I have been told that Gil Moreira is one of the good guys [and I believe that he is], and that he truly wants to implement this system. I was told that he has a lingering fear that stems from the installation of a new microphone speaker system prior to his first Town Meeting as the Town Moderator. I’m sure most of you who saw it, remember it well. It was full of alleged adults, most coiffed in Q-Tip hairdos acting like toddlers in need of a diaper change. Perhaps that analogy isn’t that far off, since that is actually one characteristics a substantial number of them share with toddlers. But, I digress.

I have also been told that Gil is not a man to be pushed. I was advised to let him work at his own pace and to trust in his judgment. It’s not his judgment that concerns me. I am more concerned with not knowing the judgment of those who comprise Town Meeting in terms of how they vote, how often they attend, and eliminating the current proclivity of some Town Meeting members to point fingers at the School Department, the Finance Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and others for the failure of the town to keep up with our surrounding competition.

In other words, I am more concerned that the nonsense so prevalent in our town government come to a screeching halt than I am about hurting someone’s feelings or abrading their thin skin by giving out an occasional push that may be perceived to be aggressive. This is politics, after all…not spin the bottle and hope it points to your dream kiss. In other words, if those in office can’t appropriately respond to a bit of pressure, then, perhaps; they should not be in politics. Or, if it is rewards that drives their service, then maybe they should apply for paying jobs like State Representative, State Senate or a Congressional Seat. Then again, someone could initiate action similar to that being moved in Tewksbury to convert Representative Town Meeting to a Mayoral type of system with an elected full time, paid Town Council. Again, I digress.

Getting back to the electronic voting system, the fact is that if those in power want an electronic voting system; there is no conscionable reason to wait to obtain it. The Town Manager and the BOS can authorize the expenditure out of existing funds. Both claim to want it. The estimated cost is somewhere in the vicinity of $15 to $20 thousand dollars based upon the size and scope of the project in comparison with Chelmsford’s recent purchase and installation at $10,000.00 [their government is smaller than ours].

Potential problems number two: purchase does not mean implementation. That requires the approval of the Town Moderator, who, incidentally, states he wants such a system. If the Town Manager chose to not use the system, even if it was purchased, the corporate town could not force him to do so. Only the voters have that much influence and we all know how well Billerica voters pay attention to the issues. Am I right? But Gil, as the headline suggests and as is reported by Joe Vines on his blog, among other sources, desires to obtain and implement it. So, the powers to be are all accounted for and, if you take them at their word, there is nothing that can stop or slow the process of obtaining this system, testing it and implementing it in time for the Spring Town Meeting except a desire to do so.

These systems are not rocket science. Yes, it is a new technology, and it is likely that there will be some technical glitches – as there was with the new audio system. But we have 4 months to go over those that can be expected by talking with Chelmsford’s Town Moderator, observing their use of the system, considering the possibility of its use with all of our boards and committees, and getting informed on potential or actual problems and learned “work arounds” to resolve them. Maybe we will need a system more expanded in concept than Chelmsford’s to meet a desire to make all government groups accountable. Maybe we can use a minimal number of vote switches by rearranging boards and committee schedules so that they meet where the system is in place and vote according to specially designated devices. Again, we have 4 months before the system would be required to be up and running if the Spring Town Meeting is the target.

Town Meeting will undergo the largest potential turn over in decades with the upcoming election. The new members will have to be trained on some sort of system of voting, be it the customary voice vote system or this practical newer system. Waiting until the Fall Town Meeting will not change this factual necessity; so, there is no reason for a delay due to training, technology, or corporate approval. In fact, it would be reasonable to say that learning how to get to the microphone, how to move an article, and some of the other rather clunky procedural gamesmanship skill will be much harder to learn. But, decide for yourself. Call Chelmsford Town Hall and ask a question or two. I’m sure the answers will enlighten and lighten a burdened mind weighed down with worry.

Enough is enough. It is past time for Billerica officials to get off of their collective dead butts and actually perform in a way that benefits the town instead of their own narrow interests. The citizens have a right to know who is voting for and against their particular interests. Our town management is abysmal in comparison to that of surrounding towns and excuses are like rectums…everyone has one and they all stink; so, offer something constructive, do something constructive, get this system ordered, purchased, installed and usable by the Spring Town Meeting.

While you are considering actually doing something active, how about picking up the telephone and asking DPW how they are making out in assessing the need for tree limb and brush cutbacks and the response they are getting from NSTAR. Maybe, someone can disclose how such functions are checked for completeness to demonstrate that adequate supervision occurs at all levels of the town’s civil service resources.

The only reason why Billerica’s government isn’t more open is because you citizens haven’t demanded it. Need to know who to contact? You have no excuse; your contacts can be found by clicking on this link: THIS LINK.

Amendment:

For the record, in spite of the title, this missive is not intended as an attack solely on Gil. I do think he is one of the good guys in town government. However, good guy or not, Billerica needs to get out of the habit of studying everything to death and acting late in the game. Decisions need to be made and actions taken; that is what officials are both elected and hired to do. Projects, such as this, are considered minor in scope and nature in the market economy; and delays such as those proposed for the reasons offered would not be tolerated in a for profit business. There is no special reason why we should accept further delay simply because this is a government project.

The money is available, everyone is in favor, we have a good price guide and source from Chelmsford; perhaps it is the only source, which would eliminate bids…so, where is the rub that is slowing the wheels of progress? Gil is just one figure in this project and is the last who is able to speak. He can’t authorize the system without funding. There is the town manager, the BOS – most of whom are better bloviators than they are action heroes, and there are those long-term, whiny, don’t change my Billerica Town Meeting members who are constantly pushing against the tide of inevitability and holding back any possibility of timely and significant forward progress toward prosperity through accountability. If Gil has taken this as an assault on him, then, clearly that was not the case and I apologize for implying so.