Board Asked to Unclog Info Pipeline

Resident Bill Dowd--who sparked heated debate at Town Meeting in May with his proposals to slash municipal health care expenses--pleaded with Selectmen Tuesday to help him get information he has been seeking since his proposals were defeated.  

"I'm doing what people urged me to do," Dowd said, noting that one criticism of the articles he brought forward was that he had not worked cooperatively with town boards and committees. "But it seems to go nowhere. Nothing seems to happen."

Among the items Dowd said he has requested from town officials is a "memorandum of agreement " he said was signed on May 9--the night of Town Meeting--between the town and the police union, which he said lays out the parameters of a new three-year contract. 

Dowd acknowledged that he has seen the contract itself, but wants a copy of the agreement, which he said likely contains different language. 

Dowd said he has also asked for information pertaining to the stipends and hourly wages that the town's call firefighters receive. He said all he has seen is a memo outlining a proposal for firefighter pay. "Call firefighters seem to be the only employees where it's not written down anywhere what they are paid," he said. 

The Shaw Farm Road resident acknowledged that he has not filed a Freedom of Information Act request, a process that triggers time frames for responses. "I've never had to do that before," he said.  

In contrast to his frustrations in obtaining municipal information, Dowd said when he asked School Superintendent Bradford Jackson for a copy of the recently ratified contract with the local teachers union, he had a response the same day and the information itself just a few days later. 

"I'm pleading with you to help me get that information," Dowd said. 

Selectmen said they would ask Town Administrator Paul LeBeau to look into the matter when he returns from vacation.  

Also Tuesday night, selectmen: 

- Voted to open the warrant for the Fall Town Meeting, which will be held on Oct. 24 at 7:30 in the auditorium at Holliston High School. The warrant will close on Monday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.  

- Appointed Edward Dooley to the Website Review Committee. Dooley is an HHS graduate who had worked with a Web company in Washington, D.C. and also had a hand in running social media operations for statewide campaigns.  

- Approved an event permit for the 30th annual Mudville Block Party on Sept. 10.  

- Accepted the resignation of Gordon Johnson from the Finance Committee. Selectman Jay Leary called Johnson a "heavy hitter" who will be "sorely missed." Anyone interested in filling the vacancy should contact the Board of Selectmen's office.