Town of Braintree

Mr.Langill, if you would

What is the real relationship between the town elected School Committee?’s chairperson and the school?’s union? Why did she state publically that she would prefer the schools have a progressive funding increase policy.

You and your committee are involved early on in the S.C./Union negotiations, what
is FINCOM?’S function at that time, what inputs do you people have, Do you actually have any power/say over either party?

Why would she as an elected official of the taxpayers advocate an largely unfunded pay raise
that would in all likely hood require/force an override ?And will not the other town unions demand the same thing?

Why doesn?’t FINCOM advise these people of the funding problems? When FINCOM advocates the School Committee?’s budget to town meeting do you ever recommend the they reject it as being excessive, or do you, collectively function as a rubber stamp?

What is FINCOM?’S role in this madness and what ,in your opinion should it be.

What is Braintree going to do for funding in the next three years when the remainder of this fiscal insanity bears fruit!

I suspect that you people ,the School committee and FINCOM ,have sold your collective soul?’s to the school department, Oh I know, its the States fault ,its the law!

Why should we the people even try to run this town government through town meeting, we the people have no power over our own budget!

Our form of government has largely been emasculated by hidden/disguised state edict
and the School Budgets have become largely a blank check for the schools.

Town meeting needs to reject this request and we need a change in both Town and State Government!!!!

Why do you even serve?

Angry in Braintree!

By Why Bother its a blank check

No questions, just comments

Yes 150E states that school committees do not have to bring their contract before the legislative body within 30 days. But chapter 71 as copied belowed states ''that no city or town shall be required to provide more money for the support of the public schools than is appropriated by vote of the legislative body of the city or town.'', so the school's contract is still subject to legislative appropriations, in my opinion . Chapter 71 also states ''The city or town appropriating body may make nonbinding monetary recommendations to increase or decrease certain items allocating such appropriations.'' Doesn't this mean when their budget is brought up before town meeting we can recommend a decrease in the salary line item, therefor if the SC inacts a contract with the teachers before it is binding on them, wouldn't it be wise of them to get the money appropriated at TM first.

The essence of this situation is not if they need TM's approval but should they get TM's approval before they are bound by the contract, they should plan a loop hole in case they do not get TM's approval.

Also the laws are complicated you really need an opinion by the town council, one from three years ago certainly does not cover this situation. An understanding on your part is not good enough, you need to know for sure. We need to know for sure.


Chapter 71: Section 34 Support of schools; appropriations; recommendations

Section 34. Every city and town shall annually provide an amount of money sufficient for the support of the public schools as required by this chapter, provided however, that no city or town shall be required to provide more money for the support of the public schools than is appropriated by vote of the legislative body of the city or town. In acting on appropriations for educational costs, the city or town appropriating body shall vote on the total amount of the appropriations requested and shall not allocate appropriations among accounts or place any restriction on such appropriations. The superintendent of schools in any city or town may address the local appropriating authority prior to any action on the school budget as recommended by the school committee notwithstanding his place of residence. The city or town appropriating body may make nonbinding monetary recommendations to increase or decrease certain items allocating such appropriations.

The vote of the legislative body of a city or town shall establish the total appropriation for the support of the public schools, but may not limit the authority of the school committee to determine expend