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His dedication to Dexter is commendable and has served us honesty for 25 years in many capacities; Town CEO, Assessor, Human Services, Assistant Town Manager; well the list goes on.

He has written, worked on & gotten and administered many many grants over the year for many organizations and the town; from the Dexter Historical Society, North Dexter Grange to Town of Dexter and Dexter Regional Development Corporation.

Dave never bragged or like being in the news, he just likes to get the job done; working countless weekends and holidays throughout his career and didn't complain.

Dave has served as an officerer in many organizations over the years, much of the time as treasurer. His talents are endless and unless you get to know him, you would never know that he is a musician, an artist on many levels.

Dave never bragged about his accomplishments nor did he like being in the news, he just likes to get the job done; working countless weekends and holidays throughout his career and didn't complain.

Will the current Town Council find another Town Manager that is as honest, dedicated and know our town history like Dave? They are very short sited!

Good luck my friend...

Dear Editor,
July 16, 2011
By Dexter Town Manager Dave Pearson: I spotted a story in the Bangor Daily News this Thursday about Muriel Smith, for 13 years the administrative assistant and town clerk for Columbia Falls, who resigned her job on Wednesday due to her feelings that, as a town employee, she was being constantly harassed and mistrusted. "Enough is enough…no matter what anyone in the town office does it is wrong in their [a group of 'concerned citizens'] estimation". These stories are popping up all over the State.

In Poland Town Manager Dana Lee, a long-time and highly respected manager, resigned abruptly because the new atmosphere of hypercriticism and mistrust had put him under too much stress and was destroying his health and family life. "You take a lot of undue criticism" Dana said, "Today, too many people, rightfully in some cases, are disappointed in government. It's cast a shadow over all of us. And it's hard to differentiate the good guys from the bad guys. So we all get a splash effect when they're angry."

In Southwest Harbor, Veazie, Sangerville, Wilton, Livermore Falls, Portage Lake, Milford, and numerous other towns in recent weeks, town officials have resigned as consequences of campaigns directed at them by individuals or groups. In Newburgh where the Clerk actually has been convicted of embezzling, the whole town office staff resigned en masse recently citing the public's presumption of guilt by association.

In Dexter, where I am being forced into early retirement, only three persons applied for my position. In Corinna, where Dalton Mullis is resigning on his own initiative (being also tired of divisive politics as he has told me) there were more applicants. I think the State is losing qualified people who have any interest in these jobs. I was asked last year to speak to the career day at the school about municipal careers and I declined. The real reason for my decision not to speak to the students was that I could not, with a straight face, advise them that a career in municipal government would be a good choice for them.

There has been a real shift in attitude by the public and I can't help but feel that good people are being lumped with the few actual public servants who act unethically and that there is a broader cultural attack that has been being waged by powerful interests. This week I also saw Ann Coulter speak on television and tell her audience that "all government workers are parasites". This kind of language evidently sells her books to somebody out there since she seems to be living quite comfortably. I wonder who will come to put out the fire in her comfortable home, or protect her expensive car from theft or provide her the roads to drive her car on if not some fire department parasites or police parasites or public works parasites?

Attitudes towards the schools are changing too. Teaching, once a respected profession, became looked down upon years back as low-paid jobs for losers that couldn't get real jobs in the private sector. Now that the private sector seems to have abandoned America for the sweat shops of Asia, teachers are seemingly demonized in a whole different way. Now their pay is too high and their pensions are a horrible threat to our economy, if you listen to the radio voices and the talking heads on the cable networks—or your neighbors these days.

Having worked in the public sector for a while I am probably overly sensitive to this change. Mentioning it will draw the inevitable charge of self-interest. In fact, it is hard to know how to behave in the cross-hairs these days. As I heard another person explain the conflicts: the public official who talks on a subject is criticized as trying to run things. If he is silent, he is stupid and has lost interest. If he is usually at the office, he needs to get out more. If he is out when you call, he isn't on the job. If he agrees with you he lacks originality. If he disagrees with you he is ignorant. If he seems too busy for casual talk his job has gone to his head, if he engages in casual talk it is perceived that he has nothing to do. If he can't give you an immediate answer he is incompetent. If he can give you an immediate answer, well, that's what he's paid for. If he has an opinion he is bull-headed. If he explains both the pros and cons then he is pussy-footing. If he's been on the job a short time he lacks experience. If he's been on the job for a long time he lacks new ideas. If he's well-dressed than he must think he's a big shot. If he isn't well dressed then he's not a proper representative. If he is friendly then he is playing politics. If he appears to be aloof he needs to be trimmed down to size.

In truth, public officials are only human and most that I know are very good humans. Generalizations drawn from a few examples are a trap that we ought to not fall into. The great thing about America is that the government is US. We are our own sovereigns and our public officials come from among US, warts and all. We will be sorry if we drive good people from this field, expecting a class of mandarins to appear to govern us as their inferiors.
Respectfully Submitted
Dexter Town Manager Dave Pearson

Dear Editor,
I just finished reading the Manager's Report on the DailyMe and it said for me what I have been feeling and believing but was unable to so articulately say. Thank you, Mr. Town Manager, for sharing with us your thoughts and validating what many of us are feeling about the the tragedy that occurred on Monday, June 13, 2011, Dexter's own 9/11.

Jerilyn Clukey Mullis

Dear Editor,
Thursday, March 9, 2011
SHAME ON YOU CORINNA MUNICIPAL OFFICER’S…SHAME ON YOU ALL!!

The Annual Municipal Officer’s Report for the Town of Corinna is “one of a kind” and well befitting the Town Manager’s experience…

Listing deceased residents on committee’s, mistyping of resident’s death dates, omitting signatures, adding in funds that were not appropriated at last years town meeting, & numerous font sizes & typo’s through out the report are probably minor, but failure to write an article to dedicate the Report for Mr. Young, simply deplorable!

And then when the figures don’t add up, the questions will begin. How does one say 94 mil & 1.6 mil equal 92mil? And where is the Balance Sheet & Statement of Departmental Operations as required by the State Laws?

The misreckoning beginning with the Treasurers report and on every page after, including the articles is degrading to the residents of Corinna. How can we appropriate funds when they unintentionally deviate us from the truth?

The Town needs a change and Article 40 is one option we the residents can take. This years Annual Town Meeting is Sat., March 12th at the Elementary School 10 am, and I do believe it will be one that the residents will not want to miss!
Corinna Resident
Darlene Bagley

To The Editor;
Saturday, March 5, 2011
So, Dexter - "a nice place to live", but not for the young people.

I know that this letter will most likely anger some that read it, others will read it out of curiosity and forget about it 15 seconds when there done, and maybe just maybe it might open some peoples minds.

I have been a resident of Dexter since 2001. I am a home owner, a business owner, a father, husband and church go-er.

I have been glad to be a resident of Dexter for a long time, but sometimes something happens inside us that offers considerable turbulence to our thoughts.

Tonight my wife held a well advertised chili dinner at the town hall. Fliers, phone calls, church announcements, Bangor Daily etc. This was an event to raise money so that my wife and I, as the instructors for our Christian Education program at our church can take the kids to Soulfest in NH this summer.

You know how many donating people showed up?? 3!!! There were others that donated time and food, but 3.

Why is it that it has been repetitiously demonstrated that people will donate to most everything BUT events for the benefit of the teens and children of the area???

At what point to people wake up and realize that as adults we are expected to lead by example??? What example are we showing to the newest generation if we don't help them??

The reality of the fact that these "kids" are our future leaders has been diminished and or dismissed all together.

I am not only upset by the fact that all my wife's efforts have been disposed of by the public, I am HUGELY troubled by the fact that again, Dexter turns its back on our young people.

Now I have made the commitment that I will personally cover the costs for the trip to Soulfest but that does not resolve the issue.

As I write this letter, I sit on a couch in front of two very nondescript doors. What rests on the other side of those doors?? A dormant and hibernation teen center, yet another sign to our young people.

I, Joel F. Costonis hereby initiate a move to guide, teach, mentor and love our children they way we as adults are supposed to.

Further, I want to recall a Biblical story that I taught to the younger kids (as I teach 10 and under). Jesus was sitting with all the children in the village. The elders came and started to move the children along. Jesus was angered and upset and said that he had time, thought and love for all, even the young people.

When does Dexter have time to teach, talk, and love their young people. I am not exactly sure of the exactness of my plans, but I will say this, join me and watch!!

THERE WILL BE A TEEN CENTER AND SOME WILL JOIN FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!! Joel F. Costonis Dexter

Consider This
Monday, February 28, 2011
By Fred L. Wintle:
While my mind is playing Barry Maguire's 60's song entitled "Eve of Destruction", my mind tells me something far more basic is afoot. For those of us that are too young, too old, or too stiff of neck to be hip, the lyrics are as follows:

The Eastern World it is Explodin'
Violence Flair and Bullets Loadin'
You Don't Believe in War but What's That gun You're Toten'?
And even the Jordan River has Bodies Floatn'

And You Tell me Over and Over and Over Again my Friend
Ah You Don't Believe We're on the Eve of Destruction……….

Extremists on both ends of the political spectrum as it relates to Public Unions will march on our State Capitol. After the two sides figure out that they both overplayed their hand and there will seemingly be winners and losers left at the table. Here is what I want you "The People" to know.

There is and must be another hand dealt with the real stakeholders at that poker table. Aint no mountain high, aint no valley low……… We can and we will figure this out together. Keep the faith, send people who know what good faith negotiating is about and we will fix what's broken.
Rock On
Fred