For months there has been turmoil in Charlestown with the citizens and the Mageau town council and the councilors among themselves. The Sept. 4 front page article in The Westerly Sun displays very clearly why the voters are so upset with the Acting President, James Mageau.
In just several paragraphs he shows his disdain for the very citizens he is attempting to impress.
He violates council rules, charter procedures, parliamentary procedure and Roberts Rules and produces this very carefully planned rash of projects for approval which have been "lurking" in the "to do" column.
However, he does not care if they have not been recently reviewed by various commissions or departments. He wants projects that he can boast he brought forward for political purposes — for his reelection!
The business plan for a concert facility "was prepared at the request of Town Administrator Edward Barrett" states Mr. Mageau. Since when does the subordinate tell the "boss" to do something? Why were the other councilors not aware of this request? Or the project itself?
The most important statement is that Mr. Mageau's income projection includes $300,000 from the five events he is driving out of town because he demands that the vendors open their books to the town.
I personally have asked over a half dozen businessmen I know if this statement is reasonable? Their replies were absolutely not. That is a ridiculous intervention into a private company.
In addition, the packing of item #17 in the agenda shows his crafty planning style so clearly. He has taken three projects and placed them together for a single vote. His refusal to put them into separate items as requested by two fellow councilors is not right as they are major decisions which should be considered individually.
Agenda Item 17a is probably not even legal as it stands. But then, Mr. Mageau has never been inconvenienced by anyone's rules!
Tom DePatie |
