move on.”
One bites a bullet when one is in extreme pain. No anesthetic is available, and the job’s just gotta be done. Your life depends on it.
But you can’t move on until the operation is over.
There was a great deal of anesthetic available at last night’s Board of Finance meeting. In fact, it was the deadening of the pain that was so painful.
There were two camps on the Board of Finance with respect to further forensic examination.
1. The people who talked about a cost-benefit analysis, focusing on the recovery we might get from the insurance company (ignoring other avenues, such as restitution from a criminal court, or a civil suit). This camp consisted of the five Republicans and the leader of the forensic examination, Joseph Centofanti.
2. The people who talked about the need to regain the people’s trust and confidence, and to get to the bottom of what happened. This camp consisted of the two Democrats and most of the people who spoke during public comments.
The town is certainly in pain. But it’s not the pain of an operation. So far, all there’s been is anesthesia. The “forensic-operations audit” hasn’t even broken the skin.
The Republicans seem to want the forensic examiner to decide where to go next, and even then only after he finishes the operations audit, that is, his recommendation of new accounting procedures and controls. These are important, but many of them have already been instituted due to the scandal. And the ones that existed before the scandal were often ignored, as the new ones might be, depending on who is in charge.
Nothing was decided at the meeting. We go into the election with no new information. All we know is that if there was anything to hide, the Board of Finance Republicans have successfully allowed it to stay hidden. And hiding doesn’t do anything for public trust and confidence.
If we move on, without taking out the shrapnel, this town will never get better. Our life depends on knowing what happened and who was responsible.
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20 comments:
Yeah good luck with that,Just business as usual, Republicrooks making the calls the few taxpayers who actually care trying to get their voices heard to no avail. When will people get it, they have ultimate power and will continue to use it to promote their agenda.
I just heard that Mr. Kopetz has proclaimed that it is now OK to wear chaps and sixguns in town hall now, seeing as it's like the Wild West there anyway!! Giddyup suckers!
Webmaster, If you were sitting on the BOF, what would you do/recommend? I ask because you clearly do not trust and are 100% critical of the BOF majority and because you do not trust the forensic examiner. Is there anyone you do trust (besides the Dems) or are all the Republicans not trustworthy?
If I were on the BoF, I would have had the entire investigation taken out of town hands, because there are so many conflicts of interest involved. I would have gotten the state auditor's office or a similar state office, or an independent individual, to oversee the examination process (that is, to tell the forensic examiner where to look and who to talk with, etc.). I would have done the same with decisions regarding the Ierardis and Palmeri.
The people who run this town are far too close to these people. Some have been implicated in the alleged conspiracy (not by me, but by Joe Ierardi), and some were responsible for oversight of the arrested officials, so that any decisions they make do not seem fair, whether or not they actually are. In this sort of situation, appearance is as important as reality.
Such a solution, and the underlying conflicts of interest, were not raised either by Democrats or Republicans.
Don't assume partisan sympathies. There are some people who simply hate closed, arrogant, unethical political machines, no matter which party happens to be in power.
The last candidate I gave a contribution to was a Republican. Some of my allies here in North Haven are life-long Republicans. And in the town where I lived before moving here 15 years ago, where there was a Democratic machine, I worked to get a Republican mayor elected.
Elephant in the room...
If the head of the finance dept and head of the board of finance is knee deep in this mess, including keeping secret guns at home and in his office then WHY WHY WHY is there not an audit of the BOF? Do they all have some kind of secret immunity?
What I find remarkable is the lack of common courtesy shown to the board members by people in the audience. The laughing and yelling out from the supporters of Janet while people are asking questions is extremely disrespectful. At one point I believe Janets husband was scolded by a DEMOCRATIC member of the board for his rude outbursts. These are not the kind of people I would want to run the Town. I think the proof is clear. The highly respected members of the democratic party are no where to be seen at these meetings. Makes me wonder why they've distanced themselves
In response to the most recent Anonymous, someone made a crack about Kevin Kopetz "mumbling" (and was scolded for it), but it wasn't Janet McCarty's husband, but someone behind our row (I was at the end of his row).
Actually, the audience last night was very quiet and well-behaved, considering all the anger on both sides of the aisle, as can be seen on this blog, and how tired people were by the end of the meeting.
Your words would mean much more if you were to actually say who these "supporters of Janet" are (and who you are), and if you were to leave her out of it, because she is respectful, and what her supporters do or don't do is not within her control.
In my opinion Kevin Kopetz intentionally speaks in a very incoherent manner, he had access to a microphone but chose to speak in a way that I could understand about 10% of his words. This is not acceptable for a public meeting, it is insulting to the people trying to hear. But a mumbling comment was viewed as hostile?????
Yes, a town resident who correctly criticizes a town official is considered hostile and is scolded. But when a town official falsely criticizes a town resident, the way Michael Peterson did to me in his parting speech (at a time I couldn't respond, of course), no one scolded him. In fact, he was a hero for doing it, because he got in the last shot, just as Kevin Kopetz did at the debate.
What are town residents for but to be falsely attacked by town officials? Speak up and they bat you down. That's so that fewer people will speak up. And it works.
The Town leadership is both incompetent and rife with corruption. If they were not directly involved, they certaintly knew what was happening.
If McCarty wins and Fontana finishes second, she will have a majority on the Board of Selectman. Her first act ought to be to fire every department head except the Police & Fire chiefs.
Obviously the Republicans in this town can pitch but not catch. I have been watching these public meetings for quite some time now and apparently they don't like being treated the same way that they, on many, many occasions have treated people. They take pot shots at people then hide behind their majorities and manipulations of the rules and when someone sneeks a shot in from the other side they take offense. It's become sickening and I for one am truly tired of it! Thicken up your skin you bunch of coward babies! If you want to play the big tough guy political bully game, you should be at least able to take as good as you give. (P.S. The cowards that I am directing this at know EXACTLY who I am talking about!!!)
A small group of dedicated North Haven citizens starting exposing corruption in the Town, which has started the Republican deck of cards to fold. The previous writer is correct, Board meetings were a sham until the Board members were challenged by some very smart opponents you knew the facts.
The only way to change things in North Haven is to vote them out of office on Election Day. Encourage all of your friends and neighbors to VOTE. Don't just complain, do something about it!
I uhh, would a uhh,like to uhh, adress the comment by uhh Martin, uhh uhhh about uhh us being uuuuuhhh cowards! Could uhh maybe one of my umm, my dept. heads uuhh, help out here? Do you uhh think uve7
4b84 ffuhd848inn ivy2e(inaudible)Please uhhh maybe a uuhh, motion to take a uhh, uhh vote. Yeah uhhh let's uhh vote on it, that'll uhhh stop him from uhhh talking about us. (Almost as painful to read as it is to listen to huh?)
As poor of a candidate that Janet is, it's at least a starting point for giving this town BACK to the taxpayers.How many people signed the petition to delay the revaluation and Kopetz just said Nah too bad I'm doing it anyway. He said market wasn't done rising and this was "for the good of the town'.He was guessing and he was wrong, what made his guess any more feasible than the taxpayer's. It was simply the fact that the other party initiated it and that automatically means oppose it no matter what then use your ultimate power to defeat it. Good for the town my butt!! We need to take this town back from these wannabe political thugs and let the people not be afraid to speak their minds at a town meetings any longer. What's point of the town meeting forum anyway. if the oppositin is afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation from these deadbeat bullies. Thomas Jefferson said there shoud be a REVOLUTION every ten years and North Haven's revolution is long overdue! Get out and VOTE it's means everything!!
"THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE FOUNDATION OF ANY GOVERNMENT, AND TO PROTECT IT'S FREE EXPRESSION SHOULD BE OUR FIRST OBJECT." Thomas Jefferson
Take notice Town Hall/BOF bullies
Let's move on, Let's move on, spoken like a true criminal.
By the way, since when has the BOF meeting become a forum for SELECTIVE political policy endorsements. Oh kevin did the right thing ,Oh kevin is looking out for the best interests of the town.....so on and so on. Someone makes a rebutal, Oh sorry, this is not an issue for the board! GOOD RIDDANCE Mr. Pederson and stick your phony baloney apologies and niceties where the sun doesn't shine!! Your condescending arrogance will be sorely missed!
Will the next STOOGE please step into the chairmans seat!
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE FOUNDATION OF ANY GOVERNMENT, AND TO PROTECT IT'S FREE EXPRESSION SHOULD BE OUR FIRST OBJECT." Thomas Jefferson
Take notice Town Hall/BOF bullies
At the Board of Finance meeting, one member of the public warned us about pre-judging those indicted. He also said the Town might be subject to legal action because their civil rights were violated. In my opinion, this was yet another attempt to muzzle criticism.
Let me set the record straight. They were charged with crimes after a thorough investigation by the State. An independendent audit proved exactly what the State charged. The chances of all 3 escaping without at least a plea bargained sentence is minimal. Personally, I think at least one of them is going to jail for 2-5 years. How could they ever successful sue the Town? No judge or jury would hold the Town liable for reporting the facts.
What about the civil rights of the thousands of taxpayers in North Haven who were cheated out of our hard-earned tax dollars? How about those legitimate contractors who never got a chance to submit a bid on Town projects?
If M. Kopetz had any guts, he would ask our bombastic Town Attorney to prerpare a civil suit against those charged, to recover the money we lost. That is, if he can get his head out of the sand!
You tell'em special forces! Just don't try to get that out at a public meeting. Obviously only registered Republican stooges are allowed to speak their piece in these meetings. I don't know why the minority members on these boards even bother to show up. And where are the more prominent,forceful Democrats that can stand up to these bullies? Lke Pete Criscuolo not Janet? MIA? Why do they leave people like Mr. Weschler and Mr. Amato dangling out to dry all the time? Interesting!
Dear Nicky,
If you have a chance, please watch the BOF meeting on cable channel 20. You will see that the democratic board members did speak their mind and spent quite some time doing so.They were allowed to speak and were not interrupted despite their fillibusters.
Also,as far as audience participation went, there was qiute a bit of vocal support from the democratic point of view from Mr. Mele, Janet's husband, Mr. Leiserson, Mr. Amato and others.
Mr. Amato was cut off due to the confusing nature of his question but Mr. Mele and Mr. Leiserson were given as much time as they needed to make their respective points, and they came across very well.
In fact, when it was originally asked of the audience to ask only one question, Mr. Mele was allowed to ask several questions and was treated with the respect that he derserves.
I saw no examples of "bullying".
No examples of bullying?
Perhaps you left the meeting before beady-eyed Peterson gave his pathetic swan-song speech.
After patting himself on the back extensively, this mental midget went on to blame Mr. Weshsler for all that ails us!
Mr. Peterson's aggressive and defensive behavior presumably reflect a runt complex.
Good riddance!
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