Middletown Council Meets

It was a long one, preceeded by a workshop on the new assessment, & followed by a closed session meeting on Union negotiations. How do they stand it?

One reason making this meeting so long is loose control. This results in endless yak-yak and confusion. Sometimes, it's difficult to know who is in charge. At one point Councilor Silveira referred to the Town Admin. (Sean Brown) as "Mr. Chairman." Too often everyone's gaze is directed at the Town Solicitor (Mike Miller), "The Great Arbiter", or "The Quiet Man" Brown.

This has to do with an inexperienced chair, & a table shape that denies members from actually seeing/hearing each other, and members not speaking directly into their mic's (or lousy mic's). All easy fixes, but...

I'll cover major points & post video up ?Wed.

To receive the same income from last year, your tax rates would need to increase 1.54%. That's NOT good news. Commercial is 2.39%. Detailed assessment info by name/location will soon be posted on the town website.

When Councilor VonVillas asked Tax Assessor for a really simple answer as to why your home value will decrease but not your taxes, she didn't get it. Oh, you silly girl. She is concerned that it may well be a "big surprise" when locals receive their tax bill in August. Yup.

Three memorandums from the Planning Board rec'd too much conversation. You vote to receive these or not. Not this time. Two members recused themselves accidentally (Bozyan & Prez Semonelli). I think. They did, then they didn't, but who knows. Even the Prez, supposedly running the meeting, was confused. They really wanted to recuse themselves later in the agenda.

Recusals. I am assured by Councilor Bozyan that he did confer with the Ethic Board and was told that it was a necessary action on his part. I believe him. I don't know when the line is drawn that you should go before the Ethics Commission for a decision; e.g., Councilor Santos as Treasurer for the local historical group. So I asked. If you have nothing in writing from them, it counts for butkus. It's your opinion based on how you interpreted what you were told & the facts that you revealed privately. You may well not want your business laid out for the public to read, but that's how it goes. It takes nothing but filing a form & an appearance to receive a written opinion.

Sen. DiPalma gave a lege update. Sorry, I found it long & confusing. The bad news is- the State is in an ever-deepening hole- almost $600 mil. And "the worst is yet to come" when Stimulus funds end in 2011. Good news- sorry, little. The lege will likely approve recent Charter changes. Prostitution, school funding formulas, holding harmless, tax structure, library funding- it all blurred by iffiness & a confusing ramble. KISS Forget the details, stick with the bullets. Nice try, though & your effort is appreciated.

Much discussion ensued with a request from the Substance & Abuse Task Force to impose training sessions on liquor store employees. The concern was that this is an "unfunded mandate" (VonVillas) with the Prez also expressing concern. Right now, it's covered through fed grants, but that could always end. This was the first hearing & it will be on the agenda again before it's voted on. Councilman Silveira wanted more into from police (stats) that this ordinance would actually address and solve a problem- underage drinking.

The wind turbine ordinance is still being worked on and Solicitor "The Great Arbiter" Miller is instructed to draw up a moratorium ordinance until one is actually in effect.

There was some lively discussion once again on the School Committee's request for $30,000 to move the Kennedy School playground equipment to the Gaudet School field area. Councilor Santos voted against it just when the topic was brought up & Councilor VonVillas wanted to know what the vote was on. Again, confusion.

Upshot, Councilor Santos is NOT fond of the school committee, thought that they should fund this, & wanted these monies from somewhere besides Parks & Rec. Something to do with the "kids"? having to replace railings & a "band-aid" approach to Second Beach. You've got me.

Councilor VonVillas tried to keep the discussion on track with the playground being a "community resource .... We're not doing this for the school."

Mr. Hawes ("Open Space" chair) spoke that he supported having a "really good site at Gaudet [to include playground equipment]" and "Get it done! I don't care where the money comes from." The discussion continued with Mr. Viveiros from the audience speaking to the need for proper budgets to be prepared, eliminating requests like these- especially from the School Dept. School Dept. -65% of the town's budget. That's where this pointed anger is coming from. Thank you, State of Rhode Island & fed'l gov't from so little $ and so many mandates.

Councilor Silveira again tried to draw the discussion down to the topic at hand with, "It's all ours. We're all in this together. I take offense at "us" against "them." "Them" being the school department and "us" being the town. One more audience speaker- Manny Mello, "Let them move it themselves." You get the drift.

Bottom line- playground goes to Gaudet. Councilor Mello is "for" playgrounds but voted against because of the funding source. "Them" should fund it, I guess.

And totally off topic, I asked the school facilities director if a backboard was ever returning to the Gaudet tennis courts. YES!! Sometime!! But I had to agree to use it. Okay and that's likely the only way you'll get me to those courts for awhile. Read this as: out of practice and lousy at serves.

Kennedy School Closing

It's a fact despite some parents at both Kennedy & Aquidneck Schools protesting it.

In the Fall I kept asking if anyone was interesting in covering school committee meetings. I knew that with huge anticipated cuts on the horizon (and more coming), momentous decisions would be made here. Unfortunately, they happened while many were sleeping.

Why school closings? Frankly, it saves big bucks in one fell swoop. You don't cut services, just operational costs & some personnel. Other cuts (and they have a list of 15 chopping block items) end programs with much smaller savings. By closing a school, all those kids still will be educated & you'll get a lot less flak. Most Councilors rec'd not one phone call on the topic. If the school committee doesn't cut costs here, you've got to give them an alternative. What is it?

Throughout the years there have been MANY class/school reassignments. You can argue educational opporunities; but, for the most part, it was bottom line costs that were the determining factor.

I was at Gaudet when gr. 7 was moved there. It was a similar setup to what they are now proposing for grade 4. It was an isolated corridor and it worked wonderfully, for the most part. I don't doubt that this will to despite all the protestations of contact with older students.

Expect to see many more $ reductions in future budgets. School committees & town councils throughout the state have no alternatives. It is, as they say, hitting the fan now.

There are some interesting postings here. This is the time to be considering running for school committee. Too often these positions are just- hey, you want it? You got it! Few local forums and when there are- no one shows. It you want better government, you have to stay involved in current happenings and elections. Otherwise...

School regionarlization? So prove to me that it actually saves $. From my studies on the topics, it just adds another layer of bureaucracy. I just don't think you'll see it happening. What you will see is more & more districts co-operating on certain areas. Because they want to & it works. Much better.

I applaud the parents for their concern and work. It's not easy. So what now? I think that across the State this year and next you'll start to see rashes of lawsuits against the State. Point your fingers there & at the Feds. Seen any of them involved here lately?

Middletown Council Meets with School Committee Tonight

That's at 6 PM tonight at Oliphant School (cellar). The school budget IS the Council's budget, for the most part. I can't recall (brain freeze) whether or not the public may speak at a workshop; although, I've always found members quite willing to receive input from attendees.

Beer afterwards? Works for me. Myself, I like the Brew Pub (Connell Highway) where they make their own beer. Now that I think about it, forget the stupid meeting & just go to the pub.

Middletown Town Budget

The link is buried in the Apr. 6 agenda. I'd forgotten that the clerk had told me where to find it. Click here. Since much of it depends on State funding- like General Revenue sharing which was partially restored in the State's supplemental budget, it could well change. I also note that the Council's advisory committee to "The Quiet Man" Brown (Town Admin.) consists of 3 men. Evidently women are in short supply.

Enjoy!

Middletown Senior Center- No Voting Allowed

I've served as committee secretary many times- even for the town. It's a demanding job & no one ever really wants. However, once you've got it- it's yours! It can be challenging capturing all the motions, votes, discussions, and topics. However, if you're a member of the Senior Center Board, this is greatly simplified.


In all its public record filings- I located (18), there was a total of 6 motions. 6. Four of these were to approve minutes. It actually needs to be done for each meeting. 2 were to accept the Director's Report. 2. And the latter didn't list the results of the voting.


So think of whatever group you belong to. Any motions ever made? Voted on? Do you ever just plain old discuss? Disagreements?

6 motions in 4 yrs. Four votes. I located no discussion but rather what seems to be a presented list of items being planned or their status that were included in new or old business. I'd assume that these came from the Director. No input from this group was ever recorded.


The group did vote on a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary- in May of 2006 (for one yr.). Never again is a Chair ever mentioned (or a vote for officers); only a Co-Chair and Vice-Chair. Which begs the question, who is running this group?


The budget for the center is NEVER mentioned. Not once. Membership meetings for the entire Center are supposed to held monthly. I located two. Again, lists on their meeting minutes. We need to attract more members & you can help. We need you at the Town Council Meeting. The Board & Director were at the membership meetings, but no one else was listed. Meaning? Lord knows. The membership certainly isn't having any input here. In one membership meeting (4/29/08) all members are requested to attend a Town Hall meeting May 8, 2008. I'm assuming that is a budget hearing.


If the Council is assuming that the Board or the membership have vetted this budget- dream on. When I was a Library Trustee, this was always an important part of our yearly agenda. A subcommittee was formed, information was shared & discussed, practice presentations were held, and a final budget was voted on. The Director may have developed it, but the Board took responsibility for it's finality. Eight people involved. At the Senior Center- ONE for the center budget. No discussion in drawing it up.

We also were involved in a yearly evaluation of the Director in the form of a subcommittee. There is none here, although perhaps the Town Administrator performs this function. Evidently this Board has no input here though. Why not?


How many meetings by the Board have actually taken place? Let's suppose a meeting a month (there should be more if you count membership meetings, but...) In 2009 there has been one, 2008- there were no meetings in June, July, August, and December. So the group actually met about 2/3 of its scheduled time. In 2007- the same schedule plus non-meetings for Sept. & Oct. They met approximately half the time that they were scheduled to meet. Most of these meetings are just not scheduled (vacations), sometimes they are called off for attending funerals. Only one was not held due to a lack of a quorum.


This is Part Two on the Senior Center. Part Three will focus on actual meetings and content; such as it is. but you don't have to take my word for all of this. You, too, can spend hours going through their filings.

More on Governor's Supplemental Budget

Providing some additional info, but not as much as I've previously mentioned, is Projo. I'm supposing the lack of info is due to the fact that all of this was released last night, making the budget look good until more actual facts are released. The response from two Middletown Councillors- Silveira (out-of-town) & VonVillas was that they needed more info. Town Admin. Brown (the low talker) will be a busy little devil working with this. You'll be hearing a LOT more from him in the coming weeks.


Remember, we're speaking on the current budget 2008-9. The R.I. budget cycle goes from July to July. The guv has taken particular aim at Unions- statewide & local. He concentrates on police, fire, teachers, and statewide retirements. By lifting some state laws, he hopes to give localities a method to reduce their budgets. Should some of these laws even be there is certainly up for debate. Before he's targeted State workers, now his aim is much broader.


Doubtless, it's going to be a lively discussion. When you've spent your last 6 yr. taking aim at publicly paid Union workers and blaming them for much of the State's problems, the broader, pointed attack now, is going to arouse much passion. Think "us" against "them" taking the money out of our pockets.


Few facts or commentary on what the Guv plans to do with whatever funding the Feds plan on sending our way. It would be interesting to hear what's in his pipeline and lend a lot more to the overall discussion, not to mention his credability.

Here are Joe Baker's numbers of how much our aid is expected to be cut:
Little Compton: $89,670; Middletown: $829,818; Newport: $1,564,737; Tiverton: $547,575.

Again, I haven't rec'd any comments from local officials apart from wanting more info. And any initial thoughts that they may have are likely unprintable.

Middletown School Budget

I received the following comment from Councilor Silveira. He is explaining his attempt to add revenue to the school budget. This is the 120k which may or may not materialize from the State with monies from extended gambling hours at the two casinos. The Newport Daily News link is not available without $. It barely mentioned his attempts or offered any explanation.

A few other communities also decided to accept the State's promise of "iffy" funding for schools in their budgets. I thought that the Councilman's plan was clever and right-on-the-money. I applaud him. This whole can of worms (school funding & the reserve funds we hold) will likely replay next year, the year after, blah, blah. The State needs to come up with more $ and give in yearly without all the drama scenes. They come up smelling like a rose for the election season while locals take the heat. And then there's the federal element...

I felt the need to comment on the recent Daily News story regarding the approval of the Middletown School budget. My attempt to budget the 120k as a revenue would have done few things-

1. Funded the school an additional 30k- potentially saving the sports programs.

2. Protected these potential, additional monies and allocate them as committed. As Superintendent Kraeger says herself the money will just be spent- therefore increasing their spending without a structured spending plan. As stated by Paul Rodrigues, it would be like winning the lottery- but no one will ever know what happens to the extra income. These potential extra funds from the State should be used to reduce the tax burden to the residents!


3. Lowered the proposed year's tax increase from 3.36 to 3.09 and, again, potentially saved vital programs.

If at the end of the year we didn't receive the full 120k from the State [monies realized from casino gambling], I proposed that we use a very small amount from the fund balance (undesignated). Remember that we have multiple different reserve funds with significant $ in them.

Yet again this Council chooses to spend reserve funds on anything that the majority see fit; i.e. manhole rehabilitation (400k) and the Potter League (150k). Yet they continue to try to paint me as being irresponsible. They continue to arbitrarily spend based on their own political agenda(s)- very sad.

Middletown Budget & Council Meeting

The room was full last night & remained so for most of the evening. The first hour was on the effects of the recent school budget facing a cut of $210,000. The final budget has not yet been voted on. On the block are the same-old, same-old- all day K, Gaudet sports, etc. There were a number of speakers all speaking in support of restoring these budget cuts. Check out Projo's Meaghan Wims for more details.

Restoring the cut amount would add appx. $23 for a homeowner with a house assessed at $385,000. Particularly moving was Gaudet student Ally Borges pleading for sports not to be cut. She had a written speech & after giving it she sat in her Dad's lap & cried.

So how many years has this been going on? Gee, I think every yr. since I've lived here- and that's a LONG time. It's time for the State & the Feds to step up to the plate here. They've created this mess & leave it up to us to solve it.

10 town employees were honored for their military service. I'll post their names later. Two groups were there to make their pitches for bonds- one for 2 mil for Open Space (there currently is $2 mil available in these funds) & 5 mil for a new beach bldg.

Barbara VonVillas make a speech in regards to the letter she sent the Council (see previous post).

The open space bond passed. The beach bond did not, although the result was not announced (at least I missed it) & it was definitely confusing. The 3 voting against the bond felt that with the school budget cut, mounting town debt, & the need for a new fire station (and priorities to be set) belayed this bond amount currently. Voting "nay" were DiPalma, Silveira, & Sylvia. "Yes" votes were were Rodrigues, Mello, & Santos (Barrows was a no-show).

The town solicitor would not place the Kempen letter for an Exec. session on the calendar. He wants more research time. Hey, open session would be a LOT more fun.

The War Memorial group is looking for 5 more names to add to the town's memorial. This was confusing since I thought (as did Councilor Silveira) that this meant veterans. No. It's names of residents that have made a contribution to the town. So send in your nominations. They must be deceased. See the town's website for more info later.

I'll post more soon. The police were there- sometimes as many as 3.

School Budget Beheading

Recently the Middletown Town Council told the School Committee to cut an additional $186,000 from its budget. In a recent "Daily News" letter, School member Ned Draper (also on the Budget subcommittee) decried the late communication of this by the Council & referred to it as "an appalling surprise." I'll say. Doesn't allow much time for planning, does it

On Mon., June 16 at 6 pm there will be a Town Hall meeting. And as Ned aludes to, another in Nov. (translation- elections)/

Thanks are to be extended to the guv who says that we don't do enough to control local costs, the lege, who has yet to HELP fund education, and the federal government who has plenty to spend on war but little to spend at home.

On the chopping block are either all-day K or middle school sports. A devil's bargain if ever I heard one. What will be on the block next year? Councilor DiPalma suggested tapping into the beach fund which didn't even receive a second. I know, I know, it's designated beach monies to be used there. As far as I'm concerned, schools first, beaches second, but you're free to try & change my mind. It's all our monies anyway. If one group has to belt-tighten, evenone's belt gets tightened. That's what community means.

Yeah, I know, a 15% pupil decrease. But this doesn't mean much unless it's across one grade level, does it? For example, you can't say 15% less in heating costs, or 15% less for electricity or even staffing (although I believe 15 positions have been eliminated).

I'm with you, Ned, & left wondering why a more clear-cut bottom line demand wasn't communicated sooner. And why the guv decries being a high tax state but always ignores the reason we are just that- abnormally high property taxes caused by insuffficient state funding- especially in education.

Please feel free to add comments either way. Better yet, show up next Mon. & voice your opinion one way or another. This is the time!

Cheez it- the Cops!

The Newport Daily News has its report on the police presence now at Council meetings. This has actually been going on for awhile. A month? Two? From reporter Matt Sheley:

After two animated comments were made toward local officials recently, town officials decided it would be a good move to post a police officer at the meetings to make sure things don’t get out of hand.

TWO comments inspired this? Both commenters (one was a phone call placed to Councilor Mello) were investigated by the police & it was decided that they could not be charged with anything. But let's not stop there.

...said council President Paul M. Rodrigues. “It’s just nice to have someone there in case something happens, but pretty much everyone has been great. It’s just a couple isolated incidents.”

and:

“The police officer changes the tone of the entire meeting,” Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said.

Well, yeah. So the tone was changed from what to what? Exactly what power do the police have at council meetings besides the power of shushing? And why do we need to be shushed? Fear. It's all about fear. Love those constituents but please, don't get too close.

The article then goes on to mention the reasoning behind having armed officers is due, at least in part, to a Council meeting shooting in Kirkwood, Mo. in early February. Six people (incl. the shooter were killed). However a few salient points are missing. In Mo. it's legal to carry a concealed weapon. Also, the first two shot were police officers (one had his gun taken & used). The shooter had an ongoing conflict with the town which initially began with him being ticketed for parking cars on his own property. It then escalated from there.

To relate this to Middletown is ludicrous. Check for weapons- okay. But this? Anyone who watched the HBO series, "John Adams" realizes that democracy is a work in progress. It often inspires fierce debate between the status quo & those fomenting change.

To the extent that a democratic society gives it citizens the chance to speak in their own voices and listens to what they have to say, it gives itself the chance not only of discovering its multiple glories and triumphs but also of surviving its multiple follies and crimes. Dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors. [source]

From "Daily News" reporter, Jim Gillis & "Spare Change:"

This apparently is a move to quell potential hecklers, though it seems as if the
battles among council members are more of a concern [italics is mine]. The irony is that the town will pay a police officer to attend meetings, during which residents complain that the council already is spending too much taxpayer money.

Jim makes an excellent suggestion- hire a bouncer. Cheaper, too

So which towns/cities have a regular police presence at Council meetings? Not Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton, Woonsocket... (please continue)

Middletown Budget

From Newport This Week:

Middletown residents could face a 4.3 percent tax increase under a proposed $62 million budget submitted to Town Council members at their Monday meeting. Council members will begin their review of the plan, prepared by Interim Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown, later this month. If adopted, it would represent a 6 percent, or $3.5 million, increase over current fiscal year spending.

On average, property tax bills would increase to $11.49, from $11.01 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home valued at $350,000, that would mean a tax bill increase next year of $168, to $4,021.

Rising energy prices could also play a role in the budget hike, with municipal spending increasing by $784,156. The bulk of that sum would come from the proposed purchase of new financial management software. Also contributing to the increase would be added costs for November's presidential and general election as well as contracted salary and benefits increases.

Beach passes and camping spaces would also see a fee increase. Under the proposed budget, residential beach stickers would rise $5, to $50, while non-resident stickers would increase $10, to $100. Camp spaces would also see a 20 percent increase.

On the commercial side, tax bills would also increase by 64 cents, to $15.29 per $1,000 of assessed value. The sewer maintenance rate would jump 10 cents, to $11.20 per $1,000 of assessed gallons, and connection-related charges would together increase $8.53 per connection.

Budget meetings will take place with the Council & various departments with April with public sessions in May.

After the last Council meeting, most fiscal matters, but not the into of the Budget, will no longer be placed on the consent calendar. This calendar is usually quite lengthy with various items (letters/notices rec'd, other towns' requests for support, etc.) Items are not usually discussed seperately and are voted on together. They are not usually of a controvertial nature, although some of the others towns' requests for lege support definitely may be. What the Council officially does is acknowledge receipt & offer their consent for support.

Public input was at the center of Antone C. Viveiros's complaint that fiscal matters not be placed on the consent calendar. "Financial matters are too important to be placed on the consent calendar," Mr. Viveiros said. "This is taxpayer money."
Council member Edward Silveira Jr. agreed. "This is the most important thing we do all year long," he said.
Mr. Rodrigues was sympathetic to Mr. Viveiros' concern, but said the decision to place the receipt of the budget on the consent calendar was an administrative decision based on several years of experience in which a special council meeting was called for the sole purpose of receiving the budget with little or no public turnout.
In the end, the council agreed that all significant financial matters be included on the council's regular meeting docket.

Thanks to reporter Tom Shevlin. The Council meets this Mon.

Middletown Municipal Salaries

Projo's Meaghan Wims has the skinny on the highest governmenta pays. The School Sup't tops the list, followed by others admins (mostly). The municipal side is also documented.