Distortions Try To Create The Illusion Of Chaos

“One need only to look at the fire chief's recent purchase of expensive, unneeded chrome wheels for his town-owned vehicle to realize that town money has been spent to repair this used vehicle.”

Not exactly a recent purchase. The wheels were ordered and installed under the last budget year.  The vehicle has been in service long before the new budget was suppose to go into effect.

It already has been stated that the chrome wheels were USED and the cost on the invoice also reflects the labor, not just the wheels themselves.  The USED chrome wheels turned out to be less expensive then new steel wheels.

In addition, it is the MVFD who has cut its budget by almost 10% over the last two years.  Cutting a budget means you are spending less, not more. To run a Fire Department on $214,000.00 shows how well the organization is run.

“These costs are magnified by the first selectman's inability to control spending.”

If Town Hall has an inability to control spending, why is it that the proposed budget has been reduced by $242,653.00 over last year’s Town budget ? That is a tax cut, not a tax increase. Tom Gormley has been able to cut taxes by 2.36%. He was able to do that without the $600,000.00 from lost interest income and building fees, without the $948,125.00 from Mr. St. John’s Washington Dr. deal, and without the $657,000 rainy day fund Mr. St. John used last year to offset a tax increase.

It seems like Tom Gormley has tried pretty hard to control spending and create a budget that has the least impact on Town services, in an environment that he inherited from his predecessor.  

Tom Gormley should be commended for his efforts, and to suggest that he is corrupt or lying to the residents, only reveals the true character of the one manufacturing such accusations.

Where is the RTC?  They were the ones who proclaimed their support for Tom when they ran a primary against those who were elected during the Republican caucus.  Where is their support now?  Where are their editorials?

Bob Smith was quoted in Voices that the bylaws of the town committee are limited when it comes to supporting candidates.  Is that not the entire reason the committee exists?  

How is it that the Democrats could meet and support the budget, while the Republicans decided to skip the entire matter and go on vacation instead?

Where does Elaine Strobel weigh in on all of this?  Tom Gormley wrote editorials.  Bob Desmarais wrote an editorial, but nothing from Elaine?  The only remarks we have heard from Elaine in past months was her decorating suggestions for the walls of Fire HQ.

The motivation behind the attacks on the First Selectman and the MVFD is to create the illusion of chaos in Town.  The Town is not in chaos.  The problems are systematically being corrected.  With such a loss of income, these problems will not be solved overnight. 

Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais have worked very hard together and initiated the first steps to get this Town back in order.  They deserve the support of Middlebury residents.