Not quite final, but getting there

Okay, it has been a few days since we have managed to get to this little exercise.  Hopefully you will indulge me a minute or two as I start off with a thought that expands beyond the borders of our fair haven.

Saw an interesting post on Facebook a during the absent few days.  It was a picture of a poster I guess.  The poster contained the follow:

"America is not a Democracy. It is a Constitutional Republic. It is important to know the difference."

A statement which I submit is both correct and incorrect. A constitutional republic, indeed any republic is a form of a democracy.  It is however correct in that it is important to understand the difference between a pure democracy and a constitutional republic.

All one has to do is follow any political argument on said Facebook that quickly turns into a debate about the will of the people.

Any time, any individual complains about any representative from any state or district in which the complainer does not reside and argues the concept of the "will of the people", they show as a point in fact they do not understand the above difference.

Members of the House and Senate are elected to represent their constituents on the national level. They are not elected to represent the people anywhere else.  If Podunk, USA sends the farthest right candidate imaginable to Congress, the people of Podunk, USA expect Mr. Right to represent their views, positions and issues. Just as those people who elect someone as extreme to the left expect their represent to play an extremely well left field position.

We have congressional districts and states because of the simple fact that our founders way back when knew and understood that our "union" would be comprised of people living in different areas, with different interests, beliefs and opinions.

Try to remember at least that basic tenant of our Constitution.

Enough deep thought.

Although ...

Who am I kidding.  No seriously.

Must have one of my hats on too tightly.  

Selectmen hit the road last night for the annual meeting on West Island.

I can understand the feeling of the Island residents relative to the emergency preparedness plan.  Your on your own if a hurricane hits doesn't seem like much of a plan.

Unfortunately, the suggestions you hear every year aren't any better.

Life and limb vs. protection of property.

All in an allotted 25 mins. that went just a tad longer.

Truthfully, why a state with so much populated coastline doesn't have a mandatory evacuation procedure in place is beyond me.

What last night showed though is if this roadshow is to continue on a yearly basis, at least limited it to the special performance it originally was staged to be.  A special meeting on the island to present and discuss the plan for those most likely to be affected by the plan.

Anyway ...

A mysterious lease for Oxford School was to be discussed.  A mystery to me as I haven't heard any discussion by the board which is authorized to lease the property that it wanted to lease the property, at least until last night.  How this one gets listed under executive session from the get go is also a mystery.

Lease or sale of land does not fall under executive session automatically.  Indeed there is not an automatic right to hold an executive session on anything. A a minimum it requires specific criteria be met and stated. Now the one line is probably sufficient for the posted notice mind you ...

Anyway ... it wasn't discussed in executive session.  Personally, I fail to see why it would ever need to be discussed in executive session.  The government standard of the "Golden Rule" is clearly applicable here. He who has the gold, rules. In this case the gold is an old building that someone wants to rent.

While I am sure the proposed lease, drawn and drafted by the proposed tenant so it seems, covers all of the bases for the town, perhaps just a point or two from this pessimistic mind:

1. Make sure the money to decommission the building is paid into a escrow.
2. Make sure you collect some type of security deposit.
3. Make sure you get a significant liability policy, naming the town as co-insured.
4. If you actually end up doing this, make sure you have a drop dead date. Do not provide for any term renewals.

There's more, but hey, that's why we have town counsel.

Anyway ...

When is enough actually enough?

In our town, very seldom.

An inch always equals a foot which always turns into a yard.

But ... apparently maybe, not quite always.

Parks and recreation folks. We have some, and everyone seems to want to use them. NOT A BAD THING.

Also not a bad thing is the development of a firm policy for the use of the facilities by any organized group. ANY ORGANIZED GROUP.

Common, very common throughout the Commonwealth and country is the unfortunate but absolutely necessary liability insurance. Just as common are fees. Want lights? Nearly every community requires payment of fees for use of lights.  The ones that don;t seem to have the cost built into fee rental. the fee is for the cost. Not subsidized.

A tier system. The nature of your organization determines your fee.

Want to see a fee schedule from one of the communities oft cited as an example community relative to government by some.  Take a look at what the Town of Lexington has on line. This is a good one to look at because when all the griping starts about how exorbitant the proposal is, I think it will show just how little it is.

Lexington is not uncommon.  Neither is the tier system, and neither is a priority or intensity of use provision.

For our fair haven, there is part of the problem. Our parks and recreational facilities were not designed or built for high intensity. Neither in scope nor in quantity.  there is a common sense and legitimate reason not to allow intense use on a field built for organized play.  In a four season climate, if you don't allow some "rest", and don't have a high maintenance budget, you are courting disaster.

As far as priority, well using the Town of Franklin policies, which is pretty common

1. Franklin Recreation Programs and Franklin School Department (Franklin High School)
2. Franklin Organized Youth Leagues (NON-PROFIT)
3. Franklin Organized Adult Leagues (NON-PROFIT)
4. Other Non-Profit Organizations (Club teams, mixed residents)
5. Fee Oriented Organizations (Camps, clinics)

By the way NON-PROFIT is an actual 501(c). Other Non-profit well ... groups.  As to number 5, as far as I am concerned, it shouldn't matter what your status is. But hey, I am a Grinch.

People often ask or complain, well usually complain about how lacking we as a town are in this area. Number one reason, in my penny pinching mind, is because we have never made the attempt or effort to develop a half-way sustaining recreational program.

See the above list. Well keep it in mind when you here the argument about paying taxes and for the youth. Because in that order is how we should determine how we serve the tax payer and the youth in our town. In that order is how we should determine who pays what.

And this policy should apply to any applicant; not just organized sports groups; and, not just for the use of the parks and recreational facilities.

But hey, that's just a personal opinion.

And more than enough of one for the day.

Be safe.