#1 2011-04-01 16:14:09
Yesterday I called “Your” Town Administrator, Mark Andrews to ask him (what I thought was) a simple question. In effect, I wanted to know if the "15 day clock" had been started in which the BoS would be able to "act" on a TA appointment of Stanley. It didn’t turn out to be so simple after all. In fact it got quite tense. He made it clear to me that he “knew who I was”..and “where I’m coming from”. He gave me the impression that I was fortunate he even returned the message I left to have him (please) give me a call “at his earliest convenience”. He’s not quite as “accessible” as he claims in his “Senator, how are you?” segments. Good luck getting an “appointment” with “Your Town Administrator” (especially if you’re a “bad guy”). During the conversation he was rushed, and seemed to want to “put me in my place”, and get me off the phone as soon as possible. Not what I expect from my town administrator. I am not one of your employees “buddy”, who you can play the part of “Top Banana” with, because if they don’t bow to your title, they’ll have a pink slip in the mail.
The question I asked was about Interim Part-Time Police Chief Richard Stanley (question & email posted below).. Mr. Andrews was quickly on the defensive, and tried to give me a “canned” statement about “not discussing ongoing contract negotiations with anyone but Stanley”.. I tried to explain I wasn’t asking for any details of the contract negotiations, and that if he didn’t want to answer my question then, “Hey, what can I do? You won’t answer..I guess I came to the wrong guy..and I'll seek my answer elsewhere". As a citizen of the Town of Wareham, I believe my question deserves an answer..and is no way “out of bounds”.
Here’s the email I sent yesterday. I “cc’d” Selectmen Winslow, Holmes & Cruz.. I haven’t received a response (yet?). Maybe he’s discussing it with the Senator first..
I wrote:
Mr. Andrews,
I appreciate you getting back to me today. I think the conversation became a little more “tense” than what I’d hope. But, I was really just hoping to get an answer to a specific question, and thought you’d be in the best position to answer.. Straight to the source, as it were.
To “boil down” the question I had/have for you.. Has a “notice of appointment” been filed with the Board of Selectmen, concerning Chief Richard Stanley?
I referred back to the ballot questions you spoke about..and I think I can appreciate that there might be some “repercussions” depending on how the vote goes on April 5th. (though, I’m still wondering in what timeframe any necessary change(s) would have to be implemented, and how it might effect this situation). But after reading through it, it seems the new “wording” is pretty much just like the old “wording”…just “reorganized” a bit..with no “material changes” to the effect it would have on the specified section of the Charter. Granted, I’m no lawyer..but I can read. And please let me know if you think I’m wrong about the articles effect, and the repercussions of it passing or failing. I believe the ballot question/Fall TM article you referred to is this one:MOTION:
Under Article 49, I move that the Town amend the Charter to clarify the process for confirming appointments by the Town Administrator as follows:
In Section 4-2 (b) remove the words:
Appointments made by the Town Administrator shall become effective on the
fifteenth day following the day on which notice of the appointment is filed with the Board of Selectmen, unless the Board of Selectmen shall, within said period, by a majority vote of the full board, vote to reject any such appointment, or, has sooner voted to affirm it.
And insert in its place thereof the words:
Within fifteen days following the day on which notice of the appointment is filed with the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Selectmen shall have the opportunity, by a majority vote of the full board, to affirm any such appointment, in which case the appointment becomes effective immediately, or to reject it. Should the Board of Selectmen choose neither to affirm or reject, on the fifteenth day, the appointment made by the Town Administrator shall become effective.Thanks for your attention.
Dave DiPietro
Precinct 2
FYI: Two selectmen have stated to me that ("as far as they knew") no such "notice of appointment" has been "filed" with the BoS.
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#2 2011-04-01 16:18:23
Good for you, Dave.
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#3 2011-04-01 16:47:13
From wednesday nights fireworks, I would have to say it is very clear that the Town Administrator does not have a grasp on anything. He is neglecting to tell the selectmen key issues in town and a majority (Jane and Brenda an automatic hall pass) are continuing to allow this. The one candidate that surprises me the most, and I know he has been praised for being his own man but.... is Walter Cruz. I thought he had more commonsense than to be bullshitted and hang on every word. Its time for someone to wake him up and take his sleep blinds off.
I think its time to crack open the Police Departments books and review how the chief is spending our money. By the sounds of it he might have some issues of his own.
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#4 2011-04-02 07:35:42
Dave, do you think that this should be posted on the WarehamWeek site? Perhaps a shorter version?
I do.
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#5 2011-04-02 11:37:41
So, we go from: "Do you know who I am?"
to
"I know who you are!"
and "I know where you're coming from!"
Progress? or, Advancing to the rear.
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#6 2011-04-02 12:51:15
stewie wrote:
So, we go from: "Do you know who I am?"
to
"I know who you are!"
Balls. Mark Andrews has played the arrogant prick with a Donahue prepared list of nogoodniks to freely abuse since the day he washed up here. Show of hands! How many of you have had Mark Andrews' foot up your ass?
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#7 2011-04-03 00:15:19
Town of Wareham
Board of Selectmen
54 Marion Road
Wareham, MA 02571
PROCEDURE FOR FILLING POSITIONS OF TOWN EMPLOYMENT - POLICY 08-01
In accordance with the Wareham Home Rule Charter (7-8, 4-2, 6-5) and with general hiring principles, the following will be the established procedure for filling positions that become available within Wareham’s Town Government.
1.) Whenever a vacancy occurs, or is about to occur in any town office…or town employment, except for positions covered under the state civil service law or otherwise provided for under a collective bargaining agreement, the appointing authority shall, forthwith, cause public notice of such vacancy, or impending vacancy, to be posted on the town bulleting board….[7-8]
2.) The appointing authority shall also cause the vacancy, or impending vacancy, to be advertised in a local newspaper of general circulation within the town. It is the responsibility of the appointing authority to receive quotes to determine where the advertisement is to be placed. The advertisement need not appear in more than one edition.
3.) If the position is a department head or other salaried position, the appointing authority shall also cause the vacancy (or impending vacancy) to be advertised in a trade magazine and or trade website (such as the MMA.org). The vacancy shall be advertised for at least ten days.
4.) Any person who desires to be considered for appointment to the said office or employment may, within ten days following the date notice was posted, file with the appointing authority, a statement setting forth in clear and specific terms his qualifications for the office or employment. [7-8] If there is a discrepancy between the posting date and advertising date, the latter date shall be used in order to give the applicants the greater opportunity to apply.
5.) No permanent appointment to fill a vacancy in a town office or town employment shall be effective until at least fourteen (14) days have elapsed following such posting or advertising (the latter of the two) and until all persons who have filed statements shall have been considered. [7-8]
6.) Appointments made by the town administrator shall become effective on the fifteenth day following the day on which notice of the appointment is filed with the board of selectmen, unless the board shall within said period, by a majority of the full board, vote to reject any such appointment, or sooner to affirm it.[4-2(b)] Notice is considered given to the board of selectmen when a written statement is delivered to and stamped in as received by the selectmen’s office for each selectman.
7.) The notice shall include the name of the person to which the offer of employment was made and accepted by, the proposed contract specifics such as the title of the position, the wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment. All such contracts proposed by the town administrator shall be subject to final approval and execution by the board of selectmen [4-2(n)].
8.) All appointments and promotions in the town service shall be solely made on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competence and suitability to perform the duties of the office or the employment. [6-5] No town employee shall receive additional consideration for a position by virtue of their employment with the town.
Date adopted: May 6, 2008
WAREHAM BOARD OF SELECTMEN
__________________________________
James L. Potter, Chairman
__________________________________
Bruce D. Sauvageau, Clerk
__________________________________
Brenda Eckstrom
__________________________________
John P. Cronan
__________________________________
M. Jane Donahue
Last edited by DDPTRO (2011-04-03 00:18:54)
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