Serpentine Wednesday

It is by circumstances quiet time.  I have talked about it before.  The town elections just over a month and one half ago, Town Meeting half that time past.  While there have been some flare ups in what has become referred to as the "process", in the relative scheme of things, the bits and pieces of issues rearing their heads have been just that, flare ups.

From the outside looking in, one may not even have seen anything registering as a blip on the radar.

Obviously for some, what I have described as blips are matters of great importance.  My description is not meant to down play the particular importance of any one matter, but rather simply intended as the observations of one with some tired eyes.

As minor as some things may have appeared to some, and as much as some have built a mountain out of a mole hill (myself included), there are matters lurking on the horizon which certainly need to be dealt with.  Keeping the quiet time concept alive, at least for today, I won't jump feet first into any of the immediate lurking issues.  

One thing that might be worth discussing ...

Over the course of the brief history of this blog you have heard me comment, or more appropriately lament, the fact that "it shouldn't be this hard".  It really shouldn't.  For most anything anyone has to deal with on the local governmental.

During the selectmen's meeting Monday, there was a discussion with representatives from the fledgling local business association.   One of the things talked about was the need to co-ordinate, stream line the permitting process in town.  The need to designate someone as the point person in such matters.  There was also discussion about putting together essentially a guide for people.  Something outlining the procedure and steps, who to go to, what you need to do, etc.  I guess a checklist so to speak.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that.  Absolutely something long over due. Absolutely something that has the potential for, let us say, interesting discussion.

Despite the internal grumbling that might be caused, it is something that needs to be done.

A number of communities have in fact done it.  

One could go on for pages with discussion about just this particular area. Suffice it to say more can be done.

The solution can only occur by those with the authority making the proposal in the first instance and than actually implementing it.  This can and should occur not only for permits, but a whole hosts of other things.  

I think we are going to see a progression to such matters.  Might not be fast enough for some, and honestly for some things it is long over due.  

The reality is while we can and should simplify the "process", even if done 100% satisfactorily, we will unfortunately never be able to make it as simple as some may wish.   Even with a very good citizens' guide for say permitting, if one reads the various guides you can find for different communities, you will find it is a road map and not a set of specific directions.

I read the recent chamber study referenced during Monday's meeting.  Some good ideas.   Some that brought a big smile to my face thinking about what would go on in our town attempting to implement some of the "best practice" suggestions.  Don't get me wrong, I am not disagreeing with them, just that it would be interesting to see them all attempted to be implemented.

Some would come with a price tag.  Also would be interesting to see a recommendation on how to pay for all the stuff too.  

Another interesting thing about development in any community.  Everyone wants it, but on their terms.  Not picking on any group here, just a long standing observation.  

Getting a bit to philosophical here I guess.

The practical side of it all, especially the permitting simplification would require give and taken by a number of players (individual officials and boards and committees).  Usually not hard to find takers, the givers are were you run into problems.

Reading the report, the one thing that popped into my mind as an on going problem, and quite honestly has been a problem forever, and will be for some time to come is the staffing issue.  Adequate staffing is in the end a subjective matter.  It is ultimately a determination made by those in authority, and not usually by those seeking the staffing.

I have yet to run across a board or committee (at least one involved in oversight of departments or statutory duties) that has felt it has adequate staffing (or funding).  To a certain degree, and to be honest, they are all correct.  They all being correct is however where the problem lies, i.e. cutting up the pie so as to provide what can be provided to all.

There is a solution to that problem too.  

Part of that involves a realization that we reached a point where there just isn't any bigger pie plate out there.  The pie as a whole is as big as it can get.  So we either have to start looking at how to best share the pieces, or how we eliminate someone else's piece.  

I will save that task for another time.