It’s my opinion Central Coventry Taxpayers have been betrayed… A quote by Special Master Richard Land… "We're still looking into how the error was made but there won't be any value for people knowing how the error occurred but how we're going to work out of this," Land said. I STRONGLY DISAGREE with this statement regarding your right to know. Yes, there was an error. Instead of fixing the error and dealing with it, you were betrayed by members of the board and the former Chief. You now know that we have been betrayed by members of CCFD’s Board. Not only by their overspending, but by their cover-up! Former President Jerry Bouchard, President Joe Bonn, Ronald Gizzarelli, former Chief Selzer and others were informed that there was a staggering $800,000 that they would never collect due to a bookkeeping error but they went forward with a budget that the village idiot (me) would know that they could not pay. AT the same time they cooked up a deal with the union leadership that allowed over $2 Million dollars in overtime in 3 years and they continued to overspend by almost $2 Million dollars! Not to mention, that along with salary and benefits increases about 5 times the inflation norm... with most of the largest percentage increased going to the officers. Investigations… Hopefully you realize by now that all the figures and calculations that we made public were accurate almost to the penny and at the same time former Chief Selzer, the board members and the union denied them. As a matter of fact, the union spent thousand of dollars in advertisements and flyers denying them in writing and using scare tactics. This is the same union that now supports an investigation by the Attorney General and the state police…yeah right! Hey, why not the FBI too, with all the federal funds involved?? The union and the board have no credibility. Once again I ask you not to buy into their fear tactics once they start up again. "I want this process to be transparent"… These were pretty much the words that Judge Stern used in the courtroom on the day that special master Land presented his first bill which was approximately $60,000 (an average of about $1,000 per day at that time). "This clambake has been far from transparent." Quote from Richard Bergeron, taxpayer. And How about a Gag Order issued by the special master??? I called the department the other day to ask Ms. Houle if she was aware of the $800,000 error before the budget was sent out as Chief Seltzer and others were made aware of the situation. She was nervous and very polite but told me should would have to call me back, which she did. She called me back and told me that she and all the employees and departmental members were under a gag order as imposed by Chief Baynes. Chief Baynes tells me that he was only following directions from the special master. Are these the people that you want to trust? We are about one week away from a budget hearing and you still have no figures presented to you- How transparent is that? When the taxpayers were called to the last meeting in December they were told we would vote on a budget. Almost 500 people once again took serious time out of their lives but were never presented the budget. The lines were backed up for people to sign up and Mr. Land wanted to start the meeting before everyone got in! He also objected to an informational flyer being passed out regarding the budget - again, that was really being transparent wasn't it?? A fire district budget meeting is not meeting of month club.. it is to do the business of the people. Present the budget, discuss it, vote on it, implement it. On the other hand, if you are billing tax payers $1,000 a day for your services and you expect to be in there for the next 3 to 5 years at upwards of $1 Million dollars wasted in legal fees… why not call another meeting!! SOLUTION: The board should do the honorable thing and resign. Hold new elections … they can run again. If the taxpayers want to buy into them, so be it although I would love to hear what platform they would run under. The special master has told us clearly that we will be in for hefty tax increases for the next 2-5 years IN ADDITION to his fees. This board must be removed!! Hopkins Hill, Anthony and Western Coventry’s Fire Districts are all operating with competent boards and a competent treasurer. We have a competent treasurer, Conrad Burns. Get rid of this board!! We would ask you not to vote one dime in new taxes until the current board has been removed and a new board is elected!! PLEASE ATTEND THE BUDGET HEARING on Feb. 11^th -  7pm at Coventry High School!  Come early as you MUST be signed in BEFORE  7pm to vote !!!   Sincerely, John R. Assalone 401-226-4114  calljohn@assalone.com