03/24/2023
9-9-20 UPDATE .....This is one of the reasons why John Zimini is no longer part of the Dracut Connection. He just makes it very personal
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ARE THE INMATES RUNNING THE ASYLUM?
The petition pictured below was recently sent to the members of the Dracut Board of Selectmen.
In what world do the EMPLOYEES of a town make the choice of who will be their BOSS? I'm betting Selectman Joe DiRocco is behind this. This SMACKS of cronyism and political BULLYING! The Board of Selectmen should take this as an INSULT to their ability to conduct a LEGITIMATE, FAIR, and HONEST search process.
The Board of Selectman have appointed, what I believe, is an OUTSTANDING group of Dracut citizens to act on their behalf and in extension, on behalf of the taxpayers of Dracut, to whittle down the list of potential candidates to a final group of possible SUPERSTAR candidates for the Board to make a final decision. Lord knows I have NOT always been supportive of decisions of the current Board; in this case they did the right thing. For the towns "Department heads" or Management "SUBORDINATES" to interject "THEIR" feelings is OUTRAGEOUS! In what business do the "employees" get to choose their bosses?
Of course we have a good idea where this is coming from.
We know this has the fingerprints of Selectman Joe DiRocco and his town hall friend Kathy Graham all over it. Joe spends an unusual amount of time every day in the offices of Town Clerk Kathy Graham. He has been known to manipulate and weave his mob style of governance for quite some time.
Let's remember how Joe single handedly, well maybe NOT single handedly, negotiated and orchestrated former TM Dennis Piendak's GOLDEN PARACHUTE into retirement. That move cost the town for many years to come. Dennis got an 18 month extension to his contract and a 27% pay raise. Not to mention all the buybacks he got for sick and vacation as he exited town employment.
Back to now. We have heard through the grapevine that Joe was almost as upset as Ann Vandal when he heard that she was NOT being advanced. Now they would let you think that Ann was mistreated. NO, the process exposes weaknesses and strengths. So Ann made the first cut, but apparently, and I don't this know for sure, but must have not done well during the Selection Committees interview process. Just a guess but I'm guessing that the Committee was not impressed.
According to GOOD sources, Ann was apoplectic! She threatened to resign. Joe attempted to call for an EMERGENCY meeting of the Board of Selectmen. I hear that several Board members asked what the "Emergency" was. There is none. Apparently Ann has been out of the office since but available via phone. She was so distraught that there are still rumors that she will resign. Talk about being unprofessional... By the way, to their credit, Cooler heads prevailed on the BOS and the "Emergency" meeting is off the table.
But that won't stop "Scheming" Joe! He will try to "ADD" Ann to the mix at some point. He's wanted Ann Vandal as his puppet manager for years. After all he orchestrated the Charter changes that helped make it easier for Ann to be a candidate.
Well Joe you LOST a BIG one....
Now let's sit back and watch to see if the BOS has the "faith" in the people they selected to be on the Selection Committee or will they SLAP them in the face and SUBVERT the process?
Posted by
John Zimini
