Winthrop Farwell, Jr. - Brockton City Councilor at Large

Winthrop Farwell, Jr. - Brockton City Councilor at Large Win Farwell served 10 years on the School Committee, 4 years as Mayor. For 10 years he's been a councilor. He is one (1) of eleven (11) councilors.

No single councilor may speak or act on behalf of the council or the city. Views expressed are his own. All that I have accomplished is because parents and others took time to nurture and guide me. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

IT'S OKAY TO DREAM...If the $18 million school deficit had not occurred and the city purchased the Brockton Fairgrounds,...
09/06/2026

IT'S OKAY TO DREAM...
If the $18 million school deficit had not occurred and the city purchased the Brockton Fairgrounds, I dream about a new high school located on that property. This is Lake Park District High School in Illinois. Solar power, sprawling campus, energy efficiencies and your senses are captured by interior and exterior learning environments. I know there is a plan underway here and I appreciate the work by many. I'm just reflecting on a Sunday morning.

Lake Park High School District 108

NEWS STORY - BOSTON GLOBETEEN CHALLENGE From a news story published on the Globe website minutes ago:"A Brockton-based r...
09/01/2026

NEWS STORY - BOSTON GLOBE
TEEN CHALLENGE

From a news story published on the Globe website minutes ago:

"A Brockton-based residential addiction treatment program has been fined $1.15 million by the state for illegally forcing hundreds of residents to work without pay over eight years under the guise of rehabilitation, the state attorney general’s office announced Tuesday.

"The nonprofit program, Adult & Teen Challenge, Northeast, Inc required more than 200 men at its Brockton and Worcester facilities to perform unpaid work for private businesses, the attorney general’s office said. Through a staffing operation called Labor Source, the program sent residents to do landscaping, office cleaning, snow removal, food preparation, telephone fundraising and storefront solicitation."

NOTE: The full story is available on the newspaper website.

ANSWERED THE CALL TO HEAVEN...Kevin P. Creedon was the retired Clerk-Magistrate of Brockton District Court. He passed aw...
08/26/2026

ANSWERED THE CALL TO HEAVEN...
Kevin P. Creedon was the retired Clerk-Magistrate of Brockton District Court. He passed away leaving a loving family, many of whom were also devoted to public service. On the chalkboard of life we often leave a message about who we are and what was important to us. When releasing a detainee Kevin Creedon never uttered a derogatory word. He explained the court process. He knew sometimes good people make a bad mistake and end up in legal proceedings. That was a message on his chalkboard. Respect for others. Professional service to the Court.
It was an honor to know him for many years.
My best to his family during this time of sorrow.

ONE WEEK AGO...The city's chief financial officer presented a report on Brockton finances. This report included deficits...
08/24/2026

ONE WEEK AGO...
The city's chief financial officer presented a report on Brockton finances. This report included deficits incurred by the school department for transportation and federal CARES Grant funds.

The school department continues to pay a "School Police Day Supervisor" despite his suspension from police certification by the state in 2024 and no reappointment as a special officer in Brockton. Since this past July 1, 2026, he is paid $20,709.16.

Some lyrics from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by music group Queen:
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality

The reality is - nothing changes.

08/21/2026

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
RECALLED PRODUCTS

The information below is from MA DPH Alert just received. Please take note of details about Outshine Fruit Bars:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is advising consumers and retailers about a voluntary recall of select Outshine Fruit Bars because they may contain glass.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers nationwide and may have been sold in Massachusetts.

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. issued the recall after receiving consumer reports of glass in the product. No illnesses or injuries associated with the recalled products have been reported as of August 18, 2026.

Recalled products:
Consumers should check their freezers for recalled Outshine Fruit Bars. The recall includes specific batches of the following products:

Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars, six-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 041548610047

Outshine Grape Fruit Bars, six-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 041548244044

Outshine Watermelon Fruit Bars, six-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 041548413624

Outshine Black Cherry Fruit Bars, six-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 04154800012

Outshine Tangerine Fruit Bars, six-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 041548612041

Outshine Variety Pack Fruit Bars, 24-count package of 2.5-ounce bars
UPC: 041548816678

The UPC, batch code, and best-before date are printed on the bottom of the package. Consumers should compare all three pieces of information with the list in the FDA recall announcement. A matching flavor or package size alone does not necessarily mean that the product is recalled.

No other Outshine products or varieties are included in the recall. Recalled products should not be eaten, sold, served, or distributed.

END

08/19/2026

INFORMATION SHARING - CITY FINANCES
For those interested, this link takes you to the presentation offered by CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson on the State of the City Finances.

SOCIAL MEDIA NONSENSE - TRUTH IS IMPORTANTLast night the city's chief financial officer gave a presentation on the clear...
08/18/2026

SOCIAL MEDIA NONSENSE - TRUTH IS IMPORTANT

Last night the city's chief financial officer gave a presentation on the clear and present issues threatening Brockton's future spending and budgets.

The screen shot from Mr. Hresko below refers to city planning department officials and a private foundation grant that would require funding from our local or federal funds. Like me, he has a campaign committee, and it is fair to hold him accountable.

The interim planning director was given a 60-day appointment which expired by law (MGL Chapter 41, Section 61A).

A person continues to work as "director of economic development" and the position does NOT exist. It was never created by city ordinance or by a union agreement. The city council even reduced $110,000 in funding because of this.
NOTE: You are still paying both of those individuals.

The 50% match required by the Barr Foundation grant of $175,000 is not in our financial best interests at this time.
It isn't a "pi***ng match" to uphold laws and protect finances of the city.

We need to spend money in the best interests of all residents and businesses. Our current circumstances demand that we do so.

IN RESPONSE TO MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT RECENT EVENTS...**Each of us who may serve as mayor, city council member or on the s...
08/15/2026

IN RESPONSE TO MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT RECENT EVENTS...

**Each of us who may serve as mayor, city council member or on the school committee are elected independently.

**There is no provision in the law of which I'm aware that provides for an elected official to be placed on paid or unpaid leave, or to be removed from office by the city council. The voters are in control of who is selected for the honor of representing residents during city elections.

**The chief financial officer is a state-mandated position in the City of Brockton pursuant to Chapter 324 of the Acts of 1990. The mayor has exclusive authority to appoint a person to that position without city council approval or participation in the selection.

**Nothing less than a full, open and widely advertised vacancy in the CFO position, with specific qualifications including demonstrated ability in leading a complex financial team is acceptable to me.

**The advertisement for this position simply in the Enterprise News and/or city website is not sufficient. We must use the publications where professional finance candidates look for positions.

COMMENTARY:
As someone who looks upon the city with great respect and affection, we are now at cross-roads where residents must pay closer attention to the conduct of city business. In addition, city councilors need to step up and ensure the city follows state laws, regulations and our finances are stable. The council needs to be firm that only highly qualified, competent persons are appointed to leadership positions. I am one of them and need to be vigilant!

The old politics of friends of friends selected or "I don't want the mayor upset with me or my family" needs to be discarded. The best interests of residents and businesses should control our actions! The city does not belong to any one of us - it is part of all of us.

My head is spinning from many issues. Be safe!

REPORT TO CONSTITUENTSSome city council news for your review:*Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Troy Clarkson has accepted th...
08/13/2026

REPORT TO CONSTITUENTS
Some city council news for your review:
*Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Troy Clarkson has accepted the position of county administrator in Plymouth County. His replacement is chosen by the mayor and does NOT require participation or approval by the city council. Final work day is September 11, 2026, and this is a CRITICAL vacancy to fill for Brockton.

*The City Council Finance Committee will consider a $1.6 million borrowing order on Monday evening, 8/17. This is to purchase new, larger trash barrels. The cost of the borrowing always falls on residents. Is it worth the money? Let your councilors know your opinion.
Link to council members information: https://brockton.gov/government/city-council/

*A report on the status of city finances will be presented on Monday evening by Dr. Clarkson.

Have a great week and weekend. Best regards.

HEADLINE IN THE BOSTON GLOBE TODAY:https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/10/business/national-grid-eversource-electric-rat...
08/10/2026

HEADLINE IN THE BOSTON GLOBE TODAY:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/10/business/national-grid-eversource-electric-rates-grid/

(This begins to explain the greed. What more don't we know?
See part of the story below. All credit to the Globe for this information.)

"Electricity suppliers have charged New England consumers billions of dollars in excess costs over the past decade, helping explain part of the surge in monthly utility bills, according to a new report from Cambridge-based energy think tank Synapse Energy Economics.

After reviewing the wholesale cost of electricity and comparing it to the prices consumer were charged from 2015 through 2024, Massachusetts customers on basic service paid a premium of 43 percent, or about $22 extra per month, Synapse calculated. Customers who bought their electricity through municipal aggregation systems like Boston’s haven’t made out much better, paying an average premium of 24 percent, the report said.

“In recent years, this retail premium cost many electricity consumers even more than the price of the energy itself,” said the report. “Consumers deserve a system that better reflects the real cost of procuring electricity.”

The report, from Cambridge-based energy think tank Synapse Energy Economics, helps explain part of the surge in monthly utility bills.

Address

Brockton, MA
02301

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