MIDDLETOWN

Council decision on Kempen speaks of arrogance

Last Thursday, the Middletown Town Council voted against a renewed motion from Councilman Edward J. Silveira Jr. to disclose the entire separation pact with former Town Administrator Gerald S. Kempen and to invite Mr. Kempen to publicly explain reasons for leaving his job last December.

[At the time] Kempen accused unnamed council members of meddling with how he did his job. Council members for the motion last week were Silveira, Louis P. DiPalma and Barbara A. Barrow and those against were Paul M. Rodrigues, Shirley R. Mello and M. Theresa Santos. The motion failed!

As a taxpayer, I am again upset with council members who do not demand a transparent government that shares information with taxpayers.

The council is actively not sharing information on the details of the separation agreement. Details such as sharing the additional expenses the taxpayers must pay for the secret separation pact.

Also, Kempen asserted some members were meddling with how he did his job. If this occurred, then it appears a violation of the bylaws. If councilmen acted improperly, then those involved must be corrected.

Power under the cover of secrecy generally breeds corruption and dishonesty, since there is no check on excessive and abusive power. We already have stellar examples of indictments of congressmen and a Rhode Island governor due to abuse of trusted responsibilities!

The council’s vote was an arrogant position and sets an ugly precedent with an air of hiding information from the taxpayers.

I say, take the additional step and invite Kempen to publicly explain reasons for leaving his job. Councilman Rodrigues says the agreement is protected by personnel confidentiality and the town may be liable for breach of contract.

I say no. If Kempen is willing to step forward and reveal information, then breach of contract should be moot. Perhaps there’s an agreement clause to decrease the separation payout if there is a breach of contract confidentiality! Perhaps some council members violated the bylaws and want to hide their actions! As anyone can see, one can pose many negative possibilities!

Both Councilman Rodrigues and Councilwoman Santos say it is time to move on.

I say no! It is time to set the record straight and be honest with the taxpayers and do what is right . . . share the severance pact information with the taxpayers. Taxpayers who say nothing to secret and excessive power in government get what they deserve . . . so what will it be?

Al Gauthier

Middletown

NEWPORT

‘Newer/Fewer’ failed, and it’s time to move forward

Now that the dust has settled and the “Newer/Fewer” campaign for new schools [in Newport] has died a death I predicted years ago, we can take an accounting of where we are.

It is too easy, and quite frankly, not helpful, to concentrate too much on the past. At the same time, to let this lack of action — and that is exactly what has happened — go without consequence is also not in the best interests of our city.

Perhaps the most disappointing moments from the meeting the other night between the Newport School Committee and the Rhode Island Department of Education emerged when the School Committee tried to place blame on everybody and everything but themselves.

It would have been nice if they admitted the obvious: They wasted four years looking for leadership, appointed a chairman who is not a leader and ended up with a failed project.

Let me propose a new paradigm. The largest hang-up in this whole process was the committee needing the 30-percent funding match from the state [for school construction]. Without the need for the funding match, the city of Newport can do anything it wants.

“Bobby, you’re not seriously saying that Newport should forgo the match?” That question shows an obvious prejudice. It says that without state money, we are powerless.

Let me suggest something else. Imagine a funding match based on private instead of public funds. No overhanging regulations, no timeline hurdles other than June 30 to get 70 percent, or less, of the plan on the ballot. When one pays taxes, one complains. When one makes a charitable donation of choice, then one feels good and gets a tax break.

In order to do that, we would have to make a commitment to the arts. That is where a bulk of the funding will come from.

We also must make a commitment to math and the sciences. No school built in this area of the state will do well if it ignores its largest future client: the defense industry.

It should be noted that if the right folks resign, maybe those who are already looking to run for other seats, we can start over again this year. We still have time. The entire School Committee cannot resign because we must engage in some parliamentary “trickerration.”

I know if I end up with a role to play that this will be the biggest project, in the political or business arenas, that I will ever take part in. The children of this community and the taxpayers who have invested in property here deserve nothing less.

Robert T. Oliveira

Newport

LITTLE COMPTON

Thank you for making litter pickup a success

On behalf of the Sogkonate and Little Compton Garden Clubs, we wish to thank all who contributed their support, time and energy to the Little Compton town litter collection to honor Earth Day 2008. Your commitment insured the success of this year’s event.

We want to thank the various Scout troops; the LCCC After School Program; all group leaders; students and teachers of Wilbur & McMahon Schools; members of both garden clubs; and other individuals in the town who volunteered their valuable time to collect litter and debris from the streets and beaches of Little Compton.

Since the Department of Environmental Management was unable to contribute bags this year because of monetary cutbacks, we appreciate the burlap-bag donation from Tyler and Carla Young.

Unfortunately, litter is not a single-day issue, but one which must be continually addressed. Please help us by picking up the litter that accumulates along the road(s) bordering your property.

Little Compton Garden Club

Sogkonate Garden Club