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Author Archives: overeasy
Tax Rate set
The Department of Revenue Administration has set Wolfeboro’s 2014 tax rate at $13.01. That’s an increase of 18 cents or 1.4% over last year’s rate of $12.83. You can see all 218 town rates that have been set to date … Continue reading
Posted in Town Politics
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What are your values?
We all know the importance that the Friends of Brewster Hall place on historic preservation. It’s the centerpiece of their vision of community. It’s a valid point of view and deserving of consideration by others who may feel differently about … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office, Town Politics
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The big sell out
This post shows the Federal Government’s strict policy against confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements. They get it. They understand that the government is the people and we, the people, have a fundamental right to know what agreements are made on … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Case closed
As a result of settlement, the parties filed a Stipulation of dismissal with prejudice and the court subsequently responded with this Judgement. The final docket indicates that the case is now closed. The blog will pursue the details of the … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Excessive government regulation?
§50.23 Policy against entering into final settlement agreements or consent decree that are subject to confidentiality provisions and against seeking or concurring in the sealing of such documents. (a) It is the policy of the Department of Justice that, in any … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Winding down
In the regular monthly scheduled teleconference today, the court was advised of a settlement. The wheels are turning again. All pending motions were dropped, and the parties have a month to file a joint motion to either enter an agreed … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office
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Who was that stranger?
Someone posted a comment to yesterday’s post pointing out that WP’s answer to the Amended Complaint contained a counterclaim. The author did not identify him/herself and so, in keeping with the blog comment policy, the comment was not published with … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Settlement signed
Today I received word from the Town Manager that a settlement agreement has been signed. Bob: In response to your previous Right-to-Know law request to see a copy of the signed settlement agreement between the Town and Wright-Pierce Engineers, I … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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No deal yet
After two days of avoiding the question, the town has finally responded to my specific RSA 91-A questions: Bob: Good morning. To definitively answer your question of yesterday of whether the settlement agreement has been signed yet, the answer is … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Done deal?
Since the end of August, we have been hearing about settlement activity with Wright-Pierce. First the Selectmen announced that a deal was eminent. Then two meetings ago on September 3, the Selectmen announced that a settlement had been reached and … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
1 Comment
Stupid is as stupid does
In the remake of The Graduate, to be filmed on location in Wolfeboro, the buzzword will be updated from “plastics” to “drip irrigation”. OK, that’s two words. Tune in to any recent Selectmen’s meeting and listen to them talk about … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Go back Jack and do it again
Those Wright-Pierce guys are looking smarter by the day. At the trial, the town mocked a “windshield survey” that they had done prior to suggesting to the town that they investigate constructing a RIB system. WPs guys defended themselves by … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Now What?
Surely the settlement of $7.5 million with Wright-Pierce Engineers marks a milestone and a change of direction in the town’s sewer plight. No doubt it unburdens Wright-Pierce as well, notwithstanding the huge financial impact it will have on them. But … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
2 Comments
Settlement announced in RIB lawsuit
Tonight, the Selectmen announced a settlement in the RIB lawsuit. I missed the actual announcement, but will be sure to tune in to the replay tomorrow, and try to get a copy of the agreement through right-to-know I’m told that … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
1 Comment
Conference with the Judge
Yesterday, the court conducted a brief (5 minute) teleconference with the lead attorneys. This was not the regular monthly conference. That was scheduled for September 9. Aside from logging the call, the docket provides no insight into the subject except … Continue reading
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Settlement rumored
I have been told that the parties have arrived at a settlement to the RIB lawsuit. I will try to obtain confirmation over the next few days. Here’s what my source disclosed: The settlement was agreed to on Friday, August … Continue reading
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Fresh activity in RIB case
Today, the Board of Selectmen noticed two non-public sessions with attorneys. The first meeting will take place Wednesday morning at the offices of our current attorneys, Hinckley Allen & Snyder, at their offices in Concord. The second meeting will be … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Staying the course
On schedule, the court held a teleconference with the parties in the RIB lawsuit today. It lasted 5 minutes. The net result was a continuation of the stay of all proceedings. The parties will teleconference again on Sept 9. The … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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The joke may be on us
Here’s an interesting twist that I’ve been ruminating on. Wolfeboro has filed a motion in the RIB lawsuit, pursuant to the Consumer Protection Act, to recoup our legal fees. I think the amount was something like $1.4 million. Subsequently, Wright-Pierce … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Getting warm
This week’s editorial in the Grunter portrays my position in the RIB lawsuit more accurately than last week, but there are still some pretty important points that need to be corrected. While much has been made of a 600,000 gallon … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
2 Comments
Grunter chimes in
The editorial in the Grunter this week is telling in it’s almost knee jerk defense of the town dogma regarding the RIB lawsuit. But that’s not the point. My letter doesn’t question the merits of the lawsuit, who’s to blame, … Continue reading
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Winners and Losers
The last official statement the Selectmen made to the public regarding the RIB lawsuit was an announcement of the favorable verdict in the trial back in May. Since then, a lot has happened, and I’ve tried to cover it in … Continue reading
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Month to month
That’s apparently how the RIB lawsuit will be monitored going forward. Yesterday, the court conducted a conference in chambers with the two parties. The only result published in the docket was a notice of a follow up telephone conference scheduled … Continue reading
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Reality check
Today, the parties filed a joint motion to indefinitely stay further proceedings in the RIB lawsuit. They are effectively freezing all legal activity indefinitely while they try to work out a settlement. In the motion they state that settlement talks … Continue reading
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How bout that Town Hall project?
So regular readers of the blog may be wondering when I’m going to get around to talking about the Town Hall project. Seems like there’s an article in the paper every week that regurgitates what has been announced at the … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office, Town Politics
2 Comments
Hearing Scheduled
The court has scheduled a hearing in chambers on July 9. Too bad the public is being excluded, I would like to hear the arguments, even if I think I know the probable outcome. The subject-matter jurisdiction rule, at least … Continue reading
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Go back to go, do not collect $25,000,000
That’s basically what the first motion from Wright Pierce’s new attorneys says. Quite a bold move, but then the stakes are high and you can expect just about anything. What they have filed is a Motion to dismiss for lack … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Motions granted, settlement talks
Yesterday, the court granted Donovan Hatem’s motion for leave to file withdrawal, which they did shortly thereafter. At the same time, the new firm’s motion to extent time to reply to Wolfeboro’s outstanding motions was granted. Today’s Grunter reports that … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office
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Changing of the Guard
Donovan Hatem has filed a withdrawal as attorneys for Wright Pierce. Two attorneys from the firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green have filed notice of appearance with the court. They are Peter Cowan and John-Mark Turner. Also filed today … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
2 Comments
Dam storage pond
I came across this post from 2005 on an old website that has been inactive for years. While there is no direct attribution, I believe the author was a gentleman who was politically active in town for years and had … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit, Town Politics
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Treble trouble
As expected, the town has filed motions with the court for costs and treble damages. That will bring the total award to something north of $25 million dollars. On the surface this appears to be an absurd overkill, but perhaps … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office
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Going for the jugular
Today’s newspaper heralds the latest developments in the RIB lawsuit. The court has ruled against Wright Pierce on the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) claim and restored the damages from the jury’s reduced amount to Wolfeboro’s original claim. Bottom line is … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit, Town Politics
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CPA awarded
The court has ruled in the Consumer Protection Act claim 5. The jury had found in Wolfeboro’s favor but the court has the last word. The judge confirmed the finding of the jury and in addition found that the damages … Continue reading
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Land based disposal
As I sat at the back of the courtroom for three weeks, the question people kept asking was “exciting isn’t it?”. Of course, the implication was that the slow pace was like watching paint dry. But once you get into … Continue reading
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Quick turnaround
The court acted swiftly on Wright Pierce’s latest motion to stay judgement on the Consumer Protection claim. The outstanding motion for judgement as a mater of law was denied, and the motion to stay consume protection verdict was denied.
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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The post trial
Today we enter the new post-trial phase of the lawsuit. Wright Pierce has filed a motion to stay any hearing and ruling by the court on the Consumer Protection claim, pending the outcome of “various” other post-trial motions that presumably … Continue reading
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Daily average
At the heart of the lawsuit was the interpretation of the various representations of daily-limit, and daily average measured monthly, and annual average. The town ran the RIBs at 850,000 to 940,000 gallons per day in the five days leading … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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Comments
There are a lot of new readers these days, and you may not be aware of the blog policy on comments. I’ve had to discard some anonymous comments. There was nothing otherwise problematic, so if you resubmit with your name, … Continue reading
Posted in Brewster Hall/Town Office
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What does it all mean?
Well, the verdict speaks for itself. But I want to point out that there are close to more than 1,000 hits on the blog today, so no matter where you come down on this issue, it goes to show that … Continue reading
Posted in Town Politics
4 Comments
Verdict is in
The court just posted the verdict. Wolfeboro prevailed on all five counts. The jury awarded damages in the amount of $6,795,000. As I understand it, count 5, the violation of the consumer protection act was an advisory verdict by the … Continue reading
Posted in RIB Lawsuit
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