Town Official Answers Anonymous Calls Claims

In a pair of automated telephone calls sent to Belmont residents from an anonymous group or individual seeking to defeat the Proposition 2 1/2 override on Monday, June 14, the message specifically attacks unnamed elected officials for wishing to spend taxpayers funds unwisely.

An example of the messages includes the robo call phoned to residents on Saturday.

"Town officials want to take money from you and give it to their employees in salaries and benefits that would be generous in normal economic times but are unconscionable now. Town government must live within a budget just as the rest of us do."

"Remember, that after one year the town can spend the override money any way it likes."

Board of Selectmen member Mark Paolillo is a town official who was away for part of the weekend attending a statewide selectman's conference in Sturbridge. He first learned about the anonymous message in church on Sunday and found the information in it just plain wrong.

"It's misinformation, plain and simple," said Paolillo late Sunday afternoon.

"I'm not sure if it's that people just don't get it or they are deliberating lying and that's troubling," said Paolillo.

Paolillo pointed out that the $2 million in additional revenue the override would provide would fill in just about half of Belmont's $3.5 million structural deficit that looms over fiscal year 2011 budget.

"When I wrote this section it was to try to restore about half of the service cuts that would occur without the override," said Paolillo, reiterating that any new revenue will not be targeting salaries or raises.

"That's just wrong. Somebody clearly doesn't understand what has been going on," he said of the calls' sponsors.

Paolillo also took on the charge that the town has carte blanc with override funds a year after the vote. The selectman said the board would be receptive if a department head requested reallocating funds if they determine that the new revenue would be better spent elsewhere.

"Once the money is in (their budget), the funds should go where the most need is. Things change over time," he said.

Paolillo, who supports the override, said he understands if a resident would vote no in these economic times. He does find it baffling when a few residents refuse to believe there's a need to invest or spend money for the town.

"I don't understand it," Paolillo said with some frustration.

"We're at the bottom rung in terms of money spent in town with the exception of raiding the free cash," he noted.

"To say that we are giving away benefits is not true and simply wrong."