Say what you want about Jerome Plante, he was a worker. He earned his salary. He was town manager and tax collector more than 40 years ago. He made $17,000 and had no assistant. The town, including Ocean Park, was less than four square miles. Nothing has changed. It’s still less than four square miles. The town manager today makes $109,000 including travel expense (and) other benefits are unknown. He has an assistant.
At a recent council meeting, a Democrat councilor asked the town manager what was the cost of the curbside trash bags. The manager said $1.50 each. The councilor said the price has been that way for more than five years. See if you can raise the price. The independent councilor said, “it cost the town 4 cents a bag.”
At a budget hearing, the head of the treatment plant wanted more money and the manager was told we might have to have a sewer users’ fee.
A sewer users’ fee, plus an extra curbside trash bag fee, plus an increase in property taxes shows our councilors and manager have no compassion for the people. They are all greedy except Councilor Robert Quinn, who wants to fight for the taxpayers, but he’s outnumbered 6-1.
It’s a shame our councilors could only give $2,500 to the food pantry. Four-hundred residents go to the Methodist church monthly for food and clothing. Our councilors would rather give department heads what they want instead of the poor.
“When I was hungry you gave me food.”
“When did we give you food, oh Lord?”
“When you gave to the least of your brothers, you gave to me.”
Conrad Boisvert, Old Orchard Beach
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