Feels like the School Committee (endless meeting)

OK, well, I'm noting that Brian Derrivan stepped up and voted "yes" on a lot of cuts to the mayor's budget, including the HR/payroll person ($40,000). Also Katie Ives is recommending and voting cuts and with no hesitation.

Is Ed Cameron taking the progressive route, whatever that means? He made a good case for the HR/payroll person, but others thought it was not the time to add a position into the budget. It apparently is a good time to be paying $92,000 for some DPS vehicle, though (see below).

"Not the right time," said Greg Earls about the payroll person. Some 1 hr., 48 mins. later, at the end of the budget process, Earls reopens discussion for reconsideration on the line item, from the prevailing side. And the item is struck for the second time. Don't know what that was all about, since he voted against it, but it had something to do with his apparent misconception that Ives didn't understand that a "yes" vote was to zero the line item ... ?


They cut a lot of OT and street light funding, but approved a $92,000 line item for a DPS first responder/"rolling shop" vehicle to water main breaks, etc. This after an earlier prolonged discussion about a niggling (in comparison) transfer to pay for a used car for the DPS.


Does this make sense? I dunno; but someone (I think Earls) could be overheard saying something about the car at the end of the budget process, when Larry McCavitt asked if for sure the $92,000 had gone through.


I wonder if they know their aside comments/side conversations can be heard on TV?


Officers in the PD get a contractual bonus for doing their job well? What does that entail, for a police officer? Oh my fracking God.


Whittier Regional Voc Tech 2008 = $158,000 salary for superintendent; new super being paid over $203,000! Too bad we can't lose these people, but, as Steve Cole of the School Committee pointed out to me a few months ago, they do offer a lot of programs and have done substantial upgrades to the school.

I like the way James Shanley is keeping people on topic and focused in these meetings, especially this one that could have gone on even more without his guidance. Of course, it is nearly 10:30 and they are still in the midst of a break. What are they doing? Getting a pizza from Oregano's and consuming it out in the lobby? Takeout from Szechuan Taste?

Oh, I see, they were revising the budget.

Nothing was cut from the school budget.

DEP="Don't Expect Protection" (Tom Jones)