Klimm Signs Off, You Sound Off
Town Manager John Klimm and the entire town council have been the topic of heated debate during the last nine months. Tell us what you think of the situation.
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On Friday afternoon, Town Clerk Linda Hutchenrider confirmed Town Manager John Klimm, Town Council President Fredrick Chirigotis and she had signed off on a contract deal that buys out Klimm's contract - making his last day Sept. 30.
Back in Feburary, Hutchenrider said she had never seen an election like this one before.
What happened? What has changed Barnstable's town council?
There has been ongoing tension, as described in an interview with Klimm in June.
June 29 - Ryan Collins interviewing:
Mr. Klimm, you recently stated that "there has been a toxic environment that has permeated this town since November, which has made it difficult to move forward."
What specifically do you mean by "toxic environment"?
"A political environment that is influenced by personal differences and animosity, instead of cohesiveness and a mutual desire to work together to accomplish stated goals."
Why has it been so difficult to move forward as of late?
"Because too much time has been spent on in-fighting and conflict instead of the business of the Town."
What are some of the most dire challenges facing the Town? How do you think the Town should approach these challenges?
"The challenges include the financial challenges of providing a high level of service to our citizens with dwindling resources, and several major challenges such as development of a private roads program, sewering and public safety issues."
After recently receiving a very positive performance rating, and a contract extension, why do you belive the council would vote to have you leave your position of 12 years as town manager?
"I believe that it is part and parcel of the on-going conflict at the Town Council level."
The 6 to 5 vote to offer you early departure indicates just how split Town Council was on the matter. How can the Town Council get its members back on the same page, and working efficiently as a team?
"By making a conscientious decision to put differences aside for the good of the Town."
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Following this interview several open meeting laws and other public tenuous situations, Klimm was shown a outpouring of positive support advocating for his good performance as town manager. Yet, it seems the internal debate within the council proved too difficult.
Jeffrey O. Clark
8:34 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Maybe it's time for a change in the type of government/politics that runs Barnstable.
ed cook
9:53 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
If there were valid reasons to terminate the managers contract they should have been expressed publicly by the town council so they could have been explored in a public fashion. Instead, the reasons stated by the council members have been vague inuendos of wrong doing and accusations of discord within the council itself. By not having a clear and public discussion of the reasons for their inability to work with the town manager the council has created an air of distrust between the residents of the town and their government.
Cape Cod Person
2:02 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Agreed. Total transparency in major gov.actions should always be practiced. This is makes the towns a whole look bad
ken moulton
12:07 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
I gave the citizens total tranparency at broadcast town council meetings in 2000. Look through the Public records of the August 3 and October 5, 2000 meetings for an example. If the town destroyed the evidence I can e-mail them to you beciuse I typed my speeches and gave them to the council for the record. Had a meeting in Klimm's office om 5-21-2000 about the corruption. He refused to look at his own town and state public records so he could deny seeing any thing. I remember the date of the meeting because it was my birthday. What I uncovered in the 1990's in Barnstable and across the state was the begining of the home and bank mortgage crisis.
ken moulton
3:42 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
The meeting in Klimm's office was 5-19. How could I forget because it was my birthday. You see, the council and manager worked hand in hand to hide the corruption by town officials for years. Part of the corruption helped fuel the banking crisis of a few years ago. They all knew to include Teddy, Kerry, Barney, Clinton, Gore, AG Reno andf our own AG's. The Mass. Secretary of State even asked the AG to file against the Barnstable Police but the GA ignored it just as they ignored the Secretary of State ruling that the AG had to turn over public records that detailed high level government corruption.