ASK YOURSELF! ARE THESE PEOPLE FOR REAL? Pay off frozen sick time? What the Hell is this. We just paid off John Gomarlo over $5,000.00 for frozen comp days. Are we Morgan Stanley Dean Witter or something? You either take them or lose them. Tell the selectmen to stuff this one.
Subject: 2 additional and 1 revisited $..........
1. Warrant Article ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of$18,340.00 to payoff frozen sick time for Town employees? (was$14,500.00) Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, 5-0.
2.ARTICLE 14 Are you in favor of raising and appropriating the sum of SixThousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for the support of The Winchester Learning Center, provided that the Winchester Learning Center raises an equal or greater amount from other sources? Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, 3-0, with 2 abstentions.
3.ARTICLE 15 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate up to$10,000.00 to reimburse the trust fund for the purchase a new boiler for the Conant Public Library? Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, 5-0.
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37 comments:
And the town cant help the poor old Thayer library????? The people down there just pulled off a wonderful Santa event for our children, too bad the library looks so awfull, You can call Ted whippie, Julia Ferrari and Dan Carr and tell them how you feel about them forcing that old building to look as bad as it does. Im know the phone #s are listed
All I can say is that this bunch must live in a fishbowl. Every agency, from the State on down is cutting back on just about everything under the sun and yet these people continue to add more and more spending to their agendas. Their cavalier attitude towards the taxpayers borders on criminal; their contempt for all of us is quite obvious in their mannerisms the way they continue this lunacy of adding more to an already over bloated budget. Perhaps we the people should put in our own warrant article, cutting the salaries of each employee in half and having them pay for their own insurance, as we do. Let's see how quick they are to add more spending to the budget when they lose their golden eggs.
As for the Thayer Library, kudos for their wonderful efforts in making it a great Christmas for the many underprivileged children we have in our town.
What the hell is frozen sick time,
.. just another phrase for 'bonuses"
It was actually for "any children birth to 10 rich or poor" but carry on
Frozen sick days are sick days the town employees accumulated over the years. This policy was recently changed, now town employees are not able accrue sick days, unlike the past where they could accrued as many as they had coming to them. No accountability was enforce then and it's questionable if there still is enough now, no one was minding the candy store. Like Shargent Sherman Tedford and Police Chief John Harrison had thousands of dollars in accrued sick time and demand payment when they retired. As our sources reveal the selectmen refused to pay them, these two filed court action for a settlement, an out of court settlement was reached. We still payed them generously. Our sources reveal also maybe there was something fishy about the amount of days these two accrued or the selectmen wouldn't have questioned it.
Now in these bad times the selectmen which includes ex-police officer Sherman Tedford Chairperson decided to clear the slated. We feel it is a conflict of interest with Sherman Tedford making a decision on this matter.
Check out our new sign on route 10 across from Shamrock Reality donated by a winchesterinformer supporter. We thank this person for their support. This past year has brought us hope, not the least of which has been giving a voice to the direction you and I would like to see our town take. We have a long ways to go.
It's easy to say "Someone should do something about it . . ." But it's far more difficult to accept that challenge and realize you are that "someone." And, if you will not do it, why should someone else do it? How can we expect them to?
You and I can no longer accepted the responsibility of letting our elected officials run our town with no checks and balances and oversight. We must get involved. This coming year before town election we will raised the issues that no one wanted to talk about. Together, we can made a difference. With your support will take back "our town"! Have a Merry Christmas from our families to yours.
Informer, you are correct when you question the sick time hours some of the employees have coming. Back years ago it was a joke how one employee didn't report his sick days so they kept piling up. There may not be anyone keeping track today.I have lost all faith in the credibility of most of the dept. heads and a couple of the selectmen.As the word keeps getting out thanks to you its going to get harder and harder to cover up things like this.Because of you things are starting to change, just ask a town employee when you see one.
It seems to be a fact that the taxpayers around this town are rich, with the high tax rate you pay.
Being that the tax rate is so high there must be a little money in the town budget for the poor old Thayer Library, did any one notice the look of the building lately?
Don't want to piss anyone off on Christmas, and i know the Thayer library crew do a great job, but we are one town,maybe one library is enough. Just a thought !
We will never be 1 town with attitudes like that
Winchester will never be a united town until there is some straightforward accountability by those we have elected and put in charge and the air of entitlement has been lifted from town hall. Until then, we will remain a town divided, torn apart by a town government that looks to enrich it's own coffers at the expense of the town's taxpayers.
Here's a message for the Selectmen at town hall. Keep showing your arrogance and keep the foolishness coming. If you actually think any one of us is going to vote for more spending in this town, besides your relatives and those town employees too afraid to lose their wonderful perk filled jobs, you are only fooling yourselves and showing your ignorance of not only the current fiscal situation the country faces, but the fact, that we as taxpayers and citizen's of Winchester are fed up with all of this unnecessary spending and are going to do something about it despite what you may think come March. We are growing in numbers and gaining support to remove those of you who are unwilling to listen to our voices.
Good for you Ashuelot Village people
Just please dont hurt the good things in our town out of anger.
And the Battle lines are forming.
May be good, may be harmfull.
Please think clearly before you vote or make a decision, we are a community with resposibilities, but we are also going broke as a community, try hard to find a balance
Thank You
"Viva La Ashuelot"
Our selectmen and budget commitee all have freinds and family in town so none of them sit on a panel with no personal agendas.
Just look at the favortism our town officials will show somebody like lets say "Bobs oil" that company can get away with anything because they know alot of people in town and have family freinds and employees in places of power This is how people insist we have a good ol boy society, either you are in or you are out. How can Leroy austin inforce codes on some people but totally ignor situations like on top of fenton hill....how does this happen????
this sight can cause harm and it can also bring things to light and do good
Think clearly and act responsibly
Just how is this blog, informing people of injustices and reckless behavior causing harm? These fine people are working their tails off to bring us, the taxpayers and citizens of Winchester all of the details of our town government's hidden agendas, their backroom dealings ( non-public meetings ) and outlandish salaries and other perks that we can ill afford. That some people in this town are benefiting from the suffering of others is disgusting and if this knowledge causes them personal embarrassment ( harm? ) so be it. They should be ashamed at what they have been doing. It's high time someone takes the high road and attempts to disclose these facts and put a stop to this out of control spending and wastefulness.
Explanation of frozen sick days for the Winchester Personal Policy Manual for town employees, link to it is on home page winchesterinformer.com. Effective June 8, 2005
E. Full-time employees are eligible for compensated sick time after the first thirty (30) days of continuous employment. Ten (10) sick pay will be allowed in one year (based on anniversary date.) Any not used sick days by the anniversary date will be compensated at half the regular rate of pay.
Exception: Any employees who has accumulated "frozen sick time" through a previous policy may use that time for catastrophic (extended) illness only. Whether or not an illness is "catastrophic" shall be determined by the board of selectmen. Any unused "frozen sick time" will be paid at the time of termination of employment at the rate of pay effect at that time.
The selectmen are asking us in a Warrant article to vote money to pay these employees against our own town policy. We say don't pay them, let them wait. Is this a way to for Sherman, Gus Ruth and Ted Whippie to give money to his town employee friends so they do not get upset about doing away the performance bonus?
This ten (10) sick days must be changed. Along with over 11 paid holidays, 4 weeks of vacation after 11 years, cloths, shoes, coffee, one helluva deal for them but not the tax payers.juffer
Because when angry mobs march down the road they sometimes burn the wrong places and miss the real causes of why they are angry to begin with
Thats what I mean buy my statement
Everyone should keep in mind that both of our libraries & the ELMM center have HUGE trust funds to pay for their up keep and maintenance. When the taxpayers vote to contribute more money to these buildings, it's just generosity and more taxes.
Just because Thayer hasn't been painted or maintained in years, doesn't mean that they can't afford too. THEY CAN! They have just put off doing it. And now meddling board members have screwed up the ability to get it done sooner.
So, don't be fooled into believing that the Thayer Library is neglected by the Town - it's the library board members that have been sitting on the funds and doing nothing.
RE: Frozen sick time - we would save a huge bundle if we the tax payers, moved that we drop or pay only half of our town employees health benefits. Very few companies pay everyone's full health benefits. We should either cut out excess employees from each department or cut back on their benefits! And a freeze on raises and/or bonuses. Bonuses go to those who have helped their company/town gain profits. Have any of our employees done this? NO! They just spend and spend and spend...
I wasnt discrediting anything
my observation was even when people post under anonymous said.... sometimes it is still clear as a bell whom they may be
If you look at my original statement (I think it has been removed...) I wasnt discrediting any one or any thing it was just a observation,
With that said I think this sight is becoming as guilty of half cocked statements, Wrong facts, and to much hearsay,as you say the "Town" is. It seemed to start with facts that people would research, now to me it seems like a angry mob (with such a high tax rate I dont blame you) but you have become what you started out to stop. the researching seemed to stop, alot of the statements being made are totally wrong and not backed up and harmfull to the good things about our town
this sight can continue to uncover "FACTS" and bring them to the light or it can wallow around in the lies and half truths that brought us into this mess to begin with
First off, this is a blog, started by a few people fed up with the way they were being treated at Planning Board meetings and the obvious pandering and preferential treatment given to some developers at the expense of the people here in town. Along the way people in town and in the know started sending in information or providing links to information showing just how many problems there are with our town government here in Winchester. We expanded the blog to provide this information for everyone and also started an alternate site with links to the very information we were posting and discussing. You'll find that the information in those original links has been altered or upgraded by the town, as they say. We're not responsible for the attitudes, or postings of others or the content of those posts. To accuse us of being guilty of posting "half cocked" statements, untruths etc. is poppycock. An uproar was made by one of the BOS members that some information that had posted was in error and as we confirmed that fact we contacted the poster and the info was corrected. All info posted by us has been checked, verified and when possible a direct link has been provided to it. We are not at all like those in charge at the town. We do not hide anything, nor will we refuse to answer a question or provide information when asked. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and thoughts and points of view, yourself included. We are still gathering facts on a number of topics and when we have all of the information and it has been verified it will become more topics for discussion. If you find fault or are offended by remarks made by others, then that is your problem and you have several choices. Stop visiting and reading what upsets you; post facts contrary to what you have read and help provide truthful information or sit back, point fingers and continue to put down those of us attempting to make a difference.
I have the facts about your half cocked statements, I do....
but just like you guys are finding out no one can do it alone.....
This sight started with facts, it really did, and I believed it.
But I have read minutes that go back as far as I can research, I really have....for BOS and BC and I tried very hard to understand the minutes for planning board and zoning board but I couldnt understand any of the language and I think that may be by design....I dont know. This sight has drifted away from the facts. I agree that the situation you are dealing with "RVD" will do no good for our town, NONE.and He kinda tried the same kinda of thing in my neighborhood on a smaller scale. but you have taken that platform, and started chest beating about the few good things that our community has.
I may be one of those guilty of seeing my opinions in print and thinking it would bring change, but it doesnt. but I know the counter you have on the home page does not show how many people log in to this sight several times a day giving you 1847 visitors at 3:10 am this morning I myself have probably logged in 500 of those times
with that in mind I fear this sight no more
I will go to the delibertive session with no fear
I will listen to warrent articles with no fear
you people will not be showing up in great numbers, no voters ever do.......I will venture that in all reality there is no more that 20 people "Discussing: or venting here
A selectmen of ours figured this out a couple of months ago and I should have followed suite
this place is not the place that will be bring change.......
see you in the election booth
I will never visit this sight again
Ashuelot Family said...
And I truelly still believe B Davis is logging in under many names to make this place look like it has alot of supporters all the language is the same mr informer
December 30, 2008 3:36 AM
Well that is your opinion and like one of the other team members has stated above, you are entitled to it. However, as one of the admins here with the ability to see the ip and mac address of each and every poster, I'll inform you that upon further review your silly accusations are unfounded. It would seem that you are on a mission to discredit this web site and the people who support it, just like Roberta Fraser attempted to do. As for the counter on the home page it is accurate to the number of people who stop by and read. It logs the ips and macs of each and every visitor and no matter how many times you may visit daily, it will only tally you once for the day. Your claim to have visited the site 500 times is absolutely false and for your information there have been over 1450 different ips logged showing
us that people in Winchester are interested in learning the facts.
That you didn't understand the words you read in the Selectman's or Budget Committee meeting minutes speaks volumes, just how are you going to make an informed decision if you don't even understand what you have read? I suppose someone down at town hall will tell you who and what to vote for come election day, very sad.
You must read and focus much better than you are...I said I cant understand Planning board and zoning language BOS and BC minutes are simple to digest, Here is a case of you turning things around and putting a spin on the truth to help your miss informed Winchester Informers
You are one royal pain in the arse and I doubt you are from the Village. Your ramblings make no sense and no one who responded to you tried twisting anything around either. Why these people even tried to explain anything to someone like yourself is beyond me, they truly are patient and forgiving people. Myself I would have sent you on your way. I see that you are truly a person of your word ( "I will never visit this site again" ) Why don't you just go away and bother someone else.
I think these web sights are the only way enough voters can find out what going on in town to make a decision come time to vote. We will never get enough people at the BOS meetings to change a thing. You can't say the warrant articles or the budget are false, its in black and white.If you enjoy being the 4th highest taxed town in the state,good for you. The people working for this town have never had to deal with this kind of scrutiny, and many don't like it.
The Anonymous poster above obviously is a person mad as Hell at us, the winchesterinformer for attacking the "quid pro quo" here in the town of Winchester. For those of you who do not understand what "quid pro qou" is, in broad terms it's favors or items that are traded and deals that are made among a circle of individuals in return for something of value. Usually the transaction is questionable and for economic gains.
This quid pro quo circle includes elected officials, employees of the town and their circle of friends within the circle, to say, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. What we the winchesterinformer are claiming is we have your game and we are going to expose you, your friends and the rest of the clowns that were elected to protect the citizens of Winchester.
Yes! I am not afraid to put my name on top and not hide under any other name. Yes! I know how to cut and paste too !
Frozen sick days maybe legitimately owed. I received a list of the town employees who have accrued frozen sick days from the town hall. Fred Benoit 440 hours at $8620.25, Wally Clough 432 hours at $8272.27 and Donald Corliss 60 hours at $1447.03. These are all long time employees It was our suspicion and others some money might have been owed to John Gomarlo. Not the case this time. The selectmen requested this money to clearing this off the records not the employees winchesterinformer still feels we shouldn't lump sum the money.
Holy crap, just give them the summer off, it would cut down on the coffee bill as well.
Regarding the list from Town Hall;
does it list the specific years that these days were accrued, just how far back does this "golden parachute" for town employees go? We'd be interested in seeing the payroll records of each of these employees who have accrued this time and comparing their payroll checks to time claimed. Not accusing anyone of anything, just interested in seeing the complete record and all of the facts. We also think that this practice of allowing people to keep unused sick time and them paying them for it is wrong and should be stopped immediately. This does not go on in the real world and should not continue in Winchester either. Also, it states in the handbook that these days should not be payed until such date of termination; therefore paying them early would be in violation of town policy. If the BOS can submit a warrant article to circumvent town policy by asking to pay them now, why can't we submit one to do away with this practice all together?
Hear! Hear!
if we wait to pay do they get paid for current hourly pay or the pay they were recieving at the time they accrued. Meaning is someone let sick time build up 8 years ago the hourly pay would be less then the hourly pay they recieve now.
Answer to the above Anonymous: The frozen sick days would be paid at this year's rate of base pay. According to town policy the selectmen do not have the right to lump wages this money. The selectmen should wait to their employment is severed as the town policy states. If the employee get sick between now and when they retire, the money will be there for the employee to use. It would be paid back as lost wages and would be money that is already in the budget.
These selectmen have shown their arrogance toward the people by circumventing the town policy when it fits their cause to many times, for an example paying John
Gomarlo comp pay., giving out 3 wage increases a year.A real disconnection with the wishes of the Winchester residents to stop wasting our tax dollars and filling the pockets of the town employees.
Talked to a couple of selectmen from area towns, they don't believe the BS that's going on in Winchester.Comp time from 2001, frozen sick time, you guys have a real problem is the response. Ask a selectman from another town why there police aren't doing detail work in Keene and the area, and they say, because we can't afford it.
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