Arrogance in Government of The People Does Not Belong in Town

Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been in Stoneham since 1954 and have seen many people of our community be very willing to serve in political office due to the fact they felt they would represent we the people who supplied the money to run the Government , its Schools , Fire and Police and the Public Works and be good stewards of our hard earned money with due diligence and respect.
They, for the most part themselves were hard working people who came from all walks of life from Executive to the Janitor who shut the lights off at night. Yes, they belonged to a Political Party and even changed them once in awhile as they saw fit. But all the while; first and foremost they were good citizens who attended the same churches, meetings, movies, and all the common celebrations of our Town of Stoneham.

For many years over the decades, as they served they always felt that at the end of each Budgeted year , if monies which were appropriated by the vote of the People's hands rising at Town Hall that with with good luck, too conservative estimating, , New Growth, or Government Aid ; it should be an aid for the 'Next' Fiscal year against the growth of taxes and inflation of standard needs of our Town.

Some of this 'extra cash' was indeed put away for many Rainy Days which is Prudent to do.

But they 'always' recognized it was 'not' the Government's money or anyone outside of our community's. It simply is and always was the dollars of the people.

But the last few years much has changed and this town we cherish in all of our many ways , a certain 'attitude' of "I could care less' about how the Taxpayers feel and " We, with this surplus are not going to give ONE DIME back" to cover even a Portion of any FEE schedule which was actually planned on a Temporary basis to 'aid' ourselves in a disadvantage time as a 'sacrifice' and being true Patriots of our land.

I have studied the new Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Proposal and I was shocked to see the complete Arrogance and disrespect for the taxpayers of this community. Sitting on the table presently is our 'overpayment' of Fees and Taxes from last year due to many factors of $ 3.4 Million dollars.
Already in the Budget is over One Half of that money for 'Capital ' without even being discussed at one Selectman's meeting on Television as it is a Secret shared by little boys and girls so we cannot comment or complain.
On top of that , in the Town Meeting Warrant there is an Article asking for another $ 1.5 Million more in 'Capital' !.. I do not know what the hell is going on in this Town with people as Selectman Wilson, Selectwoman Shelly MacNeil and a very Liberal New Town Administrator and Town Accountant who evidently never saw a Dollar they did not want to go to the Government ! We have to 'teach' them and 'discipline them at Town Meeting.

Also in the Budget is more 'Arrogance' in regard to the new Unicorn Golf Course Contract. An amount of $ 10,000 to trim and cute Trees down. There's also another $ 25,000 to Re do a Sand Trap ! We are also paying $ 67,000 per year to pay for a $ 520,000 Irrigation Pipeline.
On Top of that, the Contract is written to give the Vendor 'Sterling Management' a water discount of almost $ 45,000 which we should be getting as Revenue. !
It's very 'curious' that the Tree Contract is exactly $ 10,000 and $ 9999 for 'coincidentally' $ 10,000 is the 'amount' where WE pay. If we pay $ 10,000 and over..I'd make them pay the 'first' $ 9999.99 !

These FEES which we taxpayers pay all over our town include Sports Fees, Band, and more which our Government Officials gave us a 'Sneak Attack - self' designed to Go Around Proposition 2 1/2 passed as a State Law in the 1980's.

They were never meant to be permanent but now we , very unfortunately have Three members of our current Board of Selectmen as well as our New Town Administrator seeming to go along with them , probably due to the fear of these people relieving him.

Mr. Anthony Wilson is a very able and glib smooth speaker who somehow feels that every single dollar appropriated belongs , in his mind, to the Government and these Fees, which are supposed to be Temporary are permanent !

Mr. Wilson would be well informed to go back just a few years ago when , in the years of 2012 and 2013, in the TOWN REPORTS that the Town Administrator wrote that 'Due to the 'large' FREE CASH ' Surplus' that the TRASH FEE is going to be Reduced." We now have over $ 3.3 Million and Mr. Wilson in absolute selfish Coldness towards the fine citizens who have supported him as Ms. Shelly MacNeil and Chairman George Siebold.

What he does not somehow understand is that HE is not permanent ! He wants to treat we the people as Pack Donkeys until we croak from the burden of his very arrogant mind as well as the other two members who are also against you ladies and gentlemen.

Ms. Shelly MacNeil has a State Government position at the State House and Mr. George Seibold is also a former Government employee as well and worked as a Guard at the State Prison. In the next Election, another fine lady Ms. Raymie Parker is running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen and she is Another Government Employee. Everyone has a right to run for any office they choose as all are Taxpayers the same as you and I.

My Worry is, when you have three Government Employees on ONE BOARD; that they will have to Leave the room so much during the meeting the Swinging Door may act as a Fan and give the audience Pneumonia !..

It is easy to see and visualize that having money available to these three Government Infatuated people is as them feeling as ' Wylie The Coyote' being appointed Night Watchman' of Free Range Chicken !

We can at least be Thankful that Ms. Caroline Colarusso is on this Board, as she always has in private life fighting with a vigor for us that probably matches our U.S. Marines on Mt.Suribachi . She is unceasing in her efforts to return money that is actually ours and , as strong as my Military Mind can espouse, WE and only WE should decide where and how our $ 3.3 Million Dollars or any Portion of it should be spent.

I served on the Board of Selectmen during the 1970's after serving as President of the Emerson PTL ; with great citizens many of you well know . I was proud with Ms. June McTaggart, and Mr. Paul Means to save the wonderful Senior Center from destruction. I changed the Election Day from Monday to Tuesday and I changed the Month of the Election from March to April. We then wrote the present 'Public Drinking Law' for the Safety of our Town as we walk our streets.

My legislation to increase our fine Town Employees Health Coverage from ' Major Medical Blue Cross/Shield to Master Medical' to better protect the Asset we know as 'Town Employees.

Thankfully my Board was in agreement of my new By Law give the Brave Stoneham Firemen the more comfortable ' 4 and 2' working shifts which gave them the rest and energy they needed and more time with their families.

I had lights installed on the very dark road from the Swimming Pool to Marble Street so that People could walk or Jog at nighttime. I mention these things we did back then because those are the ways public officials are 'supposed to feel' about their citizens.

It displeases me greatly that Men as Selectman Wilson, Selectman Siebold, and Selectperson Shelly MacNeil are taking the position they are as it speaks as that is how they are going to treat us in the future as they serve, and Ms. Caroline Colarusso is not as she has worked diligently and honestly on our behalf.

Please , on Election Day cast YOUR VOTE for this Remarkable Woman ; ' CAROLINE COLARUSSO'

Ladies and Gentlemen; as you enter the halls of the Town Hall there is a plaque placed there long ago in full view of your eyes and it states : " Respected, is the Voice of The People".

I do not believe that these three people who are evidently on the side of Wylie The Coyote, understand that sign and come when they want to run for reelection, there is a sign we should give to them which their arrogant minds deserve.
I and others did not wear the uniform of our country to have such uncaring and selfish Government minded people . I know they are reading these words I am presenting and to them I say the following just as I did at a place called ' 666 Summer Street in South Boston, Mass so long ago around 6 A.M. in my underwear looking straight at a beautiful flag of Red, White, and Blue; " I Will Defend my Country and its Citizens; From 'All'Enemies both Foreign and Domestic'. I remember like it was yesterday ladies and gentlemen.

I do not remember the word 'Until'. It shall never be Over. The Taxpayers of this land have loved me and my family for Decades and I'm not going to resign until that Flag warms me ; for the Last Time.
'So Help Me God.'

Frank Pignone
2 Gigante Drive
Stoneham, Mass.