Reading The Sun’s article of Monday headlined “Charlestown eyes district audit, withdrawal plan update” I feel a bit uncomfortable with the assumptions inferred. There are no misstatements of fact, and yet the article does not represent wholly the direction of the entire council.
Once again, Mr. Craven, Mr. Barrett and Mr. Mageau seem to be leading a charge independently of the other councilors’ concerns and stated opinions. Mr. Mageau , the councilor who with his minion, Mr. Picard was missing at the omnibus meeting, was the only council member quoted in your article. He considers withdrawal the only option, and seems unilaterally to have headed the administration on that track.
Yes, the entire council authorized the audit of capital assets at a previous council meeting. It never hurts to have facts to work with. And yes, we appointed a withdrawal committee. John Craig, Harriet Allen and I were at the Chariho Omnibus meeting last Thursday night and were part of the discussion. And yet not one of the three of us promoted withdrawal or threatened the assembled members of the Chariho committee with that action. Quite to the contrary, we supported a revisit of the bond issue as this is our last opportunity to make necessary improvements with 56 percent state aid. We supported splitting the bond to give voters more choice.
We clearly heard our legislators, who also took the time to be there, and to listen to the assembly, tell us that there is a good chance that all state aid for new school construction may be withheld in the new state budget!
Considering the financial climate of our state, as well as the world at large, this would not appear to be a good time for Charlestown to assume an enormous debt. We lost our chance three years ago when interest rates were at an all time low, and state aid was assured. I strongly supported withdrawal at that time. I still do, eventually. I believe in the value of small schools. But I do not support an all out assault on our regional system at this time.
I am interested in the contributions of our Chariho Building Committee, the Charlestown Withdrawal Committee, and the Budget committees and finance directors as well. They can and will provide us with the hard numbers.
When we left the meeting, the attending councilors, who represented a majority of the Charlestown Town Council, left the door open for solutions and suggestions. The Sun’s article would leave the reader to believe otherwise.
Just because Mr. Mageau says so, and Mr. Craven and Mr. Barrett move in lock step, does not make it so.
I can’t help but make the point that Mr. Mageau , who constantly harangues about saving money and building cost overruns, has reflected absolutely no fiscal responsibility since assuming office. He has cost the town dearly with outrageous giveaways and scurrilous lawsuits.