Vendetta

The members of the finance committee publicly supported Laura Allen for selectman in the last election. Bruce Turner and Charlie Flynn don't like that. They don't think finance committee members should be able to express their support for a candidate. If this indefensible position were just an electioneering ploy, it would be reprehensible but transitory. But Turner and Flynn are on a vendetta against the finance committee. Don't believe it? Listen to their own words, spoken at the most recent selectboard meeting, well after the election:

Bruce Turner:

"I’ve got a concern that I’d like to make . . . . It troubles me that we have a finance committee that’s more concerned about the politics of this town rather than the business of this town. I also think it’s very unfortunate that they attack members of the board and members looking to be elected to the board because of the jobs we possess. As you know, we live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of good jobs around, and having a good job working with the school district I think is as good a job as any of the manufacturing jobs and a lot better than the manufacturing jobs in the area because we don’t have manufacturing in this area. We’ve become a very service-oriented community. . . . I’m deeply concerned and deeply troubled with the finance committee that we have now and I’m making that as an expression of my concern tonight."

Charles Flynn:

"As people may or may not be aware, because of the actions of the finance committee I have filed an ethics complaint with the state of Massachusetts as well as an open meeting law complaint with the state of Massachusetts. I would like to have a good relationship with this finance committee because I think it’s critical that the selectboard and the finance committee work closely together. If one were to look at the bylaws and look at Massachusetts general laws, the finance committee is an independent body that is to look after the finances of the town. And as Bruce said, it’s not a political body. I think those boundaries were stepped over during the election. Consequently, I do not feel that the current reappointees are people that I can support. . ."

P.S.: (1) No one on the finance committee attacked anyone "because of the jobs they possess." The members just pointed out their concern about the conflict issues that will arise if we have two selectmen who are closely affiliated with our schools. And they were right: those conflict issues have already arisen because of the rejection of the school budget and the school bond issue by two of the towns in our school district. And they'll keep arising, meaning we'll have only one independent selectman to protect the taxpayers and two who will often have to recuse themeselves, or worse. (2) The business of the town is somehow separate from the politics of the town? Not in this universe. (3) There is nothing in law or logic that makes one board or committee a "political body" and another one not. Where do they come up with this stuff? (4) Flynn's two complaints are specious. Town counsel has previously told the selectboard that muzzling the political views of town position holders violates their first amendment rights; and there was no violation of the open meeting law because the finance committee never met on the subject of Laura's candidacy. (5) The qualifications of the current members of the finance committee are really impressive. We're lucky to have them. Turner and Flynn just want people they can push around.