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Not quite sure what the heck is going on, but I had another post that didn't get posted yesterday. Be nice if I could blame a technical difficulty, but it seems I keep forgetting to hit the damn publish button.

 Anyway, it was kind of a preview of the TM preview.  The precinct meetings and article run through.

As usual the night was a bit enlightening, however and unfortunately there were no occasional entertaining moments.

The biggest news is that the big show on Saturday has gone from a potential marathon to a shot at a new record for a sprint.

With the auto.boat zoning thingy to be passed over, we took a good hour off the meeting. The other Planning Board article that will get some time I think is going to be the bond for the special permit.

Interesting little banter on that one last night, driven mainly by the explanation as to why the Selectboard has changed its vote from a yield to petitioner to indefinite postponement.

Not making any statement here as to the merits or demerits of the article.  Just noting that there was the banter.  Poorly articulate reasoning for the IP though. Again, not commenting on merits.

Applying the prognostication setting for the cracked crystal ball, outlook on the article: passage will be tough.  

The most interesting point here though is the discussion that tried to break out on the auto/boat article to be passed over.  Kind of unprecedented.

Take it for what it is worth, because I understand an explanation for what something is worth depends on who needs one or wants one, no good comes from any discussion involving an article you won;t be voting for. Not in a TM setting.  TM is to discuss an vote on articles someone wants passed.  It isn't for discussing what is now essentially a nonexistent article.

Nonetheless, as frustrating as it was to sit through it, is had some revealing moments.  Apparently there is written confirmation as to who started the whole ball rolling.  Also, somehow the Town Planner got a bit upset and attempted to get a moment or two at the podium for an explanation of something after the Planning Board Chair had made his statement.

The long and the short of this, and several other points a few tried to make on this and other articles that mercifully were either eventually cut off or immediately cut off as not being germane to the articles, as compared to the marathons of old, this one was a good sprint coming in under 1 1/2 hours.

It also seems there will be a withdrawal of the article for the Oxford School sale. That one going off the vote list should help as far as the length of meeting.

As to Saturday ... well a bit more as to Saturday ...

It has been a very long time since I attended a TM as simply a TM member.  I have to try and remember to bring a seat cushion.  The only thing worse for comfort than the folding chair on stage is the auditorium wooden seats.  

I am thinking about starting a few betting pools.  You know the type of stuff: over/under for some speakers getting up and speaking on anything but the article we are dealing with; attendance; number of hand counts; number of times someone blindly calls for a hand count because they lost; number of people arguing for more money for their concerns but than motioning a lower department budget to prove a point.  

Yes, I know (and I agree) that TM is very serious business.  But let's face it, you really do need somewhat of a bit of  sense of humor to deal with some of what transpires. Well, either that or you are a masochist.

Yesterday I was asked again whether I am going to miss "it".  Well, to say that there won't be some tinge of ... what? ... nostalgic reminiscence? ... would be a bit of a lie I suppose.  I know though that I haven't missed the phone calls, the mounds of paper, the run around, the half-stories, the excuses, the yammering and the never ending laments about how unfair and cruel the "rigged" process is.  

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

Do I have any regrets about walking away? Absolutely none.  

The one undeniable aspect about the whole TA thingy, is that the whole thingy has now changed.  the structure is such that if given the chance to work, much of the prior structure truly is outdated, inefficient, if not actually ineffective.

It was a good time to go. It was probably overdue a bit. But even this very first budget from the TA, which isn't truly his per se, but certainly has his mark on it, reveals just what we can expect and should expect, and should have been having all along but for competing and differing philosophies.

There definitely will be some "glitches".  New formats will confuse a bit. New will be a problem for some. It now looks however that the waters are not going to be as choppy as it seemed. If it isn't smooth sailing, at least the ship should have no problems cutting through the waves.

Anyhow ... or anyway ... or whatever ...

Be safe.