New Signs, Same Opinions For Reading's Neary

The April override vote has presented its share of challenges to Doug Neary, starting with his signs.

In October 2016 his home on Village Street had two, each urging residents on their way to Market Basket or Home Depot, etc., to vote no. In a town with front lawns filled with "Yes For Reading" lawn signs, Neary's message stood alone for much of the override season, which ended with the town voting overwhelmingly no to the $7.5 million request.

But after the latest override was made official by Reading Selectmen last month the town quickly reminded residents about the sign bylaw, which included a reference to allowable sizes. Neary's old signs were now deemed too big. But that problem has been solved and his two new signs say loud and clear how he feels about the town's $4.15 million override. "Look closer where your money is being spent before you vote" reads one. The other is more succinct. "Vote No Again April 3."

Another challenge came last week when his signs were almost buried by Reading's two feet of March snow. After digging out his driveway, he trudged across his front lawn and dug out his signs. If you get stuck at a red light in front of his home, Neary wants to make sure you can see them.

As you've probably figured out by now, despite the town's efforts to be more transparent and despite the much lower override figure, Neary is still going to vote no.

"Absolutely. I think they need someone with some business experience in there to say your bottom line is too fat. In my situation we have shareholders to answer to," said Neary, 56, of his 35 years working for National Grid. "Who does the town answer to? There's got to be some kind of responsibility. I find the spending is just out of control."

A month ago Neary paid a visit to Town Clerk Laura Gemme. He asked for a list of every town employee and their positions. He also asked for the employees date of hire and when the position was created. Gemme emailed him a list with every town employee, from Coolidge teacher Ursula Abad all the way to Birch Meadow speech pathologist Jennifer Zurcher. But as for the other request, because of the time involved in looking up those records, it would cost Neary $1,150.40. He settled for the list.

"I think there's a lot of fat in the town," said Neary after combing thru the 36-page document. "I read one article that said we're going to lose 11 teachers. Well, we don't hear about cuts at DPW, we don't hear about cuts at Town Hall. They like to put the young parents into panic mode and say we're going to lose teachers. But they don't talk about any of the other departments where cuts can be made."

Neary looked at the list of more than 1,500 town employees and highlighted what he called redundancies and what he felt were new positions. Assistant Assessor, Assistant Facilities Director, Senior Administrative Assistant in Operations, Senior Administrative Assistant Police, Office Assistant, Administrative Specialist, Senior Administrative Assitant in Core Facilities, GIS Administrator, HS Jazz Band Advisor, Assistant Fire Chief, Assistant Treasurer, Procurement Officer, the list goes on, all positions that felt the wrath of Neary's highlighter.

"The mindset of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee is that if we don't have the money we'll just go to the taxpayers and we'll get it. If you're in a budget crisis, don't you look where you can cut spending? Is there anybody on the Finance Committee with a calculator and some business experience? Any of the Selectmen? I think there's a mindset that they don't care. They'll just come to the taxpayers. But I think they got caught with their pants down. Everybody was outraged by the amount last time. They want to add police and firemen. Somebody has to explain to me why."

Does Reading need five more policemen and four more firemen as the override asks? "I don't think so," said Neary, who's lived in town his entire life, including 20 years on Village Street.

Neary isn't one to hide. He's been to numerous Reading committee meetings, has friends in the DPW and the police force, and as recent as last week went to an override meeting at the Senior Center. He's spoken to former Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner as well as current Town Manager Bob LeLacheur. He's had his share of issues with the town as well, from the overly bright lights when Market Basket first opened behind his house to a dispute involving a permit to build a deck on his home. Neary knows his way around town and town hall, and his eyes are always open.

"When I went by that water leak, we've got our [National Grid] crews down to 2-3 people for natural gas leaks. I went by that job, there was at least eight guys there ... not to mention the amount of trucks, vehicles, backhoe. Is that necessary? I don't know."

Neary also feels duped by the override that passed in 2003.

"Fifteen years ago they said we needed an override to maintain services at their current level. I remember that quote in the paper. Ok, you sold me. And a year later they had created an assistant town manager's position. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth," said Neary.

"You think you're trusting these people and I'm sure everybody who's saying vote yes, they've got the concerns of the town. But my taxes have more than doubled in 20 years. They're just not selling it to me. They're saying they want to add. They're not saying they want to maintain. Again, they're told to panic, look over here at schools. But there are just so many other areas. Town Hall, I don't see a lot of people wiping their brow in Town Hall. I don't mean it to be critical but I think there's a lot of fat."

Mention the word trust and sitting in his kitchen, Neary dishes out his bottom line.

"I think the town is rampant with mismanagement. That debacle at the high school ... $6 million. In my world there's blood on the floor for $6 million. Heads roll. I do not see accountability with Selectmen and the Finance Committee."

You may have noticed that Neary has an extra sign at his home. A third, stuck in a snow pile at the end of his driveway, was dropped off at his door by an anonymous person just before our last snow storm. He appreciated the extra sign but wished there was one more. His mom lives on South Street and she needs one too.

Photos by Bob Holmes