Planning Commission pulls the plug on Clerkbase

Too much “open and transparent government” apparently

Collage by Lin Collette. More more, click here.

By Will Collette

Since the Planning Commission began its new term after the November 6 elections, its meetings have been blacked out on Clerkbase[1]. It wasn't supposed to be that way – the town has a policy of posting an audio-video recording of all Planning, Zoning and Town Council meetings. The meetings for the Council and Zoning are still recorded and posted.

But Planning is not being recorded on Clerkbase. Not since October. Even worse, when I checked Clerkbase on New Year's Day while finalizing this article, I found the Clerkbase video links for all Planning Commission meetings going back for months are now either absent or don't work. Maybe Charlestown didn't pay the bill.

Now, I get it. It’s one thing for the CCA leadership who control Planning and the Town Council to talk about how much they treasure openness and transparency. It’s another thing altogether to have their actual deeds put up on the internet for anyone to see. Besides, it's easier for the "Voice of the CCA" Mike Chambers to revise history when his CCA buddies destroy the historical record and you can't look back to see and hear the actual discussion..

I guess they got sick of the articles in Progressive Charlestown where we report on some of the crazier things they do – and then provide a link to the recording with the suggestion to readers that they should look and listen for themselves to see whether we’re making stuff up. Click here for an example. Or click here for another favorite. These examples show why Planning probably doesn't want to encourage recording of their meetings.

UPDATED: Town Council meeting Tuesday (not Monday)

Here is the ACTUAL agenda, as opposed to the official one

Planning Commissioner and CCA Town Council wannabe
George Tremblay will be back with another dramatic presentation
of his bogus research report on affordable housing

By Will Collette

Note that this month's Council meeting will be Tuesday, not its usual Monday because of Columbus Day. 

A few months ago, I realized that just about everybody who goes to a Town Council meeting, or watches it on Clerkbase, finds that the official, published agenda is pretty useless.

The actual order of business doesn't follow in the same numerical order. A few months ago, it occurred to me that, as a public service, Progressive Charlestown could provide you with the agenda in its actual order so that you can print it out and actually be able to follow it. 

That idea turned out to be pretty popular, so here it is again.

TONIGHT: CCA Surprise!

Promises of consultation broken

Planning Commission and Town Council pop short-notice workshop

By Will Collette

You just can’t beat the CCA-controlled Town Council and Planning Commission for their “open, transparent, professional and civil” approach to town government.

With the barest, minimum legal notice, no fanfare and no supporting documents posted on Clerkbase, the Town Council and Planning Commission have sprung a special “workshop” to discuss forming a “Historic District Committee” on Monday night. There’s not even a CCA e-bleat.

The last time this issue was discussed was at the July 9 Town Council meeting, raised by Marge Frank as an issue that should be considered. Planning Commissar Ruth Platner immediately stepped up to the podium to argue against having a Historic District Commission because, she said, it could apply very strict rules to historic areas. Click here to listen to the discussion.

If only we could turn back the clock

Yearning for Ye Olde Charlestowne

In 1841, to demand universal suffrage was an act of
insurrection in Rhode Island where only property owners could vote

By Will Collette

There was a letter to the editor in the February 25, 2012, Westerly Sun by Jon and Joan Scolpino of Bethel, CT, who own a Charlestown home and pay taxes of $2,991. They felt an earlier letter by Henry Walsh was unfair for saying Charlestown’s non-residents don't pay enough in taxes.

The Scolpinos not only rejected the idea that non-residents don’t contribute their fair share, but also offered to do more – if only they were given the right, as non-resident property owners, to vote.

Charlestown takes major step toward 1st total wind power ban in US

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS (so to speak) - details to follow

Tonight's four-hour marathon Charlestown Town Council meeting began and ended with two controversial wind energy issues.

Starting the talkathon, the Council heard from Attorney Nick Gorham representing Larry LeBlanc, owner of the 81-acre site of the controversial Whalerock industrial wind farm proposal. LeBlanc was present, but did not speak. The issue: LeBlanc's offer to sell the parcel to the town for $3 million.

And at the very end of the meeting, there was the first reading and a vote to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance from the Planning Commission that would impose a total ban on all wind-to-electricity devices, in every form, size and location.

Jodi Lecroix tells all! Well, almost....

Jodi and her acolytes Amy Rose Weinreich (right)
and Carol Cullion (front)

Jodi LaCroix recently retired as Charlestown’s Town Clerk after 25 years of devoted service. She and her family are moving to Chattanooga, TN next month. I wanted to catch her before she left and tap her experience with this town to perhaps shed some historical light on why Charlestown politics is, well, so bughouse crazy. Here’s how that conversation went.

WILL: Cathy and I moved back to Rhode Island eight years ago to settle in Charlestown. One of the first things we noticed was how nasty and vicious town politics can be. Was it always like that?