MOOREcol.03-25-2005. . . . . .36

Hed :

Let's put a stop
To hide'n seek
Public information


By BOB MOORE


Excuse me, but my first thoughts when it came to writing about this
last week of a campaign to elect two new selectmen came down to this:

When a reporter asked George king what plans he had to follow up on a
TM demand that he extend health benefits to town workers serving in
Iraq, the manager turned on his questioner:

He'd respond in a "timely manner," but "not at the convenience of The
MetroWest Daily News."

David McLaughlin's question was a routine one, from an experienced
reporter on a question that had raised Town Meeting debate to a
boiling point a few days earlier. And left up in the air.

To me it seemed to point up the question hanging over town affairs:
Manager King didn't have to answer to the Board of Selectmen. And the
same goes to a newspaper. And to the public.

OK, far as it went. For ever so long questions had been left in the
air and - noticeably not even asked by the 4-1 board. Getting two
selectmen elected with tongues in their heads. Ending the
silence. What it's all about.

MAKING IT PUBLIC - Now the time has come for all of us to decide
which two - of six seeking the openings - deserve our votes. But
getting to see the six in action has been a struggle with "silence"
that ended today with Ch. 9 offering to replay tapes of the first
public [LWV] forum from now until election on April 5.

In all the decades I've been sifting Framingham affairs, this
election and what led up to it is the most relevant. What's been
missing is the lack of information - as the 4-1 board has limited its
number of sessions at which they refused to press for answers.

One example, the so-called $86 million capital budget from King that
has floated for months like an unanchored balloon . . . .with no
facts to justify it.  It is now dead but its long life has left so
much - like our upcoming FY 06 budget - in doubt that no progress has
been made.

Given that, one would expect that getting the facts and the
candidates out in the open would be of prime importance. Yeah. I know
I've had plenty of calls about "when" they'd be aired. But getting
those candidates' forums on television was blocked.

Were it not for Norma Shulman and Joe Rizoli, how the six comported
themselves would be left in the dark room. [Shulman photographed and
printed the League of Women Voters forum and Rizoli did the same for
the FIMBY forum.]

WHY NOT FOR ALL? When Shulman pressed selectmen to allow the forums
to be held in the Memorial Building where equipment to televise live
is present, the answer is no. "if we did it for one [FIMBY asked],
we'd have to do it for all."

Well, why not for all? Shulman wanted to know. Isn't that a good
question?  For a town that prides itself on being up to date, keeping
informed is a must.  Personally, I messaged Ron Rego, the man in
charge of Government Access programming, with a similar question. I
got no answer.

Stop for a minute. For more than a decade, Norma Shulman, has brought
her camera to key events that otherwise would not be seen. Ten years
ago, she caught every session of the pro-city-leaning Special
Commission on town government.

Norma is not pro-city. Neither is the 4-1 board; it just doesn't like
seeing what might be seen as criticism of its performance. A resident
might forget dissatisfaction with one "bad night" but all at once in
one big smash? Why commit suicide?

Recently, The MetroWest Daily New called attention to the role of the
media in finding a way to provide information the public needs to
know out in the open. It is a nationwide effort, and I would suggest
that Shulman's repeated effort to cover what others haven't, worth
full credit. I have watched her, almost timidly, push selectmen for
support and often get yes-yes toleration.

Give credit, to the staff at Ch.9, headed by Francesca Cerutti-Harris,
for making space available for repeats from now until April
5. Credit, too, www.framingham.com which will carry the dates and
time.

The Public's Right to Know is really The Public's Need to Know and
that is buttressed by the media, curious residents and the
Administration. I think more than a handful of people now believe the
Administration is lacking in this effort.

THE LINEUP - All of what I've said so far has a bearing on how you
vote, but what about the candidates and their views of our below-par
conditions?

I've seen the tape on one forum - that held by the League of Women
Voters.  I've sifted Framingham affairs this year, as I have for
decades, and I lean to two candidates I believe will make a
difference : Dennis Giombetti of the FinCom and activist Ellen LaRose
of Town Meeting and Government Study. Giombetti is a man who knows
his own mind, is proactive and aware of how to shape the unevenness
of public affairs into teamwork.  LaRose is keenly aware of
neighborhood identity and how to use a business-like approach to mend
the flaws of current efforts.

I've known John Stasik for 30 years. He is a gentleman. He likes to
be liked; to find that people speak of him fondly. But in 30 years
I've never known him to ruffle feathers, and, at a time when that's
needed, I don't think he'd measure up. What worries me is that he is
soundly backed by one old pro [Larry Desilets] who did his level best
to back candidates for selectmen who wouldn't ruffle feathers. Vide,
the 4-1 board.

Viewing the LWV forum, you can make your own search. I think you'll
find Dennis Paulsen a man who's seen the light and wants to make sure
that others with complaints will find courage to stand their ground.

Jim Rizoli. Dressed for the occasion without his cap and slacks for
appearance before selectmen, I couldn't help but notice how much more
he comes across without the Ross-cross questioning. Not for my taste
but a man who's "thought it out" and craves attention. A
different-appearing man who got one laugh I won't repeat.

Harold Wolfe. Still the sincere opponent of what he [as a local
taxpayer] sees as over-spending. Still timid on his feet and awkward
in efforts to use charts to explain overspending, he almost asks
people not to accept him. As a selectman he'd be a droning bore. But
he'd like to measure how many people feel we're overspending. So
would I.

Seated between Rizoli and Wolfe, Stasik was careful to balance a load
of feathers that would not offend anyone. His windup: he read a
forceful speech intending to look at the future.

Look for replays of all the candidates' forums on Ch. 9 today at 2,
Saturday and Sunday at 2 and at times to be announced through
www.framingham.com from now until April 5. You might ask rcn.com to
repeat them more than once. And you might press Ron Rego to find room
on Government Access. After all, this is a critical election.

________________

All in all, this has been a meaty campaign. To address problems of
from-the-sofa government, it has given us a chance to bring
light-and-progress to Framingham government.

______________________________________________________________
You can reach Bob Moore at edmoore4@aol.com or at
1-508-620-1449.

To unsubscribe, send email to majordomo@syslang.net with body
unsubscribe frambors (the subject is ignored).

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions maintained online at
http://frambors.syslang.net/faq/about.html before posting or replying.