From member Robert Hunt, Falmouth regarding Chris Orestis

[Dave Libby]

I have lived in Falmouth sine 1942. I have watched Falmouth gradually change from a small rural town into what it is today. One of the major changes occurred in 1962 with the introduction of the Council/Manager form of government. It replaced the Selectman Town Meeting system that governed the town for over a centaury, There have been good Councils and not so good Councils. There have been good individual Councilors and not so good individual Councilors. One of the worst Councilors, perhaps the worst of the worst, was Chris Orestis. He was a rude, obnoxious blovating blow hard. His acerbic hot air did nothing to advance civility or clam deliberation. An example of his thoughtless bovating was his demand locally businessman Steve Woods be sent the “toughest of tough messages” because the sign to his Route One business had a few letters to small according to a local ordinance. As a result Mr. Woods decided not to build a 2million expansion in “business unfriendly” Falmouth. Orestis was late for Council meetings and missed several meetings. He also absented himself from several votes for reason know only to himself. After a series of e-mails, that became more and more insulting, before his election to the Council he e-mailed the following on November 16,2011,” I’m going to have sooooooooo much fun with you and your buddies for the next 6 years and beyond,,,,” The reference to “beyond” was to becoming governor some day. Fortunately the voters saw through him, his blovating hot air and sent him packing with the clear and inescapable message he is not fit for public service.

[Dave Libby]

I too have never seen such hateful attitude from a Town Councilor (I served from 2004-2010). I heard several reports about his rudeness towards our citizens at the polls (my wife was one of them...) Luckily CEO was sent home, where hopefully the retirement of his political aspirations started!

Maybe he drank the whole "keg of beer" he talked about at the polls, all by himself... celebrating his loss.

Dave

[bd1949 .]

It is heartening to see the community turn out such a person despite his early popularity (I think he got something more than 1500 votes the first time he ran).  I believe he was merely less subtle than several other Democrats in town (including two running for state office) who are of the same stripe but better at appearing "nice."

Turning to our town and Bob Hunt's comments, it may not be possible or wise to go back to the town meeting form of government, but I think we should take a hard look at the charter including improving the provisions for voter approvals and override of council actions.  That might restrain some of the council's excesses.  It is spending through our accumulated fund balance (it's so easy to spend other people's money) at an alarming rate and apparently intends to spend more on boondoggle projects, like the library's unneeded parking area and a tunnel to nowhere for kids to go under the RR tracks.  Why not use some of the excess millions to lower our tax burden?  The restrictions on using it for that are NOT, repeat NOT, in the charter but are merely a council policy that the council nonetheless treats as sacred (more sacred apparently than the charter itself, viz. assessing functions).

If I had the time (right now I don't) I'd turn to the charter amendment process and bringing forward some amendments to restrain the "do good" spending of the council.

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[Lisa Joy]

Agreed!

 

>> following on November 16,2011*,” I’m going to have sooooooooo much fun
>> with you and your buddies for the next 6 years and beyond,,,,” *The
>> reference to *“beyond*” was to becoming governor some day. Fortunately

[Bob Hunt]

Following up on “bd1949”’ on point message, the reference to the change in the form of town government in 1962 was for historical perspective only. I did not intend to suggest we go back to the Selectman/Town Meeting form. With over 11K citizens that form of government would not be appropriate. However, as “bd1949” points out there should be some serious consideration of making charter changes that would reign in inappropriate Council spending and actions. Resent Councils have abused the “accumulated fund” on a number of unnecessary projects. As pointed out there is NO restriction in the charter against using a part of the accumulated fund for tax relief. FCFSC might consider taking a herd look at the charter with an eye toward suggesting that kind of changes mentioned by “bd1949”.I can not let another opportunity go by to say Bye, bye, bye Chris O. Your sun has set!!!!