Citizen's Petition Seeks 'New Direction For Town'
Seeking a 'new direction for the town', wanting a 'united town' instead of a divided one, a government with a 'higher level of professionalism', a government known for its accomplishments not its scandals, a government without fear of retaliation, resident Robert T. Flynn of Nashua Road filed a citizens petition signed by fourteen other voters, asking Selectmen to not renew the contract of the current Town Manager, Mark Haddad.
Flynn emphasized that his petition was his own, not sponsored, funded or inspired by any other organization or group, saying, "It's just me," adding that his motivation is "to see the town set on a better course." He said, " I am not of the belief that you have to run for Selectman to have your voice heard, to be able to voice your concerns."
The Citizens Petition is Article 4 on the Town Warrant and reads:
Article 4: Citizen's Petition - Town Manager's Contract Renewal
On June 30, 2016 the Groton Town Manger's contract will expire. We, citizens of the Town of Groton Massachusetts, ask that our Selectmen not renew the contract with the existing Town Manager.
A Yes Vote: Would inform the Selectmen that Town Meeting objects to the renewal of the current Town Manager upon its expiration on June 30, 2016.
A No Vote: Would inform the Selectmen that Town Meeting has no objection to a renewal of the current town Manager contract upon its expiration on June 30, 2016.
Flynn said that he will make a motion at Town Meeting that Article 4 be conducted by secret ballot. If secret ballot voting is approved by majority vote, residents would vote anonymously, unlike the usual practice of Town Meeting voting by voice votes and raised hands. Flynn said the secret ballot was important since there are a number of town employees, vendors to the town, and members of town boards and commissions expected to participate who probably not be comfortable voting while Haddad sits on the stage at the front of the Performing Arts Center.
Even though Haddad's second three-year contract expires at the end of June, 2016, a clause in the contract requires that Haddad be notified by the end of this year if the town does not intend to renew. The last time his contract was renewed, in 2013, he petitioned the Board of Selectmen for an early contract renewal, months ahead of the scheduled negotiations, which was granted.
The following comments by Mr. Flynn, were reported in the Groton Line and are reprinted here with permission.
"Over the last seven years, there have been a lot of things going on that have not put the town in a good light. Scandal after scandal. It's issue after issue; it's spending after spending. It is dividing the town. The town is more divided now than when I moved in and a town manager is supposed to have the reverse effect - a professional manager should unite the town," Flynn said.
"The whole motivation is to change the direction of the town. I think it's time for a change. I think the town needs a uniter, not a divider, and what the current town manager does is divide the town on every issue. You can go through them, every topic that comes up is controversial and divisive. We shouldn't have four votes on a fire station - the town manager should be able to get up there and present all the facts, once. We have multiple law suits going on against the town. We need a strong uniter who can bring people together," Flynn said.
"Look at the interaction in every Board of Selectman's meeting between the town manager and the board. That's the crux of this. It's the perfect storm. Every person in this town looks at that and says, 'What are we doing?' There wasn't one person I spoke to when I was collecting signatures that wasn't disgusted with the way things are going, the way he's speaking to the Board of Selectmen."
"It's about respect," Flynn said, "respect for the office, for the people, for the employees, for the Board of Selectmen that he reports to.
