Shameful politics

The political letter from our infamous mayor Grenier published in his mouthpiece newspaper The Berlin Daily Sun on Friday 11/4/11 is a perfect example of the type and style of malicious political garbage that Mr. Grenier is famous for, it’s his trademark. It’s a brew of toxic, unsubstantiated generalities, accusations and falsehoods. From reading that letter, you would think that the previous council was on a mission to destroy Berlin and, that it was anti business. Nothing could be further from the truth and I wish some of the previous councilors would speak up and set the record straight. This types of political rhetoric is toxic because it’s not only false, it gives the false impression of evil intention, evil doing and derelict of duty by former public servants. (Great way to thank them for serving) If I needed proof to substantiate the claims that I’ve made against Mr. Grenier in previous posts, he confirms the points I made with his letter. It seems that Mr. Grenier is most comfortable when he’s in Berlin’s political cesspool and babbling platitudes. If we we’re to have an honest discussion about Berlin and who does the most damage to the City’s reputation, we would have to consider the venom in the mayor’s letter and how that’s perceived outside of Berlin. Over the past 4 years I’ve closely watched what has transpired at City Hall including how members of the City Council behave. Mr. Grenier’s depiction of Councilors willing to; “stop at nothing to keep progress out of Berlin” is an outrageous accusation and a lie. Although he didn’t call Mr. Cayer by name, the insinuations against him are shameful. I know of nobody who studied and understood issues more thoroughly or worked harder than Mr. Cayer when he was a councilor. To put things in perspective Mr. Cayer’s business failure is no different than the unfortunate circumstances faced by the management of Isaacson Steel. Mr. Cayer’s sin was to have a vision for Berlin that is incomprehensible to the likes of Paul Grenier.  Our mayor would like us to believe that he saved Berlin from the evils of former councilors, when in fact it’s his style of bully politics that makes Berlin the joke of the State and, does more damage to how we’re perceived than any misdeed by any past councilor. Today I heard a comment from a friend originally from Berlin but who is now living out of town. This person expressed her joy for having moved away from Berlin and people who have this type of sick mentality. Mr. Grenier only needs to look in the nearest mirror if he wants to see why Berlin continues to be perceived as a second rate community that often has ignorant and obnoxious politicians. Being unopposed doesn’t necessarily mean wisdom or competency, it may just mean that nobody wishes to lower themselves into that political cesspool. You more than likely will win Mr. Grenier, but by default. Just keep in mind that most people either avoid bullies or patronize them.

Comments

[toonist]

1: He's running unopposed!
2: He has the backing of the press(?)!
C'mon man!!!!
This leads credence to the old saying: "This best thing to come out of Berlin is Route 16 south."

[Rocky]

I prefer north and to Canada where their government is not without fault, but seems to be more humane.

[warren]

The Letter said it like it is. Berlin has Truly gone from an Ex Mayor ( who Lost Running on His Record ) and Council ( half of which Quit once they knew their "game was up" ), who were Adamantly and Vehemently opposed to the future success of the Average Berlinite, to a New Mayor and Council who care about ALL of Berlin's Citizens, not just a small handfull of Snot Noses. It is what it is. Berlin is in Far Better Shape now that the Deadweight is gone. Promises Made, Promises Kept. We've gone from NO! NO! NO! to YES Berlin Can! Even Cllr. McCue realizes that He can not "Run Against" Success, and now breathes Platitudes ( not very convincingly! ) about more Success in the future. Its a Sunny, and Exciting Day!

[toonist]

warren I've just taken a trip to Berlin! It ain't no better off now by a long shot!! Munces is gone I hear. That was a pretty big employer. I don't see any forward thinking happening up there. The town, and it used to be a city, needs help!!!!!! And it needs it fast!

[warren]

....Just Read Mayor Grenier's letter Dennis, "It's in there".

None of it would have happened under Our last Mayor & Council.

-I'd say "Nice Try", but frankly that comment sounded a little desperate. Have a Nice Life down in the Carolina's Buddy. And Rocky can R.O.T.C. if it suits Him.

[toonist]

The only thing 'desperate' is your little hamlet...I don't want to see it fail either. It's going from "The City that Trees Built" to "The Town that Welfare Buried"

[Antonio Andolini]

Berlin residents: Get out and VOTE today! Thank you.

[Rocky]

Who would be a good write-in candidate for mayor?

[toonist]

warren

[warren]

Gee, Thanks toonist. May the Bird of Paradise fly up your nose!

-But I heard on the grapevine that Dick Lafleur has nailed it with "Que Sera Sera...", and is laying low today.

[toonist]

LOL

[Rocky]

Get a room!

[wood burner]

If Mayor Grenier was not running I would definitely agree toonist!!!!!!!

[wood burner]

Any word on vote count in ward II yet? Anyone??? Denise and Dori got my vote!!!!!

[Rocky]

Why am I not surprised? Hand picked by Paul the both of them.

[Wing Nut]

Nice letter by Senator Ayotte in the paper today. I agree with what she says 100%. Rocky likes to call people like Senator Ayotte simple minded but I don’t agree. As I've said before, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. God Bless Senator Ayotte for doing something courageous as opposed to doing something that is politically expedient. We need more people like her in Washington, DC.

Take care,
WN

[Rocky]

Agree WN, she delivered on what she promised regardless of what Paul Grenier and Max said about her. I just wonder how long she can do that and survive politically?

[wood burner]

Rocky look outside the box!!!

[Rocky]

My dear wood burner, I've been outside the box for a long time, it's usually my views outside the box that get me in trouble and upset people.

[warren]

It's about Time We Reverse the Shameful Politics of Our Last Council. It was Really Shameful that someone did this to Berlin, then had the Chutzpah to QUIT! Kudo's to Cllr. Evans and City Clerk Debra Patrick. Cllr. McCue is not worthy of Re-election, Shame on You Tom!

City seal back on council agenda

By Barbara Tetreault

Nov 09, 2011 12:00 am

BERLIN -- The city seal was back on the council agenda Monday night.
Three years ago, then Mayor David Bertrand and the council voted to redesign the city seal to remove the smoke stack and present a new image of the city to the world. Then-Councilor David Poulin said the smoke stack perpetuated the city’s image as a smelly mill town and he proposed focusing more on the city’s forest heritage.
The decision to change the seal was strongly opposed by Mayor Paul Grenier who called it a repudiation of the city’s heritage. He made restoring the original city seal part of his campaign platform back in 2009. Grenier brought the issue up at one of his first council meetings but failed to get the votes needed to reconsider the previous council’s decision.
The issue had remained dormant until this week when Councilor Mark Evans asked to have it put on the work session agenda. Evans explained that when he voted in favor of changing the seal, he thought it was simply a matter of changing the city’s letterhead. Since then, he said he has realized that it is a bigger undertaking and requires changing uniform patches and the decals on city vehicles.
Evans also noted that since the vote, the Burgess BioPower plant has been approved and is under construction. He said a smoke stack will remain part of the city’s landscape for the foreseeable future.
In light of those facts, Evans said he was proposing the council reconsider its earlier decision and readopt the original city seal.
Grenier said the city had a large inventory of decals and the council had voted to use up old letterhead, envelopes, and decals before ordering material with the new seal. As a result, he said City Clerk Debra Patrick reported the city has only spent $2,063 on material with the new seal. Furthermore, while the city had a stamp made with the new seal, Patrick kept the original stamp.
Grenier said Patrick recommended that whatever the current council decides, it also consider amending the city charter to stipulate the city seal can only be changed by a vote of the public.
The mayor said Patrick is concerned that the design of the city seal is becoming a political football every time there is a change in the city council. Grenier said he agrees with Patrick that changing the city seal should require public approval through either a charter amendment or a charter revision commission.
“The city seal should be about community identity and not a political football,” he said.
Councilor Tom McCue said the council spent a lot of time discussing the city seal before it acted to change it three years ago. He asked that notes of the earlier meetings on the matter be distributed to all the councilors.
“There was a lot of discussion,” he said.
Councilor Lucie Remillard said there was a lot of discussion but said she also felt it had become a political issue at the time. She said the council did not delve deeply into the cost. She said getting rid of the smokestack was the prime focus.
Councilor Mike Rozek said he considers himself a traditionalist and would like to go back to the original seal. Councilor Diana Nelson said she also prefers the original seal over the new seal.
“To me, it just doesn’t represent us,” Nelson said, of the new seal.
With only McCue opposed, the council agreed to go forward with changing back to the original seal with a resolution on the next council meeting agenda for a first reading and future public hearing.

[Antonio Andolini]

"I just wonder how long she can do that and survive politically?" There's a reason US Senators serve six year terms.

[Rocky]

We fiddle while Rome burns. Soon there will be smoke coming out of the real stack and all of Berlin's problems will be resolved! Barry Kelly will smile again falling asleep with that warm feeling you get from burning wood, the eyes of East Side residents will have that familiar burning sensation. We'll have yellow snow again and our kids will dodge wood trucks "going to the field " just like we did when we were kids. Ahhhh those familiar sights, sound and smells.....and Paul Grenier is our mayor! Living in the past is great! "Nothing ever changes in My Little Town".

[warren]

A six year Term did not help that Jerk Son of "Take Me to the Golf Coarse by Helicopter!!!" John H. Sunununununu....
Jerk Boy, John E. got Booted ... after One Term! Try again Tonycini.

[warren]

Classical Music Appreciation in Berlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgXUFnfKIY

Goodbye Tom, See you around Town...maybe.

[wood burner]

BYE BYE TOM!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!