I know this is an old post but looks like we are just going to continue with the unchecked and uncontrolled spending. Nice article in the T&G today "Quabbin Regional School District system faces state action". This was under Mr. Scanlon's watch..... View Comment

Lets start here as this is a nicely laid out and a good example and provides enough info that the tax payer then can dig deeper if needed. http://cfo.worcesterschools.org/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=943960&fid=17332251&sessionid= View Comment

I am not sure why you would think that I have not watched the meeting but again I am not surprised at allegation. That seems to be very common on here from both sides. If you read my post you would read that I do not agree with the way Mr. Ferguson handled himself and nearly suggested that Mr. Leith could have been the better man but understood. The passion that both sides feel but fail to see is that the behavior will not move the town or the schools forward. We need leadership that can listen and work to resolve the issues and impasses created by all sides. View Comment

While many are grandstanding on both sides of the issues we need the community to come together and move the schools and town forward. I do not agree with how Selectman Ferguson acted and we should not condone that type of behavior from our elected officials. There are ways to disagree and to continue to ask the right questions but this just makes you look like a bully and that you have a weak case. This unfortunately has been Mark’s M.O. since rejoining the board. While I appreciate his appetite to save the town money I cannot take the grand standing, showmanship, bullying or whatever noun you would like to call it. He is our elected official and I expect that he represents and respects the town positively and not as some angry individual with a chip on his shoulders. That being said, I do not agree with Chairman Leith’s reaction although I can see his position and response. He should have demonstrated that he was better and provided the updates and listened to the concerns of our citizens and Select Board and rise to the top. I am not being fooled that there are many issues that need to be dealt with from the overspending, misspending, miscalculated (however you see it) monies and what appears to be misguided actions with no answers. I am not sure nor have we heard why the district went and hired a snow removal company from outside the district and why the bidding process was not followed or why we hired a new business manager with an 8% raise. These are questions that should be asked, responded too and discussed with the citizens. No group of elected officials is higher than anyone else and answers to all of us. If you are unhappy with the School Committee, the Select Board or any other elected position I suggest think about running for an office and pulling papers and most importantly come out and Vote in the spring. There was a high turnout this year for the election lets show that same turnout for the local election and send the right message and have citizens’ step-up to make our schools and town even better. View Comment

Where was the Public Notice or Legal Notice? I am pretty sure it had to go out for bid and be posted in the local papers. Maybe our new business manager Mr. Scanlon will be able to bring some creditability and restore financial best practices and standards. A major area that business owners and home buyers look at are is the school system. They care about the performance as well as how the town supports them and how the schools support the town. This is just another clear example of the District not thinking about the region or its consequences for its actions. We need accountability in the district offices and our SC and failure to do so will start causing business and home buyers/owners to look at other towns/regions. Here is a simple equation that the District and SC should follow Transparency + Accountability = CASH. If you want the towns to continue to support you and grow then I would suggest that you become accountable and transparent. View Comment

Not sure if Mr. Scanlon was having similar issues at Quaboag as he was obviously looking for a new opportunity as Central Berkshire Regional School District was preparing to offer him a job as well a few days ago. However, School Committee Member John B. Conner for CBRSD raised concern over the past three years of Mr. Scanlon’s time at Quaboag, saying the district was in “financial trouble.” I hope that we are not inheriting another mess. I wish Mr. Scanlon the best as he will need it to battle the WRSD machine to keep the district financially healthy. View Comment

Step in the right direction. Superintendent Pandiscio has resigned as reported in the Landmark. This is a great first step and well-timed before the towns started a no confidence vote. Now we need to work on the SM members that are not looking out for our kids and towns interests. View Comment

Thank you Mark. We know understand your agenda and the town should be very concerned on how they will pay for it. How is it beneficial or cost effective for the town to spend millions of dollars going after the MDC/DEP to change the rules for 1 town? What makes us so special that we should not comply with the other 350 towns in the commonwealth? Let’s say that your efforts are successful. How do you expect to cover the cost connecting? More taxes? Cutting services? What is the Return on our investment? I would contend that it would be a min of 20 plus years before we would see any savings you are promising. Your right, we do need to focus on bring business back to Holden. Why did you wait so long to offer to jump in and help when you saw it going south a few years ago? The town needs constructive help to lead us into the future not bully tactics. We need individuals that will look for the best interests of the town and have a meaningful way to get us there. View Comment

This is the same mixed bag of crap we seem to get year over year. We need true leadership changes to help guide the town in providing great services at a minimal cost to our residents. The district’s budget should not plan any increase of more than the levy from the residents and should be open to make cuts like many of our families have had to do. That being said, should the see the need to increase funding for services the school committee should be focusing their energy on fighting to fix Chapter 70 funding and find creative ways to generate revenue. The cuts to services or to the town wants is a clear example of why the town needs some form of a business plan. With a good business plan we can plan the towns spending and replacement of assets as everything has a life expectancy and can be planned for. Taxing to the levy limit will not restore all these services or wants as Selectman O’Brien suggested but only a small fraction of them. The best quote from the article was Selectman O’Brien - “Ever since I have been involved in this town's government operations we have taxed to the levy limit. We've never not done that, and so I think it's a clear break from past practice," he said. It reminds me of the term insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The town is looking for a fresh approach of collaboration and growth. View Comment