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Possible W.P.C.A. Dictatorship

Just my opinion as a concerned Citizen of Montville

A little History about the W.P.C.A. Ordinance.  The proposed ordinance for the WPCA began when the commission voted to give their Administrator Brian Lynch a $10,000.00 raise. A Town Meeting was held and the raise was stopped. WPCA Chairperson May threatened to sue the Town and there is the beginning of the ordinance. 

In January 2011, the Town Council voted down this ordinance for many reasons.  The most important was because it would have given the WPCA autonomy without legislative oversight.  That means the Town Council would have not been able to overrule any actions of the WPCA as far as their budget, expenditures, or employee contracts were concern.

November 2011, our town election happened.  The Democrats took control of the Mayor seat and Town Council.  Just one month later on Dec. 5, 2011, Mayor McDaniel told the WPCA Commission, that he contacted the Town Council to discuss giving the WPCA autonomy. That means he talked to Chairperson Candy Buebendorf, the same Councilor who sat on the original sub-committee that created this ordinance a year ago. Mayor McDaniel was not involved with the ordinance until he was elected and decided in one month after being elected that this was a great idea for the Town.

Montville’s Charter allows for anyone who is a registered voter the right to petition any action of the Town Council.  This is the check and balance of our government.  Giving the WPCA autonomy will take this right away.  NOWHERE IN THE CHARTER DOES IT SAY THAT AN ACTION OF THE WPCA CAN BE PETITIONED!  What this means to rate payers and ultimately taxpayers is a $10,000.00 or even $20,000.00 raise can be done at any time and there is nothing that can be done about it. I wonder who will benefit if the Ordinance is passed? I’m sure it won’t be the Town.

Another thing the WPCA ordinance will do if passed, it will let the Commission set its own budgets for Water and Sewerage without the Council’s final approval.  They have a budget of $5.7 million in just Sewer alone!  The Council is the legislative body of the Town, yet they are willing to delegate their authority to Mr. May, Mr. Lynch and company.  Talk about creating a country within a country. 

Everyone who is a rate payer, tax payer or resident should come to the Public Hearing on Feb. 13. At 6pm. If your voices aren’t heard, we will have a new dictatorship in Montville thanks to the Democrats.  Government should be controlled by the people and not just a select few who just want power.

Ellen Hillman February 12, 2012 at 11:39 pm
sad being it is Feb and they still have not passed a working sewer budget still working off a interm budget.
Mary February 12, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Jim, do you really think the new council is so stupid that they would pass this? I doubt it. They want to do what is right or at Least I hope they do.
Ellen Hillman February 13, 2012 at 12:06 am
Wish there was a place to comment on Mr. Mays blog but there is not. Not once did the previous town council make recommendations to cut the budget they asked for clarity that was it. The only one playing politics was Mr. May as a member of the WPCA I asked over and over for detailed budgets and never once did I get a fine detailed budget. The finance director had no problem getting me what I wanted for the Town Council, but she could not do it for the WPCA. WHY? Was it politics?
Ellen Hillman February 13, 2012 at 12:06 am
After reviewing the minutes of the WPCA and the Town Council available on line there was no reference that the rates were going up due to the electrical costs. Actually it makes mention of Groton's water rates rising. Also the town attorney did not advise that we pass it, his words were to me, "the language in the ordinance is legal." When I questioned if we should pass it he stated that was up to me. When I said I see a great law suit in our future and all the taxpayers are going to have to cover it. He shrugged his shoulders and said that remains to be seen. So no he never once stood up and said this is a great ordinance and hooray for everyone. The only truth in Mr. Mays statement is that the BOE (Board of Education) budget and WPCA budget are separate but it does not stop anyone from petitioning to over turn them. This ordinance does. Mr. May says "By all accounts WPCA autonomy is provided for in the town charter right now." If that is so why do you need this ordinance? I have said it before and I will say it again step up to the plate make everything transparent, be autonomous withing the boundaries of the Charter. Not write ordinances to supersede the charter. That is what is illegal.
Caleb Y. February 13, 2012 at 12:21 am
You can see the writing on the wall. Lynch said in the paper "when we do contracts for employees, it had to go in front of the town council that is the only area that would change everything else would stay the same". What a bunch of BS. It should say by passing this I can get the raise I've wanted for years and get complete control so I can go golfing on town time without being questioned!
Jim Andriote Sr. February 13, 2012 at 12:30 am
Larry Poppins
You might be right. She was on the sub committiee that form the ordinance, she presented the ordinance to the council and she's going to be running the public hearing. I wonder if she'll even let me finish my speach.
markedward February 13, 2012 at 12:39 am
i read the other aricle about the WPCA. isn't that guy the head of the WPCA? he blames other people for what is happeng on his own commissin.
J. Arrington February 13, 2012 at 12:42 am
Andriote, do you have something personal against May or Lynch or is this just political?
Jim Andriote Sr. February 13, 2012 at 12:53 am
J. Arrington
This is not political, I am just trying to get information to the citizens of Montville. Unlike the Democrats, I like to keep people informed and not try pulling the wool over their eyes. Check the minutes of town meetings, you will see for yourself. that I speak on many subject when it's going to have a major impact on the town.
J. Arrington February 13, 2012 at 12:56 am
Andriote, then what party are you? All these people writing say the same things. Montville can't afford any more problems than it already has in front of it. Between AES, taxes, and lawsuites, its becoming an expensive town to live in.
Jim Andriote Sr. February 13, 2012 at 01:09 am
J. Arrington
I am the chairman of the Independence for Montville Party. A non political party. We stand for what is right and we don't appreciate it when political parties don't do what is in the best interest of the town. In this case we don't beleive giving the WPCA total autonomy from the council is in the best interest of the town.Are you new in town? It sounds like you haven't heard about the IFM party.
Ellen Hillman February 13, 2012 at 01:12 am
The funny thing is he does not do contracts the commission does
L. DenioaLindadenuoa February 13, 2012 at 01:14 am
To J. Arrington you are correct montville can't afford any other issues so the question remains why are they trying to pass this again during these difficult times when it has already been shot down sevral times?? The only problem is why are they trying to give away control over suck a big entity in town? Everything they do is political
Pete J February 13, 2012 at 01:20 am
What is this election losers sound off?
Andriote and Hillman you lost and lost bad, give it a rest! The taxpayers have heard enough from you two.
Pete J February 13, 2012 at 01:24 am
The Independence of Montville party has less than 10 members this is total sour grapes.
Jim Andriote Sr. February 13, 2012 at 01:33 am
Hey Pete J. It's good to see the democratic hit man has been ressurected, You had nothing constructive to say during the election.and you still have nothing to say now. All you can do is write nasty comments. Besides, I don't take to heart anything people like you say, because you are afarid to sign you real name.
Ellen Hillman February 13, 2012 at 01:40 am
Pete this is my town, my fathers town, my grandmothers town, my childrens town, and my grandchildrens town, and one day my great grandchildrens town. It is my business to keep the taxpayers informed on the issues. Only Hitler wanted to silence the voices. Freedom of speech still exhists in this country and I will use it to protect my town. What have you done to protect your town?
Pete J February 13, 2012 at 01:46 am
Mr Andriote there you go again. You forgot to mention that Mr Lynch also attended a fund raiser for the Republicans his picture appeared on the patch showing him at the fund raiser. Just more deception. The taxpayers see right thru you and made their choice and you were not one of them.
Sussane February 13, 2012 at 02:04 am
Pete j - all the above comments were good open discussion regarding town matters. Your comments are mean and unwanted. Patch does not need negative mean people like you. Rethink life caus what goes around comes around!!!
theinformant February 13, 2012 at 02:21 am
Pete J. i don't know who you are, but you definately are Democrat, Only the Democrats would write stupid comments like you are. When you can't defend your actions, just talk stupid and your doing a good job at it. Mr. May wrote an article with mostly untruths to deceive people. Yet he was afraid to let people make comments. I believe he knew what he said was a crock and didn't want people to pick his article apart. It's happening anyway.
J. Arrington February 13, 2012 at 02:14 pm
From what I read, this is not sour grapes. This is an ordinance that did not pass the Council the first time and was brought up again after an election. The most important question is whether or not this ordinance is beneficial to the Town. From what I have seen in the comments, it does not help the town. Residents should weigh the pros and cons of this ordinance; not take unwarranted jabs at political parties or individuals who want to debate the ordinances merit.
Miss J February 13, 2012 at 03:11 pm
Well said mr.arrington. And if people knew all the details surrounding this they would see it is political and detrimental to montville. No good can come from this
J. Arrington February 14, 2012 at 02:16 am
Dictatorship Rules in Montville!!! 75 or so people attended the hearing. Many spoke against this ordinance. It didn't matter because the Council voted 5-2 with McFee and Jones opposing the ordinance. Democracy doesn't rule in Montville any longer and the voice of the people have been silenced.
Tara L. February 14, 2012 at 02:44 am
What! Why didn't they listen? I don't understand
markedward February 14, 2012 at 03:16 am
poppins was right - buebendork got what she wantd. too bad for our town.
Jim Andriote Sr. February 14, 2012 at 03:58 am
I attended the meeting also and Arrington was correct as to what happen. It's very sad to see the Democrats continue not listening to the citizens of our town. 75 or 80 residents show up at a meeting to oppose the ordinance, yet the Democrats totally ignored what the people who elected them wanted. Not surprising condsidering their past recored from two years ago. Not to worry, a petition will be taken out tomorrow and the vote of the council will be sent to a town meeting allowing the people to make the decision for the council. Once again the people have to do the councils work.
Sam Rogers February 14, 2012 at 07:00 am
Really? I must have been at a different meeting. At the one I attended, only about a half-dozen people spoke against the ordinance (although some spoke two or three times), and several spoke in favor. It's true there were about 75 or 80 people present, but it's hard to know the position of anybody who does not speak. There were, however, a number of folks present whose conduct would have fit right in on the Jerry Springer Show. One guy sitting next to me went on and on about why he opposed the ordinance, but admitted that he had not actually read it, and then there was the guy who spoke in opposition who evidently thought the agenda language was the ordinance. Yessiree, democracy at its finest.
theinformant February 14, 2012 at 04:33 pm
Mr. Rogers. Are you sure you were awake during the meeting? The meeting I attended, the people were very calm and respectful. The Chairman asked people to stand in line to speak and they did. As one finished and sat down another person spoke. Whether there were six or sixty speaking, that doesn't matter. The people were there because they were against the ordinance. Not many people had to read the ordinance themselves. They were told what the ordinance contained in it. There wasn't any doubt what the intent of the meeting was. It was to pass an ordinance that takes the authority over the WPCA away from the council. I bet you didn't read the whole ordinance either, it is quite long. I know I didn't have to read it to understand it's intent.
Elizabeth February 14, 2012 at 09:24 pm
Buebendork? Are you 10?
markedward February 15, 2012 at 03:32 am
no i'm not 10, i'm a proud 72 years old. i have difficuoty typing. sorry if i offended anyone, it was not intentional.

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