Voters: Election of Mayor 'an oversight'

On Wednesday night, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held a meeting regarding Weaver’s Cove Energy's latest liquefied natural gas proposal to build an offshore berth for the unloading of LNG, which would subsequently travel through a four-mile-long piping system to the Weaver’s Cove facility.

While hundreds of people showed for the hearing, missing was Mayor Bob Correia or a representative of his office.

“I knew about the hearing but I had the School Committee (Wednesday) night, but to that extent I should have paid more attention to the hearing.” Correia said Thursday he did not send a staff member to the hearing either, but called that decision an “oversight.”

Despite not having a presence at Wednesday’s hearing, Correia asserted the defeat of any plans to locate an LNG terminal in Fall River remains one of his priorities.

Months ago, we heard Mayor Correia commit to the defeat of this LNG project when he met with the Coalition for the Responsible Siting of LNG (full video here).

Mayor Correia promised to "do everything I humanly/willingly can do to prevent it from happening, as the chief executive of this city." Yet, when FERC held its public hearing, he did not attend the meeting or even send a representative to deliver a statement for his administration.

Last year, $650,000 was appropriated to fund the legal battle against LNG. At this meeting the Mayor promised, "if more funds are necessary, I will go to the Council and request a transfer of funds." However, Mayor Correia didn't have to request additional funds from the City Council. Instead, the Mayor cut the budget for the legal defense from $650,000 in FY08 to $250,000 for FY09.

Sources:
Herald News article
Herald News editorial
FallRiverma.tv video

Mayor Burns and Blinky

+ =

As a former math teacher, I figured the equation above was the best way for Mayor Correia to understand that he is the personification of the animated character from The Simpsons,
C. Montgomery Burns.

Mr. Burns is best known for being the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. For Fall Riverites, the vision of power plants is very normal to us as we have two just across from the Taunton River. Although not an owner of a nuclear power plant, Mayor Correia does have his own ties to the energy industry with his ownership of a Citgo gas station.

So, let's begin with the comparisons....

Certainly, Mr. Burns has enough money to run for Governor. Similarly, Mayor Correia has no problem raising political funds. For last year's Mayoral election, the highest fundraising total came from state Rep. Robert Correia, who almost doubled the nearest competitor by raising $151,215. However, the best line of that clip comes from Homer, who says,"if you were Governor, you could decide what's safe, and what isn't." Haha, and that's exactly what Mayor Correia has done.

Sludge and fly ash at the landfill 1/8 mile from the water supply = safe
Cutting testing of wells near the landfill = safe
Cutting public safety departments that are already understaffed = safe
Decommissioning fire safety equipment = safe

Mixed martial arts = unsafe




As you may recall, when Mayor Correia first took office, he fired all of the department heads. Some have argued that one of the goals to remove the Fire Chief from Civil Service, is to create loyalty to the Mayor that may supercede public safety. As Homer clearly points out, it's certainly an incentive to vote for a candidate if it means it will retain employment. That's how Montgomery Burns and Bob Correia establish loyalty.

With the reintroduction of sludge and fly ash to the city's landfill, it won't be too long before someone catches a 3-eyed fish in Fall River's waterways.

Which will be followed by Mayor Correia's magnificent ability to spin an issue. Here's how Mayor Correia would respond if a 3-eyed fish was found in Fall River.

Fall River-tastic blogged: Mayor Correia was on WSAR Monday morning. Keri Rodrigues asked him about the contract fire chief and he started to answer (seemingly reluctantly) when Happy Hec interrupted:

HEC - If we could change the topic for a minute
BOB - I'm so tired of that topic

Mayor Correia is the master of spin. When the City Council chambers were filled with opponents of removing the Fire Chief from Civil Service, Mayor Correia said on the radio that he had only heard from 3 people on the issue. When 9,000 people signed a petition, and 7,500 signatures were certified, Mayor Correia proclaimed that the signatories didn't really know what they were signing! Wow, what disdain for the common man!

... and their views on democracy.

Do other Fall Riverites remind you of animated characters? Do you know good quotes that could apply to Fall River? Just leave the suggestions in the comments and I'll consider them for future posts.

Some of the clips were cut short by fractions of a second. I dont know why that is but I am new to cropping and uploading videos. I'll try to fix that for future posts.

Love that Dirty Water

The Fall River landfill is located 1/8 of a mile from the city's water supply, the North Watuppa Pond. As such, 30 wells had been tested four times a year to check the levels of chemicals and toxins in the water. However, the proposed FY09 budget will reduce the frequency of the tests. The new plan proposes to decrease testing of 30 city wells from four times to twice a year to save about $40,000.

Here's the best parts.....

Michael Coughlin, Department of Health and Human Services director, said he proposed the well-testing cutbacks because tests have been consistently safe and to save funds.

THE HEALTH DIRECTOR PROPOSED THE CUTBACKS IN TESTING !!!

Then (shockingly) President Joe Camara actually asked a thoughtful question.....

But when President Joseph D. Camara asked if Coughlin was aware the city proposed sending sludge back to the landfill, an eighth of a mile from the water supply, Coughlin said he was not.


Ok, so let me break this down....

The Health Director proposes cutbacks to the testing of the wells. A little bit odd, yes, but he didn't know at the time that sludge would return to the landfill. Once the Health Director learns that sludge will return, wouldn't a reasonable Health Director back off the recommendation to cutback the testing?

The city's position is that "sludge had been going to the landfill for 20 years until 2004,” Silva responded. Nothing went wrong all those years. What harm can occur by returning a little more sludge to the landfill?

During the interview with John Stossel regarding Mixed Martial Arts, Stossel pointed out injuries in different sports, including 25,000 kids who went to the emergency room because of cheerleading.

Mayor Correia's response: "So that logic would say let's now add another 25,000 in Mixed Martial Arts, that's ok, right?"

In other words, sports cause injuries, why add another sport that can cause more injuries?

Hmm, sludge at the landfill causes harm, why add more sludge that can cause more harm?

Isn't the Mayor's concern that there is no MMA governing body analagous to the diminished oversight of less well tests?


Let's hope that sludge doesn't return to the landfill and in the alternative, that it does not join a long list of idiotic decisions made by previous leaders of this city. Is it just me, or is placing the city's water supply in jeopardy an extremely stupid idea?

For a little more information about opposition to returning sludge and fly ash to the landfill, go here.

Home Run for Fall River

Nearly three years ago MassInc published an article titled "Rooting for the Home Team" in the pages of its Commonwealth Magazine.

"Red Sox Nation is still basking in the glow of its first World Championship year since 1918, but baseball fans are finding plenty of places other than Fenway Park to take in the national pastime. All over Massachusetts, minor-league baseball is booming."

"For small and, in most cases, struggling cities across the Commonwealth, having their own boys of summer has been seen as a boost, providing locals with an affordable night at the ballgame and residents of surrounding suburbs with a reason to venture into the city next door."With tickets priced at $5.50, $4 for parking, and $2 hot dogs, its affordable entertainment for Fall River families.

To me, a minor league baseball team in Fall River will do more for economic development than the arts overlay district or a restaurant row. Simply by the numbers, a baseball facility can attract more customers than the Narrows or other arts venues. A baseball stadium could also be a catalyst to neighboring businesses much like the pubs and restaurants that surround Fenway Park on a gameday. Working together, fans could watch a baseball game and then grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant after the game, or go listen to some live music nearby.



Over the team’s first three seasons, the Brockton Rox average attendance grew from 3,100 to 3,600 and then, last year, 4,000.

The attraction of minor league baseball has even caught the attention of New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang who has made no secret that he wants the Cape Cod Baseball League to expand to the city. New Bedford is very, very interested in a Cape expansion team, if the league is going to expand. "The city has a great deal of interest from other baseball entities. It's inevitable that we will have a team in the city. My preference is a Cape team."

Minor League Baseball in Fall River. Why not?

This was an afterthought to the post, but wouldn't a baseball stadium be a good fit for Fall River's newest company, Nokona Athletic Goods Co.. The new manufacturing facility at Airport Road includes a manufacturing center, where visitors can watch a bat made from start to finish. The facility is planned to include an outdoor baseball diamond and indoor batting cages to provide an opportunity to use the company’s bats.

Heck, if they are planning to build an outdoor baseball diamond already, how much harder could it be to build 3,000+ seats?

However, to multiply the positive benefits of economic development, the newest tenant of the Industrial Park may have to be enticed to relocate along the waterfront or along Interstate 195. There are several remaining Quaker properties that are sufficiently large (8, 15 acres) to include a manufacturing facility, baseball stadium and parking. In comparison, Campanelli Stadium (Brockton Rox) and the Shaw’s Conference Center are sited on a five acre parcel of land that was part of the Brockton High School campus.

What better way to market a baseball bat brand than to baseball fans at Nokona Field?

If only FROED would deliver the pitch...

Boston Beer Hangover

Last year's budget included anticipated revenue from the expected new Boston Beer Co. brewery to be built in Freetown. Fall River officials had anticipated $1.2 million in sewer revenues and $1 million in water funding for the current year. As we know, there is no new brewery in Freetown, as Boston Beer Co. chose to relocate to an existing brewery in Pennsylvania. The anticipated revenues never materialized, and the budget was flawed.

After Boston Beer announced its decision, Terrance J. Sullivan, city administrator of public utilities, listed $2.2 million in water and sewer department cuts his department would make to offset the revenue that will no longer be coming in.

Asked whether the city made a mistake by expecting a revenue stream that could disappear, Terry Sullivan said, "I think it was a choice between alternatives we had. One alternative was dramatic cuts in services, or the other a significant rate increase." "In retrospect, I wouldn't have made that decision," Terry Sullivan continued. "Based on the information we had at that time, I think it was a reasonable decision."

The addition of anticipated revenues in the budget was universally criticized.

Learning from the past mistakes, some current City Councilors are trying to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Among the concerns of councilors Steven Camara, Raymond Hague and Leo O. Pelletier is Correia’s decision to include $5 million in revenues expected to be collected through the passing of a new CSO/stormwater fee, which would charge users based on the size of impermeable surfaces on their property. The trio of councilors said that because the ordinance had yet to receive council approval, it they would be taking a dangerous step to approve a budget that includes fee-related money.

Mayor Correia argued the council took a similar step last year when it approved a budget that included funds the city expected to receive through an agreement with the Boston Beer Co., which at the time was planning to build a facility in Freetown.

(See comment above about universal criticism of anticipated revenues in budgets)

A meeting of the council’s Ordinance Committee is also scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday to address the CSO/stormwater, sewer and water rate proposals.

Ordinance Committee members and anticipated vote:

Ray Hague - Chairperson No
Pat Casey Yes
Michael Lund Yes
Leo Pelletier No
Linda Pereira Yes

Congratulations, you will now be charged for the amount of rain that falls on your property.

Kozak on the Budget

In a year where:

• The budget cuts include significant cuts in funding for education
  
• Public safety is being cut by 31 positions (16 fire, 15 police)
• Fire equipment is being decommissioned and existing equipment will be rotated
• Sludge may return to the landfill 1/8 from the water supply
• The budget includes $5 million in the new CSO fee which is yet to be approved.

What budget item has raised the concern of Councilor Tom Kozak?

Councilor Kozak is upset that DPW pays $8,000 for meteorological services so that DPW can have multiple sources besides the National Weather Service to plan for inclement weather such as snow storms. The Director of Public Works Ken Pacheco justified the expenditure because inaccurate weather information can cost the city money if DPW reacts too soon or too late.

Is this is the item that this City Councilor felt the need to express his displeasure?

Cutting teachers, cutting public safety, adding sludge to the landfill, BUT keeping meteorological services, that's where Councilor Tom Kozak draws the line!

Audit Questions: Unquestionable

I hope Mayor Lambert has an insurance policy to cover the number of times he's been thrown under the bus recently.

In 2005, voters in a November election overwhelmingly called for the state auditor to do “an independent comprehensive financial audit.” The vote was 8,073 to 3,050.

Lambert readily acknowledged he did not support a need for an audit. Reluctantly, Lambert sent a letter to (State Auditor) DeNucci with the wording of a nonbinding referendum ballot.

DeNucci, in a Dec. 13, 2005, letter to Lambert, wrote that his office “is statutorily restricted concerning audits of local governments.” He said the office’s resources are dedicated to oversight of state agencies and those doing business with state government.

If the State Auditor responds to a request and says that they cannot perform the audit, what was Mayor Lambert to do?

He said, however, passage of Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2003 did authorize “certain local government audits when requested by local officials.” He said Lambert only referred to the non-binding referendum in a single letter. DeNucci responded to the letter and left the door open for further dialogue. “If he had gone back and gotten a vote (from the City Council), we would have considered it."

So Mayor Lambert's letter requesting the audit was procedurally deficient because it did not have the support of the City Council.

• Was Mayor Lambert aware of the process, but chose to send a letter to ensure that the request would be denied?

• Did the State Auditor inform Mayor Lambert of the proper procedure to request an audit?

• If Mayor Lambert reasonably believed that the State Auditor was restricted from performing the audit, why would he continue "further dialogue?"

• Did City Councilors know that an audit required their approval?
  
• If so, why didn't they pass a resolution and appropriate funds?
• If not, why didn't they do their homework?

Why did we pay $30,000 - $50,000k for a report when we could have received a substantially similar report for free?

Financial management reports are provided as a free service to municipalities. Based on the review of documents, procedures and on interviews with local officials and staff, the DLS (Division of Local Services) Technical Assistance team arrives at observations, conclusions and recommendations to help improve financial operations.

In January 2006, the then incoming Mayor of New Bedford, Scott Lang, requested a free financial management review from the Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services. That report reviewed financial management and budget, management information systems, CFO/Treasurer/Collector's Offices, City Auditor's Office, and the Assessing Office.


The Audit Report from the State Auditor can be found here.

I don't know what we learned for $30,000 - 50,000, that we could not have learned for free.

Now the precedent is set, new elected officials trash former elected officials with reports by other government agencies, while we pay for all sides of the battle. I can see it now already, a future report from the DEP questioning the sanity of placing sludge 1/8 of a mile from the water supply , or perhaps the DoE report on how the cuts to education reversed a positive trend in the city.