The more things change ...

It has been some time, hasn't it?

Not as long as it seems, but certainly a long dry spell.  

Been a bit under the weather lately.  The cold spell we had followed by the "warm-up", coupled with some yard work over a week ago dealing with leaves has played havoc with my sinuses.  A yearly event for me.  This bout showed signs of being a bit brief, but somehow seems to want to hang around.

The same scenario for a lot of things I seem to get involved in.

Anyway ... enough about my blocked head, or is is being a blockhead?

If you are a Town Meeting member, your warrant for the STM should have been received by now.  It is a thin one, so if you haven't seen it yet, double check through the growing volumes of junk mail that we seem to get buried under.

The second biggest buzz around town at the moment is whether we will vote on the TA article. The act has been signed by the governor. Some are wondering as to whether there will actually be a vote. Some are wondering when it will take effect if there is a vote.  Some are wondering how that affects things currently.

As to the first, whether we actually take a vote depends on the article being move by the petitioners. I don't see a real reason not to. If the vote occurs and is passed which has as strong a probability as I can give it if the vote occurs, it takes affect upon passage. How it will affect things currently can best be addressed by reading the actual act,

Issues relative to the currently existing BPW aside, there is no impediment to its implementation.

Whether the matter starts with a full blown actual TA appointment, or a temporary TA appointment as authorized under the act (Section 1(k) for the curious or bored), there has to be an appointment if the act is voted on at the STM.  

An oft asked question is why can't it wait until the start of the new fiscal year? It could have, if the language for such had been inserted into the act and/or a decision to wait till TM in May had been made for the ratifying vote.  It can't because the act notes it shall become effective  upon "re-vote" by Town Meeting and Town Meeting will be voting next week. 

For the curious and/or bored, as an FYI the BPW legislation has in fact finally been dealt with by the legislature also. On November 26th the house enacted the bill, with the amendment from the senate (a procedural correction if you will), and it was sent that day to the governor for his signature.  Next step for this will presumably be the April town election, unless sometime tries to push a special election. Not likely, just a possibility.

It is worth noting however, in an example of what not to do politically when you will be facing a vote by the electorate, the recent water bills and rate changes will probably result in the same result as in a neighboring town when there was an election followed by changes in rate structure.

Not commenting on the actual right or wrong behind the reasoning mind you. Just a statement from the purely political perspective.

Anyway ... it provides some interest I think.

If you are a Town Meeting member I imagine you have also received a flyer from the solar farm developer who wants to utilize the land on Mill Road.  This proposed development is in fact the whole reason we are going to decide whether to purchase the land.  But for the development there would never have been the initial notification relative to a much smaller parcel, than a subsequent notification relative to a larger piece, and finally the third notice to enable the option to buy the whole thing.

Interesting letter.  Best summed up I think under the "bird in the hand" concept. I am guessing though to get the energy credits alluded to, you will have to "opt out" from the aggregate concept proposed on another article on the warrant.  

Again, anyway ...

I have a huge rant simmering in me, but truth be told it involves life in general as much as the town in specifics.  Rants should always have at least the illusion of some purpose. Not sure I could frame it that way.

Time marches on folks.  Every second of every minute of every day.  

There is no magic wand out there which allows us to get back the time wasted, or insure the time to be spent will be done in a better manner.

So .... instead of a rant ...

Mill Road gets more interesting everyday.

I have said all that needs to be said about the process and perception on this one. As predicted (elsewhere), things have changed since last Thursday.  Language will be amended, votes have been taken, all in the hopes of calming fears and changing perception.

Will it be enough? Was it done soon enough?  We will know come next Tuesday evening.

Folks, I will honestly tell you that if you are a Town Meeting member, or even a resident, do not simply make the issue of using some of that land for a public safety complex the deciding factor. Come Tuesday night, assuming all the changes I am hearing have occurred (sorry, I missed the selectmen's meeting Monday night), the leap of faith your will be required to take has narrowed.

I am not listing those "changes" because I need to actually get some firm confirmation of the "what". Suffice it to say, be prepared for the changes, hopefully watch the tape of the 12/1 selectmen's meeting, and base your decision on what exist at the time you vote.

Yes, it would have been better for all to have this hammered out well in advance.  One can argue the lack of time, however one can also argue that even under the time constraints driving this issue most of what needed to be done could have been done much earlier.

What always seems to get lost in the translation is the fact that last minute changes are not by themselves confidence boosters.  Indeed one could argue, again, that continuing examples of changes do little to alleviate fears of changes after the fact.

Maybe there will be more on this before Town Meeting.

But there isn't going to be more on it today.

I close with my oft mentioned observation that perception is 95% of the battle.  It should be an obvious observation. Nonetheless it seems to be used just like the concept of "hearing but not listening". Tailoring an argument to your individual perception does you absolutely no good unless you are sure everyone else is going to see it the same way you do.

Enough for today, before I go on a real rant.

Be safe.