Selectman Thomas R. Creamer

I responded to the survey. My take on the trails ...

2012-01-07T18:24:51.242-05:00

I responded to the survey. My take on the trails is that they are sufficient right now. I did get a kick out of the idea of creating trails that lead to the schools. In today's day and age how many parents are going to allow their children to walk through the woods to school. I did not go to school in this state. We had a bunch of trails around the high school, and i must admit that they were not used for much good.

Perhaps I'm speaking with the the wrong people...

2011-12-31T13:02:10.520-05:00

Perhaps I'm speaking with the the wrong people, but the people I've spoken to, (about 99% of them, anyway) do not approve of spending their surcharge money or any more money on the trails. There is a question, too, of policing those trails. Am I correct in thinking that, as far as police/ambulance/rescue teams, etc., these trails have opened up more opportunities for emergencies in hard to reach areas? Cha-ching.

Kudos to you and Priscilla for taking action on be...

2011-12-29T21:27:47.438-05:00

Kudos to you and Priscilla for taking action on behalf of our community. We watched the meeting and are grateful the two of you are standing up for us.

You left out the ever popular Sikhism and Baha'...

2011-12-22T18:09:59.032-05:00

You left out the ever popular Sikhism and Baha'i Faith

"In the end, we are all truly interconnected ...

2011-12-22T17:09:41.380-05:00

"In the end, we are all truly interconnected and interdependent upon one other in the journey of life."
Perfectly said, Tom. Where would any of us be without the salt of the earth, caring individuals in all walks of life, those who do everything from harvesting crops with little recognition, to those highly recognized who use their great wealth and minds to do their share. One group couldn't survive without the other. Thank you for thinking of us all, Tom. To you and yours: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays,Peace and Contentment.

I hope you don't consider my post at http://wp...

2011-12-20T20:12:36.157-05:00

I hope you don't consider my post at http://wp.me/peCeJ-2pT as damning you with the wrong kind of praise.

I liked the overall tone of the letter, but I particularly single out for praise, your support of the socialist idea of municipal power companies.

Thank you for posting this, Tom. It's a wonde...

2011-12-09T11:12:59.332-05:00

Thank you for posting this, Tom.
It's a wonderful way for a community to get together and recognize their own, even if "their own" lived or live in other places. Anyone's names can be engraved on the bricks - anyone from near or far, military or non military - while also bringing back a land mark, which we have now learned, was present at least as far back as approx. 1917. Thanks for caring.

That was a great meeting. The voters spoke their ...

2011-12-08T20:55:27.625-05:00

That was a great meeting. The voters spoke their minds in a good fashion and the closeness of the votes made for an exciting evening. I should have spoken up an the article for the Saturday meetings, two more votes and so many more people could have the opportunity to partake in Democracy. The other aspect of having the meetings on Saturdays that wasn't brought up is that many people leave the meetings as the evening progresses due to work in the morning or other reasons. They are forced to be unheard on some very important issues. $$$

Thanks, Tom, for being there even at a time which ...

2011-12-07T21:26:35.150-05:00

Thanks, Tom, for being there even at a time which was physically difficult, and for being a clearly spoken voice of reason at the town meeting.

I read the same article. Too bad Dan's leaving...

2011-11-20T21:40:06.678-05:00

I read the same article. Too bad Dan's leaving, he's done a lot. How he ever put up with a couple of the characters on the School Committee is a miracle. Seems like a couple of em can't seem to do anything but cause a stir.

The Tuesday, 11/15 Telegram & Gazette article ...

2011-11-18T23:10:41.493-05:00

The Tuesday, 11/15 Telegram & Gazette article says Dan Durgin was behind that warrant article. A different news article says he's retiring in the spring. Bye Dan!

Makes perfect sense. Kudos to the BOS for doing th...

2011-11-17T23:01:36.719-05:00

Makes perfect sense. Kudos to the BOS for doing the right thing. Once again the Indiana Lawyer is wrong. He continues to embarrass himself and the School Committee.

It's admirable of you, Mr. Creamer, to be so f...

2011-11-15T21:36:51.505-05:00

It's admirable of you, Mr. Creamer, to be so forgiving in the name of accountability and responsibility for one's actions.

Unfortunately, my experience with Ms. Peabody is that she is not as forgiving with those who may err as she did the other evening, even if one is accountable for their actions. In her book, there is no room for forgiveness and she reminds you of that, eye to eye, with the concision of a cold sharp knife.

Perhaps there is a lesson here for Ms. Peabody. But I'm reminded of the statement Selectman Blanchard said about herself last evening: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

Anonymous, thank you for sharing your thoughts; I ...

2011-11-15T09:21:00.004-05:00

Anonymous, thank you for sharing your thoughts; I am most appreciative. I choose to focus less on one's opinion, as we are all entitled to an opinion, and choose instead to focus on the fact that this individual chose to accept responsibility and accountability for her actions.

It is increasingly rare for individuals to do such these days, as it has become an all too common practice for many to hold others responsible for everything. Doing so reduces the need for people to take their own personal character inventory and allows one the luxury of an entitled or elitist attitude. One can attribute a great deal of this country's current failings and shortcomings to a diminishing willingness to hold OURSELVES personally and individually accountable for our part. Many today prefer to be the "victim" of our political system, as it is much less demanding to be a taker than it is to be a giver.

Thus, Ms. Peabody's willingness to hold herself accountable and responsible for her actions is -for me - the critical element I focus on and one I truly hope that someday we as a society will begin to reclaim as a vital component of who we are.

To be quite clear, I was not the least bit enamored by the vitriol and disrespectful commentary hurled at the Town Moderator, BOS, and others that evening by a vocal minority. I believe it was clearly disproportionate and inappropriate to the issue at hand - a mere 4 week recess. That said, in that one resident has demonstrated the willingness to address her personal part in what occurred, is, in my view, cause for positive commentary as opposed to negative, recognizing of course that we all are entitled to our disparate opinions.

To disagree on issues is common and healthy, to lack accountability and responsibility is both destructive and dangerous as it leaves no room for progress. Ms. Peabody has an opinion we can agree or disagree with; most importantly however, she has demonstrated responsibility and accountability - two of the most fundamentally critical components of personal and spiritual growth. So, I applaud her.

Ginger's apology is halfcocked. She said, &quo...

2011-11-15T07:36:00.817-05:00

Ginger's apology is halfcocked. She said, "No matter how I felt that the 213 residents who made the effort to attend the meeting were disrespected..."

She is still saying that the 213 residents were disrespected and that is simply not the case.

These days, it is becoming all too rare in our glo...

2011-11-14T22:39:04.613-05:00

These days, it is becoming all too rare in our global society to find people willing to acknowledge any level of responsibility for their actions or failures. Eleanor Roosevelt said that "People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built".

To admit one's failings takes courage and honesty; a good lesson for all of us and one I thank Ginger for sharing this evening. It is for me, a power of example.

I wish to publicly apologize to the Town Administr...

2011-11-14T18:01:53.960-05:00

I wish to publicly apologize to the Town Administrator, Town Counsel, Boardof Selectmen, Finance Committe, Town Clerk and Town Moderator for my outburst at the November 7th Special Town Meeting. No matter how I felt that the 213 residents who made the effort to attend the meeting were disrespected, it gave me no right to yell at the people on stage. For this outburst I apologize.

Here's the Section 16 that discusses removing ...

2011-11-13T17:35:58.983-05:00

Here's the Section 16 that discusses removing CPA. (a) At any time after imposition of the surcharge, the legislative body may approve and the voters may accept an amendment to the amount and computation of the surcharge, or to the amount of exemption or exemptions, in the same manner and within the limitations set forth in this chapter.

(b) At any time after the expiration of five years after the date on which sections 3 to 7, inclusive, have been accepted in a city or town, said sections may be revoked in the same manner as they were accepted by such city or town, but the surcharge imposed under section 3 shall remain in effect in any such city or town, with respect to unpaid taxes on past transactions and with respect to taxes due on future transactions, until all contractual obligations incurred by the city or town prior to such termination shall have been fully discharged.

One way to do this is to start a petition to repeal the CPA. Or people could request that the current 3% surcharge is reduced to 1% or 2%. When CPA was first implemented back in 2000, the state match was at 100%. Now it's 25% because almost half of the towns and cities in Massachusetts have passed it.

Part of that $50,000,000 in acumulated debt that Mr. Creamer mentions in a prior post on his blog is long-term debt for the various CPA projects that voters have approved.

Maybe it's time for the Community Preservation Committee to come out from under their rock and convince voters why the town should keep the Community Preservation Act.

Accountability - that's the order of the day.

How would the town go about removing the CPA? Sur...

2011-11-12T14:32:36.706-05:00

How would the town go about removing the CPA? Surely we have acquired enough open space in the last few years to preserve peaceful, scenic venues for all of our outdoor enthusiasts. I also agree with Carol that article 48 is just the tip of the iceberg. The residents of Sturbridge can not afford any more million dollar projects. Perhaps all those concerned sports parents could build those fields themselves through fund raising and volunteer labor. If not, I'll do my damnedest to defeat any proposed town spending to complete them. We just incurred a half million dollar debt for storm clean up, we're paying for two new schools and town hall and center school renovations. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I think the jocks got hit in the head too many tim...

2011-11-12T13:06:40.987-05:00

I think the jocks got hit in the head too many times in their younger days.

Peabody thinks she knows everything and tries to control everything; but she just comes off looking pretty bad, especially in this case where, she apparently deson't know what she's talking about.

Watching the jocks at Penn State flipping cars bec...

2011-11-10T22:35:06.882-05:00

Watching the jocks at Penn State flipping cars because of Joe Paterno's firing reminded me of the jocks screaming like thugs at Monday's Town Meeting. It was embarrassing being a Sturbridge resident Monday. No wonder our kids are all me...me...me. They get it from their dads. And these guys are coaching our kids??? Any why does that Peabody woman have to make a scene at every town meeting. Who can forget her storming out like a spoiled baby when she didn't get her way on the Burgess renovation vote.

I think its time to remove the Community Preservat...

2011-11-10T07:21:27.523-05:00

I think its time to remove the Community Preservation Act in Sturbridge.

With $50,000,000 in debt service accumulated over the past few years, rising water and sewer rates, and million $$$ recreational fields planned, we should be tightening our belts, not spending more.

There are people struggling right now who can use that 3% surcharge thats going to the Community Preservation Act.

Also, since town officials are abusing the Act by not following the laws, etc, it's time for it to to go. We can always bring it back when times get better.

It appears that the majority of new faces at town ...

2011-11-09T08:28:47.283-05:00

It appears that the majority of new faces at town meeting were those who wanted to vote on Article 48. Just because no dollar amount was stated in Article 48, doesn't mean there are no future costs. Here are some facts:

1) If passed, Article 48 will bring the town one step closer toward building a $2.5 million dollar multisport complex on the Shepard parcel. The last cost I heard at a Selectmen's meeting included both the Shepard Complex and Town Barn Fields and was $6,000,000 - that was a reduction from $7.2 million.

2) Voters have not been provided any info about these proposed fields - no public forums for resident input, and especially, no costs, nor how the Rec Committee and Conservation Commission intends to pay for those fields. It’s no wonder everyone thinks passing Article 48 is harmless.

3) Article 48 is an attempt at circumventing a legal process in the State's Constitution known as Article 97, which is normally used by municipalities when they want to convert parcels to other uses that are under Conservation Commission control. Article 48 bypasses that process by doing a "deed correction" to a 6 year old deed, by inserting a use that is not currently permitted on the Shepard parcel. The claim by some is that active recreation was meant to be there and it was accidently omitted, which is patently false.
4) The Shepard parcel was purchased for conservation purposes in 2004. "Recreation fields" was discussed and purposely omitted during Selectmen's 2004 discussions when the property was being purchased - check the 10/4/04 Executive Session meeting minutes. Also check the 2004 Warrant Article - see the differences between the FinCom's warrant article and Selectmen's Substitute Motion; had voters been presented with the FinCom Warrant Article, active recreation would be allowed. However, Selectmen purposely inserted the word "conservation" plus they placed it under the Conservation Commission, which stipulates passive uses only.

5) The Conservation Commission states that the CPA definition of "open space" allows active recreation, and it does. But the wording of the 2004 Substitute Motion couples the words "open space" with the word "conservation" thus invoking the natural resource protections within that CPA definition and completely excludes the active recreation portion of the definition.

6) There are 5 other public documents that prove the town's intentions for the Shepard parcel was passive recreation, before, during, and up to one year after its purchase in 2005. Not until 2006 did discussions about converting its use to athletic fields - without public input. Check Page 88 of the 2011 Open Space & Recreation Plan - that acknowledges the use was conservation land, as the Conservation Commission had to manage it in accordance with the Conservation Commission Act, and it "granted its approval" to change the use – once again, without public input. Article 97 was put in place to give voters a say in such conversions because we bought it with our tax dollars. Article 48 is completely unfair to those voters, who in 2004, thought they were purchasing it for conservation purposes.

7) Ask the Recreation Committee for the estimates and plans; I did, and they wanted to charge me $106. The Conservation Commission is stating there will be "no structures" or "no permanent structures" on the Shepard Field Complex. But in fact, the plans show there are both above ground and below ground permanent structures.

That $2.5 million dollar figure comes from cost estimates and plans for three softball fields, a multi-purpose field, and parking for 60 cars. It does not include electricity to the site, nor does it include hiring more maintenance or Rec Department personnel, nor long-term maintenance costs for the property.

Article 48 is a complete sham.

I am addressing the Anonymous person who, on Nove...

2011-11-08T05:58:43.576-05:00

I am addressing the Anonymous person who, on November 7, 2011 at 8:23 PM, said:
"That town meeting sure was exciting. Cant wait to hear the explanation about the disgrace that took place this evening."

And while I'm at it, I'm also addressing the sourpuss, unprofessional, inappropriate members of the Legislative Branch who acted in such a selfish manner last night. They should be embarrassed, as they set a bad example for some of the kids who were present last night.

I was not asking for an explanation from you speci...

2011-11-08T04:59:24.130-05:00

I was not asking for an explanation from you specifically Mr Creamer. Nor was i looking for a explanation on this forum, but knew that I would get a bit of clarification here. I happen to respect the way you conduct business. I enjoy reading your articles in the news paper, you are very well spoken and always offer valid points.

I realize the town meeting was not about "ME", it was about the town as always. I happen to feel that it was not handled appropriately. We, not just myself wanted to have a count on the hands, that is all we wanted. The moderator did a poor job in my opinion of handling the vote. It appeared from my seat that the show of cards was very close. In past meeting there has been counts when it did not appear to be that close. We all would have been better off to use the reverse 911 call that we get on occasion when the weather gets bad or some other announcement, to tell the town about the postponing the meeting.

I realize this town has other people in it. That is why i spent my sunday and monday cutting trees on my road and others to help people get into town. I drove a half hour to get kerosene for a neighbor without heat. There are still many pieces to pick up from this last storm, but enough was picked up to draw a pretty good crowd to the meeting.

Was there a head count as to how many residents made it to the meeting last night? It seemed to be close to the amount that made it to the last Annual town meeting.