Just a turn?

Well, just a little over one week to town meeting.  While I am hoping what I have been hearing will not happen, the indicators are there so that the now regular list of changes for recommendations and figures that goes up on the screen is going to look like a line-up card for the second game of a double header after the first one went 14 innings.

Two things cause this.  The first, when numbers change on a weekly basis, decisions get made on then existing, but flawed data.  Depending on whether revenue and expenses go up or down, you see some decisions made that might be justifiable under old figures but not under the new.  Not an ideal situation, nor a desirable one under any circumstance.

The second reason this happens, you see good decisions getting changed because now you can justify spending unnecessary amounts because "there is the money".  Again, not an ideal situation, nor a desirable one under any circumstance.

Because you have the money, should not be the reason to spend it, especially when it is OPM.

Somebody has begun to turn the valve that can open up the floodgates.  Right now there is a trickle spilling out.  The problem when you start turning that valve is you better have a firm grasp on it, because if you don't the trickle can turn into a flood.

What might be nice, just once, is to see a set of town revenue figures submitted at the beginning of the budget process that doesn't fluctuate.  Just once to set something that is submitted to you that you can say, with great confidence that this is accurate.  Just once to get something and be able to begin the process with the belief that this is all there is, and not have to do digging to find the rest of it.  Just once, to see a set of recommendations from Center Street actually hold.

A personal frustration I guess.

Hey one budget season all most done, and more light at the end of the tunnel.

Still haven't caught the BOH meeting.  Hard to gauge the "tenor" of what went on from the news reports.    Had someone discuss another BOH issue with me yesterday, and in an amazing coincedence, later that day I ran into another person who raised the same topic.  

Essentially, the issue was why the matter of the quality of life, noise and "air" pollution occurring in the center near the waterfront is not being addressed.  Seems there are business operations going on, and have been for some time, affecting the residents living in a particular area.

I am told numerous complaints have been filed.

The noise part, well assuming the work is done within acceptable hours, I would have to say simply when you live near a working waterfront, there is a certain level of noise that has to be tolerated.  Whether that noise exceeds DEP or EPA standards, I can't tell you.

The air pollution argument though seems to be a bit different.  It seems there are certain activities that result in airborne particulants migrating off site.  Not just a speck or two.  I am told enough to cover cars, house siding and prevent windows from being kept open.  Seems that this might be an issue that should be looked into.  Haven't observed this first hand so cannot confirm it.  However if you observe it happening let me know and I will see if I can make it into the area.  Send an email, I get sms when you do.

Maybe our BOH can conduct an on-site fact finding tour for this one.  Will try to do some fact finding on my own too.  No promises though.

Heard there were about 20 to 25 people who showed up Wednesday night for the "New Town Meeting Member" session.  Actually not a bad figure when you consider that would represent 5% +/- of the total body.  A great idea actually. 

If you read the latest edition of the Fairhaven Neighborhood News, you can see our selectboard's intentions relative to the potential new state money.  Why is it there seems to be an inherent inability to realize when you are opening Pandora's box?

In addition to the lack of forethought on that potential spending, you will be hearing of, and may have all ready read about, requests to restore "cuts" to budgets.  What you do for one, you better be prepared to do for everyone.  Hope there is a game plan for this one.

I doubt it, but I hope so nonetheless.

I am looking forward to Town Meeting.  It will be interesting to see the new dynamics.

Speaking of new dynamics, I have received some confirmation on information touched upon in the past. Some really interesting stuff about who is doing what to actually change the political dynamics in town. There will be more on that some time down the road.

For what its worth, I don't have a problem with anyone or any group who wants to try and do things a certain way.  Where my feathers get ruffled is when people complain about certain things, while they go and do the same exact things they complain about.  You remember that mirror I referenced in a piece sometime ago?

Okay, enough for today.