Save Wellesley Town Government
Remember to Vote on March 15, 2016
Carol Hannenberg, M.D.–Wellesley Townsman, March 10, 2016
“A town manager without public health knowledge and expertise and with many other competing priorities should not be managing and supervising the Health Department.
It seems best to leave the public health to those who are trained to protect it.”
By Marcia Testa Simonson, M.P.H., M.Phil., Ph.D–Wellesley Townsman March 3.
“It seemed that most of the audience believed the story this map was telling because in all its geographical sophistication and vivid colors, it just looked so convincing. However, neither the map, nor the story behind it, was an accurate portrayal of the real data.”
TGSC Map Detailed Map
Quentin Prideaux, President, Sustainable Wellesley, on behalf of the SW Leadership Team–From Wellesley Townsman February 25, 2016
“We do not go to a doctor who is paid by a fast-food company, to a lawyer who represents our adversary, or to a financial advisor with only one CD to sell. We go to impartial experts who are free to speak their mind, and having listened to their advice, we decide, not them or their backers.”
Read entire article below.
Continue reading “Serious Concerns From Sustainable Wellesley”
Dan Kemp–Wellesley Townsman February 25, 2016
Local democratic government based on voluntary citizen participation is one of New England’s greatest gifts to America. For the 32 years I have lived in Wellesley, town government, executed through dedicated volunteer citizen boards, has functioned extremely well. Now, despite the long-term success of our town democracy, we have a proposal to take town government out of the hands of its citizens and vest it in a powerful, unelected town manager, who would be insulated from accountability by a multi-year contract and exempt from open-meeting laws. This would be a huge mistake for the town.
Continue reading “Let’s Keep Government in the Hands of the Citizens”
Read this position paper entitled “WELLESLEY BOARD of HEALTH Statement in Opposition to the Special Act Question” on how the Special Act will impact public health, how it conflicts with Massachusetts General Laws, and how it separates the the involvement of it residents from the public health services they receive.
Excerpts from this article
“The Special Act undermines the ability of the Board of Health to carry out its responsibilities and powers mandated under Massachusetts General Laws by stripping the Board of its direct management and supervision of the Health Department staff, who have traditionally served as its “health agents.”
“Since only the duly elected Board of Health has the jurisdictional authority as granted by the Commonwealth to enforce public health laws, the proposed town government plan leaves the Board with no health agent employees, and the Health Department employees with no jurisdictional authority.”
“A hired town manager with no public health knowledge, skills or aptitude should NOT be managing and supervising the Health Department.”
To read entire article CLICK HERE