The Good Guys were robbed!

I sincerely believe that something substantial could have been done regarding contract negotiations, but because of the shenanigans played at Chariho, we were robbed of our opportunity for reform.

 

There was a meeting the other day to discuss contact negotiations.  Unfortunately, they did not have a quorum and the meeting was adjourned.

 

IF I was still on the Committee, we (the good guys) would have had a sitting majority.  It is ironic that the degree of nepotism has resulted in a loss of power for those with conflicts.  Here’s how:

 

We are supposed to have 11 members.  We are down to 10 because of my predicament.

 

The chairperson, Holly Eaves doesn’t officially have a conflict (but she is going to school to become a teacher). The chair isn’t supposed to vote unless there is a tie anyway, so let’s look at the rest.

 

Of those 9 left, we now find there are 6 that have “conflicts of interest.” Some are still allowed to participate because of the following reasons (I bold those who did attend the meeting).

 

1. Vice Chairman Bob Petit – cousin of Director of Business Admin, Brian Stanley, but because Stanley’s contract is separate from both the teachers and support personnel, Petit participates in this negotiation.

2. Andy Polouski – niece in teachers’ contract (so he participates in support personnel contract – not at this meeting)

3. Andy McQuade – aunt in support contract (so he DOES participate in teachers’ contract and was at the meeting).

4. Bill Day – wife on support contract, son on teacher contract – so not at meeting,

5. Michelle Cole – I’m told she is awaiting a ruling from the Board of Ethics because of a relative or other relation – so she has recused while waiting – not at meeting.

6. Terry Serra – not sure what her connection is but she didn’t go because of some ‘conflict of interest’

 

7. Richard Vecchio – no conflicts – did go

8. Deb Carney  – no conflicts – did go

9. George Abbott – no conflicts – did not go

 

First of all, do you see any pattern between the first 6 and the next 3?  Looks like the way most votes fall – but that doesn’t have anything to do with these conflicts, right?

 

But getting back to the meeting, here are the ones who were there.

 

Holly Eaves

Bob Petit

Andy McQuade

Richard Vecchio

Deb Carney

 

Imagine that list if I was still allowed on the Committee and the chair doesn’t vote.

 

Bob Petit

Andy McQuade

Richard Vecchio

Deb Carney

Bill Felkner

 

We would have had 3 to 2 and could have totally changed the contract plan.  No seniority system. Merit pay – no rollover contracts – etc, etc, etc, etc,,,,,,

 

OPEN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS!!!!!

 

Is there a resident out there who feels as though they have been robbed of this opportunity?  You have standing and this is a specific instance where my presence would have made a difference. 

If you wanted open contract negotiations, this was our opportunity.