Budget Is Getting Voted On AGAIN

City Council had voted in this budget last summer, but they have to vote on it again because they didn't advertise the budget amounts as required by law, so they have to do it again.

March 22nd, 6:30PM. Public input is encouraged.

I'm planning on being there. Make sure you are, too.

Guest Editorial: Tony Guinta

Originally published in the Weirs Times, September 10, 2009

I’m sure many of you have already heard the news about Franklin’s City Council breaking New Hampshire’s first taxpayer mandated taxpayer endorsed tax cap. But the big news is this councils’ continuing contempt towards its citizens. Before we get into their most recent inexcusable actions, let me first dispel the “excuse” this council asserts in support of their momentous cap over-ride.

Excluding Mayor Merrifield and councilor Glen Feener who both fought valiantly for taxpayers, those who broke the cap deny they did anything of the sort. They claim they were merely recapturing last year’s lost revenue (due to an “accounting error”) and are only raising this year’s tax rate by the amount allowed under the charter. Barring the fact that this is no year to be “reaching back” to take past due monies from recession weary unemployed taxpayers, this year’s budget should end all debate about the debilitating affects of tax caps! By regaining their due from last year and taxing us to the rate of inflation this year, our politically tone-deaf council yielded enough cold hard cash to send them on a spending spree. While our state and other municipalities are imposing hiring freezes, furloughs, and lay-offs, Franklin is preserving all current staff and filling four vacant positions. While private industry has had to dramatically reduce expenditures to the point of (gasp) having to clean their own offices, Franklin renewed an $80,000 private cleaning contract. Oh, and my personal favorite… our “frugal” council has requested $850,000 for a new “mandatory” recycling program of which many in our City are completely unaware. As we struggle through the worst economy in 75 years, Franklin has shiny new recycling trucks on their way and has destined our recyclables to a receiving facility that has yet to be built. Yup, the first broken cap in 20 years (out of absolute necessity they’ll remind you) and they’re spending money like it’s going out of style!

How did taxpayers react to this council’s “spend-thrift” ways? They packed City Hall and for nearly two hours barraged the council with overwhelming opposition to the proposed budget. You’d think they would have listened! But even with all this outrage, it took them only minutes to completely dismiss weeping taxpayers, over-ride a mayoral veto, and pass the first budget in 20 years to break the cap. If that weren’t enough, the greatest snub was yet to come. During their August public comment period, a nearly 300 signature citizen’s petition was presented to the council demanding this learned body reconsider the budget. Not only did the council remain mute on a vote to reconsider, they deadlocked 4-4 to even accept the petition from the taxpayers of Franklin. Imagine the arrogance of “our” public servants to not even acknowledge their own citizen’s petition? They say “voters’ have short memories”. But being snubbed, especially during a time when constituents are really hurting, has a way of sticking with you. Unless this council reverses its actions, my bet is there will be hell to pay when the people get their chance to speak where they cannot be ignored… at the polls!

Tony Giunta served as Mayor of the City of Franklin from 2000-2004 and during his tenure worked to strengthen the city’s tax cap charter provision.

Petition Brought to City Council

Sorry I didn't get this in sooner -- busy week for school! Plus I have an assignment that I have to get done by tonight, so I wanted to make sure this got posted now.

There was a city council meeting this week. And the Citizen was there.

Petition calls for review of Franklin budget

Because of school I completely flaked on going to the meeting myself. But read the article to get an idea of what happened.

Next City Council Meeting -- August 3, 7 PM

The next City Council meeting will be on August 3 at 7 p.m. I plan on being there, because there may be a chance that the cap might not be broken.

Bob Desroschers is getting a petition together of Franklin residents who oppose the tax cap. So far, he reportedly has 200 signatures, and he plans on presenting this at the next city council meeting. If you would like to add your name to the petition, let me know and I will tell you how to get in touch with him. (I'm reluctant to give his phone number out on the website until I've talked with him myself)

Letter from Ward 1 Councilor Bob Sharon in The Citizen

Ward 1 councilor Bob Sharon was not present during the final vote on the budget a few weeks ago, so that's why he's not included on the list. Here's his letter in The Citizen explaining his situation.

Editor, The Citizen: My name is Bob Sharon and I am a Franklin Ward I city councilor.

I would like to set the record straight concerning the tax cap vote. On the night the proposed budget was set, June 24, 2009, I abstained on voting because there was another proposal made that wasn't presented for discussion, therefore, I didn't have all the facts.

At the July 6, 2009 public hearing and council meeting, I was in the ICU at Concord Hospital and so I didn't vote at all.

If any of my constituents would like to contact me on this matter, please call me at 393-5228 anytime.

Bob Sharon

Franklin

Letter To The Editor Roundup

These were some of the letters that were published over the past week.

I'll start off with mine, which was in The Citizen:

So, the Franklin City Council did it. They broke the will of the people and decided to go above the tax cap, despite the objections of the residents that showed up. We, the residents of Franklin, no longer have a voice in what happens in our own city. The city council proved that last night. After listening to various stories of hardship, common sense and anger, they still voted in the current budget. They weren't listening to us.

Also from The Citizen, Jeff Whitney of Franklin puts in his two cents:

Last night, I witnessed unadulterated politics without regard to the thoughts and opinions of the electorate. Make no mistake, I fully understand that this decision was not based on the needs of the city, but rather a move to break, what some see as the shackles of the tax cap. Not a single councilor gave one compelling argument for the over ride. It was a purely principled argument with a thinly veiled attempt to convince the voters, it was in the best interest of Franklin, and Councilors Rabinowitz and Andreozzi led the charge. Unfortunately the other councilors that voted for the override did not have the fortitude to fight for the right decision.

Lastly, although I am disappointed in the vote, I am particularly concerned with the contempt that Councilor Andreozzi showed to the public. She was not only condescending and haughty, but she insulted the intelligence of her constituency. Perhaps she should run for national office. I think she might fit in well. At least Councilor Rabinowitz had the decency to say nothing ... and was Councilor LeBlanc even there?

Next, from the Concord Monitor:

Where is the accountability? The Franklin City Council overrode the tax cap Monday night, after the mayor vetoed it. Councilor Glen Feener was the only member to actually listen to those who were speaking. Councilors Doug Boyd and Annette Andreozzi talked a big game, but never came through. In fact, Andreozzi decided to make sarcastic jokes during a time when there were mothers crying at the podium over being able to feed their children.

The councilors killed the American Dream in Franklin. As one resident put it, they are no better than those in Washington. Too bad they have to live with us though. The citizens appreciated the diligence and work of Feener and Mayor Ken Merrifield, the only two members of the council who have a heart and a set of ears.

DANIELLE BARKER

Franklin

And finally, so that we have another side to this debate, responses from Ward 3 councilors Gerald LeBlanc and Annette Andreozzi.

The main reason stems from an error made last year that left just under $450,000 in taxes that we were not allowed to collect. When the error was realized, a decision was made not to send out supplemental tax bills, but to cover the lost revenue from fund balance surplus.

There is no one person responsible for this error. There were mistakes, misunderstandings and lack of oversight from the NH DRA (Dept of Revenue Admin), Franklin's Finance Director (that happened to leave Franklin during this process), Franklin's Interim City Manager, our current and newly hired City Manager, City Councilors and the Mayor. -- Ward 3 Councilor Gerald LeBlanc

On a personal note about the person who is libeling me, he must not have been hearing what was said, because I made no comments to the public. Despite the hyperbole, exaggeration and misrepresentation to the contrary, I believe that the Franklin City Council took the proper approach to a difficult situation and made the correct decision to keep a good city, made up of good people, moving forward in hard times. Franklin will have a brighter future because of the hard work, dedication to task, and courage in the face of adversity displayed by my fellow officials.

It was unfortunate that the proceedings were ultimately marred with insults and profanity and volunteer city officials being subjected to taunts and jeers when they are doing the job they were elected to perform, which is make difficult decisions based on what is best for the whole city, not what is best for personal images. -- Ward 3 Councilor Annette Andreozzi

To address the bolded quotes above in their letters:

1) LeBlanc sounds like he's trying to spread the blame around.

2) Andreozzi makes it sound like people were verbally abusing them all night. I didn't hear any real boos from the audience. (although I heard one person call her an "idiot" after she proposed that the city cut the funding for snow removal and de-icing the roads, although I don't know if Andreozzi was being sarcastic about it). Heard some clapping when people agreed with a point. There was one guy that went up who went by the name John Q. Public who might have let out an expletive during his time at the podium, I don't remember. Any real shouting came from the audience members after the vote was cast, and again it was just one guy who was basically telling the city council members that voted for this that they can expect to get voted out in the next election.

So Who Voted For This, Anyway?

Come election time, remember these names and faces (except for Councilor Audet, who doesn't have a picture on the site). They are the ones who voted for this year's budget.

Ward 1

Councilor Ted Starkweather Ward 1 Term of Office January 2011 Contact Number 603-934-4693

Councilor Jerry Audet Ward 1 Term of Office January 2012 Contact Number 603-934-4100

Ward 2

Councilor Doug Boyd Ward 2 Term of Office January 2011 Contact Number 934-5520

Councilor Jay Bowers Ward 2 Term of Office January 2012 Contact Number 934-5433 Email: djb39@metrocast.net

Ward 3

Councilor Gerald LeBlanc Ward 3 Term of Office January 2011 Contact Number 934-4428

Councilor Jeffrey Rabinowitz Ward 3 Term of Office January 2010 Contact Number 934-5465

Councilor Annette Andreozzi Ward 3 Term of Office January 2012 Contact Number 934-8222