Minutes from last meeting where accepted.
The sound was missing at the beginning of the broadcast.
Acting Chief Bryan Haughey was the first entry in the agenda and was announced to give another Committee Report. However, Haughey was on a call and could not report.
Old Business:
James Wettlaufer was quick to announce the victory in the matter “COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, by and through its DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION v. NORTHEAST CONCEPTS, INC., and JAMES LaMOUNTAIN.”
After several attempts, Wettlaufer, with help of his allies from the DEP, finally succeeded in having a judgment in his favor.
“It’s a very, very good thing for the town and it is about time. I also appreciate the fact that there were many witnesses who are residents in this town who contributed to this case... It means that if you stand up for yourself you can win and you can make a difference and that’s a good thing,” Wettlaufer commented.
Listening to Wettlaufer, I asked myself if Wettlaufer thinks it is only a good thing to stand up for yourself if you are on his side. The Board of Selectmen has yet to publicly announce/admit that they lost the appeal of my allegedly “frivolous” lawsuit against the Planning Board. Click here to read the decision of the Appeals Court.
Wettlaufer referred to the only person publicly taking part on his witch-hunt against James LaMountain, Karen Raymond, as “many witnesses.” I’m intimately familiar with the case and certain that LaMountain’s appeal will be successfull and the judgment issued by Judge Ford who has a history of withholding exculpatory evidence vacated.
It will take time for LaMountain to get justices, and once the erroneous judgment issued by Ford, the selectboard will not inform the public of their defeat, the public will be left uninformed and in the believe LaMountain did something wrong.
In a future piece, the Holland Blog will analyze Ford’s decision.
Earl Johnson, in his familiar way, had to name me right after bashing LaMountain to make me guilty by association by stating, “Also Mr. Frei’s Federal Civil Suit was also dismissed by the Federal Courts. That’s two for us this month.
No lawsuit ever filed by me was dismissed, neither in the State nor in the Federal Court System; I also had never been accused of any wrong doing. In all suits between the town of Holland and myself, I was always the plaintiff! Earl Johnson’s statement is a blatant lie.
New Business:
The selectboard signed a tax anticipation note for $600’000. The town has borrowed so far $1,400,000 this fical year, and will have to borrow another $700,000.
The tax rate has been approved by the state and is $13.21 for every thousand dollars of assessed property value.
Earl Johnson read a letter about a “... Black Grant Program... Support for the tri town domestic task force... Removal of agricultural barriers in public facilities...”
It is not easy to write something about these selectboard meetings based on what you get back home on TV. If the reader watched the televised meeting, the reader will agree with me.
The Holland Blog obtained a copy of the letter Earl Johnson read, click here, to read the letter, “Black” should have read “Block,” Earl failed to mention the important word “violence” in connection with “domestic violence,” and the word architectural he read as “agricultural.” I assume he read Ford’s Memo to many times and LaMountain’s “agricultural exemption” Ford failed to acknowledge was still stuck in Earl’s gullet. A second attempt to read the word correct spilled out another “agricultural barriers.”
A drive way permit was issued to Roy Davis, 65 Stafford Road, where a single family dwelling is being built.
Warrants as mentioned in the agenda were signed.
James Wettlaufer questioned the other two selectmen whether they performed the mandatory test on ethics. Wettlaufer stated that he had taken the test and only got two wrong. He then stated that the two he got wrong were not really wrong, there were more than two answers right. I did the test also just to see; there is only one right answer Mr. Wettlaufer!
If the reader wants to take the online test, click here to see for yourself.
The 25 question test is mandatory and shall familiarize state employees and officials with the changed chapters 268A and 268B of M.G.L. The changes were signed into law by the governor on July 1 and took effect Sept. 29, 2009.
Among the changes are penalties imposed for bribery. Criminal penalties are up to $100,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years in state prison, or in jail or a house of correction for up to 2 1/2 years; civil penalties are increased from $2,000 to $25,000. All other ethics violations see an increase from $2,000 per violation to $10,000 per violation.
The test must be taken by April 2, 2010, and “if you don’t do it you can not hold your position,” said Wettlaufer. Earl Johnson’s sarcastic response was, “Democracy in action..” and, “how can they do that??”
MIIA (Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association) will cover part of the financial damage caused by our former Police Chief Kevin Gleason who is incarcerated for the next two years.
According to Wettlaufer, MIIA will only pay for the financial damage done during the last three years. I personally think that is not unreasonable; any prudent selectmen, especially Earl Johnson who spent considerable time with Gleason should have noticed the abundant red flags.
After four years in the making, the location of the planned Tri Town Dog Pound is still undecided. A dog pound for three dogs will cost approximately $7,000, and for four dogs $8,000. Town officials of Wales now think that they can build it for less.
Peter Frei