To the editor:

On May 5, 2014 I was offered new employment in the building code field and submitted my resignation notice to the Warren Town Manager the following day. Coincidently, two weeks later at the Financial Town Meeting, a motion was made and passed (overwhelmingly) to effectively reduce the Building Official and Town Planner to part-time positions.

The people who stood to support this motion could easily be categorized as a “vocal minority.” “Vocal” for obvious reasons and “minority” because this group represents less than 5 percent of the registered voters in Warren. What happened at the TFM was clearly an organized effort, misguided by certain people with personal agendas which, when combined with other devastating cuts to the town budget, will result in irreparable harm to the Town of Warren. The ignorance of this effort and the follow-up arrogant behavior by some, along with the misinformation spin is mind-boggling and leaves me somewhat embarrassed to be associated with the Town of Warren. The town employees and other appointed positions that are left behind, in addition to many other Warren citizens, deserve more respect from this group.

Thankfully, there is however, a “silent majority” which, based on my almost 10 years’ experience working in Warren, I am confident, will ultimately prevail and work hard to overcome the extremely difficult consequences inflicted upon them by a such small group of people. This vocal minority group is clearly more interested in forwarding personal agendas and personal attacks than offering constructive or realistic suggestions. It is unfortunate that many of the silent majority did not attend the FTM however; for every one member of the vocal minority group, I could easily identify five or more members of the silent majority that I have met and worked with over the years. These people will now work even harder to overcome what happened at the FTM and beyond.

On this note, my original intention for writing this letter is to thank the many people who have supported me since I began my employment in Warren almost 10 years ago. Many of these people are also included as members of the above mentioned silent majority. I wish to thank the many contractors, developers, property owners, and business owners whom I have had the pleasure of working with on a daily basis; many of you have kindly stopped into my office recently to wish me well. I wish to thank my colleagues as department heads, the clerks in each of their offices, the DPW workers, members of the WPD and WFD; and members of the Warren Zoning and Planning boards.

Specifically, a special thank you to the following people: Michelle Maher (former Town Planner) who notified me of the Warren job opening and encouraged me to apply for the job; Michael Abbruzzi (who hired me,) Richard Paduch, and Tom Gordon for your competent and professional guidance and support as Town Managers; Joe Depasquale, Frank Alfano, and Louis Rego for your guidance and support as Town Councilors; Fausto Anguilla and Paul Ryan, former Town Solicitors; Tony DeSisto and Stephanie Federico, current Town Solicitors who work tirelessly on behalf of the Town far below the standard rate for Solicitors; Michael DeSisto, Esq., who defended the Town of Warren and I so well when burdened with a frivolous lawsuit; ultimately we were 100 percent vindicated. Also, Nick Massed and Peter Withers, the extremely competent and professional part-time inspectors in my office; Catherine Gresh, the part-time floating clerk who spent much of her time working in my office and is also a victim of the budget cuts; and most importantly Diane Soares, the full-time clerk in my office who is far over-qualified and far underpaid but one of the most competent, professional, and pleasant persons that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

I am humbled by this group of people that I am proud to know, and thankful to have worked with. All of these people deserve better than what happened at the FTM, but more importantly respect from the vocal minority.

Bill Nash

Middletown

Mr. Nash is the former Warren Building/Zoning Official