Colarusso Responds To Criticism From Board Chair

A Letter To The Editor from Caroline Colarusso, candidate and current member of the Board of Selectmen:

While I am deeply disappointed by George Seibold’s letter, I am not surprised. I don’t work for the insiders or those who want to protect the status quo. I work for you. My obligation is to the people who elected me.

I know the transparency I have worked hard to provide has made some other elected officials uncomfortable, but it was the right thing to do. Whether it was exposing the artificially raised water rates, lowering the trash fee, or fighting to hold line against tax increases, it has been taking all the slings, arrows, and smears.

In keeping my campaign promise I publicly exposed the highly inappropriate misallocations of work unit
to the water and sewer enterprise fund. These same improprieties were outlined by the Finance and Advisory Board when it realized most of an entire department at one point was being paid out of water and sewer while not performing water and sewer related work. This practice is strictly prohibited under the rules that govern enterprise funds. As a result of these misallocations, water rates were artificially inflated which was acknowledged at the June 9, 2015 Board of Selectmen meeting when 2 senior town officials referred to these misallocations as a so called “Accounting Practice.”

Unlike the false picture painted by Mr. Seibold, this improper practice was further substantiated by
the official town audit which was available to be viewed on the Town of Stoneham Website that which supports that there is no system to accurately record work hour allocations within the water and sewer.
Immediately after the official town audit was submitted at the May 9, 2016 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, I asked for an independent investigation into the water and sewer accounts. That initiative was voted down 3-2. That was a vote against transparency, and as a result there was no investigation.

If no wrongdoing was taking place within the water and sewer accounts, why would our new Town Administrator state in public meetings that he is making the corrections in the water and sewer accounts by placing employees back into proper functions that more accurately reflect their work.

Our reserves were healthy and at the time of the rate reduction. Our former town accountant, Donald Piatt, attended a Board of Selectmen’s meeting to discuss the enterprise funds, specifically water and sewer and stated that there were “healthy reserves” which can be used for many items including lowering the rates. We were just informed this week that our current water and sewer retained earnings were certified at a healthy $511,855 in Water and $930,426 in Sewer. That’s left over after you pay the town for water and sewer.

Lastly, what really triggered me to make public the misallocations within the water and sewer funds in
addition to the public admission on Stoneham TV was that these same people despite what had been
exposed had the audacity to plan to raise your rates by $1.00 using the Gelatin plant closing as a political
prop to tell you that the money was needed. I dug my heels in to fight for you and I acted.

With respect to the trash fee, 3 years ago I ran on a promise to fight to lower town fees, and I have kept
that promise. My actions are a consistent of a 3-year battle to lower fees including trash. I believe the
trash fee is too high, and so did the members of a prior board who voted with me to lower it. The town
now subsidizes over $500,000 in trash expense due to our incremental and continuous reductions in the
fee. For a full description of the financials on the trash fee, please visit my column from a few weeks
ago at Stoneham Patch under bulletin board entitled “Elected Leaders Should Keep their Promises.”

The towns people have been patiently waiting for the temporary trash fee that was instituted during a
financial crisis to be repealed. But the business as usual crowd have other plans for your money, and that doesn’t include giving it back.

In the meeting where the motion was made by me to eliminate the fee, free cash was discussed as an option and contrary to Mr. Seibold it was introduced as a nonrecurring item for FY 2019. Mr. Seibold falsely stated propaganda piece misspoke when he stated that I introduced this a a recurring cost. I introduced it as a one-time relief effort for Stoneham residents.

Mr. Siebold apparently believes in free speech only if he agrees with the point of view. The references
to social media posts on my Facebook page regarding Board of Selectmen votes are accurate and expose
members for their actual voting records. The people deserve transparency. George and 2 other
Selectmen voted against elimination of the trash fee. Mr. Siebold’s remarks towards me on social media
are inappropriate. Nevertheless, I have a job to do and a few hate filled social media post won’t stop
me.

As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Seibold has abused his power by blocking mine and others member’s
agenda items, being heavily critical of those who disagree with him, used intimidation tactics by
publishing lies and exaggerations about his political opponents, and just two meetings ago attempting to
deny my ability to speak during public comment as a private citizen. We are supposed to be practicing
democracy not a dictatorship.

Rather than short term political stunts, I’ve brought long overdue political change to our town and am
proud of my antitax and fee record and standing up for Stoneham residents. My record on the board for
the last 3 years has contributed to the largest free cash surplus our town has ever seen while at the
same time fees were lowered and the line was held against higher taxes. Small business growth has
been a priority for me as well as keeping Stoneham affordable for our seniors and welcoming young
families to our schools and neighborhoods. Banning pot shops was a top priority for me this year, and I
patiently worked with my colleagues to draft a general by law everyone was comfortable with, and was
supported at Town Meeting.

If you would like to get involved and volunteer or would like a lawn sign and help me spread my positive
message, please contact me at CarolineColarusso@gmail or by phone at (781) 438-5720.

Photo by Bob Holmes