More Bah Humbug From The Pit

“Corruption Brewing?

                       

 Gormley denies conflict as town officials, in effect,write themselves checks.   

Dear Selectman Gormley,

I hereby disclose and claim that a conflict of interest exists among yourself , Mr. Desmarais and Mr. Paul Perrotti in the signing and approving of checks that cover your own disbursements or those in those relationships prohibited in theCharter . Please investigate this matter.

DeAngelis

Actually, Tom , it is not a "statement"  per se, it is an accusation 

of wrongdoing that I'm asking you to investigate.”

Corruption is not brewing, but stupidity certainly is, and all of it seems to be coming from the “Pit.”

Mr. DeAngelis continues to appear to be accusing Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais of corruption, when of course none exists. Mr. DeAngelis seems to have little understanding how Town government works and how funds are paid out. Instead of learning the facts, he suggests that the Selectmen are doing something inappropriate and he also encourages local reporters to join him at tilting at windmills. They are not taking the bait.

Since it is the role of the Selectmen to sign all checks derived from Town funds, would it not be a conflict of interest to sign their own paychecks?  Apparently it would to Mr. DeAngelis. It is simply idiotic. 

But, the truth is that Mr. DeAngelis does not really believe there is corruption here.  That is why he puts a question mark after all of the inane statements.  These statements are made as an attempt to make Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais look bad, and at the same time take the story off Mr. St. John.

“Tom, isn't it time you stopped with the girlie, Obama thing of blaming all your screw ups on the previous administration? Be a man,Tom and face your responsibilities. Stop taking "it's his fault, wah-wah" lessons from Perrotti. Be a man not a half-selectman.”

I don’t believe Tom was being girlie when he pointed out that Ed St. John, and Tom Proulx collected fire pay from the checks they signed when they were Selectmen.  I think the intent was to show that this is certainly nothing new. Mr. DeAngelis believes that all Middlebury history started on the First week of December in 2007.

“Actually the article decried the lack of para medics. Why don't we just let Campion come to Middlebury with their para medics. Why duplicate the service when we don't have para medics? If you are going to quote the newspaper, be accurate.”

Perhaps if you are going to comment on the article you should consider some sort of accuracy yourself. Read the article again.  The article talks about how there is a lack of EMT-B volunteers, not paramedics. By the way Mr. DeAngelis, paramedics is not spelled para medics.

If Mr. DeAngelis had understood the fairly straight-forward article, he would have realized that the MVFD actually saves the taxpayers at least $350,000 per year in ambulance services. There is no duplication of services.  The MVFD pays $80,000 each year for paramedic services, and not one dime of that comes from taxpayer money.  It all comes from ambulance billing.  Conversely, if the MVFD were to drop the ambulance billing, the residents would be responsible for a whopping Campion paramedic bill, and Campion would not be forgiving if your insurance company did not pick up the tab.  

It is in the best interests of the taxpayers to have FD 11 roll to every call. There is no denying that. If FD 11 does not roll, and you need a paramedic, you will be stuck with the entire paramedic bill, instead of the MVFD picking up the tab.  That is why the MVFD needs residents to dedicate their time and volunteer for the ambulance.

However, when there is an ambulance call, the Middlebury Taxpayer is not the MVFD’s number one priority. At that point, the patient is more important. That is why 85% of the members voted to purchase the First Responder vehicle with non-taxpayer money.  The First Responder vehicle will help to ensure that there will be a trained EMT or MRT at the scene to assist our police officers if FD 11 cannot scramble a crew. PATIENT CARE IS THEIR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY.

 “b.   Secondly if there was a competent, respected Fire Chief in 

Middlebury I doubt you would have any problem recruiting 

volunteers for the dept.  Given the authority I will address that

problem quickly.

c.    I would immediately stop using junk cars with untrained "fly" 

operators and in doing so would stop embarrassing the citizens of 

the town and would attract more volunteers.

The MVFD Chief with the possible exception of Rich Nicol is the highest trained Chief who ever held the position, and the highest trained firefighter in the organization.  He is more than competent to serve as Chief.  The constant attacks simply illustrate the ignorance of the attacker. Again, Mr. DeAngelis did not read the article very well.  The shortage of EMTs is a nation-wide problem and certainly not restricted to Middlebury.  In fact, the MVFD should be commended in that they are trying to find ways of mediating the problem with the least impact on our taxpayers.  The MVFD purchased the First Responder vehicle with their own money and will be purchasing a municipal license plate with their own money.  This will cost the Department $400.00 per year.  By purchasing the plate, the First Responder Vehicle will come under the Town's municipal insurance policy. The only cost to the Town will be FUEL.  This is a small price to pay for attempting to improve patient care.

“Really, Tom? What about:

      on July 6, 2008 Bob Desmarais received $ 2402.71, M. Dayton,

$ 1,018.17, on July 6,2008 Paul Perrotti got 2476.00 above his

$ 7500.00 stipend, above his free car and free gas and on and on.

Where is the "volunteer" in the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Dept?

Tom, you don't get it. Even President Bush rescinded a pardon 

because of the "appearance of impropriety". You cannot allow 

yourself and others to sign checks that put money in your pocket or 

in the pockets of family members. It is really very simple to 

understand. Isn't it?”

It is simple to understand, but apparently not simple enough for Mr. DeAngelis.  There is no impropriety at all. Here is how it works.  Bob Desmarais would not receive a single dime if he did not attend fire calls.  Neither would Mike Dayton, nor Paul Perrotti. There is a very small group of really active Middlebury Firefighters.  My records show that there are only four members of the Department that make over 50% of the calls.  Both Paul Perrotti and Bob Desmarais are included in that 4.  Mike Dayton is close behind and is an extremely dedicated young member.  You didn’t mention Jon Vaughan who comes in at number 3 with 63% of the calls.  What about me?  I am fleecing the Town responding to over 70% and coming in at #2.  How can that be allowed?

Fire pay is earned Mr. DeAngelis.  I doubt seriously many people would run into a burning building for $6.00. The argument is stupid.  Mr. DeAngelis knows it stupid, and he embarrasses himself running with the torch of Mr. St. John, attempting to invent a controversy and create a sense of chaos where none exists.

“By remaining an active member of the Fire Dept or any town agency, takinng an active part and accepting money restricts elected officials in  their ability to serve the citizens at large. For example, if there is an issue regarding payment for MVFD expenses from Town funds, vs. MVFD funds, a vote to spend Town funds benefits the members of the MVFD at the expense of all the citizens of Middlebury."

More bull.  Any funds that are paid from Town funds to the MVFD or its members is for the expressed intend to benefit the entire community. No one at the MVFD is getting rich by volunteering their time and jeopardizing their lives.  In fact, we all loose lots of money by doing so.  $6.00 per call (not per hour)  is no way to get rich.  It helps buy a few Christmas presents in December. Thats about it.

 “Half Chief tries to stop delivery delivery of Christmas Carols to Middlebury homes.”

Mr. DeAngelis again tries to act like he has an understanding of the MVFD, when he clearly illustrates that no understanding exists.

Christmas Rounds by the MVFD is not a caroling event, and if you have ever heard us sing, you would certainly understand why. The MVFD members are not visiting shut-ins and lonely people to spread the Christmas cheer.  They are visiting each other’s homes and creating their own cheer. Thats it.

“Content on OMP, aside from the occasional truth and fact, is mostly fictional. Depictions of public figures are for satirical and humor value only and are not intended to slander or insult. Our aim is to amuse and poke fun, not publish libel. Any and all other figures featured on our site, aside from public figures, are fictional characters. Any likeness or similarity that they may have to persons living or dead is coincidence”

There is nothing true about anything written on the Pit.  It is fictitious, but not for satirical or humorous reasons. It’s only intent is to try to hurt good and honest people who dedicate their time trying to make Middlebury a better place to live.  It ridicules those who do the most for this community and libels them at every opportunity.  It serves no positive purpose, yet seeks to create an atmosphere of distrust and chaos.

There is nothing amusing about hurting other people’s feelings, and ridiculing those who have spent years protecting the residents. Mr. DeAngelis talks about the Christmas holiday.  (By the way Mr. DeAngelis, it WAS the Romans who killed Jesus you know.) He talks about Christianity. I just find this hypocritical for someone who appears to spend a good part of his time maligning the good deeds of others. As someone on this blog has, already suggested, that would be the task for his Priest to undertake.  If not, what Mr. DeAngelis really needs is a visit from Jacob Marley’s ghost. Merry Christmas. The Christmas truce did not last until the 12th night, but who would have thought it would?