Monday morning comes at us with a bit of bite in the air. Just a tad nippy out on the deck. The feel like temperature this morning, well measured on my scale it felt like 15 minutes, then back in the house.
Just enough time to zip through The S-T e-edition and scroll through another site or two.
Speaking of bits of bites, just three nibbles for yesterday's post. Only two managed to get published. Just a quick reminder to review the comment rules, even for open line days. Maybe I should add that a written potential skit for SNL is not likely to play well on here. For what it is worth though, I did get a chuckle out of it.
Anyway ...
Time to start thinking about priorities. On a well hammered point, I will again address town priorities. Let's attack it from a different angle today. Financially, some stuff has got to give. What are you wiling to give up?
I am not asking what you are willing to suggest we get rid off. Nine out of ten times that usually is something one doesn't want or need. What would you personally sacrifice?
Is there anything you personally like, or think good which isn't a necessity in your opinion?
Be interesting to hear about that. Let's see what comes from that.
Moving on ...
What is the never ending complaints one hears about "press coverage"? No board, committee, entity or individual has any right to direct press coverage or expect coverage to go its way. Seriously.
Speaking of seriously, been playing catch up with some tapes of meetings. Some interesting stuff. A whole lot of routine however the interesting makes it worth the effort. Maybe the town needs a new optometrist. Seems too many different prescription lenses being worn out there. Which reminds me, I am due for a new one come January.
Okay, it is clear that today's focus is anything but clear. So I am going to end it there.
Open line remains open, within the comment rules mind you. Other than that, all that is left to say today is ...
Be Safe.
It would be easier to select 'what to give up,' if it were all listed on a menu. I might say one thing off the top of my head, but not consider other services because I take them for granted, or just don't think of because I don't use them.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to have services quietly disappear, one by one, and see if there's any uproar about it. Then we'd be able to determine how important it was in the first place. Often the commotion begins once a discussion begins about dropping a service. All of a sudden, the relatively unknown service becomes indispensable.
Don't drop Fire, Police or snow removal. We've got to pay for water and trash removal. Beyond that- start dropping, and I'm sure you'll be quickly notified when it starts to hurt.
Dropping services involves a vote of town meeting,as long as the money flows the services will stay unchanged.Why would you vote for service drops,the next one could be your job.
ReplyDeleteThe question was, "What are you willing to give up? What would you personally sacrifice?" What's so wrong with cutting services? Could the grass at the parks be cut one or two fewer times? Can hours be reduced at Town Hall? Can departmental overtime be reduced?
ReplyDeleteI had suggested running every town vehicle for an extra year before replacing it. You say, "...as long as the money flows...." But here's the problem- the money is not flowing so fluidly anymore. Remember when working for a utility or the Post Office meant job security? Not anymore.
Jobs have been continuously cut in the private sector for years now. Didn't those working in the public sector expect to be affected by the economy? If I did work for the town, I would have started planning years ago for the future. It's here.
Just as in the private sector, no one 'owes' you a job.
The money is still flowing,albeit not as much,has the total budget been going down since 2008,I think not.Some people think we have to many public safety personnel for a town of our size,dartmouth has twice the roads but only half the personnel.We added a 3 ambulance ,are being making profit on this venture.Union contracts are a hinderance to cutting overtime costs.The schools are a money pit, no no end in site,student population is down but expenses increase ,no answers here,except its for the childrenYou be the judge...
ReplyDeleteWhen will it start ,you ask.Only the infamous town meeting will know..Cutting services as long as doesnt cut them is one answer.......
ReplyDelete