That’s what onbrookline.com promises those on the sixth floor of Town Hall in the coming weeks. But even heretics need a break, so the posting will be light over the holiday.
And for an Independence Day message, we’ll give the floor to Thomas Paine:
“Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from [...]
On the subject of legal fees (and their taxability) paid to the DPW Commissioner A. Thomas DeMaio. According to an expert who is both a lawyer and a CPA, reimbursement of legal fees by an employer is taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 61.
Sometimes when you rush to pay a crony, it [...]
In today’s TAB reporter Jessica Scarpati covers the Town Hall spin (missing the point that the Selectmen relied on a bogus legal opinion to justify the expense) on the $11 thousand DeMaio indemnification and writes:
DeMaio said this week he was relieved the town would cover his legal bills. When asked, he said he hoped the [...]
As I understand it, the Town’s reimbursement of DPW Commissioner A. Thomas DeMaio’s legal bill is considered additional compensation under state and federal tax laws. As such, the Town would need to withhold income taxes from the Commissioner’s paycheck.
Do we have a tax lawyer or CPA in the house that can shed some light? [...]
So, when Town officials come to you in November saying they need a 3% tax surcharge to fund community preservation projects (and relieve pressure on the budget), ask them how they can rush an $11,000 check out to Jeffrey Allen, Esq. for questionable legal advocacy justified by bogus legal opinions.
Most businesses pay on invoices after [...]
Here’s a curious item in the bill presented to the Town of Brookline for his legal advocacy on behalf of DPW Commissioner Tom DeMaio, or Town Hall’s Dr. Phil. Apparently Allen attended four meetings with Town Counsel Jennifer Dopazo at the time she was conducting an administrative review on behalf of the Selectmen.
Of course, [...]
Remember when Selectman, and Community Preservation Act (CPA) Study Committee chair, Nancy Daly reportedly said that the recent increase in mortgage foreclosures would mean more Land Court filing fees, fees that could be used to match a 3% tax surcharge should the CPA be enacted by Brookline voters?
According to several people, she called the [...]
Town Administrator Richard Kelliher has announced salaries for top administrators and we’ve reserved a special place for them.
Click here to visit the Look Inside the Big Box section of onbrookline.com.
Here’s the quality legal advocacy that took Jeffrey Allen Esq. more than 18 hours at $350.00 per hour to prepare (from the January 24, 2006 hearing transcript):
Page 45
ATTY. ALLEN: I am proud to have left here with a relationship with Tom DeMaio. He’s been with this Town 26 years, 13 years as your Commissioner. He [...]
Here is the invoice sent by Jeffrey Allen to the Town of Brookline…an invoice the Town thinks is a reasonable amount for legal work. Allen - the pride of the New England School of Law - charges $350.00 per hour to prepare for a shouting match on behalf of DPW Commissioner A. Thomas DeMaio.
Note [...]
