Selectman shouldn’t benefit from town contract

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To the Editor:

I think you missed the point in your editorial (May 18, “Conflict of interest”) regarding Mr. Donaroma and the Edgartown sidewalk project. You wrote that “the inference was that Mr. Donaroma, in his official capacity, was manipulating the system …” That is not what was implied. What I, and others, have a problem with is simply that he benefited from town work. To me, that in and of itself is inappropriate. I do not believe that a selectman should directly benefit (whether directly or indirectly) from a town-awarded contract. It was never said that this was against the rules, or that Mr. Donaroma somehow corrupted the system.

In my life before coming to the Vineyard, I served on my local school board. The rules were very clear: No board member could financially benefit from any interaction with the school system. That really is the point. On its face, I believe Mr. Donaroma benefiting from a town contract is just not right.

 

Jonathan Chatinover

Edgartown

3 COMMENTS

  1. Reading the story, Mr Donaroma was asked to help get a project done-he didn’t go looking for the work. In retrospect perhaps he should have declined the invitation to participate, as the insinuations aren’t worth the reported $36,000 worth of revenue. I’m sure he could have assigned his workers to more profitable tasks on the big homes in town. So much for trying to help out. This is precisely why many business people wouldn’t ever run for public office.

  2. Not knowing where Mr.Chatinover’s “life before coming to the Vineyard”was, it is hard to say that what was workable there is totally appropriate for Edgartown. However, we are extremely fortunate to have people like Mike Donaroma that are able to effectively wear multiple hats…business leader, government leader and person devoted to the well being of the total community….with often few compliments and ample criticisms! Whenever I see great Christmas decorations or see the Triangle landscape or see the way he maintains his business property along Main St. I know that whatever Mikes business charges it is a most competitive price for superior work. Mr, Chatinover…….try thinking that Mr.Donaroma is not benefiting from his position in Edgartowm government, but Edgartown is benefiting from Mike willing to give resources to his community. Here is a disclamer…..I am not even a casual acquaintance…just an observer

  3. I have to say i agree with Mr. Chatinover. Anyone who financially benefits from a municipality shouldn’t ever have the power of decision making. This whole episode really smells fishy. Was Mr. Donaroma the only contractor on the entire island capable of completing the work? The public works department in Edgartown isn’t very transparent in it’s decision-making. Why was the Airport Road widened when Meeting House Way hasn’t been paved…yet? We appropriated the money for the paving of Meeting House Way three years ago at Town Meeting. The next year we appropriated the money for a bike path along Meeting House Way. None of this has been done. What happened to the money? The deliberations in Edgartown are not transparent and it’s looking mighty fishy the way things get swept under the rug. Why is Peter Vincent, a disbarred convicted embezzler allowed to sit on boards in Edgartown?

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