Left to right: Shaffer, SB Princess Stephanie O'Keeffe and rookie Aaron Hayden.So on some things Town Manager Larry Shaffer is a Stand Up Guy.
Certainly not when it comes to basic American values like a good old fashioned Rockwellian July 4’th Parade, or allowing the Boy Scouts of America unfettered access to property they have used for sixty years to sell Christmas trees, or even flying American flags in town center to commemorate the victims of 9/11.
But he did stand in support of the $20,000 in Article 18 of Community Preservation Act money to improve the landscape of the West Cemetery (you know, the final resting place of the Dickinson family including of course Miss Emily.) The article passed fairly handily 108-51.
And I assume when the recorded Tally Vote (a step up from a standing vote) is released for full-funding of the Civil War Memorial Tablets (a much closer vote at 91 to 84) he will also have voted in favor.
Town Manager Barry Del Castilho (now South Hadley’s acting Town Manager) never once voted on the floor of Town Meeting in his twenty-year tenure. And the Moderator, Harrison Gregg can--but never has--voted. I even think State Senator Stan Rosenberg could show up and vote if he wanted, but never has.
If you construct a budget, as Town Managers are supposed to do, then why would you not support individual items within that budget?
Poor form.
ReplyDeleteIt is like the faculty advisor to a college club voting -- it is just poor form. Schafer had his chance to set the policy as Town Manager and even though he may be a resident and thus eligible to vote as that, he shouldn't do it.
Poor form, if not conflict of interest.
And when the TM votes on his salary, should he vote on that????
READ ME on Parade - last comment here.
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