Correct me if I'm wrong, but your newest selectman is kind of out of the loop, and the cabal you refer to as the BOS is the chair and the other three.

Do you think that they discuss strategy and tactics amongst themselves with or without the ITA in secret either by email, phone or at some unknown location in person, thus breaking the open meeting law?

Do they just plot amongst themselves in executive sessions (as the 6 minute tape demonstrates)?

It seems to me looking from another town that there's too much evidence that the BOS and ITA are too often all working in concert for them not to be illegally caucusing.

Actualy urneighbor I am going to take the unpopular position here of holding the newest selectman accountable also for the following reasons:
1. In his first week on the job he went to Bindas and called the rag, despite running on a platform of listening to all sides (he didn't bother to listen to ADM or Tucy).
2. He actively participated in the 6 minute executive session, which means he is actively participating in other es unless by sheer luck the tape just happened to catch his sole participation and if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you.
3. Despite clear race baiting (I will disclose that I have a mixed family caucasian and CV) he was outside the community meeting with John Donahue and to date he has yet to issue a public statement to denounce the sick acts of JD and the rag. That to me is the greatest insult since he also ran on a platform of representing CV's, if he believes that his silence is a fair representation of the CV community he is clearly out of touch.
4. He ran on a platform of honestly, why isn't he screaming about all the dishonest shit the rest of them are pulling?
I didn't vote for him, although I have to say he is a nice person, but nice doesn't qualify anyone for this job.

I wasn't going to weigh on on this, but, what the hell.

There is absolutely NO excuse for a Selectman not to have the nerve and ideas to speak out.

The most difficult thing you can to do is run for Selectman in the Town you are from. If you want to know anything at all about your family, simply run for Selectman. You will find out stuff that professional lineage researchers can't find.

If you are elected a Selectman...act like one.

I have no patience for anybody who is elected and pretends not to know what is going on.

There are only two types of people elected to the position of Selectman.

First: those who know what they are doing, have a vision (as twisted or unlike yours or mine) and are willing to face the challenges of the job.

The second: someone who was promised an office that would be great for the legacy of his or her family.
"Don't worry about anything. We'll let you know what you should do. Just enjoy yourself, and be proud."

If you don't know how to be a Selectman...if you don't know the Town Charter better than anyone else...if you don't know Robert's Rules...if you don't know the Town By Laws..if you don't know how to be a leader...if you don't look at yourself as a "statesman"...if you can't educate people who are desperate for knowledge...if you can't participate in meetings and object to nonsense...if you continue to have an idiot (my opinion) run you life and your meetings...shame on you...you have no business being a Selectman.

I would say to Mr. Cruz: Be a man...stop the nonsense..represent the people who really count...ignore special interest groups, no matter what you think you may owe them.

Talk to Ray Cardoza, the first Cape Verdean elected as a Selectman...ask him what he thinks of your passiveness, of your reticence.

In my opinion, Mr. Cruz...BE A MAN!