During the August 26th BOS workshop meeting, Dale Gray asked that their record reflect the following;
That the Town of Winchester Highway Dept. did not work on or near the van Dyke property on Route 10 last week. The LeClair property, next to Van Dyke, may have had silt washing that caused the runoff, not the Van Dyke property. Dale states he would never do any work on the Van Dyke or State property without prior BOS approval. Dale is concerned that budget time is coming up and some citizens are making damaging and untrue remarks about Town employees, around town and on the Winchester Informer. Bob Gray, responds the employees of Winchester need to do their jobs with integrity and fulfill our fiduciary responsibilities to the people of this town
fact:
It seems this topic really upset our Highway Supt., Dale Gray, so much so that he complained to the BOS during the August 26th workshop meeting. He was angered that this website had posted information that was later to be found inaccurate and was corrected. Yet, he then claimed that the sand and silt that was clogging the spillways and drains that the NHDOT cleaned out last week, actually came from the lot next to Van Dyke's construction site, owned by the LeClaire's. The truth of the matter is, the amount of sand at the bottom of the spillway coming down from the LeClaire's property wouldn't fill a wheelbarrow, never mind two dump trucks and never reached the drain in question, some 300 feet away and uphill from the spillway. Nor did it reach the drain, less than 25 feet away next to his driveway that the state didn't bother to clean out and which is still filled with water. This is because the sump in front of Shamrock Realty is still clogged with the sand that ran off Van Dyke's through the drains and under the highway, clogging the drains and spillways across the street that the state returned to and cleaned out the following day and also created a catch basin to try and stop more sand from covering the forest floor to the right of the old rail bed. Perhaps Mr. Gray should also double check and get his facts straight or perhaps we should look for another Highway Supt. if he can't tell that all of the erosion on Van Dyke's site is the cause of all this mess. I find it highly suspect that after a complaint and pictures were submitted to the Planning Board at a compliance hearing on this matter, less than a week later the NHDOT is observed cleaning out the area mentioned in the complaint and yet did not clean out the drains before or the spillway just after Van Dyke's site. Make's you wonder just what forces are at work here. I also wonder why our Highway Supt. is out on Route 10, looking at drains and spillways if he's not involved?
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12 comments:
Poor Dale, he doesn't like the scrutiny his department is under; poor performance, overspending and over an hour or more for lunch every day. Not to mention the wear and tear on equipment or the extra fuel used while making lunch break trips back to the highway barn for lunch. This bunch is costing us many thousands of dollars a year in wasted time and maintenance fees and he's complaining? How about explaining the fiasco with the dump body on OUR town truck, Dale, 11 grand to replace it because of stupidity. Why shouldn't we be upset and asking question?
This Dale guy should be worried about the budget comm.,when you send out a little truck when cutting brush and a big truck with two guys and a spray can to mark man holes some one should be asking questions.And about the lunch thing,hwy is not the only dept getting an hour plus, check out water, lunch is a 1/2 hour from stop work to start work every where but Winchester.
Are there any checks and balances in this town?
With wages and benefits of around $74,000 a year, no commute time or expense, i think Mr. Gray can buy his own crying towel. The average Winchester resident that drives to Keene to work makes about $37,000 a year. And most of them are expected to produce and stay with in timed lunch and break guidelines.
As far as checks and balances in Winchester go, the answer is no but i have a feeling its about to change.
With John Gomarlo to do the heavy thinking and paper work and Don Corliss to get the work done, whats left for Dale? Maybe he could run the grader when Fred retires. With Rick running water and sewer, tax collector on part time, one an a half people in accounting we could save a ton of tax dollars. The school, now that's another BIG problem that may never be solved. It would take a total tax payer revolt.
How many employees are working for our highway dept? I hear there is one that was hired to drive a truck; but doesn't have a license and failed the test when he took it. Shouldn't applicants be required to have the proper credentials and qualifications before they are hired?
Would seem to me that there's more problems than meets the eye with this dept and it's person in charge.
I think its the new guy a water that can't pass the test, he needs to help plow snow.
In reading the Aug 26th BOS workshop meeting you can find this quote in the minutes when Dale voices his concerns about what people are saying and here's what is on their website and this is the quote "Bob responds the employees of Winchester need to do their jobs with integrity, and fulfill our fiduciary responsibilities to the people in this Town. If a concerned citizen has a question, they need to come to the Town Hall for the answers." Last I new you can't get a straight answer from anyone in this town hall when it comes to integrity. If you go to the town hall they tell you they'll take care of something and then they either twist it around or ignore you. I think the people who work for the town in ALL the DEPARTMENTS all need to look up the word INTEGRITY and find out the meaning before the start to throw out and use the word in their defense of their actions or lack there of. They are starting to look more foolish and pompous with each passing day as they seem to go out of their way to avoid taking care of the town's business with the integrity that they claim to have and be should be showing. With all the problems going on in town you would think that if the town employees had INTEGRITY the would welcome the scrutiny they are receiving as it would give them a clear and perfect opportunity to show that they do have INTEGRITY and there is an open door policy in the TOWN of WINCHESTER in all departments for all citizen’s and for all reasons. No double standards here.
Rumor Has It a Few Don’t Like this Website and are Unhappy with it’s content. This website has been in existence for years and is unpopular with those that disagree when an opinion is posted which does not agree with their opinion. To that we say THANK GOD WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Let no one misunderstand that the NH State Constitution and US Constitution afford us the right to FREE SPEECH and any prohibition of that right is a violation of our 1st Amendment RIGHTS and our RIGHTS under Art. 22 of the State Constitution. Any violation of rights needs to be reported to the ACLU and elected state officials. [
State Constitution - Bill of Rights
Established October 31, 1783 Effective June 2, 1784 As Subsequently Amended and in Force January 2007
Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved.
June 2, 1784
Amended 1968 to include free speech.
U.S. Constitition. (September 17, 1787) art. I-VII Published: Sep. 17, 1787
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
If your rights are being violated here are some suggestions
Step 1
Understand the limits of the first amendment. The first amendment protects the rights of free speech. Individuals have the right to express unpopular opinions and speak out without facing censorship in most cases.
Step 2
Engage in protected activity. For your speech to be protected you have to be engaged in an activity that is protected under free speech rights. Actions include speaking out against corporations, government and protesting their activities.
Step 3
Notice a violation of your free speech rights. This may come in the case of a lawsuit against you, censorship of what you can say or being fired from your job.
Step 4
Contact legal representation. Protect your right to free speech by gaining assistance from a lawyer. Discuss the violations with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Step 5
Seek public support. Write to editors of local newspapers to discuss your situation. Attempt to speak to news stations to reach a wider audience, set up a website and discuss your free speech violations in public forums.
Step 6
Influence policy makers. Contact local elected officials and members of congress to report violations of your first amendment rights. Change the future of how free speech is protected by voting for the candidates who support your belief.
It was the selectmen's decision, but Dale and John G both knew that the dump body was worth more then $300. Its time to get a hwy supt that works for the Taxpayers of Winchester. Time for a warrant article? Every dept head that doesn't get the fact that they work for us has got to go.
I think most of the dept. heads in Winchester need to go, i don't think they can shake the country club mentality they have enjoyed for years.
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