Middletown's Little Secret
I was ill last night & so rec'd blow-by-blow descriptions from several readers. I believe that I've kept the basic flavor, so here goes...
What a fiasco at the Middletown Town Council Meeting last night!
Of course everyone’s tired of the Gerry Kempen mess, but the prez shut down the conversation once and for all with his out-of-control rant as if losing one’s temper could deflect what even he clearly knows is the "flying fickle finger of fate" (e.g., "the digit") pointing at him.
Mrs. Mello said that Gerry “threatened to sue?” Although Gerry denied this in Projo, it certainly makes one wonder why he might have grounds to sue??? Or did someone just tell you that he was threatening to sue? What else did “someone say” to get the separation agreement approved?
also seems to have had some fun with this.
"Newport Daily News" reporter Matt SheleyWhat makes Mr. Rodrigues think that Gerry’s comments about interference were aimed at him? Is it because there is truth in Gerry’s claim interference and you know that it was you?
I have to ask, who else would it be? Santos, Barrow, and Mello do not seem to be the bullying types. Sylvia, DiPalma, and Silveira have been trying to get at the truth for months. But anyone who would lose his self-control like you did at the council meeting is surely a bully defending what he knows to be a lie- the best defense is a good offense.
As for your motion to trade Gerry’s right to speak the truth for the return of his severance package, your strategy is to be commended. His silence was bought when he left by just giving him what he deserved. Now his silence is bought by suggesting that, if the truth is so important, he should give up what he had a right to have in the first place.
Anyone with a brain knows that Gerry agreed to go quietly so that he would receive the full benefits of his contract. The town owed him that. The mess that you were sure would come out if you didn’t honor his contract, was simply avoided (at least for awhile).
Everyone in town knows that this was and continues to be a major cover-up. It may be time to move on, but many of you will always be dragging this behind you. As Councilor Sylvia has stated by calling it to "hush money," thy name is "secret agreement."
The "Newport Daily News" reporter Matt Sheley, also seems to have had some fun with this meeting while referring to a rather "raucous" audience. LOL! He brings up the point that the town solicitor was not familiar with Councilor Sylvia's motion to "rescind." Hmm, someone buy that group a copy of 'Robert's Rules of Order." If you're going to play, you need to know the rules. What Sylvia could NOT do was make make a motion to "reconsider"- too late for that. What he was trying to do was motion to "rescind"- a horse of a different color. And I'm betting that he'll do it again, and again, and .... But you don't have to take my word for it.
What a fiasco at the Middletown Town Council Meeting last night!
Of course everyone’s tired of the Gerry Kempen mess, but the prez shut down the conversation once and for all with his out-of-control rant as if losing one’s temper could deflect what even he clearly knows is the "flying fickle finger of fate" (e.g., "the digit") pointing at him.
Mrs. Mello said that Gerry “threatened to sue?” Although Gerry denied this in Projo, it certainly makes one wonder why he might have grounds to sue??? Or did someone just tell you that he was threatening to sue? What else did “someone say” to get the separation agreement approved?
also seems to have had some fun with this.
"Newport Daily News" reporter Matt SheleyWhat makes Mr. Rodrigues think that Gerry’s comments about interference were aimed at him? Is it because there is truth in Gerry’s claim interference and you know that it was you?
I have to ask, who else would it be? Santos, Barrow, and Mello do not seem to be the bullying types. Sylvia, DiPalma, and Silveira have been trying to get at the truth for months. But anyone who would lose his self-control like you did at the council meeting is surely a bully defending what he knows to be a lie- the best defense is a good offense.
As for your motion to trade Gerry’s right to speak the truth for the return of his severance package, your strategy is to be commended. His silence was bought when he left by just giving him what he deserved. Now his silence is bought by suggesting that, if the truth is so important, he should give up what he had a right to have in the first place.
Anyone with a brain knows that Gerry agreed to go quietly so that he would receive the full benefits of his contract. The town owed him that. The mess that you were sure would come out if you didn’t honor his contract, was simply avoided (at least for awhile).
Everyone in town knows that this was and continues to be a major cover-up. It may be time to move on, but many of you will always be dragging this behind you. As Councilor Sylvia has stated by calling it to "hush money," thy name is "secret agreement."
The "Newport Daily News" reporter Matt Sheley, also seems to have had some fun with this meeting while referring to a rather "raucous" audience. LOL! He brings up the point that the town solicitor was not familiar with Councilor Sylvia's motion to "rescind." Hmm, someone buy that group a copy of 'Robert's Rules of Order." If you're going to play, you need to know the rules. What Sylvia could NOT do was make make a motion to "reconsider"- too late for that. What he was trying to do was motion to "rescind"- a horse of a different color. And I'm betting that he'll do it again, and again, and .... But you don't have to take my word for it.
6 comments:
After viewing the latest council meeting regarding Mr. Kempen's unfortunate departure. I must say I am tied of the Council President Rodrigues ongoing attempt to hold himself out as a victim, calling this latest abusive behavior a silly political football!
That game is the oldest trick in the book. Lets ask the following questions. Was it silly or political when he was charged with assault in Portsmouth several years ago? Was it silly or political when he pushed his wife to the ground in Newport and narrowly escaped being arrested? Was it silly or political when he was caught lying about campaigning with his sister?
The list goes on but ultimately the residents of Middletown are the victims not Paul Rodrigues! Please don't insult our intelligence.
Has anyone ever thought that maybe Mr. Rodrigues acted the way he did because he truly does know the truth and is not hiding anything? This is all a political game and Mr. Silveira is the one behind it all...he wants Paul's position and will do anything to get it! Remember, he was stopped and questioned by police when nasty flyers were placed on vehicles during the last election! Mr. Silveira knows the true side of Mr. Kempen but as 2 peas in a pod...they both work well in their corrupt world!
I must agree anonymous, Mr. Rodrigues was probably protecting his own cousin, Mr. Silveira as Mr. Silveira was well aware of all the wrongdoing Mr. Kempen engaged in, but instead of resolving the issues, Mr. Silveira's comments were...let's move on! How funny when he just won't let go of his buddy Kempen. Wake up taxpayers!
So what is the truth? What did the "nasty" fliers say? As I recall it a copy of the Newport police report on a verbal coflict between Rodrigues and his former wife (public records). BTW, current pending lege would no longer make it illegal to anonymously do this- has to do with free speech rights. We are also the only state to have a law like this.
What wrong doing did Kempen engage in? What corruption? Wake up to what? As I've said before, the best antiseptic is sunshine. Let's get it all in the open. It should have been done a long time ago.
Thanks for all the commets.
You have said it best: "What is the truth?" Best to withhold judgment until all the facts are known. I can certainly understand that where the are allegations of wrongdoing, the people justifiably want to know the details. But until then, trying to fill in the blanks by ourselves accomplishes nothing.
This topic does provoke much ire, to say the least.
The central problem is that there is only tantalizing "truth" out there- threats of lawsuits, "embarassment," & interference by "town officials." It invites speculation & brings out past ill-feelings.
As I've said many times, I don't really care about the latter. I have a great deal of respect for all the Council members. They step up to the plate while most of us complain with shoulda, coulda, woulda. Do I think that they're perfect? No, but who is?
Keeping this festering works in no-one's best interests, despite what some may think. This whole episode should have been put to bed a long time ago. Bite the bullet & air everything. Does it take courage? Yeah, at this point in time it does. So bloody what? People will forgive mistakes, but they won't if you do't ask. I think it's called humility, even honesty. We expect it of elected officials. We expect it of ourselves. In this case it might also be termed "leadership." And ostrich-like behavior just doesn't cut it, no matter how you try to dress it up.
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