Selectmen Did Not Address Colarusso's Concerns

To the Editor:

Watching the December 18^th Board of Selectmen meeting, I was deeply disappointed. Having recently paid my water bill, and with utility bills like electricity going up significantly our Selectmen must work towards controlling costs and closing examining the use of public dollars in order to keep Stoneham affordable. It puzzles me that in watching the Board of Selectmen meeting this week that the Chairman didn’t allow two agenda items proposed by Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso to be placed on the agenda.

Caroline has fought to bring long overdue accountability to town government for which she has been met with much resistance. The two items Colarusso was not allowed to place on the agenda were: 1. The Stoneham Snow and Ice Budget, and 2. Work hours of DPW department employees assigned to the MWRA project. I agree that town residents should know in detail and well in advance of town meeting about the shortfalls in the snow and ice budget, and not just show up and be expected to vote on hundreds of thousands of dollars with no back up documentation. Secondly Colarusso is charging that any work hours incurred by the MWRA project should not come out of our water and sewer enterprise funds. Colarusso called for more transparency regarding these two cost drivers for taxpayers and rate payers. She further stated that using these workers on the MWRA project that has no benefit to Stoneham and will serve to deplete the funds. Mrs. Colarusso has fought hard to lower the rates, and she is continuing to fight for us.

Why would the Chairman of the Board, George Seibold, oppose bringing these 2 items to public view and scrutiny? It doesn’t make sense as these items fall under direct purview of the Board in protecting our tax dollars and bringing accountability to government.

Paul Armano, Landers Road