Marching Orders on DPW

[Tony1941]

Notwithstanding that Town Meeting refused to appropriate $25,000 for a DPW study and to create a DPW Director position, the BoS, Finance Committee and the Town Manager are actively planning to create a DPW for FY11. The following is a Marching Orders Letter from Valerie Wormell and Mark Kost to town employees.

Dear Boards, Committees, Commissions and Department Heads,

At Thursday night's presentation of the Public Works program, all Boards, Committees and Commissions were asked to vote to support or not support the recommendations of the program, prior to Annual Town Meeting (March 27, 2010). The vote will allow us to project a more accurate savings for any Town Meeting proposal. We are respectfully asking a vote be taken by March 24, 2010, if possible, as we know that one commission meets quarterly. We are asking the above listed Department Heads please forward this request to your committee(s).

A sample motion is attached to facilitate your vote. Please feel free to submit your own motion however.
The Public Works Presentation is now posted to the Town's website and may be viewed at the address listed below:
http://www.westford-ma.gov/pages/gov...s_3-4-2010.pdf
and may be viewed on WestfordCAT per their schedule.

Questions on the presentation may be emailed to dpw@westfordma.gov. We will make every effort to answer promptly.

Thank you to all who attended.

Mark Kost
Valerie Wormell

If the 2010 Town Meeting voted a Motion of Censure to those individuals that have been actively circumventing Town Meeting guidance then maybe Val, Mark, Jodi et al would get the message: Town Meeting does not want a DPW

[deanwo]

Notwithstanding that Town Meeting refused to appropriate $25,000 for a DPW study and to create a DPW Director position, the BoS, Finance Committee and the Town Manager are actively planning to create a DPW for FY11. The following is a Marching Orders Letter from Valerie Wormell and Mark Kost to town employees.

Get your facts straight. From Special Town Meeting on 19 Oct. 2009

Article 2: Amendments to Wage and Classification Plan

Following a presentation by the Town Manager on the merits of a combined Public Works department, the motion was made and seconded but failed for lack of majority by a secret ballot vote (95 in favor / 127 opposed)

There was no vote taken with regard to funding a study, just one on whether or not a director level's position is placed in salary band 9. By our town charter, Town Meeting does not have the authority to create or disband a department. The Town Manager has the sole responsibility of the creation or disbanding of a department under our town charter.

If the 2010 Town Meeting voted a Motion of Censure to those individuals that have been actively circumventing Town Meeting guidance then maybe Val, Mark, Jodi et al would get the message: Town Meeting does not want a DPW
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If you bothered to actually read the study, you'll see they are not recommending the formation of a DPW, but have made several suggestions to save the town over $500,000 in the short term. The changes are process oriented and don't come with any job loss.

I don't understand why you oppose measures to help the town save money.

[Tony1941]

Get your facts straight. From Special Town Meeting on 19 Oct. 2009

Article 2: Amendments to Wage and Classification Plan

Following a presentation by the Town Manager on the merits of a combined Public Works department, the motion was made and seconded but failed for lack of majority by a secret ballot vote (95 in favor / 127 opposed)

There was no vote taken with regard to funding a study, just one on whether or not a director level's position is placed in salary band 9.

The DPW study was defeated, I believe at the 2008 Town Meeting.

By our town charter, Town Meeting does not have the authority to create or disband a department. The Town Manager has the sole responsibility of the creation or disbanding of a department under our town charter.

The town manager can create any department, she wants but Town Meeting decides whether or not to fund the department.
If Town meeting refuses to fund a department, I guess it is an exercise in the type of intellectual M$sturb$tion that you seem to enjoy. What else can you expect from a Blow-In Republican.

Furthermore, the town meeting can zero fund the line item to pay the Town Manager, Town Counsel and any department head. They can refuse to fund the Police Chief, Fire Chief, etc , salaries.

The School Committee bottom line may be cut but Town Meeting does not have the authority to cut line items within the School Committee budget.

If you bothered to actually read the study, you'll see they are not recommending the formation of a DPW, but have made several suggestions to save the town over $500,000 in the short term. The changes are process oriented and don't come with any job loss.

I have read the report and it is like the POTUS Obama healthcare bill.
The Town Manager has stated on more than one occasion at BoS and/or Fincom meetings that funds are included in the FY11 to implement a DPW. I got it on video.
For instance $100,000 is squirreled away in the HR budget to fund the DPW director salary based on a Fall town meeting approval of the Payband. Right from Ms. Ross mouth.

I don't understand why you oppose measures to help the town save money.

Save Money!! Is a matter of opinion, please review the Westford Fincom FY2011 recommendations.

I realize that you are mentally challenged and most probably have your cranial and An$l cavities collocated but explain to the Forum readers, how the addition of a DPW Director ($100+k), Deputy DPW Director ($90+k) plus one or two administrative office staff and no layoffs will save $500k in the short term.

I oppose the Bullpoop that you and your wife peddle and expect taxpayers to lap up.

Why don't ask Valerie to post on this Forum, the Westford Eagle, Lowell Sun, Boston Globe, Boston Herald or WCAT, the truth.

Better yet, I will be glad to participate in an Open Debate on WCAT with you , Val and whatever other idiots want to join you, to discuss the town budget, town bylaws and any other topic that you desire including "String Theory".

[deanwo]

Instead of all the bashing, Tony. What do you really want? To win by intimidation and name calling? Insults to anyone with a different opinion? You really need to take a deep breath before posting, grow up and act like an adult.

When you edit the insults from your post, I'll give you a civil response and we can have a civil debate. You might of noticed that no one else on this forum is responding to your recent posts. I too will join the silent majority. It is pointless to argue with an idiot.

[dweir]

I think the report is very well done. Having also read the supporting material, I do wonder why forming a DPW is still on the table at all.

More importantly, I wonder what the Town Manager does. My understanding of the TM role is as chief procurement officer and executive officer. This is the type of work I would have expected the TM to do. Having a consolidated purchasing position may make sense, but I wonder if all the positions that are consolidated to make that one will be revised. Surely these disparate personnel will all have extra time on their hands.

Not to hijack the thread, but recently one of the most important decisions was relegated to committee. If we're going to continue to run the town by committee, then why do we have a TM position at all? Why do we need an Asst TM?

I'm not questioning the people in these positions. I am question the job responsibilities. Hiring an Asst TM because the BoS / TM agreed to have 20 items done in a year doesn't make sense. Twenty items can be trimmed to 10 items over two years and the town can save $100K (plus lifetime benefits) in the process.

I still think the way to go is for the town to get out of the "building owning" business. Sell them all and lease them back.

[Tony1941]

I too will join the silent majority.

You have a unfounded high opinion of your social status.

It is pointless to argue with an idiot.

Your statement implies that you never argue with Valerie.

[Nab4Life]

Wow....Even if you had accurate information, and insightful contributions to make- the crass, insulting, paranoid and obnoxious tone of your posts, forces us to draw the conclusion that you're a ranting and raving lunatic. All the effort you go through to gather facts and articles to quote, is completely undermined by the nature of your comments. It's too bad really.

[Tony1941]

Wow....Even if you had accurate information,.....

If ignorance was bliss, You would be very happy rather than just plain ignorant.