Phillips and Avon are embroiled in a disagreement over our Transfer Station. The specifics of this have been splashed across the press sufficiently and I’ll not repeat them here. I wish to address what I see as the true problem Phillips is facing.
Phillips is in the grips of a leadership vacuum. In the position of “town manager” we have an individual who stirs up resentment and tumult on a regular basis. When a brief explanation or repeating a set of instructions would suffice this person launches into an attack on the opposing party, maneuvering his opposing number into a defensive position, and makes the situation “your problem.”
He has, in my presence, advocated firing our code enforcement officer over a minor hiccup, and threatened to sue if anyone uttered a defamatory or degrading statement concerning him or his performance as “town manager.”
On our board of selectmen we have two individuals who appear unable to guide or control this “public servant” and who are very clear in their support of him in all his aggressive and aggravating behavior. These two men find nothing out of the ordinary when this subordinate refuses to peacefully and effectively negotiate an agreement with a neighboring town over an amazingly simple situation. These two men have publicly supported our “town manager” and affirm that he is acting with their support and under their direction. This is direct from a Phillips selectman!
If you or I were handling this dispute we would communicate with Avon’s leadership. Our town’s leadership handed it over to an attorney. Great way to spend my tax payment, thank you very much.
Perhaps Avon is totally out of line. Maybe they are absolutely correct. More than likely, the best option lies somewhere in the middle ground. You or I would find that middle ground in a private discussion with a member of Avon’s town leadership and the matter would be settled. Perhaps the details of the agreement under which the transfer station operates would be adjusted a bit, perhaps the adjustment would take affect at the end of this contract’s operational span. Perhaps nothing would change until the next fiscal year. One way or the other, a conversation would take place and a solution would be reached.
What absolutely astonishes me is that Phillips’ government is perfectly content to allow our partner, (remember they helped us out when our town was “shut down” for a while) to become so frustrated that they are making plans to simply walk away. I’ve asked for and received a list of Avon’s options and am clear that they are realistic and doable. Avon is well and truly capable of handling their trash and fire issues independent of Phillips. And we will be left holding the financial bag of the support of both institutions. We are squabbling over a few thousand dollars and facing alienating our neighbors to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars in new expenses we will have to bear on our own.
I demand, I insist that my town government sit down and settle this ridiculous nonsense in a gentlemanly manner. At this point I don’t even care if we keep to the contract and extract a few extra dollars from Avon. I demand that this issue be settled and Avon’s opinion of us as a town be restored to something other than the idiots we appear to be.
It is public information that I own land in both towns so no matter which way this is settled my rates will go up. I will wince or groan equally so I have nothing to gain by appearing to side with Avon. I am siding with rational thinking, logic and courtesy.
Lets deal with this situation with maturity and intelligence and do what is right and reasonable!
Citizens of Phillips: please attend our next selectmen’s meeting. It is next Tuesday at around 6 p.m. in the new town office located in the old elementary school building.
Lauri Sibulkin
Phillips
Lauri,
I commend you on taking your elected officials to task. Certainly as close as Phillips and Avon are connected and have shown true brotheren responses in past times of need, one indiviudal should not be allowed to place a wedge between that working relationship that effects so many.
The town selectmen of Phillips need to realize that there is much more at stake here than one man’s interpetion of contract language, it really is how well we as a larger community can help support one another while able to disagree in a respectful way and come to fruitful compromises.
Well written letter – now it’s time for the town citizens to tell their elected officials to either correct the situation or get out of the way for others to look for a reasonable solution.
Cheers,
Bill Crandall
I am a taxpayer of Phillips and I am digusted with the negative press our town has been getting. I have heard that there is a contract between the two towns signed by both boards, agreed to by both boards, if the billing for services is in line with that contract then Avon should pay that amount if there is an overpayment they should receive a credit to their next years billing, furthermore Mr. Sibulkin, I believe our town selectmen should be looking out for what money is owed us and that contracts such as these are honored. I also would like to point out that a couple of years ago when the town got shut down it was shut down by a group of people who “Thought” they knew what they were doing and obviously proved they didn’t! They “helped” themselves out by keeping the dump operating as well so it was rather self serving. Pay your bill Avon, change the new contracts so this doesn’t happen again, and stop trying to make Phillips out to be a monster when all we are doing is following something your guys signed of free will!
The last thing Avon is trying to do is exploit Phillips’ on going internal political unrest. In fact, it’s unfortunate that our (yet) unresolved transfer station issue is somehow being used (by some) as a center piece for further negative press towards Phillips. The Town of Avon has no interest in tarnishing relations we’ve had with Phillips historically. The “negative” press doesn’t serve either Town well and certainly won’t contribute to a positive outcome (in regard to the transfer station issue). I personally feel that it’s unfortunate that Phillips chose to retain their attorney in this matter rather than accept our request to have another shot at resolving this between us (Town Selectman). To be fair, it should be noted that since these interlocal agreements (fire and transfer) were signed, some things have changed (fiscal years for Phillips, original intent on budget and operations numbers) which have affected the interpretation of the agreements. I would however, like to point out to “also a taxpayer” that Avon didn’t sign these interlocal agreements of “free will”. We were given an ultimatum to sign on or lose our services. Personally, I believe it would be advantageous to revisit these agreements between the Towns (rather than using expensive attorneys). I still believe that a reasonable and fair solution can be reached . We’re not that far apart. No one should over-react or further inflame this business issue between the Towns by more negative press as it’s still quite possible and likely that things will be worked out one way or another. Let’s keep it positive….
I am also a Phillips Taxpayer. For years Phillips and Avon helped one another without the need of a contract to dictate terms. Mutual respect, trust and a handshake seemed to handle every situation in the past…Now, with the “help” and “wisdom” of non-resident men/women hired to manage Phillips in recent years, it appears the old way of working together is no longer a good idea. Phillips’ new way of dealing with others seems to be one in which arrogance and rudeness prevail. The 2 Phillips Selectmen need to check their attitude at the door and put the desires of their residents and the best interests of the community first. They also need to take the reins, make some decisions, and be active in the operation of Phillips; not be content to let the town manager run the show while they merely nod their heads or pound their fists on the table. If they are unable to do so, then perhaps they need to step aside and let others who have the sincere interest in the town and her people lead the way. If there is a problem with Avon, the contract, the town manager, or whatever, it needs to be addressed and resolved with professional attitudes now. Phillips needs to reply to Avon’s request for a meeting to resolve this matter. Without dialogue nothing positive can happen. The problem will not disappear unless Avon opts to go it alone, in which case Phillips will have a new set of problems to address.
The selectmen are elected officials, right? Sounds as though the people of Phillips need to elect somebody else. At least there’s only 2 of them. I keep wondering how we correct the wrong attitudes of Farmington’s selectmen, when no matter whom we elect they will have to work with a majority of the old board.
Lauri is being nice. This conversation is over a minimal amount of money . If it was in our personal checkbooks it would be considered a larger sum, but within a town budget it is minimal. Anyone is welcome to get these figures from the town I’m sure they are available. I think it is ridiculous to argue over this amount when the hit this town will take in future revenue from Avon far outweighs it. We’re talking thousands folks. Thousands, we as residents, will have to pay for or possibly loose services. Are you ready to close the transfer station? It may come to that without this revenue. Think on that possibility. Things have changed in Phillips-the fiscal year has changed. I don’t believe it was anyones thought that it would change the amount on the agreement. It happened, and these guys need to agree it was overlooked and readjust. Its a new agreement forced by the government, it will need work to make it work for these towns. Compromise is a great word. The attitude I have personally seen is amazing to me from two of our Phillips selectmen at meetings in the past. I don’t think anyone ever told them it was a fun and relaxing position. Its part of the job to work this out amicably. Anyone want to guess what a lawyer for a municipal organization costs per hour? It will scare you. Again, I’m sure that figure is available at the town office. I feel its unnecessary money spent when a little attitude checked at the door and a mind set of compromise is there. We are all adults folks. I’m sure that other things will be going up this next budget, how much do you want things to go up thats not necessary? I certainly pay enough taxes. Lets wrap this up and save the lawyer fees. Now thats a savings.