Press release from city Councilor Kevin McCauley:
MCCAULEY ASKS FOR CENTER STREET PROJECT RECONSIDERATION
At the August 11, 2009 City Council meeting, I asked my Council colleagues to consider whether the Center Street project was necessary at this time due to the economy and other competing priorities. At that time, we were told that the project was from the Phase I of the State Grant for Downtown with no city dollars. I have since confirmed that the authorization for the Center Street and North Main Street turning lane project does include City funds in the amount of almost $159,000, since one of the stipulations for the State grant proposal requires this local matching funds. As I stated last week, I believe Public Works major road projects that were previously budgeted for where funding was cut and where roadwork was reduced would be a better expenditure of City funds.
Because we were erroneously informed at the City Council meeting that this allocation was from the State funds, I have asked the Mayor and City Council to bring forth this issue at the next opportunity for reconsideration as we can discuss it openly again. On a positive note, also last Tuesday, the Council supported my motion by voting unanimously to have a task force
committee review all of these types of expenditures for any project over $100,000. It is my strong recommendation that we not sign any contracts until we have thoroughly and accurately discussed the facts.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
19 comments:
$159,000 - Center St
$800,000 - Fire House
Any more?
Just where does it stop?
It's either wrong info or no info - taxpayers, watch out here comes a big cut in services after the election and a hefty tax increase next year.
thanks to ward and his buddies we will be hit hard on taxes. Of course not until ward is elected again - then watchout.
I want to know why all the information wasn't presented to the council. After all, they make the decisions, don't they? How can they make the proper decisions if they don't have all the information? Kind of like our legislators in Washington not reading the healthcare bill, but trying to ram it down our throats. I think some people are forgetting that the citizens of Bristol elected them and they should be looking out for our interests ... not their own!!!
the mayor and his "BUDDIES" are all a joke people of bristol wake up. they waste waste waste our hard earned money. center street project is a waste along with many others. we all know that ward will win no problem, that in it self is the biggest waste. hold on to your wallets come next year.
This is a huge, embarrassing blunder on someone's part. It is a basic question and answer to know where the funding is coming from. I wonder how many other projects were voted on and passed in the same manner with council members believing the money was State money and in fact it was not. Again, the city begged the unions for concessions and give backs claiming the city was in a fiscal crisis when apparently, the concessions are being spent on pet projects and capital improvements that can wait until the econemy turns around. Councilman McCauley did a terrific job investigating this one and he has my vote. Boy, did the unions learn their lesson.
I'm waiting to hear from Walter Veselka, the public works director, but other city officials I've talked with this morning are unclear about where the funding for the project is coming from. Let's not jump to conclusions until we know the facts. McCauley's statement doesn't cite much in the way of specifics or identify his source of information. I'm trying to confirm that he's correct, but at this point, I haven't yet found out. I hope to hear back from McCauley as well.
If anyone out there knows more, let me know, please. I'm eager to find the facts.
August 17, 2009 11:41 AM
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Keep up those alligator tears you lazy worthless union "worker".
My guess is that one of the anti-Ward people in Public Works got wind of the funding information and told Kevin Macauley about it.
1:18
The "anti-Ward" people got wind of the funding information and leaked it to McCauley?? Are you kidding me? How does being trustworthy in a room full of liars/morons make you "anti-Ward", unless you're trying to say something really nasty about Art?
Does being "pro-Ward" mean that it is okay to lie about where project money comes from, or turn a blind eye when you know that another person is misrepresenting source funding (either intentionally or accidentally)?
Anyone who knew that the project would be paid for with municipal funds but failed to speak up and clarify that ALL of the $159K for this project was actually coming out of city coffers is "anti-Bristol" and was actively involved in perpitrating a fraud on our taxpayers!
How is it that our city councilors, who vote on these expenditures, could get this basic information so wrong (except for McCauley)?
This must be a sweet victory for McCauley.
Scary thing is Mayor and councilman are fighting and bucking for the lead, while our hard earn money is not being watched on where it's being spent. I think we need to get rid of all the morons in our city govt.
1:18 - ABSOLUTELY CORRECT
If you want to know about infighting, why don't you blame the mayor. It's clear he is the instigator. We at least have one councilman that is honest and is doing what he was elected to do which is to look out for our interests.
By the way, poster 12:51. it's clear that you're a died in the wool Republican. You just can't give credit where credit is due. That's too bad. This man is a firefighter. Firefighters must be in a union. Please tell me where his being the member of a union makes him lazy and worthless? I would hardly call anyone willing to risk their life to save another "lazy and worthless." Apparently he's getting the job done and that's all I care about.
Mayor Ward: Caring about Bristol
McCauley: Caring about getting re-elected.
11:44 AM - ALSO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!
Ward only cares about himself and making as much money as he can so he can retire.
this isn't a new project, how did this job get to be here? didn't kevin even know about it? maybe he is the one who should have been on to this thing, before the council meeting.
10:15 - and the reason that you are working is?
5:35pm I am now retired and worked without ripping off taxpayers.
1:24pm nothing to say worth listening to from you. Enjoy your day at work, I am off to the beach.
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