SOUR GRAPES

I have followed this forum for several days and have arrived at the following conclusions.

First, the content of this website appears to have been created, directed and moderated by the recently terminated or suspended officers of the Police Department and one sitting Council Member who is both a personal friend of those former officers and has consistently interceded on their behalf regardless of circumstances.

Secondly, it appears that the thrust of the website is to denigrate the reputation and efforts of the Mayor, Town Council and Police Department.

Third, despite numerous reference to wrong-doing or mismangement on the part of those targeted, there is little or no discussion of the sexual harrassment charge filed against the aforementioned Council Member, alleged criminal activity by several members of the terminated or suspended officers or the immature behavior of those individuals, particularly Mr. Benjamin.

Fourth, although there is a mention of "Officer K" having made an error in his paperwork resulting in the dismissal of a single case, there is no mention of the nearly one hundred cases heard that day in which he did not make that error, an error rate close to 1%. Similarly, there is no mention of identical or similar errors by former officers of the department, an error rate that for one individual is in the high double digits and that ALL officers have been frequently reminded of. This appears to be a personal attack on the sole career officer who refused to assist in the creators' efforts.

Fifth, there is no mention of the cases that were dismissed because several of the above mentioned officers failed to appear in court at the appointed time.

Sixth, this website appears to be a website designed to extol the virtues of Mr. Benjamin as a candidate and skewer the current Mayor for an alleged lack of leadership, competence or effectiveness. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, many of the assertions made on this site are without basis, full disclosure or in some cases are outright fabrications that the individual knows are untrue. Similarly, there are no mentions of candidate Benjamin's immature behavior at the PD, his assertions that he would not appear in court, willful violations of town ordinances, efforts by a Council Member to get him preferential treatment and a waiver for those violations or personal derogatory comments made about residents who had need of the PD.

Seventh, there is no indication of the vendetta that the assumed creators of this website have against the Chief of Police or the tens of thousands of dollars their actions have cost the Town and its residents in legal bills for the chain of events they initiated.

Eighth, while there are multiple references to the secrecy with which the Town Council has addressed numerous issues, there is no mention of undeniable fact that all of the issues addressed in the Town Council's Executive Sessions are personnel matters that by statute require confidentiality or issues that involve the bargaining position, litigation or potential liability of the town that could be adversely impacted by discussion in open session, adverse impacts whose cost would ultimately be borne by the residents.

Ninth, although there is substantial information regarding the aforementioned secrecy by the Council, there is no mention of the secret meeting called by a former mayor, a sitting Council Member and members of the Police Department to discuss and initiate the afeorementioned chain of events.

In short, the content of this website is nothing but sour grapes posted by the immature malcontents who cost the Town and its residents tens of thousands of dollars as well as hundreds of man hours that could have been better spent pursuing more pressing issues that have a direct impact upon the quality of life of the Town's residents.