A Place For The Tartar Sauce?

Ken O’Brien
Following The O’Zone’s publication of its latestpost, Southbridge,Does This Smell Fishy To You?, a friend asked me when the councilauthorized the town manager to make these sales and who voted for it.
After reviewing the towncouncil minutes, I was able to find the following entry:
TOWNCOUNCIL MEETINGTOWNOF SOUTHBRIDGEMONDAYMay 21, 2012
AGENDAITEM #2- ROLL CALL: Councilors present: CLEMENCE, LANGEVIN, MARCUCCI, NIKOLLA,REGIS, SPINELLI & VANDAL. Absent: LIVENGOOD. MCDONALD arrived at 7:05pm. 
AGENDAITEM #24- VOTE TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN ATTORNEY TO SELL BY RFPNINE (9) LOTS ON COMMERCIAL DRIVE, INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY, WITH ATARGETED MINIMUM TOTAL SALE VALUE OF $270,000 TOWARD THE 10.79 ACRES ANR ANDTHAT THE TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN ATTORNEY BE AUTHORIZED TO COMPLETE ALL NECESSARYCLOSING TERMS TO EFFECTUATE SAID CLOSING: A motion was made by CouncilorSpinelli and seconded by Councilor Langevin.
CouncilorMcDonald asked if they have current appraisals on the property. Town ManagerClark stated it was included in the package and they did select a differentcompany and the effective date of the appraisal was March 28th and that‟s wherethe $270,000 comes from. Town Manager Clark stated this is a brand newappraisal.VOTEBY ROLL CALL. THOSE IN FAVOR: LANGEVIN, MARCUCCI, MCDONALD, NIKOLLA, REGIS,SPINELLI, VANDAL & CLEMENCE. MOTION PASSES.
So in retrospect, all councilors present voted togive the town manager and town attorney authority to go ahead with the sale ofthese properties.
However, I find it interesting that the onlycouncilor who was absent was David Livengood.
Now, if I was inclined to be overly skeptical, Imight observe that such an absence would tend to exempt the ex-councilor from anycharges of a conflict of interest. Of course that would only be unfoundedspeculation.
I will say that I had heard rumors that MidState Welding was already a prospective purchaser of some of these lots. And Iwas aware of the connection between the former councilor and that company. But,we all know how pervasive the Southbridge rumor mill is, right?

Besides, the councilors who were present raised nosuch questions. Obviously, if they had heard such rumors they must have knownthey were without any substance, right?
So, I’m sure that we can all rest assured that therewas nothing inappropriate in this and we can add a dollop of tartar sauce tothis dish to diminish the fishy taste as we swallow it.

RIGHT?