Last modified: Saturday, May 3, 2008 1:01 AM EDT GOUVEIA: Mansfield soap opera doesn't quit They ought to call it "As the Stomach Turns." The soap opera that is the Mansfield Board of Selectmen took another nasty turn last week with insinuations of bribery, public sniping, a guest column from one member, and an angry rebuttal from their all-but lame duck Town Manager. Throw in an amnesiac, a brain operation, and relatives coming back from the dead, and this weekly production could easily be a success on the daytime television circuit. Watch out, Jerry Springer. In the latest saga, Town Manager John D'Agostino kicked things off by blasting his most ardent critic, Selectman George Dentino. D'Agostino was angry over a document distributed by Dentino at a meeting of a citizens group. In that letter Dentino called the Town Manager "fiscally irresponsible" and outlined the payroll history of six employees, identified only by number, claiming the increases to be excessive. Dentino then noted four of the six employees listed testified for D'Agostino in his recent federal court case. While saying he would not share his opinion of the situation at this time, the first-term selectman was clearly insinuating these employees were rewarded for their testimony. D'Agostino used his meeting time to rebut and explain each increase, noting some involved changes from part-time to full-time and other similar issues. He angrily denounced Dentino for accusing him of committing a crime by buying the employee's testimony. After D'Agostino's angry statement, Dentino tried to respond but was shut down by his fellow board members. Claiming they were blindsided because Dentino did not share his presentation to the citizens committee with them first, the other board members were determined not to let Dentino explain. It is hard to know where to start when it comes to commenting on this tragic yet sadly comedic situation. But I'll give it a go. First of all, you can't allow a presentation from one side and then not listen to the opposing side. Forget that it isn't fair to Dentino in this case. It is unfair to the people of Mansfield to stage a one-sided attack where the facts cannot be determined because there was no open discussion. Dentino should have been allowed to respond. At the same time, Dentino can largely blame himself for his predicament. For one selectman to distribute a clearly inflammatory letter without at least notifying the other selectmen of his intentions is counterproductive. No, Dentino does not have to clear all his letters with the board. But he does need to understand that his actions reflect not only upon himself, but his fellow members and his community. And if fair is fair, you have to wonder if Selectwoman Sandra Levine ran her recent column in the Sun Chronicle by all her colleagues first. John D'Agostino noted he would love to stay in Mansfield as town manager, but added "That is probably next to impossible, because I have become the issue." This should serve as a lesson for Dentino. If you insist on always being the center of attention, if you constantly make yourself the issue, then your time in town government will not be successful. D'Agostino now has learned this - but Dentino has not. You do not have to be controversial to be truthful and effective, although sometimes they do go hand-in-hand. Part of being a good town official is getting your proposals through the political system. You can have the best ideas in the world, but if you can't get them passed then they are worthless. You can't just rail against the system, you have to work within it. Things have gotten rude and out of hand in Mansfield, and it is something that starts at the top of government and extends throughout much of the community. A look at the website talkmansfield.freeforums.org reveals much of that nastiness, though it represents only a small and bitter segment of the population. The selectmen are not totally responsible for this nastiness, but they are responsible for making it worse. George Dentino would love to see John D'Agostino gone from town. But when that happens, it is George who becomes "the issue." He just might find he can't survive that situation any more than D'Agostino could. BILL GOUVEIA is a local columnist and town moderator in Norton and appears on these pages every Saturday. He can be reached at aninsidelook@aol.com.