Concentration of Power
A relentless pursuit of concentrated power by the Select Board may be an early indicator that the Town is running out of cash, and they need to find or take funds from wherever they sit. Conspiracy theory? Let’s peel the onion and let you decide.
The Recreation Department is now in charge of Adult Ed and oversees the Senior Center. Activity fees from those programs are used to fund the following year activities. Consolidation makes it easier for the Town to borrow (wink/wink) funds from those cash accounts in essence robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The Treasurer is now a Town appointed position and surprise/surprise there has been a delay in paying Town employees on their contracted catch-up payments due last September.
The Belmont Retirement Board consists of 5 members. The current chairman, Tom Gibson, is an attorney and 40-year Belmont resident. Gibson has decades of experience in the public employee retirement system including 20 years as Chairman of the Middlesex County Retirement Board and is seeking reappointment. He has the full support of two elected members of the Board, Walter Wellman, and Ross Vona.
Chad Orufrechuck, is a private sector investment manager with no public sector experience and is also seeking the appointment. He appears to have the support of the other two board members, newest member Brian Antonellis (appointed by the Town) in his first year and Donna Tuccinardi (Ex Officio member). A 2-2 vote will result in the Select Board deciding the appointment.
The Town having greater control of the retirement board is a “red flag” that they may utilize the retirement funds in a way they were not meant to be and adjust COLA adjustments based on Town needs with no regards to the retired workers. Pay attention folks.
Changing the Board of Assessors from elected to appointed is another attempt at consolidating power and one that comes with greater risk than reward. We have and have had an all-star lineup of assessors for decades. There is no indication Belmont won’t have qualified candidates run. It feels this move is to allow the Town to appoint stooges who will act beyond their regulated capabilities and shake down entities through threats and actions. While many of us agree PILOT payments should be mandated… the reality is I have looked at this for years and it will only occur through legislation. Withholding services and using hardball tactics which may be the intent of the change is below Belmont.
So now you have seen the inside of the onion. Conspiracy or has Belmont’s excessive spending on Cap Ex and special interest desires finally led to desperate cash grabs just to pay the bills? Are we in pyramid scheme territory? Removing checks and balances is never a good sign and yet that is what keeps happening. Pay attention folks.
BHS 2024 ALL-NIGHT Fundraiser
Great turnout for the comedy show. Good to see so many familiar faces showing up. Belmont’s own Jeopardy champion, Kelly Rowan says they raised a good chunk to cover the kegs at the All-Night party. Ok I might have misheard the “keg” part but nice job Parents and supporters.
Newton Teachers on strike…
Like Belmont, Newton has a spending priority problem. Newton Teachers are on strike looking for a cost-of-living increase to help offset the massive inflation resulting from Biden Administration spending. The issue is not that Newton didn’t pass an Override… the issue is Newton priorities. The failed override was just a $4.5m override in a half billion budget but Newton voters have had enough with high taxes. Newton Schools receive 65% of the budget and allocate about $24k per pupil so there is a problem with budgeting when other competitive districts can do it for 1/3rd less. Trim the Fat and pay the Teachers competitive wages whether it means cuts or not.
The mayor refuses to negotiate a contract that will lead to layoffs. This is part of the dumbing down of the teacher workforce that is and will increasingly affect education. Pay teachers less, complain you can’t get teachers, dumb down the requirement for teachers, pay teachers even less, and institute cookie cutter curriculum so you can hire glorified babysitters. Of course, you need to get rid of mandated testing or else parents will realize they are being duped with inflated grades. Newsflash… the level of literacy is embarrassing for Massachusetts schools. It’s not the teachers but rather the tools. A good, qualified teacher is trained to identify the needs of the individual and accommodate their specific learning process. DEI is at odds with this method and parents are experiencing it (more on that in a future issue).
In the private sector, the 80/20 rule is widely known, 80% of the real work is done by 20% of the workforce. Layoffs are common to cull the lower performers and keep the outperformers with respectable pay. A small teacher to student ratio only matters if the teachers are qualified and well trained. Pay the teachers and make the cuts.
Governor Healey
Healey announced $350m in budget cuts as revenues collections lag.
Of course, this was after announcing spending on the mandated right to shelter mainly illegal immigrants had eclipsed $500m. She should immediately push legislation repealing the “Right to Shelter” State designation.
Be aware that the next step for Healey and like-minded “Americans last” politicians will be to pay households with extra bedrooms to shelter illegals. NYC Mayor Adams already implied this. That will be a system riper for abuse than Covid relief funds. Elections have consequences. If you have teens or young adults in your family advise them to plan to find employment away from the Northeast and West Coasts. In a matter of years, it will be all street gangs and look more like the slums of Paris and London. How bad is it… Germany is looking to expel 1,000,000 illegals which would be the equivalent of 4,000,000 in the US. Why you ask would they? Europeans are so welcoming, but everyone has a breaking point, and the new arrivals don’t share Western values. Germany is not alone. It’s happening across Europe.
As you read this…
Sweden is preparing for War. Yes… Sweden. The UK and Europe as well. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden who was supposed to bring overseas respect back to America instead has the US going from no conflicts or heightened risk of War to now looking at major threats from Iran, Yemen, Russia, China, and 20% of his own party looking to eradicate Jews and Western Culture. Question is… who is pulling Biden’s strings? The Clinton’s or the Obama’s. I am going to say Clinton at this point because Governor Newsom met with them recently. It’s going to be one hell of a year.
BHS brawl?
Some kids got into a fight in front of the new $300m HS at bus drop off. Not sure if that means someone used the wrong pronoun, didn’t recycle properly, or truly threw a haymaker. It’s hard to tell these days. Doesn’t matter. Kids need to toughen up quickly in a World that doesn’t care. Repeat offenders should be dealt with swiftly and the school policy should be followed. Otherwise, have them pick up trash around the claypit.
Superbowl
I would like to see Detroit vs Buffalo. The NFL wants KC/SF or BAL/SF. They usually get what they want.