I know you can hear me, but are you listening?
How many times have we all heard that statement?
How many times have each of us been guilty of failing to actually listen to what we hear?
Let's face it, at times we are all guilty of hearing what we want to hear, instead of listening to what is being said.
When it comes to reading something, well the problem gets compounded by the fact that we have a tendency to remember what we want to and ignore everything else, and also have the ability to take and use what is in black and white as it suits us.
Oh well, just something that came to mind as I read a few things this morning.
Speaking of which, usually Thursday's are a good day for getting blog material out of the various papers. Might have something to do with the fact that the two weeklies are published on Thursday's (although the on-line stuff for The Advocate doesn't show up Thursday mornings).
I suppose reading through the papers one could pull something out of there, but this morning nothing seems to just jump out at me. Imagine that, me at a loss for words.
There are some interesting tidbits floating around out there. So far though the information is a bit jumbled to get into details, and has come second and even third hand. I am told it may be worth digging into an issue raised at the last school building committee, relative to placement of solar panels on the building.
Now as I understood it, there was a move a foot to see about placing solar panels on the "gym" once built. Now seems there is a push to expand the area of "roof" to be covered. Whether that is practical, and economical at this point remains to be seen. The gym apparently was designed so as to be able to accommodate the weight load, the rest of the building was not.
Your at the point right now were things must be done as far as ordering and planning for work 6 months out. Any redesign as far as load is going to come at a cost in time and real money. Really no more to be said on this until more is known.
All is quiet on the Academy Building front. Shouldn't be, but it is. While watching the parade I couldn't help but wonder why that building would not make a good location for the tourism department.
Getting back to The Advocate, interesting piece in last week's edition about the opinion of special counsel regarding conflicts and potential conflicts of interest of Selectman Espindola and the wind turbines.
Quoting from the article, the attorney writing the opinion, Ms. Goldberg said "Mr. Espindola didn't appear to have a financial interest related to the wind turbines because they are sufficiently distant from his house, at 1,850 feet, to not cause him harm."
The devil's advocate in me has to point out that Selectman Espindola's attorney has just shortened the "adverse impact" circle of 2 kilometers I hear about to less than 1,850 feet (rounded 2 km equals 6,562 feet).
While the state ethics committee, as far as I know, hasn't signed off on that opinion, seems for the time being that circle has been pretty constricted. Again, playing the devil's advocate, how does one argue that anyone outside that distance is affected, if you have a legal opinion you are not.
Before everyone gets excited, please note the "devil's advocate" position here. Also, there is a decent chance to state will have a different opinion from the special counsel, but if not ...
Based on what was reported in the article it would also seem our newest Selectman has a very narrow tightrope he has to walk going forward, which could very well be narrowed further by the state ethics commission.
In the article the attorney also noted the Selectman is faced with the fact that "a determination must be made 'on a case-by-case' basis, however, and that 'each scenario' that comes up for a selectmen's vote must be evaluated according to the specific facts involved."
It is going to be an interesting balancing act.
All right, for anyone interested, I am on "duty" today starting at 4:00 P.M. Not sure how long my shift is, but from talking to some others who are also volunteering based on their shifts, it may be just an hour (could be less depending on whether I get fired. Been a long time since I poured a drink. I am pretty amazed someone wants to let me that close to so much glass).
The event runs from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Ice Chest It is for a good cause, the Matty Oliveira Memorial Fund. I won't take it upon myself to reveal the "guest bartenders" list, but I know some of you will enjoy showing up and making them jump through hoops for you.
By the way, just so you know, hoop jumping is not allowed by law until after 5:00 P.M. (or I go off duty, whichever comes first).
Take care. Have a great day and be safe!
Respondint to the lack of public lack of expression about the Academy Building:
ReplyDeleteWhen Selectman Murphy solicited suggestions from the public about the issue, I wrote a lengthy note to him in response. I expressed many points about the situation, among them, that no one wolud be more respectful of that building than Mr, Richard. It would be an asset to the Society to have his presence in that building.
The Society, and two of the selectmen, have noit given a reason why he can't be there, but only reasons why everywhere (anywhere else is better. Mr. Murphy is concerned about handicap accessibility, but he wasn't concerned about the current place being accessible.
I also sent similar notes to Dr.Bowcock, and Mr. Espindola, in case Mr. Murphy did not enlighten them to my view.
At the following Selectboard meeting, Mr. Murphy proclaimed that the overwhelming response to his request was for the O of T not to move into the Academy. He did not reveal the ratio of pro to con letters, and he did not even mention any letters to the contrary. And of course, Mr. Espindola, who stops the meeting every two seconds to comment on something, did not mention that he received a letter in support of the move.
My point is, that people might express opinions and concerns about issues, but the board only exposes thew ones they choose to.
The move to the Academy is a no brainer. But two Selectboard members are clearly jumping through hoops to make sure it doesn't happen. And that's pretty transparent.