Our Longmeadow Select Board Needs Some Changes

Letter to the Editor- Feb. 12, 2025

The recent resignation of Longmeadow Board of Assessors Chairperson Michael Zeller in his letter to The Reminder raises questions on the rationale and decision by the Select Board which led to Mr. Zeller’s stepping down.

Mr. Zeller who has 15 years of experience on the board made the recommendation to maintain Richard Foster to the Board of Assessors but three Select Board members in the majority voted against him in favor of an inexperienced newcomer. Mr. Foster has served the town admirably in various positions including as a member of the Longmeadow Select Board.

Vote for Michael Mclane appointment to Board of Assessors
12/16/24 Select Board Meeting

The newcomer for nominee for the board was a neighbor of a Select Board member with no experience as compared to that of Mr. Foster. Nepotism? Back door politics? Was the decision by three members of the Select Board to vote against Mr. Foster retaliatory since he filed an open meeting complaint with the Massachusetts State Attorney General’s office last August based on the selection of a resident for a position on the Board of Registrars who was personally attacked by a select board member.

We have enough drama with elected officials in the Massachusetts State House and in Washington DC. The residents of Longmeadow need certain members of the town Select Board to put their political motivations aside.

Abraham Lincoln said it best... We want a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Fran Bogdanowicz
Longmeadow 

___________________________________________

[Here is the video clip showing the 12/16/24 Select Board meeting discussion during which Richard Foster was replaced by inexperienced newcomer Michael Mclane on the Board of Assessors.  If you watch the clip you will observe clear bias against Mr. Foster despite current chair's (Michael Zeller) strong letter of recommendation to the contrary.] 

Survey Results- Longmeadow Town Owned Fiber Network

This survey was conducted by LongmeadowBiz, LLC to determine the interest of town residents in supporting a fully town owned optical fiber Internet network as a competitor to Comcast/ XFinity.  There were 100 responses to this survey.

Background Info

Warrant article #9 at the upcoming November 12, 2024 Longmeadow Special Town Meeting warrant asks voters to transfer $491,444 of available "free cash" to commence design/ engineering work and required applications for addition of fiber cable to town telephone poles.

ARTICLE 9 To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds in the Treasury, the sum of $491,444.16, or a greater or lesser sum, for the purpose of fiber network design, project management services, pole attachment applications, and to authorize the MLP board to take all steps necessary to carry out this task, or take any other action relative thereto.

Here are some of the highlights to the LongmeadowBiz survey questions:

1. 82% of users rate Comcast's Internet service as Fair --> Excellent while 17% rate it as unacceptable.
2. The high cost of Comcast service (including TV programming) was ranked as the highest service complaint (71%).
3. Town residents use their Comcast Internet connection for a variety of reasons with the highest usage being for email, social media, TV programing and web browsing (87+%).  72% also use it for working from home.
4. 31% of respondents indicated that they need higher speeds while 56% indicated that their Internet service and speed was sufficient.
5. Greatest concerns about the proposed project included the cost, potential increase in taxes, long term maintenance and management and the transition process from the existing supplier.
6. There was financial support for the project by town residents including support for a small increase in taxes if the project delivered on its promises.
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a summary of additional comments provided by Survey Respondents:

• Challenges for the Town: Some believe the town lacks the capacity to manage a fiber network due to other major infrastructure projects including building a new school, replacing water/sewer lines and road repair.
• Skepticism of Municipal Management: There’s concern that managing utilities or communication networks may not be appropriate or effective for local governments.
• Competition and Sustainability Concerns: Some worry that competition from other Internet providers or emerging technologies might make a local town owned fiber network less sustainable in the long run.
• Frustration with Comcast: While some residents have reliable internet, others criticize Comcast for high rates, monopoly control, and lack of alternatives.
• Political Concerns: A few respondents expressed frustration with Comcast for political reasons, opposing support for their media platforms and favoring local alternatives.
• Self-Sufficiency Goal: Supporters believe the project can become self-sufficient, pointing to the success of other community fiber initiatives.