NH DES & the Meredith DPW director

fatlazyless · 05-02-2008, 05:52 AM

In today's May 2 www.citizen.com, there is an article about the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the Town of Meredith, Department of Public Works director, and the installation of a private residential septic system on Meredith Neck.

The article says the director of the Meredith Dept of Public Works has been penalized $5500. by the NH DES for a few different reasons like no permit, and that the town manager has placed him on administrative leave with pay.

Is this an example of what they call 'NH local control' which is when the local's have all the control or at least think that they do?

fatlazyless · 05-04-2008, 11:45 AM

Here's the headline and 1st paragraph.

Quote:

State alleges Meredith DPW director was accomplice in illegal installation of neighbor's leach field

By Michael Kitch
The Laconia Daily Sun
May 3, 2008

MEREDITH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has alleged that Director of Public Works Mike Faller installed a septic system without obtaining the required permits and inspection from the agency and proposedthat he be fined $5,500. Town Manager Carol Granfield reported Thursday that Faller has been placed on administrative leave wih pay until the matter is resolved.

www.laconiadailysun.com

Let's me see here, sounds to me like this could be a case of NH local control, which is where he locals have all the control. Nice work if you can get it.

Maybe the NH colonialists back in the day had it right with their public stockades....you know those wooden slots with the holes for arms and neck. My my my...how times have changed....can no longer make the punishment fit the offence.

As old Lord Boothwick said in 1888: All power corrupts, and all power tends to corrupt absolutely.

twoplustwo · 05-05-2008, 05:24 AM

Yeah, I read that. Ouch. Way to blow a cushy gig.

jeffk · 05-05-2008, 09:27 AM

He was arrogant and stupid.
He was caught.
He was fined.
His job is in jeopardy.
He is publicly embarrassed to the people who know him and interact with him.

Consider politicians at higher levels who get away completely with stuff a lot worse because they have so much power and powerful friends. And who often judges such high level politicians? Their own colleagues who worry that their own transgressions will someday come to haunt them so they practice extreme leniency, hoping it will be given to them when needed. Even when placed before the electorate such people have the money and power to create spin that turns outright theft into an "accounting error". Remember Rep. Jefferson who had $90,000 of bribe money in his freezer? That case is 2 years old and hasn't come to trial yet. Jefferson was claiming that Separation of Powers didn't allow the "Executive" law enforcement to search his "Legislative" office. Remember the howling by all the other legislators who wanted to protect their rights to conduct their illegal activities in private?

Locally a town rep can be called to task by an ordinary citizen that has common sense and a belief in fair play and decency. Why, even this forum can be used to draw attention to local lake politics! Do you think an ordinary citizen or even a dozen of them can have much control of a US Rep or Senator?

Local control isn't perfect, just better than the alternatives.

fatlazyless · 05-06-2008, 09:56 AM

Here's the headline and 1st paragraph, and one other key sentence.

Quote:

Edney says he was just doing his job in reporting Faller to DES authorities

Laconia Daily Sun, front page, Tuesday, May 6, 2008

By Michael Kitch

MEREDITH - Code Enforcement Officer Bill Edney confirmed yesterday that he informed the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) that Mike Faller, director of public works, helped his next door neighbor install a septic system wihout the required permits.
......
"It's very unfortunate," Edney said. "But, it is what I do and nobody is above the rules."
....
Town Manager Carol Granfield stressed that he was not being disciplined, but that because of the nature of the allegations, it would be inappropriate for him to serve as director of pubic works until they were resolved.

www.laconiadailysun.com

Well, there's a couple different ways to look at this. Probably, it is not all that big of a deal....one septic system....one hole in the ground....saving on some professional septic license fees and services. Probably, this practice has been done many times in the past and no one really thought too much about it.

These are allegations and there is a legal process which has yet to be engaged.

Ordinarily, I do not believe that I would give a hoot or a holler about this, but as an over property-taxed, water-fronter I suppose I like to be a little vindictive on items like this involving the town, especially when you hear how much this position, the DPW director gets paid.

So, he gets put on a paid leave while this tempest is a-brew'n. Not too bad a job if you can get it.

Airwaves · 05-07-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FLL
So, he gets put on a paid leave while this tempest is a-brew'n.

In the private sector we call that "paid vacation".

twoplustwo · 05-09-2008, 04:58 AM

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...43/0/CITNEWS04

A little he said/she said is always fun for the local rags...

tis · 05-09-2008, 06:41 AM

Does anyone know if this is a new system or a repair? Sounds like a new one, but does it specifically say that?

Skip · 06-03-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

...Ordinarily, I do not believe that I would give a hoot or a holler about this, but as an over property-taxed, water-fronter I suppose I like to be a little vindictive on items like this involving the town, especially when you hear how much this position, the DPW director gets paid.

So, he gets put on a paid leave while this tempest is a-brew'n. Not too bad a job if you can get it...

This is the danger in making assumptions, or getting "facts" only from an abbreviated news article, before a case has been fully adjudicated.

In this ARTICLE in today's Citizen you will read that the Public Works Director, on appeal, was found not to have violated the section of rules he was accused of, and his fine was also being rescinded.

Hopefully this will put closure to this particular thread....

fatlazyless · 06-03-2008, 07:58 PM

"These are allegations and there is a legal process which has yet to be engaged."

Hey Skip, looks like you left out this one sentence paragraph which preceded what you quoted. Now, now, why-o-why leave it out?

Today's June 3 www.laconiadailysun.com has a very long, front page, article on the same story if anyone wants a good read.

05-02-2008, 05:52 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,736 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	NH DES & the Meredith DPW director In today's May 2 www.citizen.com, there is an article about the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the Town of Meredith, Department of Public Works director, and the installation of a private residential septic system on Meredith Neck. The article says the director of the Meredith Dept of Public Works has been penalized $5500. by the NH DES for a few different reasons like no permit, and that the town manager has placed him on administrative leave with pay. Is this an example of what they call 'NH local control' which is when the local's have all the control or at least think that they do? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 05-02-2008 at 11:51 AM.

05-05-2008, 05:24 AM	#3
twoplustwo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 456 Thanks: 51 Thanked 39 Times in 21 Posts	Doh! Yeah, I read that. Ouch. Way to blow a cushy gig.

05-05-2008, 09:27 AM	#4
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 205 Thanked 431 Times in 248 Posts	And yet ... He was arrogant and stupid. He was caught. He was fined. His job is in jeopardy. He is publicly embarrassed to the people who know him and interact with him. Consider politicians at higher levels who get away completely with stuff a lot worse because they have so much power and powerful friends. And who often judges such high level politicians? Their own colleagues who worry that their own transgressions will someday come to haunt them so they practice extreme leniency, hoping it will be given to them when needed. Even when placed before the electorate such people have the money and power to create spin that turns outright theft into an "accounting error". Remember Rep. Jefferson who had $90,000 of bribe money in his freezer? That case is 2 years old and hasn't come to trial yet. Jefferson was claiming that Separation of Powers didn't allow the "Executive" law enforcement to search his "Legislative" office. Remember the howling by all the other legislators who wanted to protect their rights to conduct their illegal activities in private? Locally a town rep can be called to task by an ordinary citizen that has common sense and a belief in fair play and decency. Why, even this forum can be used to draw attention to local lake politics! Do you think an ordinary citizen or even a dozen of them can have much control of a US Rep or Senator? Local control isn't perfect, just better than the alternatives.

05-09-2008, 04:58 AM	#7
twoplustwo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 456 Thanks: 51 Thanked 39 Times in 21 Posts	pointing fingers... http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...43/0/CITNEWS04 A little he said/she said is always fun for the local rags...

06-03-2008, 07:58 PM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,736 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	"These are allegations and there is a legal process which has yet to be engaged." Hey Skip, looks like you left out this one sentence paragraph which preceded what you quoted. Now, now, why-o-why leave it out? Today's June 3 www.laconiadailysun.com has a very long, front page, article on the same story if anyone wants a good read. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

05-09-2008, 06:41 AM	#8
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,700 Thanks: 751 Thanked 1,453 Times in 1,010 Posts	Does anyone know if this is a new system or a repair? Sounds like a new one, but does it specifically say that?