Board of Health Supporters Enact Lawn Sign Campaign
Signs urging support for autonomous board are dotting homes throughout Springfield.
Supporters of the current Board of Health have put up lawn signs throughout Springfield calling for residents to help retain the autonomous board. The final vote on the proposed changes to the board is tomorrow, June 26.
BART FRAENKEL
3:41 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Anyone with the slightest interest in this should attend Tuesday nights TC meeting. And for all the conspiracy theorists, this is not a Democratic issue, there are Republicans who are strongly against the changes being proposed by the mayor, and some of them are/were even Republican district leaders. They understand what the real motivation is behind this proposal and not what has been publicly expressed by the mayor, when he decides he does want to talk about it.
John A.C.
11:27 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Bart, I'm glad someone understands what the real motivation behind this proposal is -- because I sure don't. In fact, I don't know anyone who supports this move and have not heard anyone articulate a single, logical reason for dissolving an all-volunteer citizen Board who's only agenda is to secure the health and safety of the folks who live in Springfield. If you have some insight into the logic behind this absurd move, I wish you would share it.
BART FRAENKEL
12:21 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
John AC, the only reason to disband/reorganize the current BOH is for the current majority on the TC to be able to control future decisions made by this board. An autonomous board doesn't answer to the mayor and if he doesn't agree or like the decisions they make, he can't do anything about it. But with the TC making the decisions, and him controlling a 3 person majority, he can literally do whatever he wants by virtue of any vote coming down to a 3-2 margin of approval.
And when the deputy mayor is a member of the group making decisions, his past actions bring into question his judgement. Tonight during his closing remarks about the ordinance, he publicly acknowledged speaking on behalf of a merchant who incurred numerous violations at a BOH hearing because 'he knows the people and sknows their reputation''. This is like having the fox guarding the hen house.
He still doesn't get it. An elected official should never speak on behalf of a merchant because even with the best most sincere intent, it implies the board should listen to him because of his position.
The merchant in question took full responsibility for the failed inspections and made all the proper changes and should be applauded for taking corrective actions. But it was totally unnecessary and improper for Mr. Fernandez to speak on their behalf. But neither the mayor or Mr. Fernandez understand why this is improper and the only way to change things will be in November.
Alex
7:34 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I guess you did not hear the part where 2 members of the community would be on the BOH with the Township Committee?
Mr Fernandez did speak at the public meeting, it was not like he was being covert about speaking. At the TC meeting, he did say he felt he knew the violations and felt that by not closing the merchant down, that jobs were saved. I may not have agreed with all of the Deputy Mayor's decisions, but I for one believe he is doing a good job. He is sincere on what he says and I will still vote for him.