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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 12/20/2009 : 2:57:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by justme
No comments on #2? Can the city actually accept this donation without facing an ethics violation? I realize it's earmarked for elder services and no one wants to say no to helping them, but why anonymously? It certainly makes me wonder....................
This is very interesting. I think the solicitor and the auditor should answer questions on it. 1st, is it legal, and please show where in MGL it says that it's legal to do.
Also, how do you audit that? I'm sure the state will eventually want to see that for tax purposes. $25,000.00 is a generous donation, and going to a good purpose but, if I had $25,000.00 and I really wanted to help the elderly and stay anonymous........ we have plenty in this city that are loosing their homes and cant afford to heat their homes. I'd go to an elderly complex and pay their heat the rest of the winter. I would not trust a city to pick and choose what to do with that kind of money.
I'd be afraid it would go to flowers.......... |
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Fran
Senior Member
250 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 08:46:54 AM
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| I would think they know who the donor is but that person has requested anonymity. I highly doubt a basket full of unmarked bills showed up on the door step of City Hall. |
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just wondering
Senior Member
387 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 12:37:09 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fran
I would think they know who the donor is but that person has requested anonymity. I highly doubt a basket full of unmarked bills showed up on the door step of City Hall.
I agree Fran....unfortunately for some posters, the urge to inject negativity into a positive situation is too great to pass up. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 2:37:38 PM
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WRONG.
I said it was generous, and asked if it was legal. I think that is a legitimate question. What if it’s not?
If they know who the donor is………and the donor wants to remain anonymous, that’ fine.
The flowers comment was in fun, and we all know funds earmarked for certain things do not always get used for what they are appropriated for.
Just like - One earmark targeted for child safety is actually being used by Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. to buy a new pothole-patching machine.
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Paul
Senior Member
158 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 6:14:05 PM
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Why would it be illegal,because it is anonymous?
The City accepts contributions all the time.
Am I missing something here? |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 6:28:29 PM
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The question was, can the city accept a donation this way? Let me take it further........... Is it legal for the CC & BOA to accept a gift when they don't know where it came from?
If, as has been implied, the donor is known (by someone), doesn't that information have to be on file somewhere? If it's on record somewhere, then it's not really anonymous. Is it?
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2009 : 11:54:30 PM
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Well, Councilor Simonelli certainly went out with his guns blazing. Probably not really an appropriate time and place for some of his remarks; but I doubt that he could have gotten any of the media outlets in the city to print any of that without doing it the way that he did. Even still, they may ignore it. What “good” could possibly come out of it?
I thought that it was strange that the council waited until the last minute to chose someone to honor President Cardello at her last Council meeting. I wonder if something should be read into that other than the members being lazy.
2.
I wish that I had the time to post about this item before the meeting. This generous contribution did catch my eye when I was putting together my pre-meeting comments but I never did think of it in terms of a possible ethics issue. After the issue was raised though, I could understand how it could be seen that way. So, I did what I usually do when I don't know the answer, some research.
I could not find anything in MGL that said that this type of donation is an issue. I found the same section of MGL (Chapter 44, Section 53) as the City Solicitor did and agree with her that there nothing in there that would prevent this type of donation.
That said though, I do understand the concern that an “anonymous” donation may not be truly that and it is only being done that way to hide something. But in a small city like this, it's hard to keep that kind of thing under wraps though. Since the City Council has to approve all donations, if there was anything suspicious about a donation, it would likely come out there, especially if the electorate keeps them on their toes.
The one thing that I don't understand though is why asking questions is equated to being negative? As far as I'm concerned, asking valid questions is the one of the most positive things we can do to participate in the democratic process. I glad that the Council felt the same way tonight.
10.
I guess that the Council isn't holding a complete grudge against Alderman Marchese.
11.
Is it just me? I'm always more confused after the City Engineer speaks than I was before he started. And trying to get him to clarify things generally seems to only make things worse.
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The new Water Superintendent has his work cut out for him. I hope that he knows what he's gotten himself into.
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I still have no confidence that this project will get addressed any time soon. I think that the only hope that we have is that it is a relatively small project ($100,000?!) in the scheme of things.
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I didn't really get the need for delaying this piece until next year. What would prevent something like this from being implemented ASAP? |
Edited by - tetris on 12/22/2009 12:14:06 AM |
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sweetdeal2007
Member
29 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 12:52:03 AM
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| tetris go to the planning board meeting next monday you willknow where the money came from I heard yesterday that a man has come forward to the planning board that thiebault put up to get his piles down on lower broadway after reading what you post and what I know it makes sense to me now I could be wrong but I think I am correct on this one, the question was asked by one of the members to bring plans of what they are going to put down there the man is 31 years old and could not answer the question. so I suggest you and everyone else go to the planning board meeting on monday evening |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 08:44:24 AM
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I don't get it. I thought a developer bought that property down there that doesn't have anything to do with Thibeault. What exactly is going on? Please explain.
" Send in the Clowns " |
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n/a
deleted
136 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 08:46:31 AM
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| I know the same SweetDeal. A person on the planning board knows that and after questions got asked he got a letter in the mail that his services on the planning board were no longer needed as of 1/1/10. Cross the mayor and he comes after you with a vengence and he has the money to do so. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 08:52:41 AM
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| As stated, something's going on. Is it possible for one of you to explain what it is or can you provide the code book so we can decipher what you're not telling us? |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 09:05:15 AM
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Thanks for the info. I usually follow the legal notices to see what's going on with some of the boards. I know that there was supposed to be a planning board meeting a couple of months ago to follow through with the plan presented earlier in the year to sub-divide the lower Broadway parcel to split off the railroad spur portion.
That hearing ended up being the same night as city hall was packed for the pre-school issue. As far as I could tell, the hearing never happened that night and I lost track of the issue after that. Sounds like that hearing may have happened at a later date but did not need to be readvertised. Thanks for putting it back on the radar. |
Edited by - tetris on 12/22/2009 09:06:37 AM |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2009 : 11:10:28 AM
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Is it true a member of the Planning Board received a letter stating his services are no longer needed after Jan 1,2010?
" Send in the Clowns " |
Edited by - massdee on 12/22/2009 2:25:16 PM |
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hua052011
Member
3 Posts |
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Com Council/2009
