Finance Committee Member Resigns Abruptly

Finance Committee Member Robert A. Mielde resigned today after Town Administrator David A. Colton demanded an apology from him for referring to town employees as "Jerry's Kids."

The exchange began when Town Accountant Wendy Nightingale sent an email out to town employees, including members of the Finance Committee and Colton, saying that some people's appointments to the committee had expired and they would need to be sworn in again. 

"This is surprising to me, as I did in fact get re-sworn in right after the Elections last year," said Mielde in his email responce. "I will try this again with Jerry's kids; this time - they will provide me a copy of the swearing in, signed and dated by the Clerk."

The term "Jerry's kids," refers with children assisted by the Muscular Dystrophe Association famously championed by comedian Jerry Lewis. 

"Your reference to employees of the Town of Easton as 'Jerry’s Kids' is unacceptable," said Colton in an email to Mielde. "... The comment is incredibly insensitive, hurtful and minimizes the plight of thousands of children who are afflicted with this terrible disease.  As an elected official you have a responsibility to treat town employees with respect.  Instead you chose to treat them with contempt. I expect an apology without delay."

This prompted Mielde's resignation, in which he charged that the town has "evolved into a community filled with deceit, corruption, and hidden agendas."

"My hopes for positive change are inevitably fruitless. Actions are taken by the Town Administrator and hand carved Board of Selectmen, with only their personal agendas considered, are unacceptable. The total lack of awareness, and willingness to engage shown by the voters of the town only aids the agenda pushed by the small nucleus in control," said Mielde in the letter. 

"The Shovel Shop project, Town Sewer project and several other detrimental projects to Easton’s existence as a desirable community will prove out as evidence of this ‘agenda’ soon enough. Taxpayers are kept in the dark until it comes time to bear the costs."

Mielde sent the resignation out in a mass email, writing "I've had enough... I have better things to do than waste my time when Corona & Colton control and manipulate the entire process. There will be a revolt -- but outside the controlled system."

Colton responded to accusations in the email and resignation an an email to Patch:

"... it is a sad day anytime an appointed or elected volunteer becomes so frustrated that they decide to resign.  Town government works best when appointed and elected officers of the town work earnestly to solve problems and provide needed programs and services to the residents.  Honest disagreement over policy is always welcome and many times produces better results than when such discussion is absent."  

"The record is clear that Easton historically spends in the bottom third when compared with similarly situated communities on education, public works, public safety and general government.  These facts have been presented to Mr. Mielde and the other members of the Budget Sub-Committee without dispute.  To my knowledge, Mr. Mielde has not identified any significant change he would make to the town budget or any process that he has been involved with, so to hear him complain of over-spending in a resignation letter is somewhat surprising."