Friday's late start on Moday

Missed a few days again. Some intentionally, some a bit out of laziness.

Perfect article in the S-T the other day for a topic too, being the new trash pick-up.

One should always give credit where credit is due. The new system, with two bins (one for trash, one for recycling) is a smart move in many ways.Hats off to the BPW and B of H. in moving this one along.

Let's start with the upcoming complaints though. Yes there are going to be problems.  Always are with any new system.  Yes, pick-up may start off a bit rocky.  Yes, there will be a bunch of pet peeves.  

But yes, we need to do something and not just for the soaring coasts of trash disposal. Point blank, what little tree hugger there is in me absolutely agrees with the concept that there is no real excuse for the abysmal recycling rate here, or anywhere.

I for one would have no problem with a mandatory recycling reg. None at all.  Quite frankly people want to avoid a pay as you throw policy down the road, than people should be paying attention to what they throw.

Before we get into the it is just another tax argument, let me state I agree the pay as you throw should not, repeat should not, be used as a mechanism solely to shift funds from trash pick-up to other areas.  Indeed I firmly believe there should be a realistic amount of obligation that the town should carry relative to trash disposal.  

But so long as the town provides recycling pick-up, something should be done to insure compliance.  Recycling can be a pain.  I admit it.  I know. So can most things we do in life on a day to day basis.  

This is one of those issues though that quite frankly there is no good reason for the complaints about having to do it, or not doing it.

The new contracts by the BPW and B of H for trash and recycling provide the residents the opportunity to control their destiny in many ways on this issue.  The same provide a carrot in an attempt to avoid the stick.  If there is an short-coming it is in not simply adding some present oomph  to a needed stick, i.e. make it mandatory.

Quite frankly people fail realize there is no obligation to actually pick-up their trash. 

Once a community has started doing it however, it essentially becomes deemed a necessity. 

People talk about problems with enforcement, Big Brother and the burden on an all ready overburdened taxpayer. 

Well, people who don't recycle are in fact imposing a burden not only on themselves but those who do in fact recycle.  I have been part of a discussion where a person in one breath argues about the inequity of water rates that require them to shoulder a burden for high users and with the next breath complain about a trash fee concept.  

A little self serving, don't you think? Especially given the low recycle rate.  High volume disposers, and there are many on the residential side of the spectrum, who don't recycle impose the same shared burden as high volume users.

Anyway, at some point in the future we very well may get to a pay as you throw in some fashion. We can all argue about that when it gets thrown out again, or perhaps recycle the present debate.  

As far as Big Brother, well if you expect Big Brother to pick it up, you should be prepared for Big Brother to tell you how it is going to be done.  The fact you have to separate trash from recycling isn't difficult; annoying maybe, but not difficult.  

As far as enforcement, well it can be done.  I get back to the concept tossed out some time again about enforcing a whole bunch of stuff.  You think you have a problem with Big Brother now, it could and quite frankly probably should get worse. There are legitimate and reasonable methods to enforce such things, and a great many other things that slip by.

Before we start talking about people not doing their jobs presently, take into account please the fact that there are only so many hours in any give day and only so many works days a week. It is simply unreasonable to expect certain officials or employees to perform everything.  Even I get that.

Just take a look at how such things are done elsewhere.  Here, in good old New England and even more centralized, we seem to adopt the negative reverse approach to what is good for the goose is good for the gander.  

Anyway, we needn't get into anything radical for this one.  Nor detail because until there is mandatory recycling, no need to worry about enforcement of mandatory recycling.

Okay enough ramblings because the true intent today is to in fact give credit where credit is due. Hats off to the BPW and B of H, and especially the staff taking the steps to deal with an issue.  

Another hats off  for stating clearly, in advance, that if this program doesn't work, other steps will occur.  

Shame on any resident who doesn't take reasonable steps to utilize the program.  If you end up paying fees down the road folks, don't blame Big Brother for that.  Despite what may or may not happen relative to the fee money and use of the money not spent on collection, keep in mind this is a much bigger problem than money.  Trash has to go somewhere.  It has to be disposed of.  Out of sight shouldn't be out of mind on this issue. 

Okay the bark on that tree is starting to make me itch. Time to let go of this one.

Moving on, briefly ... 

Less than two weeks now for Town Meeting.  Biggest battles should be over the change in government stuff.  Might see some muscle flexing by competing interest on the Capital Planning thingy.  As necessary as anything else being proposed, and long over due, and more important than some of other stuff being offered up quite frankly.  What the end product will be, still remains to be seen.

For this one, from a personal perspective, less than as good as it can get is more acceptable than nothing, so long as the something done has some teeth to it.  This one will be a by-law, much more easily tweaked, one that will have a learning curve for all and one that certainly can and probably will be a work in progress.  

Still have to wait for the plate to be put on the table to determine whether it is edible. 

BPW article, well if this is as good as it gets, sorry.  Want to abolish the BPW, I will back it.  Want to revamp it, I could be persuaded, but not with this one. No disrespect to the general public, but I see absolutely no need to create an elective office for a citizens advocacy board for BPW issues. Excuse me, it would be for DPW issues.  Yes it is proposed to be given advisory functions also.

If indeed the current primary function of the BPW is as a citizen's advocacy board, it is one that actually has some ability to not only advocate but deal with citizen issues.  It is also one that has to actually acknowledge certain limitations in addressing each individual citizens' complaints due to authority and budget. 

Let's face reality, any elected board is in fact to a degree a citizen's advocacy board.  However presently all elected boards work under rules, regulations and laws; and, last but not least the realities of budgets.

Which someone ought to note needs to be addressed for any new board, believe it or not.

But I digress ...

What does this new board accomplish long term? Best case scenario, five competent people elected to provide thoughtful and insightful recommendations and comments to a Town Administrator who receives all authority over former BPW "duties" and "function" except those specifically given to the selectmen. Five elected members who will be willing to sit and receive citizen complaints, and then advocate for citizens on behalf of the citizens for those complaints or issues deemed legitimate. Fight for individual causes.  

More likely scenario, five people on a board who aren't going to be involved in the departments operation sufficiently to provide any meaningful insight, recommendations or advice on matters, with no authority, no oversight and little incentive to actually deal with any real problems.

Sorry, but on this one think Perry Mason and the boiler plate objection ... "incompetent, immaterial and irrelevant".

As each day passes, I become more and more puzzled about how things seem to be more and more driven by the DOR report and yet seemingly nothing recommended is really ending up on the table in substantially the form recommended, along the procedures recommended and to obtain the goals recommended.  

"Strong Town Administrator". "Eliminate the Board of Public Works". "Eliminate the Director of Finance Position" (although we did combine the treasurer and collector, well not quite yet, but that recommendation was made in the same breath as the elimination of the D of F). 

The TA isn't going to be all that strong if passed, well if the BPW passes it will be very strong over the DPW anyway.  

Rather than being eliminated, the BPW rises from the ashes like the Phoenix to essentially be reborn as a origami bird. 

I could go on, however, what's the point at this point. 

Honestly the jury is still out on the TA article.  Will have to see if there are any further revisions relative to the same.  With or without, I think this one needs more thought at least for me and from me on a yes or a no.

Look, this has to be a daunting task by the committee.  I understand that.  I more than appreciate the effort.  We as a town collectively however have to now decide if the recommendation are in fact what are needed, and will solve the problems.  

Should this be the end of it all on an up vote, no.  I think however we need to reassess the path of what next whether there are two yes votes, and even with two no votes or split votes. 

It is now time for thought, analysis  and decisions.  

It is also time to go.  Enjoy the holiday, if you have one.  

Be safe.