All Mr. DeAngelis's And St. John's Lawyers

“At  least four attorneys will be present on August 7 because someone asked to see financial books of a town department? Why?   

You know, that's a good question. Actually its an"expensive" question because why should you the taxpayer pay attorney fees  so that a town official can say NO to a request of a taxpayer to see how public money is being spent. Why doesn't the town official simply "open" the books for inspection? Even more importantly why doesn't Mr. Gormley, the First Selectman , take a stand on this issue? In fact why doesn't he take a stand on removing pictures from town buildings, etc.  In fact it is difficult to find where Mr. Gormley has taken a stand on anything. If nothing is "wrong" , why hide the books?”

Where did all these lawyers come from?  The MVFD only has one, and not one dime of taxpayer money is being used to pay her.  

I think Mr. DeAngelis will be standing there by himself on August 7th, because no FOI hearing is scheduled until at least September.

Mr. DeAngelis is trying to seek information about funds that are not public money.  If Mr. DeAngelis and Mr. St. John will be bringing an army of lawyers it will no doubt be an attempt to get around the FOI law.  The MVFD is following FOI law to the letter, and the MVFD lawyer is there to protect the interests of this organization.

All public funds are paid by Town Hall and all records are available to all who would like to see them, at Town Hall.  MVFD Inc. funds are not taxpayer money and therefore Mr. DeAngelis is not entitled to see them.  Please refer to this link.

As for the picture.  The picture was not MVFD property.  It was not paid for by the MVFD, nor was it paid for by the Taxpayers.  The property is no longer in the possession of the MVFD, but rather has been safely returned to its rightful owner.

If Tom Gormley is not a concert organizer, he is certainly not a interior decorator.  The problems that face Middlebury are a little more important than whose picture hangs on the wall of Fire HQ.

Passing a budget, resolving the missing $900,000, controlling the school budget, replacing antiquated fire apparatus, and providing high band radios to the PD are just a bit more important.