In the category of a day late and a dollar short, The Standard Times today ran an article on the Turbines/new survey thingy, a week after the story appeared in The Advocate.
The one benefit of the rehash is it is clear that members of the Board of Health DID know about it in advance. Now seems the e-mail was reviewed via e-mail for questions and comment.
Issues on the appropriateness of that particular action aside, because that would tend to start another raging debate on a matter very few people seem to actually understand, I want to point out the selectmen comments in this article.
First of all, hats off to Selectman Espindola for either being not contacted or not saying anything. Either way he avoids this brush stroke.
Second point, and this is extremely important for everyone understanding, what efforts are being made by the selectmen themselves to first of all work on communications, and secondly, other than the pat cry of we are the Town fathers, what entitles them to advance knowledge of any action by another elected board, indeed any action by most boards, even those appointed by them.
The selectmen have only such authority and power as is granted to them under law. The board has no jurisdiction over other boards, and it is not entitled to advance notice, required to be consulted, nor allowed to interfere in the defined duties and actions other boards.
Believe it or not, neither is that board entitled to as a matter of right all information for dealings between another board and Town Counsel. Space and time prohibit a proper dissertation, however given the fact that two sitting selectmen were previously elected members of different boards, which at times were at odds with then then board of Selectmen, on would expect an understanding and appreciation of the roles different boards have and play in town.
I have had my issues with Town Counsel. No one who has followed matters in this Town can accuse me of being an apologist for him. That being said, I will state that comments from the selectmen commenting on his actions in this matter are just plain wrong.
No one can deny that both boards are involved in the turbine issue. Yet they are not tied to it by the same rope. There may be times when the boards should be pulling together, but there may also be times when they should not, or legally cannot.
Maybe I am misreading the "objections". Could be the complaints are simply in the nature of it you do something let us know you have done it so we don't look like fools when the press contacts us. In that light, I get it. In the light of seeking input, I might get it in most cases.
If that is all it is, than I apologize for reading into these matters that you actually want to know ahead of time about something before it gets done so you can weigh in, or veto such action. Of course if that's the case, why not just propose eliminating all the other boards.
Behind the scenes interference is a complaint that has been heard for years. The laments about the selectmen sticking their noses into boards business has been noted publicly by various boards at various times.
The only legitimate gripe on this one was perhaps, in the spirit of the "communication" concept the B of H should have notified the B of S that the e-mail survey was being sent out.
Don't get me wrong, while I truly don't place the contents of the survey in the same objectionable category as some, the how it came about and the stated rationale for it are disturbing. If this survey was sent to all board members as has been reported, for their questions and comments, one has to be scratching their heads about this process.
Lamenting the fact that it wasn't discussed at a meeting prior to being sent doesn't negate the fact that at a minimum you acquiesced to its sending without it being discussed or voted on at a meeting. How does a decision get made to do something without discussing it?
Enough ... these issues are getting so old and just amplify too many underlying problems. It just seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Be safe.
Be safe.
In years past, each board had a sufficient professional services account in their budget, to pay for legal advice. Sometimes we need specific expertise in certain areas. Unfortunately, sometimes one board would take another board to court. Today, the BOSs controls everything, and we are not any better for it in my opinion. People complaining about legal services of $130K out of a $40-50M budget are naïve. People willfully causing that number to go up for effect, will be noted in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe questionnaire was a very good QUICK approach. Remember, the very short window of 30 days to come up with a solution. 30 days was a very dumb idea. It leaves no time for all to feel comfortable and chit chat back and forth between part-timers. It leaves no time for officials who want to schedule meeting times to schedule a meeting and then bicker about those meeting minutes. They get dragged along like baggage, instead of helping to lead the team. It also leaves little time for anti-wind groups to come up with talking points, megaphone rehearsals and group chants…yawn… It could cause a rush to a multimillion dollar mistake. People should take warning that all will be held responsible. Definitely.
We need to weed out who can really be mitigated and helped. Over half the complaints were from 4 people. If you are planning a meeting for a final solution, with millions at stake, (Yes, I know…all about the money...yawn), in less than 30 days, then the chair is going to deal with specific individuals (buy my house…yawn…), then you need to know, beforehand if possible, which valid complaints to respond to. Listening to 55 minute speeches from people living on Main St Fairhaven, Main St Falmouth, videographers making wind turbine movies, or self proclaimed victim turned expert blond woman, you will utterly fail. Kudos to the chair for beginning to tell which close ABUTTERS will be dealt with and which troublemakers will be told to sit down, be silent or be removed. Hope there are 2-8 police officers there. This is not a meeting to unite the town…yawn… listen to both sides…yawn…be nice.
Of course this only applies if people actually want something positive and constructive to happen. But that is not the case is it?
Hope there are 2 to 8 police officers at a BOH -SELECTMAN meeting,are we trying to incite people. Until we find out who the real BOH members are after the election, we can then have a true vote on the turbine issue.Until these are cleared up the ,the turbines should spin.Yes legal services are pricy but we can try to find another attorney.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone accurately weed out the people who can be mitigated and helped, when you don't know who they are? The list of those who filed complaints is not a complete list of those who have been periodically affected. I know some of the people who, for whatever reasons, including the potential of being chastised by comments such as yours, have never made a call or filed a complaint. Some of them have sat silently in meetings observing the back and forth that seemed to be headed nowhere.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, maybe an adjustment will be made, and maybe that's all that can or will be done to comply with legal noise standards or the contract.
Let it happen and be done with. I don't believe anyone will push the issue to the point it will cost the town 'millions.' People will stay, others will move.
However it ends, those turbines, in that location, have negatively affected this town.