Free Tax Cut by Michele Lynn Seigfried

floor.
    “I don’t give a hoot about the planning board!” he screamed. He didn’t allow me to explain that the planning board is required to review the ordinance and that their meeting was taking place the day after our next meeting. He didn’t allow me to explain that the state laws required ten days in between the introduction and the public hearing of this ordinance, and we only had six days between meetings. He didn’t allow me to explain that the residents had to receive their notices in the mail at least ten days prior to the meeting. He didn’t allow me to explain anything!
    Winifred piped up, “See, I told you she was incompetent.”
    My chin hit the floor. I could not believe she said that in public. How unprofessional! My face was slowly changing from its pale, winter weather complexion to blood red. I was fuming mad! Before I could utter another syllable, Marc yelled at me again.
    “You will place this on the agenda for a public hearing for the next council meeting!” he demanded.
    Mr. Bellini finally interjected.
    “Mr. President, if I may.”
    Marc nodded at him to continue.
    “Mr. President, under state statute, you have to allow the planning board to review the ordinance for compliance with the master plan. Ms. Alton, when is the planning board having their next meeting?”
    “Next Thursday , March sixth,” I responded.
    “Mr. President, since this ordinance is sensitive in nature, we want to make sure the proper procedures are followed, to prevent a challenge to the ordinance.”
    “Fine!” Marc said. He looked like someone took his ball away from him on the playground. “Staff, schedule a special meeting for March twelfth for the public hearing.”
    Jerk. I thought. I smiled with a large, fake grin and muttered through my clenched teeth. “Yes, sir,” I said.
    The meeting proceeded. All five members of the board voted “yes” to introduce the zoning ordinance. No one from the public got up to make any comments, so that was a positive, but only for my own benefit of not having to sit through a long meeting. I was glad the meeting was over quickly—within a half hour. I stayed to clean up the boardroom, then returned to my office to grab my purse. I heard voices outside in the hallway. I hadn’t bothered with the lights, because I was only going to be a second. It was Marc and Gino.
    “You better hold up your end of the bargain,” Gino said in a threatening tone.
    “You can see that I am. My hands are tied about how quickly these things can get pushed through. There are laws,” Marc said.
    “Screw your laws,” Gino said.
    “I’m doing the best I can,” Marc said.
    “We’ll see,” Gino said. “You know what I expect, you know what I will do, and you better deliver.”
    I heard footsteps walking away. I hid in the office a while longer. I didn’t know what any of that meant, but I suddenly had the impression that Marc wasn’t pushing to get this work done of his own free will. I wondered if Gino was holding something over Marc’s head. I wondered if Vinny was mixed up in this something as well. I hoped this wasn’t anything that I would find myself caught in the middle of.
     

 
    Chapter 7
     
     
    I woke up the next morning and said, “TGIF!” out loud to myself. I was happy I had almost survived the first week of work. Only one day left. I got out of bed, let the dog out, took a quick shower, dressed, then made Mandy’s breakfast. I woke her up, dressed her, fed her, then loaded her into the very cold car. After I quickly scraped the ice off my windshield, I dropped Mandy off at my parents’ house. A stop at Take Ten was next on my schedule for a chai latte and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Not the best breakfast, I admitted, but warm chai and a sugar high had a way of making me feel relaxed and ready to take on the day.
    I pulled into the parking lot at work, locked up my car , and headed into the office. I shrugged out of my coat, sat at my desk, put down my coffee,