This isn't kids uncorking a hydrant. It is, though, consistent with the level of firebug fuckery that led to the creation of the Prudential Committee in the first place.

gogatemen wrote:

Would someone explain it to me?  What does vandalism to fire hydrants have to do with the prudential committee?  Why do we have a 2 fire departments (+ water) run by (2?) prudential comittees?  Why doesn't the fire department report to the town administrator or the BOS?  It all seems very convoluted to someone who did not grow up here.

Good question. I wasn't here during its creation so I'm hoping someone more intimate with its history explains things.

There is some history on the fire districts on the onewareham.com website
http://www.onewareham.com/index.php?opt … &Itemid=62

Thank you Anthoula...I remember now. It's tough to get old. The Prudential Committees of both Fire Districts essentially oversee the budgets of the Water and Fire Districts. I see that Claire Smith wrote the article...very smart lady.
Thanks again for the website information.

Dan:

My problem with the dual system is that we are paying two sets of salaries to clerks, engineers, commissioners, etc: 

According to the CBW website, the Wareham Fire District is paying an accountant $60,000 to do the work that John Donahue's sister was elected to do as clerk/ treasurer. (Her salary is also $60,000, so that is a total of $120,000 for clerical /accounting for only one fire district).  This while the ITA is telling town employees that they cannot order paper clips.

Perhaps this sytem made sense in 1894, but it is time for a change!  I'll end my rant, since no one else seems bothered by this.  I just needed to vent.  Thanks for listening

Unfortunately, you have no control over any Fire District.
I tried to combine the Fire Districts when I was a Selectman. I was the liaison to both Fire Departments appointed by the Board.
I might as well as said that I wanted to destroy the entire Town in a fire!
I have discussed in the past abut the divide between Wareham and Onset, and this is a prime example of it.
Both Fire and Water Districts guard their territory jealously, and there isn't much you can do about it, except get involved within the politics of the Fire District and go to the annual meetings!
They are conducted very much like a Town Meeting. In fact, I was the elected moderator of the Onset Fire District in 1975.
Many, many moons ago!

why does it cost an extra dollar per thousand,
to live in onset.
oh thats right we told wareham to screw off.
the good water is ours.

Come by the house we will give you some good Onset water

PShooter: I love you, man.
The only fire we had then had to be generated by rubbing sticks together.
I'm glad to hear Onset's water is still OK. I used to walk the watershed every week in Onset because I was fascinated by the fact that all of our fresh water, not invaded by salt, was actually under the ground I walked.

no hooch to be found in tn :( we are cooking corn on sat..

yes water is serious for me not just as a citizen but business have suffered the last big bang weekend for 2 years now.. not very good for our tourisim...