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Cruller DaVille
Senior Member
148 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 10:41:55 AM
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You couldn't have marked the target more precisely there Fran. Public servants with vision are a dying breed in the City of Everett.
Lets take a good hard look, shall we..... How many "actual" dedicated, unselfish, competent and uncorrupted public officials or their minions can you name existing today at the "big blue" ???????
If you ask me, most of today's so-called public servants resemble today's gas stations.... Self Serve and Cash Only!!!!!! . Let's pray that the few newbies coming on don't get inflicted with this terminal disease.
In my close to seventy years of voting and living in this community, I have never seen anything quite as disturbing. Lies, lies, lies and more lies... I watch those meetings and read the press accounts and press releases and truly feel that I have "Big Dope, Kick Me" Sign on my back.
As it goes for your comment about "responding" Fran.... I say HUH!!!!!! In my opinion, to be able to truly respond to anything, one would have to have the ability to know the process and investigate the issue. They would then have to put the time into educating themselves and then articulate the problem. The next part of the process, and this is the most difficult here in the Good Ol' City of Everett, is to buy, rent, acquire in any manner, the balls, goolyonies, hootspa (whatever you call it in your homes) to find the courage to "step up" to the plate. I know you all know what I mean!!!!!!
All of these "abilities" are only possible if you have the biggie..... What is that? You ask. The biggie simply is "DESIRE" !!!!!!!!!!!! The desire to do it the 'hard way'; to prove themselves individuals with ethical and moral composition. This is FAR beyond what any of us has seen in the last two election cycles.
Worst of all? Is us! Yes, us. Those of us who attend the meetings, those of us who blog like there's no tomorrow, those of us who foam at the mouth to have life go back to a much calmer and honest time.
WE are the problem. Why? Because we, not only accept and believe the cycle of lies....... we perpetrate these horrific untruths!!!
Lets face it; this whole Everett Blog thing began with the intent to destroy. It was born from hate; and boy oh boy, did it do its job well. Unfortunately, this backfired on us. Sure, you may have gotten rid of what you perceived was a problem; but we learned that we were wrong. For as the days go by,we see what practices of the past were real problems and now, those same "real problems have become habitual problems we can't get away from. These habitual bad habits have now become "business as usual". Habitually bad and corrupt business is what we've become accustomed to and allow. Worst of all..... we are to blame because WE allow the behavior based on who is doing it. That is wrong!!!!!!
We find ourselves in this position of being swindled and lied to because we're afraid and apathetic.
When was the last time we "demanded" the truth? When was the last time we "called for" a real debate of issues, allowing us the ability to actually tell who knew anything and who supported "our" viewpoints? And most importantly...... When is the last time we "put our foot down" and said "NO MORE" No more lying; YOU WORK FOR US!!!!!...... WE WANT, EXPECT,and DESERVE MORE?
In my recall, anytime someone tried to stop the madness, we berated them. We took them to the guillotine where we behead them and them and then stomped on their remains. You know I'm telling the truth. That's exactly what we did! We couldn't even fathom that we were being told the truth, that things in our city had gone arye. So we destroyed the messenger. Shame, shame on us.
So, where does that leave us as we speak?
Money is being spent with absolutely no accountability. Logic tells us that should you add people, programs, equipment, etc to a department, money has to follow to afford it..... not here in Everett. Logic and MGL 30B dictates that if a vendor has a contract for 250,000.00 that when they have already collected three times that much, questions should be asked. Work must stop flowing and new bids should be put out. Logic and the law dictate that after being awarded a contract, that a contractor, time after time, cannot make a mistake and submit change orders for tens of thousands of dollars and still be awarded a bid. Logic also dictates that when monies are given anonymously, that there is a reason for that anonymity and that there's a good possibility that strings are attached.
We have become the best example of the pot calling the kettle black than anywhere I've ever seen. Where was the malcontessa yelling "the taxpayers, the taxpayers" last year when the very same scenario had happened one year previously only this time no deal was conspired behind the Mayor's back. Oh yeah, she was in line as her family member was collecting a city check. The budget has risen each and every year; yet we are told that they reduced it by 4 million..... HELLLLLLLLO
Is it just me? Doesn't anyone else get mad? I mean doesn't it bother you at all that here, in OUR hometown, that MONEY speaks and JUSTICE cant get a word in?
"What we DONT KNOW DOES HURT US!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just MY Humble Opinion..................
"Cruller DaHville"[/b]
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Edited by - Cruller DaVille on 01/17/2010 9:08:40 PM |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 11:01:28 AM
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Excellent post Cruller and I couldn't agree with you more.
"Ouch My Arm Hurts" |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 01/17/2010 : 12:42:21 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by justme
Tails, I've always believed Citizens for Everett is misusing information therefore misrepresenting the truth....... But that's actually beside the point. In this instance, why do you think Larry DeCoste has anything to be concerned about?
Does he, or his department, actually have the right to refuse payment for services rendered or goods received? Isn't it up to the Purchasing Agent to not allow the contract or purchase order in the first place? And wouldn't the Department Head be responsible as the person/place that originated the contract or purchase order?
If there is wrong doing (I won't agree there is based only on Citizens statements/information. They love to throw stuff out there to & hope it will stick) I don't think Larry is the one that has to worry............
The document about GTA services is from the city. How they got a hold of that....I'll never know.
That said, we all know GTA has made 3-4 times over their contract which is a huge violation. Who else will take the fall, but the auditor? I'm not blaming him, I'm sure he does what he's told but when it all comes crashing down, NO WAY will Carlo take the blame. He'll blame his auditor. NO WAY will he blame his purchasing agent either. Someone's going to take the fall for this and it wont be Jill Barringer. Carlo will never throw his friends under a bus. Look at Zaniboni........if he did right the thing, Zaniboni would have been gone 4X already. I just think that when someone takes the fall for this, it will somehow be the auditor.
I also wonder who signed those checks? |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 1:38:32 PM
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My guess would be the Treasurer signed the checks.
"Ouch My Arm Hurts" |
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carlost everett
Member
41 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 6:31:02 PM
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The Purchasing Agent, Budget Director and the Auditor are the ones whose job it is to make sure things are done properly and obviously, that is not being done.
First, before a purchase order is completed all i's have to be dotted and all t's have to be crossed. That means that no vendor gets any money unless there is a a proper bid out there. The law is very specific. You can only make 10% over a bid you hold before it needs to be rebid.
Second, the Auditor's job is to make sure that there is a bid and everything has been properly done before a check is ever cut. NOT only that, but its the Auditor's job to make sure that no expenditures are completed unless there's money in the till for it. No department should be spending in the red. That is one of the only jobs the budget director has during the year to is make sure departments aren't on the track of going into the red.
We've all witnessed how this auditor back stabbed his former boss; it was despicable! I laughed this year when the same exact scenario came about and he played nice. ... Why you ask? Well, the fact is, that this time the tables are turned on him. He has no contract. So if he doesn't do exactly what the corner office says, he's out the door.
This budget cycle should be interesting. Now that the Board has a dissenting voice; those questions will be asked time and time again and not gently. It should be funny to see them squirm this time. One thing I'll bet the farm on...... the Auditor wont play ball with the members of the Council or the Board against the Chief Executive as he did before. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 11:38:44 AM
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What's with the Citizens for Everett web site posting an article over a year old about Comcast raising it rates?
You must be logged in to see this link.
"Just Clowning Around" |
Edited by - massdee on 01/19/2010 12:08:01 PM |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 11:51:55 AM
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| I saw that and wondered too......I like their tax rate increase chart by fiscal year. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2010 : 12:09:41 PM
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I try to read their site daily but I take what they post with a grain of salt. I'm still waiting for them to show some proof for all of their allegations.
"Just Clowning Around" |
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n/a
deleted
25 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2010 : 12:15:39 PM
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MAYOR DEMARIA AND HIS PROCUREMENT OFFICER
CONTINUE TO VIOLATE M.G.L 30B.
Not only with GTA Landscaping but with the vehicle
purchases.
When the City of Everett wanted to purchased new
vehicles they violated M.G.L 30B on every purchase.
Keep in mind that the Company that they purchased
from is not at fault here the Chief Procurement Officer
is the one responsible along with the Mayor.
The State Contract for Vehicles when purchasing from
MHQ - Municipal Vehicles is for Police Vehicles ONLY!
You must be logged in to see this link.
The City of Everett Spent $446,167.00 from one
vendor for vehicles not on this contract.
See The Purchasing Back Up Information.
You must be logged in to see this link.
This is only one of three vendors the
Mayor and Procurement Officer
decide to buy from and violated State Laws.
If you want to browse State Contracts
Click the link below, it will take you to the State
Comm-Pass Database.
You must be logged in to see this link.
M.G.L 30b
UNIFORM PROCUREMENT ACT:
Massachusetts General Governing Purchasing
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Inspector Generals Office Investigates Cities and
Towns that do not comply with M.G.L. 30b.
We are not going to get into the specifics of this law or how Mayor DeMaria has no regard for it.
You must be logged in to see this link.
But you can click the link above and read exactly what 30b requires for purchasing.
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Paul
Senior Member
158 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2010 : 12:25:11 PM
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You post all that and then say you are not going to get into specifics.
Is that some kind of a joke? |
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n/a
deleted
25 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2010 : 12:57:44 PM
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| Read the law and come to your own conclusion. You cant have this more spelled out than it already is. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2010 : 5:15:45 PM
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| IMHO laws are put in place for a reason. It’s obvious to me that the Procurement Agent just does not want to do the work associated with the job and chooses the easy way out. Maybe, that’s because she’s a lawyer, not a procurement agent. The buck stops with the mayor, and there is no one else responsible. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2010 : 9:06:04 PM
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While I was looking for the original document from the state for free cash, I came across this and I'm shocked that Everett has the second highest commercial tax rate in the state. The first is Springfield with only $2.00 more than Everett.
You must be logged in to see this link. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 11:13:21 AM
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Jason Marcus and Common Council want to give the Mayor a $40,000.00 a
year raise?
WHILE OUR TAX RATE GOES THROUGH THE ROOF!
THIS SOUNDS MORE LIKE AIG THEN THE CITY OF EVERETT.
REWARDING SOMEONE FOR MISMANAGEMENT AND A FINANCIAL
MESS AT THE TAX PAYERS EXPENSE.
WHILE CITIZENS STRUGGLE TO PAY RECORD HIGH TAX RATES.
You must be logged in to see this link.
Is it true they are looking at a $40,000.00 raise for the mayor?
"Peek-a-Boo, I see you" |
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Citizens for Everett
