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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 06/29/2007 : 10:39:26 PM
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I can't watch anymore............ my head is spinning and we still don't have a budget. Now it needs to go back to the CC because the BOA have made changes.
I have to say, the more I see of McGonagle, the less I like him. I don't like his attitude or his demeanor. Also, could someone explain why he can't speak a complete sentence without two or three pauses? If he's stopping to catch his breath, he's got serious health issues. If it's supposed to make him appear thoughtful, in my opinion, it's not working.
What's really scaring me is that DiMaria is actually beginning to make sense and look like a viable candidate!
I need a good nights sleep.............. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2007 : 10:49:38 PM
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| Well, we voted for Mr. Nice Guy in 2005, and look what we got. The choice will be between Carlo, who owns a donut store courtesy of his father-in-law or McGonagle, who owns a construction business. |
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Fedup
Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2007 : 11:43:49 PM
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How does this work? The original budget cuts of 3% from the bottom line would have been an approximate reduction of $3.7M. The CC cut approx $4.3M and the BOA cut approx $3.6M. HMMMM.....which reduction would I prefer? What were they thinking tonight? Why wasn't the parking department cut at all? I simply don't get it. If I'm not mistaken, the 1/12th budget should be based on last year's FY07 budget, not something the mayor prepares. Simple - 1/12th of last year's budget. Get some sleep.
.....Fedup...... |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2007 : 12:00:24 AM
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O.K., so where do we go from here?
As far as the mayor is concerned, the City Council did not pass a budget by June 30th. I'm going to assume that, on Monday, he will go forward with his original budget. The city council will keep on the track that they are on, trying to come to some agreement on a budget. At some point, this situation will have to come to a head.
I'm not sure what the powers of the DOR are in this situation. I would have to believe that the DOR is the authority on this section of MGL. But when there is a dispute in the DOR's interpretation of the law as there seems to be already between the mayor and the city council, what's next? I believe the answer is most likely is a court of law.
From what was read tonight, it seems pretty clear that the DOR affirms that the city council has 45 days from the time that the receive the budget until they have to take final action on it. But there was also language in it that read something to the effect that they hoped that the city could resolve this issue by June 30th. My guess would be that the DOR doesn't really want to see this issue go to a court of law. If you spend a couple of minutes to read the applicable section of MGL, it's pretty easy even for a lay person to see that this section of the law, as written, is a mess. There are parts of it that obviously contradict each other and some sections seem disjointed. Who knows what a judge might decide to do with a mess like this? Rely on the experts to interpret it and kick them in the butt to get a new, improved version of that section drafted and approved? One would hope so but depending on the judge, who knows?
And exactly how would this play out? The mayor would have the city solicitor to represent him. Who would represent the City Council? They don't have any funds that I'm aware of that they could use to hire their own lawyer. Someone else from the city solicitor's office? That would be interesting but probably not a good idea. RVC? He seems to be behind it but probably not; just another bizarre possibility to consider.
Obviously, all of this is just speculation on my part based on my best understanding and interpretation of the situation. Please feel free to add your own views on this or rip me apart; I'm just curious what everyone thinks. |
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jcklla
Member
32 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2007 : 07:06:40 AM
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| You folks look up M G Laws about the budget. I'm going to start looking up laws about receivership. If this guy makes it through the primary, concearned citizens should start looking into that possibility. I'm actually ready now. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2007 : 07:17:32 AM
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No ripping apart, Tetris. :)
The bottomline is that MGL has 45 days in which to finalize the budget; Mayor Hanlon very conveniently didn't provide them with that by June 30. It doesn't mean that they don't have 45 days. A prudent mayor would have prepared a 1/12 budget, modeled after last July's figures. Of course, we're not dealing with a prudent man.
The DOR spoke loud and clear through it's prepared letter. Unless the Charter says otherwise (and it doesn't) - the Council has 45 days to review/rework the budget. It also states that in the event that the budget isn't passed, the mayor should put together a month budget. The mayor's version of the budget doesn't prevail yet as the 45 days aren't up. I understand that the mayor was also challenging whether the current budget impasse met the definition of an emergency beyond their control. It's lawerly semantics and not a very good one. There are other cities facing this same issue right now and have put a 1/12 budget in place. This is just Walking Eagle throwing a tantrum. I did hear that Ms. Vetrano attempted to prevent the Board of Aldermen from voting last night. She stated that the DOR was adamant against them voting...which is quite far afield from their letter from Wednesday. As we know, the BOA paid her little attention on that score, but isn't it interesting to know the lengths that these people will go to to prevent a lawful vote on the budget? The DOR had already ruled that the initial vote by the BOA was "ineffective" - more like a resolution than a mandate, if you will, and still had the opportunity to vote if the 45 day limit hadn't been reached.
You can be sure that if the mayor and Ms. Vetrano attempt a powerplay to put the mayor's budget into effect - there will be calls made to any number of authorities that govern municipal finance. It's unfortunate that it should have to come to that.
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Edited by - Court4Fred on 06/30/2007 07:25:11 AM |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2007 : 12:00:09 PM
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I agree with you, justme . . . . it's a world gone mad when Carlo starts making sense. But I think he was absolutely right when he said this thing should've gone back to the whole budget committee . . . the could schedule that meeting, with a common council and BOA meeting to immediately follow. Could've gotten it all done in one night. I believe that was the direction that the CC was heading in Thursday night, but with the conflicting opinions of the DOR and the city solicitor, the got nervous and decided to move fprward.
Hopefully, someone will be in touch with the DOR first thing Monday morning and get it reconfirmed IN WRITING what the next steps are. Notice that the city council had their info from the DOR in writing; the mayor, city solicitor and budget director did not. HHHHMMMMMM . . . whom shall we believe???? |
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Fedup
Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 06:58:55 AM
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| My thanks to Rosa and Sal DiDomenico for their hard work and dedication during the budget hearings. Quite a few people get upset with Rosa because she can be a bit rough around the edge, however, her heart is in the right place and she really cares about us taxpayers. She definitely did not enjoy cutting jobs as some might think. Her intent was to get rid of some of the "fat". Without Rosa and Sal and a few others, we would be stuck with Hanlon's original budget. I do not understand what the Aldermen were thinking. One can only hope that the next few months will run smoothly until the primary and Hanlon will be voted out of office. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 08:33:48 AM
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| I have not really been around much for the past week. How do things stand right now? Do we or don't we have a passed budget? Are we in a 1/12th budget? Are there any more meetings scheduled? What's next? |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 08:53:49 AM
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| No budget. The next meeting is the CC on Thursday (I think). No one seems to be sure what we're working with. Depends on who you talk to. Some say hanlon's original budget, others say 1/12th. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 09:03:46 AM
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| Wouldn't it make more sense to have the budget committee get back together and work on this thing and then the BOA and CC could meet and get something done? I don't get it. I am going to make some phone calls and see if I can find out what direction they are going in. |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 09:17:26 AM
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| Hanlon's bluffing in order to get his way. The DOR has already said that the City Council has 45 days, which means they have until July 11. City Government better get themselves together or we're going to be stuck with Hanlon's unholy budget. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 09:34:21 AM
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But doesn't the statute say that the mayor has to establish the 1/12th budget? If that's the case, and Hanlon does not accept the premise that the City Council has additional time to work the budget, where does that leave us?
This whole thing has been mismanaged from yhe beginning. Now it goes back to the Common Council. How long can they play ping pong with this thing? |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 10:28:45 AM
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| As of right now, the mayor has scheduled no meetings with either branch of city government. He is supposed to do this to inform them of the 1/12th budget. There are a lot of phone calls going into the DOR. When I have more info, I will post it. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 8:17:58 PM
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Okay, so city hall is now closed and there are still no answers. hanlon went to the DOR today but no information was forthcoming upon his return. He apparently doesn't think think it's important enough to discuss with department heads so he left early.
Personally, I think he didn't like what the DOR had to say so he's going to do what he's becoming famous for.............. Ignore them and do what he wants anyway!
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Budget
