I WROTE ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGE AS ILLEGAL THE NIGHT THEY DID IT AT THE SELECTMANS MEETING. BRUCE STATED THAT THE BOARD HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS. I WROTE THAT HE DID NOT AND IT WAS ILLEGAL. CAN THIS BOS GET ANYTHING RIGHT?

Just an update, I was informed by an employee of the state that the BOS cannot close the road without approval of the state.

In the Courier Bruce is quoted: ttp://www.wickedlocal.com/wareham/town_info/government/x2085757567/Selectmens-decision-to-reduce-road-speed-illegal

A few weeks ago, the Board of Selectmen voted to lower the speed limit after complaints by residents about pot holes damaging vehicles and trucks that go too fast, which some claimed shook their  homes in the new subdivision.

This change, however, was done without following the necessary guidelines of the state.

“I would assume that is probably correct,” Selectmen Chairman Bruce Sauvageau said. “Though under Massachusetts General Law, we could simply close that road for public safety reasons. There has allegedly already been injury and property damage because of the condition of that road. For those reasons alone we could foreclose any commercial activity or any other use of that road except for residential purposes.”

So, they finally get their revenge against Makepeace and Tucy. You remember, the people who offered to fix the road but their offer was refused.

Then Brenda is quoted:
Selectman Brenda Eckstrom, who made the motion to change the speed limit, said she believed setting the wheels in motion is an administrative responsibility.

“I’m not a lawyer and we have changed the speed limit on roads in the past,” she said. “As selectmen, we make and set policy, but it is the job of town employees to carry out those policies in accordance with the law.”

Eckstrom said the board has never received complaints of changing speed limits in the past.

“Either the town employees have never done it in the past because they weren’t aware they had to do it, or maybe they have done it but haven’t done it yet in this case,” she said.

She said if MassHighway comes back and insists the speed limit can not be 10mph, an option would be to close the road.

“We have that authority,” she said. “But we don’t want to do that. Believe me, we are trying to figure out what’s the best thing to do with this.”

So, Brenda throws Mark Gifford and John Sanguinet under the bus. Nice people we have running our town. Remember she said the sign had to be up the following morning? Well how could they have contacted MassHighway that fast? Brenda is a charter member of the don't take responsibility for your actions club. Oh and Brenda, since we know you read this---since you are not a lawyer, stop quoting the law so often. You are usually wrong.

Last edited by Molly (2009-06-11 15:29:42)

In fact, Brock Tucy has offered to pay for the materials to repair the road, the town declined, man they are smart!