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Foxboro selectman nixes a vote on Neponset dam
BY FRANK MORTIMER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Friday, November 14, 2008 2:32 AM EST




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FOXBORO - Town counsel has issued an opinion that supports Selectman Paul Mortenson's view that town meeting approval is needed for the conservation commission to take ownership of the Neponset Reservoir Dam.

But Selectmen James Thrasher, Paul Feeney and Lynda Walsh voted this week not to place the request on the Dec. 15 special town meeting warrant.

The board majority's action prompted Chairman Mark Sullivan to sharply warn reservoir area residents and supporters in the room not to complain to him when a legal challenge is filed.

Sullivan said the reservoir group could have won approval for the measure, simply by mustering their many supporters that night.

Sullivan and Mortenson favored allowing town meeting to decide whether the conservation commission should be allowed to take over the dam once its private owner repairs it. Conservation commission member Valerie Bataille-Ferry said liability questions were thorougly reviewed by selectmen in recent weeks.
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dave wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:53 AM:

" Who was the selectman who nixed things as the title implies??

Shouldn't the article of been titled Selectmen nix etc? I know my English is not that good but even I can pick this one out. How credible can what follows be when the story starts out like this?
Out I forgot we write to first sell papers and next to be factural "

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foxbrocitizen wrote on Nov 14, 2008 3:45 PM:

" Since my earlier post was taken down (I dared criticize the reporting of this newspaper), I'll avoid that topic and point out that Truth is pointing out that this particular Selectman says "It doesnt cost us anything...more than the retainer, I mean" is only the tip of the problem. New counsel charges $180 an hour, old counsel charged $120. My math says this is a 50 percent increase. I am looking forward to Town Meeting when the Selectmen try to blame the Dog Park on their high legal bills. You cannot increase an hourly rate and pay a monthly fee and truly believe that there is no cost involved. Well, perhaps some people believe it... "

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robbiej wrote on Nov 14, 2008 11:37 AM:

" There sure is a lot of negative sentiment regarding Paul Mortenson and what he's doing to this town. Has it not crossed anyone else's mind that maybe this guy should be recalled? I mean, really, how much damage does he get to do before anything is done about him? I can't imagine having to wait another few years to get rid of him; who knows how much he will have cost our town by that time. "

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THE TRUTH HURTS wrote on Nov 14, 2008 10:35 AM:

" I wonder why this paper or the Foxboro Reporter doesn't run an article about the thousands of dollars that are being spent on this new town counsel? All this legal work, regarding the dam, was already done over the last couple of years, why are now paying for it to be done again? Sorry you weren't around a couple of years ago, Mr. Mortinson, but the works been done, stop wasting our tax money.
What does Mr. Mortinson mean when he says it doesn't cost anything, it comes out of the retainer? Aren't we billed for DeRensis' time and he deducts the amount from the retainer?? Or did we pay him a retainer and that means we get unlimited legal counsel? The few times I have had to hire an attorney, I paid a retainer and they deducted their bills from that retainer until it ran out and then I paid more, isn't that how
our agreement with DeRensis works? "

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Foxboro02035 wrote on Nov 14, 2008 10:13 AM:

" Of course town counsel came back with an opinion in favor of Paul Mortenson's view that a town meeting vote was needed. Paul Mortenson is a goose laying golden eggs for our new legal team - just keep asking for opinions Paul - eventually you will be given one to support your nonsense!

Why doesn't this article discuss how grossly immature and innapropriate our Chairman conducts business? His warning to those not to come back and complain is an understatement.

I ditto citizen's post - you should watch the meeting to better understand what is happening with our town. "

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robbiej wrote on Nov 14, 2008 10:13 AM:

" Further, it would be very interesting to see just how much the minutes from these meetings match what actually happens there and is said there. I personally have heard one selectman say, when reviewing minutes, "that doesn't look good..., I don't remember saying it that way... we should take this off the minutes"! I was shocked at that, but since then, the same selectman has made many many moronic statements at BOS meetings. "

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