What a great Town Meeting—so many high points with gracious, knowledgeable, and earnest acts of civic responsibility. Yet there were dark and embarrassing moments as well—three of the most egregious involving Lucy Wallace, selectwoman; Willie Wickman, School Committee; and Tom Jefferson, school superintendent.
First, Lucy Wallace sprang very quickly to answer a question from the floor in connection with the request for a new car for the fire chief: does the chief use his town-provided car for commuting?
“No,” replied Wallace immediately.
Following an uproar from the disbelieving audience, the chief stated that he does indeed commute in the fire chief’s car. Not surprising, and not a problem, since he lives in Groton and is always on call. Why Wallace tried to hide the fact is difficult to fathom.
Then, in an amazing performance in which she twisted and tortured the facts, Willie Wickman, in response to another question from the floor, denied that school Superintendent Jefferson’s salary is increased when a budget override is passed. Another blow to the school board’s credibility. To quote from Jefferson’s contract, section 3b concerning salary compensation: “If a school budget override is passed for a given fiscal year, fiscal 2007 and beyond, the School Committee will grant the superintendent an increase based upon performance and taking into consideration the April 30 consumer price index for all urban consumers provided that the consumer price index is greater than 2.5 percent. The maximum annual increase will be 6 percent.” And finally, Jefferson himself took the floor and pled his case for $25,000 for 12 to 16 ceiling fans to cool the elementary school classrooms. Sadly for the children, Jefferson had an attack of the snivels, claiming the Board of Health made him do it. Not so. No such requirement was ever ordered by the Board of Health. Crash! went his request, to further diminish his credibility.
This balderdash is inexcusable and unacceptable. The School Committee is already under the cloud of town-sanctioned censure. We, the people, deserve better. The proper action for these three embarrassments is to resign.
Deborah Skauen-Hinchliffe
Still River
