I went to the selectmen's meeting last night. I went for the specific purpose of listening to the discussion concerning whether to move the office of tourism to the Academy Building. I was able to bite my tongue during the meeting. I am actually regretting that I did.
Not really. What would have been the point. Speaking up was not going to change the minds of our fearless leaders. I could have called that non-decision in before the hearing started. One new member, one crowd pleaser and one who can see the votes aren't there. Don't need to be a Vegas bookie to establish the odds on that one.
Didn't do too good of a job holding my temper after I left, but hey I like to blow off steam don't I. Must be part of my ill tempered, bad mannered, unkind approach. I don't take too kindly to special privileges, just like others I guess.
Neither do I manage well in the patience department when I hear people talking about it being "only a few thousand dollars" or suggesting we take money from other departments so a private organization can benefit.
Neither do I manage well in the patience department when I hear people talking about it being "only a few thousand dollars" or suggesting we take money from other departments so a private organization can benefit.
But I digress. Let's get back to the Academy Building. You know, the yellow building set off from the high school. The one the town pays to heat. The one the town pays the electricity and insurance for. The one the town pays an alarm system for.
And apparently the one the town cannot use for a town office because a private group doesn't want a town department to use the building. This would be the same private group which has occupied the building rent free for far too long.
It seems that one of the things that really needs to change in this town is the fact that elected officials seem unwilling and unable to deal with reality.
Reality number one. Every private group in this town that thinks the town is obligated to provide free services and space just because a private group does good things, ought to take a look at the Massachusetts Constitutions anti-aid amendments. More importantly, our elected officials ought to take a hard look at it. Why? The reality is you can't do it for them.
In fact everyone arguing about ethics, fair play, openness and transparency ought to take a real long hard look at the concepts. The concepts to all groups, not just the ones we like, we are affiliated with or the ones we choose to represent before other boards and committees.
I remember some cheap shots taken at the NFIA early this year because of an elected official's affiliation with it, and the potential of a conflict of interest.
Everyone ought to take the time to actually read the ethics laws that exist, and try to follow them, and hold themselves accountable to the same standards they hold others to, before they try to expand on what is.
After last night we can now add the Fairhaven Historical Society (not a "town" organization by the way) as an organization benefiting from such a "potential" conflict of interest, and in fact a likely actual conflict of interest. This by the new guard no less. For reference, and for starters as to what our officials should be aware of, see: http://www.mass.gov/ethics/education-and-training-resources/info-section-7/advisories/advisory-88-01.html
One week in and things are starting to look like the end of a Dragnet episode, you know, the facts are true, the names have been changed.
What really ticks me off to no end is the fact that our elected officials sit there and let a private group essentially dictate to them what can be done with a town owned building. The getting input, and need to look at an issue that has been looked at for years is .... I suppose the cleanest way is to call it a way to dodge the decision that needs to be made.
You would think that a group getting a building for rent free might just want to think about the fact they are getting a big something for nothing.
You would think that a group getting a building for rent free might just want to think about the fact they are getting a big something for nothing.
Most of us wouldn't be trying to bite the hand that feeds us.
Before someone decides to comment about the contributions made to the building by this society, do me a favor and provide the actual hard numbers when you do. I don't want to hear about cleaning up the inside of the building so you could use it for nothing.
Just how much has the society paid toward insulation, windows, siding, electrical upgrades, plumbing, alarm costs, telephone, insurance? Spare me the benefit for the bargain argument, because the benefit doesn't equal the bargain, especially under the criteria one is suppose to use.
Just how much has the society paid toward insulation, windows, siding, electrical upgrades, plumbing, alarm costs, telephone, insurance? Spare me the benefit for the bargain argument, because the benefit doesn't equal the bargain, especially under the criteria one is suppose to use.
To our board of selectmen, want to solve the issue of paying rent for the tourism department, charge the Fairhaven Historical Society rent for the use of the Academy Building.
Actually, follow the law and charge it the rent you are suppose to regardless of whether you relocate tourism.
If a situation ever could be called "Wag the Dog", this one is it. Nevertheless, it has struck me that the Tourism Office is repeatedly chopped at and chopped at financially, requiring it to take much deeper cuts than is asked of other departments. There is a loathing of investing in some form of marketing (which is, in reality, what tourism these days does) in this region that I have never understood since the community and its businesses end up benefitting if the word gets spread that this is a fantastic place to come and stay. I volunteer at the New Bedford National Park Visitor Center and that is probably the one last place where this area gets any support in drawing folks to come and spend time and money here. Your federal tax dollars at work.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I love the paradox of how naked capitalism is touted from the hilltops in this country and yet everyone wants free stuff and heavens forfend they have to pay in any way, shape or form. Sorry, kids, capitalism means trading money for goods or services, as the market demands.
That little rant aside, I was beside myself at how the Historical Society really fails to see an opportunity here in that the Tourism activity will increase knowledge of what they have. And it is a museum--not a mausoleum. The point of setting up exhibits is for people to see them and the fact that someone might be there to help people view the exhibits while getting other information about the community is a terrific method for hooking people in.
I do have a concern about not having some sort of information kiosk in the center of town, perhaps beef up the role of the public library for this. It has been handy to tell people walking in the center that the place with the answer to their questions is just a block away. But just as important would be to have a tourist kiosk in the sprawling mall area of Route 6/Alden Road/Route 240, where someone coming off the road for gas might spot it. And most certainly the marinas are a prime place for adding more presence so people cruising the coast can step off their boats and get guides for how to get around town and what's to see.
Ideally, I would like some of the money saved on rent be put back in part in the tourism budget to extend the marketing reach of town by attracting destination tours via tour coaches, boats, and the like, as well as add info kiosks at those points where people are likely to come into town.
Now don't even get me started on taking down a 200+ year old oak tree that is in good health and sits next to the Colonial Club--there are solutions for this type of situation and not necessarily expensive ones. At any rate, a pity we aren't thinking in terms of possibly selling the lumber and recouping some money for the sacrifice. Other towns do this, but then they have knowledgeable and terrific tree wardens who think outside the box. We just signed up for three more years of cherries, plums and pears (which won't last and are a waste of money) in place of our old shade trees. And the Liberty elms are not as disease resistant as other cultivars of American elm and are probably not going to live very long either. A pity only one resident from the neighborhood came out to ask questions last night.