Well another record breaking year.
For spending and for the time it took to spend it. Not a bad thing per se.
Finally heard publicly what had been written about previously relative to the TA raise.
Little to no real controversy at the meeting. Except our friends in the Historical Society and the Historical Commission are yet again involved in a dispute.
Believe it or not, there are a fair number of people who believe these two groups are one in the same. Two separate groups folks. One is town appointed. One is private. One does the vast bulk of the work on the issues. The other ... still not quite sure what the other one actually does.
Outside of that bit of head scratching debate, not much to do about anything.
Most people seemed please with the new format and especially the presentation for the budget. They seemed to like the idea of being informed by the administration of just what was available, what we were spending and why we weren't spending everything we had available.
Indications are that going forth we will be seeing even more detailed information. I always said, give TM a good reason to support a plan and you won't be disappointed. It is when you add a bit of confusion or smoke is where you run into the problems.
Anyway, it was extremely short for an annual with a special. Under three hours. The doing away with the reading of all the line items definitely is a time saver. Now we run a fiscal year seeing if giving departments some added free reign works. It certainly can work. It works in many other communities. It most definitely should. No doubt we will see a glitch or two, but shouldn't be any worse than the glitches that have constantly come up under the old format.
With the removal of the sale of the school article and the auto/boat zoning thingy, it ended up mainly smooth sailing for TM (with a minor rogue wave here and there as noted).
That was the beauty of the thing. The beast of course is that at some point the beast will make an appearance on the issues. Certainly for the school sale anyway. One thing I think many members were thinking, this better be the last consultant's report we absolutely must have to solve the issue of what to do.
Not sure how I really did with the over/under and the odds. It was an exercise to kill some time yesterday morning. I do know I was definitely off with the number of members for the start time. What did I say? 250? I think is was like 200. I know it crept up to like 228 at about 10:00 A.M. Not sure if it went higher. That is the number of people who checked in by the way. Not the number in the room at any given point in time.
In truth it was a fitting start for the new way of life. Minimal discussion on operations. A rather sound vote of support for placing oversight of day to day affairs into the hand so four new TA. We may very well see mostly speedy Town Meetings where the debate will be relegated to the big things. Sale of old buildings, zoning battles, borrowing issues, the stuff the law still requires a separate and distinct vote by Town Meeting.
Some will lament the loss of involvement, but involvement has been disappearing for a long time. Not just in our fair haven but across the realm.
Solid support for the concept though. The issue of a raise, not so much an issue with Town Meeting. The attempt to defeat the legal fee increase for essentially hiring labor counsel, pretty soundly defeated.
People kind of get the concept I think. It seemed that they embraced it fully, most that is.
Will we miss it down the road? Not really. You cannot embrace the concept of moving forward but also insist you follow the old owner's manual. Some seem to be trying. Some always will. This is one of those buses though you better get on, because it is the only mode of transportation to get down the road.
Certainly, we are still early in that journey. Perhaps the ultimate destination will not be as appealing as the brochures highlighting the spot. Time, as with all things, will tell. We are for the most part beyond the point of no return so kick back, relax and enjoy the trip as much as possible.
And while you are traveling, remember ... Be Safe.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quick the meeting went. The way they changed the budget article (Article 5) was very efficient. It took the moderator some 15 minutes to breeze through the reading. It took some 30 minutes of debate on holds, however. Some of the questions were legit and worth a discussion, but some of the others could have been asked on Wednesday's walk-through. Of course, it's always possible that the holder prefers to grandstand a bit.
ReplyDeleteI was a little surprised that TM did not debate on the Roger's school issue a bit more. I expected more people to be against spending good money after bad. Essentially, we are spending >10% of the property's “real dollar” valuation to determine some need we have been unable to identify as of yet. Additionally, we're likely to undertake an environmental study – normally required of BUYERS – which could likely cost this Town more in remediation costs. That's just one way the Beast could rear its ugly head. IMO, the best economic option for this property has been identified. If it doesn't sell with no contingencies at valuation or better, let's move on.
I was – but shouldn't have been – surprised at the Academy building issue. I don't even want to address the Society/Commission conflict. If we're spending CPA money, the building could and should be restored to some historically accurate exterior, obviously. Maybe we should RhinoLine it? Regardless of the outcome, one has to look at CPA money in a certain way. No matter if you agree with the CPA tax or not, it's a useful resource to pay for the upkeep of the multitude of historical buildings in Town. If you turn down a restoration project one year, there's no guarantee that money will be there next year. Maybe the building gets worse before a solution comes about.
Overall, I was happy to have a quick, efficient meeting. I liked the new way that the TA presented the budget, along with his presentation. To me, it seemed to have a corporate feel, but I can appreciate the need to address issues in that way. By the same token, I did miss Jeff's opener, complete with his warrant corrections and all of that. I also have to say, I missed John's sighs and commentary from the Finance committee section. I guess we're in different times...
Definitely different times, and better ones to come I think from an operational standpoint. Certainly the strong opportunity for that.
DeleteI agree with your comment on the CPA money. Like you I was a bit surprised at the Academy building issue, but like you I shouldn't have been. I guess the few pictures showing the building in former locations with singles rather than clapboard must have been digitally redone.
Still alive John?
ReplyDeleteThe answer to that question is on a need to know basis. We need to know who is asking and what your security clearance is.
DeleteSo glad to read in the Stranded Times that Fair Haven will be having a special town meeting to discuss the Oxford School sale. Thanks 'Strapped For Capital Group' for not being timely and upfront with your plans and backing and not ever attending any Selectboard meetings to answer questions from the people who live in town.
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't you get all your ducks in a row for Town Meeting a couple of weeks ago? This is beginning to show all the signs of the sweet 400 foot tall Wind Mills which were going to save our town from flooding. Let's stop throwing good money after bad at these schools already. What's the special town meeting going to cost us? If 'Strapped For Capital Group' was serious about Oxford, and thought they could make a profit from this with out, well lets just put this in the simplest terms everyone can understand 'screwing the town' why wouldn't they be more on top of their game? Answer 1: They don't have their shit together. Answer 2: They are just screwing with the town to get as much as they can out of us. Either answer is not good for the town.
Not to beat a dead horse, but look how well the 'Wind Mills' have worked out for us.
Me thinks the town of Fairhaven is labeled as an easy mark because of some past bad deals. Some of us aren't as stupid as you think, some of us are, and some of those happen to be in charge.
I live in a village of idiots.
ReplyDeleteA wrecking ball is a better outcome of what was voted on tonight. I want to rant and rave, but it's pointless.
I live in a village of idiots.
^^^ This guy must live in North Fairhaven.
ReplyDeleteEven outside TM, the folks who were knowledgable about the Oxford School proposal overwhelmingly supported it.
I can't even believe there was a debate about sewering the NFIA building. Apparently nobody realized that a proper septic system would be triple that cost at least.
Now, if you want to say TM lacked good judgement, I think the Welcome Street issue was a better example.
Another thing. Enough with the applause at TM. To me, that shows a lack of decorum and also shows how many people vote for their own self-interest and not those of people they are supposed to represent.
Personally, I would not have thought the sale vote would have gone through that quickly or by such a large margin. Go figure.
DeleteI don't get to upset with the applause thing. I don't disagree with the decorum argument though.
The self-interest vs. the people they are suppose to represent, unfortunately is too accurate for too many members. When you have people come up to you afterward to say you were right but ... (most of you can fill in the blank yourself. I have all ready heard three different buts), you get sorely tempted to go to the secret ballot thingy that is tossed out there periodically.
I begrudge no one from pursuing anything. In truth that article was not the first pebble to start rolling down the hill. There were several this past May that should start to cause some concern, and the latest one is reason to become more concerned.
I could easily play the devil's advocate and say if all the emotional please for this one were justification for passage, where was the same compassion to the many more residents who pleaded against the turbines.
To imply well going forward we won't do this anymore, but what's the harm this time is simply wrong. If it was compelling enough to do in this case, how can you deny the same avenue of relief to anyone else.
Isolated, $28,000 is nothing. Cumulatively, it creates an avalanche, not just for street work either. People have very short memories about the spending articles that use to appear on STM.
Every citizen who wants something now can legitimately say to at least two selectmen, and quite frankly the BPW for the well we will take it if you give it to us argument, why should I have to wait if they didn't?
To everyone out there, simply get your 100 signatures to get on the special, or just your 10 for the annual. Just make sure you show up to make your pitch.
Truthfully, I was torn about bringing up some facts that probably should have been brought up. I didn't. Shame on me.
Suffice it to say, the average citizen should be made aware of his or her right to petition for street work, and what has to be done to get an article on the warrant.
Maybe a nice detailed section on the improved website we were told would be fought for?