Who cares!

Now I know who else not to vote for.

Anyone endorsed by Chelmsford's official Town Bully,...should be regarded as his willing toady!

I was talking to the guy behind the photo booth at CVS, he wasn't a Joyce fan. Does this mean the Patch has to release a news story about him? I'm not sure why when a town meeting member endorses someone, this is news.

No sarcasm, just the truth.

It was sent out as a mass mailing to many people in town from Better not Bigger and it is one Selectmen Candidate endorsing another Selectman Candidate. Better not Bigger is close to the World Weekly News for fact checking but they made it news as a lot of people are talking about it.

FYI, I do not control what Roland Van Liew wants to say. Suffice it to say that we are two different candidates that share concerns on some issues, such as rising taxes and government transparency. All candidates in this race should be considered on their own merits.

Totally agree Bob! That's why I'll be voting for you and Roland! Also, there's a silent majority in town that will be doing the same thing. You won't find them on this site or Facebook, but everyone is sick of the rising property taxes.

Jon, I look at it as Roland having the resources and guts to take on a cast of characters that have way too much influence in town. How many times do residents have to vote something down, i.e. new schools, fire stations, and we all know who influenced The Meathouse being denied a wine and beer license. Now there are issues arising out of the location of the new fire station. I can totally understand why he took on some of those folks - his address was put up on Facebook. How creepy is that! He's been defamed on local TV shows, in town report, etc. All because he disagrees with the way the town is run. The 9 North Road thing screamed conflict of interest and everyone knew it! I will agree that he needs to do a better job fact checking before he goes after people, but where there is smoke there is usually fire. I also agree with him about our property taxes. They are ridiculously high! When you have half of the town employees making six figure salaries, something is seriously wrong!

Jon,
I can agree with you to an extent, but I could also argue that RVL saw a wrong in his mind and is tried to correct it. First he was accused of not wanting to get involved and now he is running. I would argue that he is following through with what he believes. We have a right to vote for him or not.
I could argue that you and some who agree with your position engage in a form of bullying, he posts or somone who agrees with him posts and we can always count on a certain group to rally against him or the poster, and some will search voting records to determine who someone is (you know who you are) or state unless you show up or serve you have no right to an opinion or somehow it is uninformed. As a resident and a tax payer I always will have that right. Serving does not give anyone an enhanced right.
As a lawyer, does every client you represent hold the high moral ground in every dispute. I think not.
I do not agree with the tactics that RVL uses, but as far as I know he has the right to engage in them. The courts can and do rule against him and they can hold him liable for the other sides attorneys fees as well. That is the system.

Well, here's the article about Chelmsford town employee salaries! Maybe not half, but more than what is reasonable: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_22110339/chelmsford-sees-jump-town-employees-earning-over-100g

I saw Dennis Ready show where all they did was talk about Roland. His address was put up on Facebook twice. If that isn't a form of intimidation and bullying, I don't know what is. Also, that Choose Chelmsford campaign was sickening and 40% of the voters voted for the recall.

Jon,
Sorry, the use of this web site by you any many of your supporters is a form of bullying. Attack one person.disagree and you are quick to jump in as well as many others. The point you made about legal rights could be used by Roland and his attorney as well. I believe you made my point for me. Do you always agree with your clients. Are they always right. I think not. I will have to disagree with you about Paul Cohen, he is not talented nor is he that good at his job. I read the depos and he made many mistakes with the fire station and as far as I am concerned it is still be mishandled. Phil was in a conflict and I really do not care that we was cleared. he was representing one interest while serving on the BOS. The fact that no money changed hands is what saved him. I also do not agree with the assertion that many if not most people did not know what they were signing. If that is so, I guess we have a bunch of dumb voters. I would say that the fact that he is runnnig gives you a chance to see the debates you want to see. Jon, again, I have a right to not agree with you and that seems to bug you the most.

Andrew,

I now understand why you post RVL stories. The comments are always a great read really show how factions in town behave. My sincere apologies!

Wow, we need over 1100 employees? No wonder we're all feeling squeezed and we get to pay for the sick day buy back programs and other perks that us suckers in the private sector can only dream about. I totally agree with everything Ron says. Paul Cohen is neither talented or good at his job and what's worse doesn't even live in town. Phil was an absolute, in your face, confict and I don't care who he knew to help get him cleared. People knew exactly what they were signing. What an insult to the residents! They might be apathetic and not show up for elections, but they're not dumb and will show up when their wallets are involved. The fact that you needed a "Choose Chelmsford" speaks for itself and the name alone basically says if you disagree, you're not choosing Chelmsford. How ridiculous! Who was the PR genious who came up with that slogan?

Townie - The fact that we have 1100 employees is because we have 4 elementary, two middle and a high school. The largest group of employees are teachers. We also have two libraries, 6 cemeteries, 230 miles of roads to maintain, 5 fire stations, among others. We do not have an assistant town manager which nearly every community our size has. We stopped sick day buy back in 1991. The fact is that two other communities were trying to steal Paul Cohen away from us. When he took over, our Stabilization fund had been gutted to $1,700,00. He has restored our stabilization fund to $6,000,000 and improved our bond rating twice in the last two years during the height of the recession. He has a budget where we can build a much needed fire station without having to seek an over-ride which would increase taxes. It was made clear at the beginning of his interview that Paul would not move into town and if that was a deal-breaker, the interview should stop. It didn't, and even a Selectman who did not think Paul was the best candidate at the time of hiring has acknowledged his mistake and now states that Paul turned out to be the right choice. Perhaps you would like us to be like Dracut where they can't find a qualified Town Manager? Townie, every candidate for Selectman except Roland, and including Bob Joyce, has stated that Paul is doing a good job. Rather than saying that Paul is not talented, provide me with some examples. I have provided some to you so please enlighten me.

Rob C. - The mandate for using police officers on details is state law not a Chelmsford requirement. That is why you don't see police details in New Hampshire. If you disagree with this law, and I can completely understand your position, you should take it up with your State Representative and State Senator. Those are the only ones whou can change this. Not your Selectmen nor your Town Manager.

Rob C. You are correct about the law change. Section 10 of Chapter 86 of the Acts of 2008 changed the police detail law. It is the Police Chief's decision of whether to use flag people. However, since it is past practice to assign police officers to details, the issue would need to be collectively bargained. This is why 4 1/2 years later, one does not see this occurring at the local level in any towns. I doubt that there would be any appreciable savings on you utility bills but I suggest that if any town tried to bargain this away, the unions would seek greater pay raises which would have a much greater impact on municipal budgets. Moreover, if a municipality and the police union does not resolve a contract dispute, the matter goes to binding arbitration and since all other communities use police flag details, the difficulty in changing that contractual provision is remote, at best. If a municipality goes to abitration it also increases municipal legal expenses.

RVL was elected to Town Meeting and has since missed the majority of town meetings. If RVL cannot fulfill the requirements of the least time consuming elected position, why would he deserve a vote for Selectman?

During the period of time in which RVL was attempting to remove most of the Town's Selectmen from office, he spearheaded a door to door, hand delivered mail drop-off, via a canvassing of our Town residences. On four (4) separate occasions, representatives of this Van Liew effort illegally trespassed onto the private property of the Williamsburg Condominiums I & II, located in North Chelmsford, violating the posted non-canvassing and non-solicitation regulations of these two private communities. On three of these occasions, RVL operatives, were confronted by me and/or other members of our Association, and told that they were violating posted, private property access regulations. On one occasion, the lead individual became beligerent. I told this individual to contact the police, or I would, if she and they failed to leave the premises. Shortly thereafter, she returmed with a officer of the CPD. I explained our Association's position, re: canvassing and soliciting, and directed the officer to our signage, at the entrance to our community. The officer reviewed our posted signage and returned to inform the group that they must leave the property, because they were in violation of the posted Private Property warnings.

I cannot, in good conscience, endorse/vote for any individual who knowingly and repeatedly supports actions that violate the law, and demonstrate little regard for the privacy of fellow citizens. And, ignorance is not an acceptable defense.

No, Mike. I "vacationed" at Parris Island and Camp Lejuene, before heading to 8th & I.