Just a few questions for the City Council and Department Heads. An employee of the Public Works Department has been fired for plowing a relative’s driveway with a city vehicle. I understand this is not allowed, however, do we have different rules for different people?

How about the Police and Fire Dept. employees can take their personal vehicles to the fire stations and wash them? I have seen this more than once. However these people are still employed by their department.

How about the city vehicles being used by employees to and from work? These have also been seen on weekends and for personal use. We have too many vehicles being taken home at the end of the day. The only people that should be allowed to take a vehicle home are:

1. Police Chief

2. Fire Chief

3. Director Public Works (Winter only)

4. Police Canine Officer

We know that these things are also wrong, but we all make mistakes. The bad thing is that these mistakes are all accepted by the city and every one is still employed.

Also don’t forget about all the unmarked cars used by the Police Dept. How do we know some of these are not being used. It has happened before.

Next, take the case of Mr. Jarrett. What he did was very serious and could have been even worse. If I did what he did I would be in jail but not him. He is still employed by the Fire Dept. and apparently everything has been forgiven.

Next, Mr. More is advertising for people who are “Interested” in parks, recreation and open space to be on a committee to do this job. I gave the City Council petition forms with 674 signatures to save Saccarappa Park. They all looked very attentive and in two seconds voted to put a building on the park. All these people can see are dollar signs and not what would really be good for the people. We had a nice place for people to sit and eat lunch and enjoy the scenery and seven people turned their backs on 674 people. Also our former Mayor let the park be ruined. Take it between the former Mayor and urban renewal this city doesn’t have much left.

Also the former Mayor gave the parking garage to Mr. Flannery. This was originally built for the people who park in front of Dana Warp Mill. But like other things that never happened. We still have the bad parking situation on Bridge Street.

Come on City employees, let’s try making the city a better place for it’s people who have spent their entire life here paying your salaries and high taxes.

Next: Councilor Symbol has suggested having the City Clerk appointed instead of elected. We all know from experience an appointed person seldom gets fired no matter what kind of job they do. At least now we have a choice. If we don’t like our City Clerk “Nothing against Barbara Hawkes” we can always vote for a new one. Another right taken away from the people.

Last but not least, I believe rules should apply to everyone and the fired employee should be given his job back with an apology from the P.W. Director.

Sorry this letter is so long but things are not good in our city and should be brought out. It won’t do any good but at least people will know what is going on.

Leona Glidden

Westbrook