Political communications consultant Patrick Scully writes an opinon and news blog called The Hanging Shad. Recently he commented on the controversy between Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, the city of Middletown and the Middletown Board of Education. He writes that the controversy makes Middletown look "silly."
Here's what he has to say:
The soap opera that has become the battle between Middletown’s Mayor Sebastian Giuliano and the town’s school board is a colossal waste of time and tax dollars while being a source of embarrassment for the town. Giuliano should stop trying to run the town like his own personal fiefdom and work with the school board to make sure the taxpayers’ money is being spent in the most cost-effective way.
The worst thing either side could do was to bring the matter to court. As soon as that happens, everything is expensive and the taxpayers are on the hook for the bill. Giuliano should have backed off when the judge (once it was brought to court) sided with the schools Superintendent Michael Frechette, rejecting a lawsuit brought by the mayor asking the judge to bar Frechette from destroying documents. A simple pledge by Frechette that such action would not happen was enough for the judge.
Also finally gone is the around-the-clock police presence at the district’s central office. The police investigation about the possible destroying of documents or other actions is over and no one was charged.
Cooler heads have prevailed to a certain extent now that the two sides have pledged to try to settle things out of court—a move that should have happened first. Still unresolved according to the Hartford Courant are requests from the school board:
•That Giuliano not fire the employees he claims the school board hired illegally.
•That Giuliano stop trying to replace Frechette’s name, on school employee paychecks, with that of the city finance director and treasurer. Giuliano issued the order after concluding that the school board has hired people illegally.
•That Giuliano stop prohibiting school workers from talking with the school district’s attorney, Christine Chinni.
From the outside (and The Shad does not live in Middletown), the whole mess makes the town look silly; a sitcom-like story with Giuliano being the main, ridiculous character. The town and its people are much better than this and deserve better from their elected officials.
10 comments:
I have been following the recent City v School Board imbroglio. In the final analysis the mayor was attempting to restore some municipal control over the school board. He certainly got its [the board] attention and perhaps that is enough. The City has already surrendered enough control to the state in a myriad of areas that cost the city tax payer tremendous funds on a daily basis. The cost for attorneys and police are not significant in comparison to an $80,000 office move allegedly undertaken by the school superintendant.
David Santacroce
Mr. Scully has an accurate characterization of Middletown's mayor.
He neglected to mention that the Mayor offered numerous times to meet with the superintendant and BOE to settle the situation; all times he was ingored or lied to in a closed door meeting by M.F.
Thank you for writing this article; maybe his Highness will read this and clean up his act.
Dear Shad, you do not live in Middletown, therefore you obviously have no clue has been going on in our school system. Many school issues have been brought up to Dr. Frechette with nothing being done. My main pet peeve is that he spent $80,000 to move his office from the front of the building to the back because of too much “foot traffic”. Money is being spent (taxpayers money) foolishly. This pisses me off considering schools are scrambling for funds to buy paper and school supplies for the children. This issue among others, were brought to the mayors attention and I applaud him for taking a stance for the children of our town. Not only did the mayor take a stand but he took it upon himself to come to every schools PTA (Parent Teacher Association) meeting this year to see what issues might be of concern. Dr. Frechette has refused to attend these meetings. Your opinion is that it makes Middletown look “silly”, I agree, but Dr. Frechette should not be running this town and spending taxpayers money without accounting for it publicly and hiding behind his purchasing department. Yes, it’s going to cost this town some money up front but in the long run if we could remove this superintendent it will save our children and taxpayers a lot.
It's amazing how many people comment and how many of those people know what's really going on. Why don't you ask Frechette why he had someone collecting paychecks on Friday after they were distributed? Employees were told that the BOE administration knew they weren't going to have the funds to cover them, but to print them anyway. Then the employees were told they had to give them back after they were distributed. Some did and some refused. Shortly before noon on Friday all of a sudden the checks were good. What was all that about? There should have never been a problem, the funds for these checks have nothing to do with this year's budget. Some people need to just shut up and open their eyes! Just wait until everything comes out.
I find it amazing how people from other communities comment about Middletown, while knowing nothing about the inner workings of City government. It does not matter what it looks like on the outside, it matters what the facts are and why decisions were made the way they were. We can all second guess one anothers decision making process, but without the information the Mayor had, or the Board of Education it is simply a guess on all our parts.
As a dedicated City employee for over 26 years I can tell you that what you see on the surface, is not what really goes on. We as City employees are not out to take the taxpayer for everything they have. We dedicate our lives to the service of this city, as most of us grew up in this community. I find it ridiculous that people who now live outside her boundries comment and claim to know what goes on in peoples minds.
Whatever the problem is between the BOE and the Mayor, I can guarantee it will get worked out. Once the grandstanding is over, the books are looked at, and cooler heads prevail an agreement will be found so that City employees will finally be heard and respected. You may hate the fact we are unionized, and may think we are out to "get" all we can from the taxpayers. But I can assure you most of us are here for the taxpayers, and do not want to see tax monies wasted.
Most of us grew up in this City, and pay taxes here. I for one am born and raised in Middletown, and have worked my entire adult life in City service. I can assure you Middletown means as much to me as anyone out there. If you blog, and choose to attach your name, make sure you know what you speak of.
Those of us in Middletown have long known the silly mayor runs the city like his fiefdom so we shall annoit him Mayor Barney Fife!
funny how comments are not posted.Maybe the kid hit a nerve? Are you a frechette support also? Did you know he has already renewed his contract so he can keep ruining the lives of our teachers and kids?
If you do go the board how come no one has helped that kid that gets picked on all the time?
To BC Fire:
Does it bother you that the real way the city works is not transparent to everyone? Who benefits that inner workings of the peoples' business is wrapped tighter than a matryoshka doll.
As far as the unions, do you do all your shopping in Middletown at union stores? I see a lot of city workers at Walmart in Cromwell.
Finally, you are likely to take your retirement benefits somewhere other than Middletown where your Middletown retirement checks go further.
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