Barnstable Free Press

What's good for Dennis isn't good enough for Hyannis

Billy Bob Mills has a passion for local politics - everywhere except Hyannis.

Regarding the recent water commissioner election in Dennis, Cape Cod Times editoral pooh-ba Billy Bob Mills wrote:

Local politics at its best

People will get out and vote when they believe their pocketbook is on the line. The threat of higher water fees and taxes for anticipated sewering projects in parts of Dennis brought 2,500 people to the polls Wednesday as two candidates vied for a water commissioner seat. The last water district election, uncontested, drew 61.

The victor, Peter McDowell, made an issue of all the Crowell family names in the water department, but everybody knew that was a red herring. McDowell, former town moderator and finance committee member, is a tight-fisted, anti-tax government watchdog who doesn't believe in many feel-good environmental causes. He says he hasn't seen evidence of pollution that would require sewering.

One thing's for sure district meetings should be more interesting. The two other commissioners, Paul Prue and Charles F. Crowell, both signed their names to a political ad endorsing the losing candidate, Brad Crowell, and praising his "positive, can-do attitude."

Too bad, we don't have a "tight-fisted, anti-tax government watchdog" on our unelected Hyannis Water Board.

In recent weeks, Hyannis Water Board spending has included $1,050,000 for pipe replacement on South Street; $200,000 to upgrade Hyannis water supply wells; and an additonal $416,000 for a rate study, repairs to one of the system’s water towers and a water quality study.

Your rates are going up another 8.7% in July.

Over the next ten years, your water rates will more than double.

Munafool gives away 10% of water district revenue

How much more will we have to pay for our water?

I suffered through the April 16th Town Council meeting on tape. It is infuriating to view such total incompetence.

I do appreciate Greg Milne's effort to get clarification on our rates.

On March 19th, I was told that the rate increase would be 5.75%. Thanks to Greg's proding we learned that the rate increase would be much more.

James Munafool did all that he could to prevent this discussion from occurring. See for yourself what a fool he really is on this video:

Find more videos like this on Cape Cod Living

What shocked me was the revelation that Muanfo made a deal with the Hyannis Fire District which allowed them to transfer $225,000 in expenses from their fire district to the water district.

Munafool did this WITHOUT asking for any reduction in the Fire District levy.

You are now paying for fire protection THREE times. You are paying your insurance company. You are paying the fire district. AND, SOON YOU WILL BE PAYING YOUR WATER DISTRICT for fire readiness.

30-40% of a water districts expenses are for fire readiness. Get ready to bend over, because Deb Krau is going to stick it to us on this one. Watch. She'll use this opportunity to raise rates more than 10%.

Our water rates have increased 50% since the Town acquired the Barnstable Water company in 2005. Our rates will increase another 8.75% in July. And, they will need to increase another 10% - 20% to compensate for the loss of revenue from the Fire Districts.

The Fire District has a split tax. The Water District doesn't. Munafool's maneuver transferred the cost of fire readiness from the HFD to home owners.  In effect, Munafool threw us all under the bus to give his friends in business yet another subsidy at the expense of the Hyannis homeowners.

Munafool just gave away your money.

Do we really need a new water tower?

Hyannis Water has more consultants than you can shake a stick at. You might as well read what they have to say.

We're about to spend $3.5 - $4.5 million on a NEW water tower. Read this report and tell me where is says that Mary Dunn 1 Water storage Tank NEEDS to be replaced.

See: Hyannis Water System: Inspection, assessment and recommendations of the Mary Dunn 1 Water Storage Tank - June 2008

The Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. report provides an overview of the recommended maintenance schedules and an explanation for why we had a boil-water notice in 2007. They wrote:

The need for this assessment arises from the events, which occurred On Saturday November 10, 2007. On this day, the Hyannis Water System issued a boil-order for all their customers. Repeat coliform samples taken at the Mary Dunn 1 Water Storage Tank had come back confirmed with E-coli. By chlorinating the water storage tank and the entire distribution system together with daily consecutive coliform sampling the Department of Environmental Protection lifted the order on Monday November 12, 2007. The bacteria detections were contained to the tank and were never detected in the distribution system.

The need for the issuance of the boil order was based on the fact that the Hyannis Water System has only two water storage tanks, one of them was off line for repair, and the Hyannis Fire Department requirements regarding fire fighting capacity combined with pump control and SCADA issues meant that the Mary Dunn 1 Water Storage Tank could not be isolated.

At this point the large water storage tank, Mary Dunn 2, is repaired and back in service. The small water storage tank, Mary Dunn 1 was taken off line in December 2007, emptied, cleaned and field inspected. This report consists of a thorough inspection and assessment of all tank components, a repair and capital improvement plan for the tank and a water storage tank management plan for the Hyannis Water System.

Starting on page 24 is the Merithew, Inc. Tank Inspection Report which includes pictures of the tank and a detailed listing of required repairs.

If you've never seen the inside of a water tank, take a look.

We're paying Whitewater to manage our water system. We're paying Weston & Sampson to tell us how to maintain our water system. And, we're paying Merithew to tell us what repairs need to be made.

Does anyone who works for Hyannis Water know what they are doing?

Can you say Water District Consolidation?

Town Manager John Klimm fails to post Hyannis Water Rate Increases

How much are you paying for your water come July 1^st?

The Hyannis Water System is broke. Every one out of ten homes in Hyannis is vacant, in foreclosure or bank owned. 15% of last years revenue is past due or in collection.

Despite annual rate increases 2x - 3x times the rate of inflation and a doubling of minimum service fees, water system revenue is stagnant and unable to support the aggressive pipe replacement program planned for downtown by the Town Manager.

In a desperate gambit to raise rates even further, the Hyannis Water Board intends to institute a "fire readiness change" to pay for fire hydrant maintenance. Previously, the Hyannis Fire Department covered this cost. Since HFD refused to pay a rental fee for these fire hydrants, water rates payers are being asked to pick up the tab.

This item is on the Town Council agenda next week to justify the imposition of yet another new rate increase for Hyannis Water ratepayers:

ITEM# 2009-082
INTRO: 03/19/09, 04/16/09
2009-082 APPROPRIATION FOR COST STUDY - HYANNIS WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

ORDERED: That the sum of $48,000 be appropriated for the purpose of funding the Cost of Service and Rate Structure Analysis for the Hyannis Water Supply System; and to meet this appropriation that $48,000 be transferred from the mitigation funds received by the Town from the MTBE lawsuit; and that the Town Manager is authorized to contract for and expend the appropriation made available for this purpose and be authorized to accept any grants or gifts in relation thereto, subject to the approval of the Town Council.

ANALYSIS: This cost of service study and rate structure analysis is needed to provide the Hyannis Water Board with accurate information and professional expertise relative to expenses for operations, debt service and capital plan and properly choose a rate structure to support these expenses in a way that is justifiable, equitable and fair to all of the rate payers of the Hyannis Water System.

SPONSOR: Town Manager

How much is too much?

A month ago I went before the Town Council to comment on a number of appropriations for the Hyannis Water System. I expressed my concern that Town Manager John Klimm intended to increase water rates by 8.7% in July.

I was assured that this was not the case. Well then, maybe someone should explain to me how this bond will be paid:

OLD BUSINESS (Public Hearing) (Roll-call 2/3)
BARNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL
ITEM# 2009-097
INTRO: 03/19/09, 04/16/09
2009-097 APPROPRIATION-& LOAN ORDER - HYANNIS WATER SYSTEM

ORDERED: That the sum of $1,050,000 be appropriated for the purpose of funding the pipe replacement and upgrade program for the Hyannis Water System as outlined in the FY 2010 - FY 2014 Capital Improvement Plan as recommended by the Town Manager; and that to meet this appropriation, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow $1,050,000, and that the Town Manager is authorized to contract for and expend the appropriation made available for these purposes and be authorized to accept any grants or gifts in relation thereto, subject to the approval of the Town Council.

SPONSOR: Town Manager

If the water system is broke and rates are NOT increasing by 8.7%, how are we going to pay for this bond?

Finance Director Mark Milne has previously stated that a 3% increase in water rates over and above the annual 5.7% increases would be required to fund a $1 million a year in pipe replacement program.

I didn't go to Barnstable High School, but I learned that 5.7% + 3.0% = 8.75%.

Last night, some anonymous jerk from Centerville stopped by to say that "we don't want nor have we ever asked what you think about this town."

That's too bad, because in ten years, the average Hyannis Water bill will equal your property tax bill. If this isn't mismanagement I don't what you call it.

Barnstable's AAA rating at risk

What's good enough for GM is certainly good enough for Barnstable.

Moody's issued an unprecedented blanket warning on municipal debt today.

See: Muni Bonds May Face Downgrade
By NYT/MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: April 7, 2009

Moody’s Investors Service assigned a negative outlook to the creditworthiness of all local governments in the United States, the agency said Tuesday, the first time it had ever issued such a blanket report on municipalities. The report signaled how severely the economic downturn was affecting towns, counties and school districts across the nation.

While Moody’s regularly reports on the financial strength of various sectors of private industry, its analysts have in the past considered America’s tens of thousands of towns and local authorities too diverse for generalizations.

The report suggests that the ratings of many governments could be downgraded in the coming months, something that would make it more expensive for them to borrow money to finance their operations.

Did you know that Barnstable has a $8 million dollar a year in unfunded health care liability?

See: FY10 to FY19 Ten Year Forecast

Other Post Employment Benefits: Similar to pensions, Town employees can earn other post employment benefits (OPEB) over their years of service that will not be received until after their employment with the Town ends through retirement. In the Town of Barnstable, the OPEB consists principally in the form of health insurance.

A new accounting rule requires that we actuarially determine what our annual required contribution (ARC) would be to fully fund this benefit. The amount of the ARC that exceeds our actual health insurance expenses in any one year gets recorded as a liability on the Town’s balance sheet. The ARC exceeded the Town’s actual expenses in fiscal year 2008 by $8.2 million.

In essence, to fully fund health insurance for active and retired employees, the Town would have had to budget $8.2 million more in FY08 for health insurance. A similar shortfall can be expected every subsequent year. If the Town elects not to fund part or all of this liability, it is expected that it will eventually lead to a bond rating downgrade as the rating agencies are watching very closely how governments across the country address; or don’t address, this issue.

I know I'm the only person in all of Barnstable who reads the stuff that Mark Milne pumps out.

So, you should know, that the scenario described by Finance Director Mark Milne in his ten year financial forecast is no different than the one which took down GM. As soon as Moody's starts doing the job they were hired to do, they'll see that Barnstable's AAA ratings is a fiction.

The free ride on unfunded health care liabilities is over.

The Republicans are coming

The Barnstable Star Tabloid is reporting that John Norman will seek Leah Curtis' seat on the Barnstable Town Council this November.

Norman is married with five children and works for Bortolotti Construction in Marstons Mills. He is another up and comer from the Republican Town Committee who paid his dues on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Star reported:

Former Barnstable Zoning Board of Appeals John Norman of Marstons Mills was at the center of the board’s mass resignation in July 2008. He still thinks he has something to offer and announced his intention to seek the Precinct 12 town council seat in the fall.

At the time of the resignations, Norman had served three years as an associate member and was by-passed once for a full-member’s slot in May. As the appointment process became more heated and politicized, Norman and the longer-serving members on the board tendered their resignations. In a joint statement, they wrote, “Recent events have made it readily apparent that there is, and has been, a concentrated effort to manipulate this board to serve a purely political agenda on more than one level.”

We know that Munafo is a big supporter of Norman (but we won't hold that against him). Munafo, Farnham and Crocker can be expected to endorse him. Hopeful Norman will stake out some political distance from this ship of fools. We have enough pro-growth at any cost "builders" on the Town Council.

The Republicans must be in a hurry to take on what's left of the Atsalis political machine. Both Alden and Norman have announced VERY early.

Maybe, too early.

B. Arnold or J. Alden - What's the difference?

John Daniel Alden has been trading on his name a little too long

Mr. Alden is the ancestor of some ancestor who no one really cares about anymore. But, his name does begin with the letter "A" and this distinction has vaulted Mr. Alden to number "8" on the current Republican hit parade in Barnstable Town politics.

I spoke with John the other day and he told me that "he's got to get on the Town Council." That's all fine and good, but what does he stand for?

I really don't know who John Daniel Alden is planning to represent.

I thought Mr. Alden was a pro-Mayor reform candidate until I read his letter in the Barnstable Star Tabloid today. Here's a copy:

Charter commissioner comments on comments
Re: Public hearings of Barnstable Charter Commission of March 12 and 25.

We heard many voices interested in a mayor elected directly by the voters.

I remain unconvinced that a mayor will change the town hall experience for the better. I have felt that a shakeup in the makeup of our town council would be the better move.

I am getting weary, but not discouraged, by the same negative voices at our public comment hearings. If these same individuals would present some positive solutions, I might be inclined to pay more attention.

John Daniel Alden
Hyannis

Wasn't it John Alden who stated after the first hearing that his Commission has some work to do?

I spoke to John Alden at Town Council the Thursday following the first public hearing by the Charter Commission and he was quite optimistic. Both he and Lucien Poyant were planning to meet with Greg Milne that Monday to plan a campaign to get out the voters to speak for mayor at the next public hearing.

What happened after that is anyone's guess.

My impression of this letter is that John Alden cut a deal. After all, the price of entry into Barnstable politics is betrayal. 

This is a shame for it appears that the values and aspirations of the American Revolution never quite made their way to boundaries of Barnstable.

We've got ourselves another Tory.

Who is the greater fool?

It's your turn to decide

Who do you think is the greater fool?

Those who think that all is as it should be,
Or, those who think that nothing will ever change?

Happy April Fools Day from Bugsy and the gang.

Hyannis Civic Association Criticizes Charter Draft

This letter was published in the latest issue of Barnstable Enterprise. It was read at the public hearing of the Barnstable Charter Commission the other night. Richard Clark tossed it in the circular file last night.

The Greater Hyannis Civic Association expended a fair amount of time and effort through a subcommittee over 3 1/2 months, reported our findings to our members for their concurrence and reported our findings to you last May. We believe you recognized that effort with kind words but we must say that we didn't see or hear much about our suggestions in your discussions, nor do we see much in your preliminary report that addresses the main issue of citizen disenfranchisement in our present charter. To quote our May 8th report, "As an overall comment, a large number of residential owners feel disenfranchised and loss of control of their government under the present workings of our charter. There is also a lack of checks and balances within the structure of the town."

Frankly, we don't see that changing much after reviewing your report and would like to emphasize some major issues that need to be addressed or changed.

1. You must untangle and separate the legislative branch from the executive branch. This has not worked for the benefit of the majority in our town. You must give the voters that power in electing their chief executive. The council president concept does not solve this problem but, in our opinion, just confuses it.

2. Residential property owners tax levy, since this charter has been in force, has risen from 78% to over 90%, which should give us all something to think about. This is wrong and we strongly recommend that a Finance Committee be established that has a heavier hand and better represents taxpayers who pay the bills. Budgets are great but there are always two different sides to money matters depending on whether you are working under the budget or paying for it.

We do not feel that our Finance Advisory Committee has worked effectively over the Charter years. This town now requires over $150 million to operate and produces a two inch thick document. You have to have number-oriented people working on this year round to fully understand the numbers and their meaning. Presenting a document of this complexity to our Town Council and expecting them to fully understand it in a meaningful way is not realistic.

We would like to see more elective and/or appointed officers in Barnstable.

A. The voters have already spoken loud and clear on the Town Clerk position when the question was placed on the ballot last November. Why you wish to disregard this and go against this message in your report is a little baffling.

B. We believe the position of Head Assessor should also be elected. This is a very basic and important task and we believe needs a major independent review and possibly lead to needed changes. This will never happen with the present structure.

C. Personnel Board should be appointed by the Council and have executive powers to set pay grades and pay scales. Some 70% of the cost of running the town is in labor costs and it deserves top attention. There are many other issues in your report that have already been raised in the hearings, but there is one that we would like to still bring up. The issue is Recall, which you eliminated and we strongly disagree with that decision. We believe this should remain as a right. Instead of completely eliminating it, you should have simply increased the difficulty of a recall by raising the requirement to 5% for district positions and 10% for at large.

We often wonder why more people don't engage in the democratic process. Frankly, even though the voter will now vote for 5 councilors instead of one, the dynamics of your proposed Charter, in our opinion, will not change the business workings of our town. We often have people say to us, "What's the use, they do what they want anyway." This may sound like a cop out at first but think about it. If you are not part of the gang, you just don't go to the party.

Lastly, it appears that this Charter Commission is finding difficulty in putting forth a Charter with an elective chief executive which, it seems, many people want. Why not find a way to let the people decide by letting them vote and make the decision on this issue.

Tony Pelletier
President
Greater Hyannis Civic Association

For more Letters to the Editor of the Barnstable Enterprise, see:

http://capecodnow.net/pdfs/barnstable6.pdf

Bob Jones' Last Hurrah

Update: Barnstable Charter Commission votes 6-1 to reject a mayoral form of government. See comment section for
live blog of this critical vote.

John Klimm doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to run for Mayor

Barnstable would be a far better place, if John Klimm hadn't retired to Town Hall. Klimm's lack of political ambition and his obsession with dominating every aspect of Barnstable's political life cheapens all of us.

I had a pleasant conversation with Bob Jones last night after the public hearing for the proposed new Charter. Jones was clearly disappointed by the two hearings and was visibly annoyed that we hadn't given the proposed new Charter a "fair" hearing. He suggested we consider a weak mayor similar to the City of Worchester. Those who advocated for an elected Chief Executive won't be satisfied with this option.

   As a fourth generation Coddah and former Town Councilor, Jones was in an unfamiliar role last night. Only a handful of the faithful came forward to support the work of the Charter Commission. We filled the room with malcontents - mild mannered, gray haired malcontents.

   In all seven people spoke in favor of the present Charter. Three of them were legitimate citizens expressing their opinion on municipal affairs. Then, the Klimm-boobs staged a very short parade of the usual suspects. But even they  were incapable of mustering support for Richard Clark's new Charter. They liked things as they are.

The good ol'boys who spoke included a former President of the Centerville Civic Assoc. (known here as John Palmer), a former WB Fire Chief, a former Chairman of Hyannis Water (and dedicated Klimm-boob), and a former Town Councilor from Marstons Mills. They spoke fondly of sharing "a cup of coffee" with their fearful leader.

The rest of us spoke for accountablity in Town government. We had 12 or more folks speak including the President of the Hyannis Civic Association and several HCA members who also spoke on behalf of expanded authority for the CFAC. We outnumbered the Klimm-boobs 2-1 and still they call us malcontents.

Bob Jones said as he turned to walk out with Royden Richardson, "This town sure has changed.."

Yes, it has. 

We'll know tonight if Jones makes his move for a weak Mayor. Calling the top vote getter a Mayor and asking him/her to stand election every two years won't produce the sort of candidates we need to lead our Town. But, it could distract the voters enough for John Klimm to serve his remaining years retired on our dime in Town Hall.

This could be Bob Jones' Last Hurrah - a non-Mayor Mayor from Worchester.

Reader note: John Julius is fighting the good fight alone tonight. He'll be attending the Charter Commission meeting at 7 pm. There is some talk that Fitton may speak in favor of a Mayor tonight.  We'll be live blogging this event. Please add your comments.