Well, it has been awhile hasn't it. That best laid plans concept seems to have gone out the window just a bit.
It seems with the passing of each day, the desire to pass comment or thoughts about what is going on around town is also going out that window.
In truth, a somewhat bad attitude if one wishes to be in the role of good citizen. If we all stayed a bit more involved on the local level, perhaps we would see a trickle up effect on the larger levels of the political spectrum. Sure the heck would beat the every four year let's beat the drums attitude that goes on in this country.
Anyway ...
A week from tomorrow, yes just one week, on April 4th, the town heads to the polls.
In one of the more enlightening pieces from The Standard Times, you will find a write up on the candidates in the selectmen race. Make sure you click the read more link on the page, because the more you read, the more enlightening it gets.
I have to tell you, in this writer's opinion, if you took the "reasonable person" who has been living in a vacuum, and plucked them off the street, let them read the S-T piece, and sure why not give him or her the other press writings and the "tapes", and heck direct them to a few other sources of information, I don't thing you would be finding a voter who would be voting for change.
I have been working towards this piece during the three week hiatus.
I have done several drafts detailing the pluses and minuses of the incumbent and his challengers.
I have also reminded myself of what is now the old adage for this blog: read it once, twice, three times before hitting the publish button.
In a logical debate, in a point by point argument, in a scenario where one measures up all things, I firmly believe that no challenger is offering the necessary reasoning for change.
The concepts of logic and reasonable thinking however seldom have anything to do with how a vote goes. I actually get that.
To understand just how quickly logic and reason go out the window you need do no more than look at the national debate and how fear mongering and pie in the sky promises are sharpening the polarization of this country.
Politics and the political process on the local level, probably even more so than on a higher level, has more to do with personal likability or the lack thereof than on any honest assessment of past experience and action and analysis of proposals.
Neither longevity nor the lack thereof is an automatic good thing. Experience in other capacities is something to look at, but simply put, having had first hand experiences in many things, I can tell you no other position, be it as volunteer, elected official, or presently or in the past being on the payroll in this town qualifies you to be selectmen.
Which is one of the reasons I believe I usually end up supporting a 50/50 split on winners and losers.
I don't have to personally like someone to vote for them. I don't vote for the candidate I like more as a person. I don't simply pay attention to the self promoting campaign speeches and literature. I don't simply by the "experience" arguments.
I tend to put a great deal of weight on the rationale behind why someone tells me we need to change. I look at performance in office. I most definitely apply the concept of the "Peter Principal" when some one is looking for a promotion.
You can all have a different opinion, and I am guessing at least 2/3's of you do. One of the still remaining great things in this country, even though that seems to be dwindling as a concept if you happen to be on an opposing side.
Someone might ask well what are your reasons.
I could detail them. Very easily. I am resisting that temptation, for a number of reasons.
Not the least of which is the vast majority of you readers are not mindless sheep. I actually do believe that. I believe if any of you haven't made up your mind to this point, you are going to do your own research. You are going to draw your own conclusions.
For me however you make change when change makes sense.
I neither sense the need for change, nor see the sense for it.
Now that is my opinion. You are certainly free to disagree.
If you do, and want to express it here, well feel free. I tend to enjoy the point/counter-point thingies.
Until next time.
$7,000-8000 to study Rogers school environmental conditions? Mr. Reese suggesting $25,000 to study Rogers? How much to knock it down and recycle the building materials? Think town might come out ahead in that situation. School Dept. let this building go into the deplorable condition it is today, turning it over to the town was a burden. Let's be done with it already. Not all old buildings can be saved. We've poured too much money into it already, to suggest we pay $25,000 to study it again, we already have the report used to push the new elementary school, you think it's in any better condition since then?
ReplyDeleteRegarding the candidates: I’m pretty much on the same page as you. Personally, I like each and every one of the Selectmen candidates as people. Unfortunately, some of their ideas I don’t agree with. At least with two of the candidates, I see them as torchbearers for previous positions/groups they dealt with. At this point, I’m over the unfinished goals/sentiments of the TGSC or the BPW. I’m interested in moving forward, not backward. While I admittedly did not support the incumbent in his initial bid, I do think he’s done a great job. I don’t think there’s anything going on right now that warrants such a large pool of challengers. I’m content with following the current path.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Roger’s School: We need to stop the bleed of money immediately. We are continually throwing good money after bad.
Forget this idea of re-use. Besides nobody really explaining an actual NEED for extra space, the costs of rehabbing that building are absolutely cost prohibitive. That is precisely why no private entity has had a practical plan or legitimate interest in the building. The only entity stupid enough to undertake such an action is (local) government.
There is absolutely ZERO reason to pay for an environmental assessment. These assessments – some of which are commonly called a 21E – would do nothing to “help” the sale or re-use of that building or property. Environmental Assessments are typically done by buyers because their lenders require data to evaluate environmental risks and liabilities. That allows a buyer to determine whether a property and everything that comes with it is worth it to them.
The Town already has – or should have – a lot of environmental data for that school already. There is a “Roger’s Elementary School Existing Conditions” report from 1999 on the School Department’s site. It already says there is asbestos, lead, and possibly two underground fuel oil storage tanks. Per Federal regulations (AHERA), Schools were required to undertake physical assessments of asbestos hazards. Those reports should also be readily available. So what else do we need to know?
Typically, mold and indoor air assessments are not included in a 21E, and are a totally different animal. And again, the Existing Conditions report states all of the issues (leaks, poor maintenance, drainage, roof condition) that would contribute to mold. So unless you plan to fix all of those issues, what exactly is the point???
If the Town sells that building and property, it can theoretically remove some or all of its environmental liabilities for the removal/abatement of those things. On the other hand, if an environmental assessment uncovers something that requires reporting to Federal or State authorities, the Town may be forced to adhere to strict timelines to remove or abate those hazards. Any new environmental study could open up a very expensive can of worms, that simply is not worth it. It’s high time to transfer these concerns to a buyer, or just demo the building already.
One innovative candidate stated he would like the high school debt when paid set aside for another purpose ,rather than lower the tax for the residence..We think debt exclusion is a one time expense to satisfy the need of the town .When paid the funds are returned to the taxpayer not the town.. Town meeting decides the final outcomes of all the expenses..We are paying for three debt exclusion ,all for the schools,what next.Surely there are other depts. waiting in line for there wants.When will the taxpayer wants be satisfied,lower taxes.Some candidates think that we are paying now an taxpayers won't miss the money if its diverted for other purposes..
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