At the Oct 22,2008 selectmen meeting. Selectmen Roberta Fraser makes the motion to transfer $250.000.00 from the water fund to the Capital Reserve. Which passed by a 5-0 vote. Watch where this money goes. Follow the money! In the past John Stetser got the selectmen to place money from the town sewage fund into the Capital Reserve Fund to spend as they saw fit. This is part of the reason we have no money in the Capital Reserve Fund for the Sewage account. Unless we have a unknown water project coming up, this money will be used somewhere else. The following is the minutes from the BOS meeting. Read for yourself.
8th Order of Business: Water Fund/Capital Reserve
Chairman Tedford talked with Treasurer Peg Tatro regarding money in the Water Fund
(roughly $318,000-$350,000.00). Chairman Tedford suggests transferring at least $200,000.00 from the Water Fund, to the Capital Reserve to earn better interest. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to transfer $250,000.00 from the Water Fund to the Capital Reserve, and if there is a problem with that transfer amount, Peg Tatro can come to next week’s meeting to discuss. Selectman Ruth seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
So, under the guise of getting a higher return on the money it's transferred to a different account, where it can be spent on anything the Selectman deem necessary.
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31 comments:
No wonder they got rid of Althea Kelton, its plane to see it wasnt about saving money. Honesty has no place in the town hall, what a shame.
How many times in the past has monies been transferred from one dept to another to cover shortages (overspending) or to pay for earmarked projects in town? Perhaps we should have someone look into the legalities of this practice or at least ask for an accounting of these past transfers to see exactly where the money went.
If there is such a huge amount of money left over why didn't they simply use it to keep our taxes down? This crap about moving money from one account to another is simply a way for it to disappear without someone being held accountable.
suspicious
Suspicious, Exactly winchesterinformer's point of view. We must move in a more positive direction. This legal shell game of moving our tax dollars around the budget, must stop. It's a trick the selectmen learned from John Stetser. Last year, the selectmen voted to move; we believe it was $500,000.00 from the Sewer Capital Reserve Fund, to lower our taxes rate. The 2007 tax bill, was an untrue statement. The Capital Reserve Fund money, was used to deceive people of the true tax rate, by lowering our tax rate for a short period of time. They used the money we needed to put towards fixing the sewage plant, which now is not only a top priority; but is going to cost us a lot more to do now. We must stop all of this unnecessary spending, so the tax payers can catch up with other cost of living increases. The tax payers have been more than generous with the town employees, for the past few years they've been getting 2 pay raises and all of them also received a performance bonus too! According to the 2006 census report, Winchester’s average median income for a male is $30,399.00 and for a female is $20,682.00. Yet we pay salaries nearly double of what we, the tax payers receive. We have been more than generous, even with the part-time help. We must appeal to those who hold the purse strings that it's time to stop rewarding themselves, that they are hurting the people in town. We are a financially strapped town and they need to freeze all these budget increases and stop the unnecessary spending.
There are so many outright lies in this post and the comments afterwards that I can clearly see that no on would believe what it means to transfer money to the capital reserve fund for WATER AND SEWER! NOT FOR THE GENERAL BUDGET! The monies that were used last year to offset taxes were not from the water and sewer funds. And those funds are not created from any money from taxation, only from water and sewer users! WOW is all I can say about how incorrect the information on this blog really is. Sometimes it is just WAY too hard not to try to answer back to what are just outright lies. All I ask is WHY? WHY does it have to be this way? I will never ever understand why we can't all just work together to make this town a place we are all proud of and is running as cost efficiently as possible. I am always open to suggestions.
Also, please show me where we are spending money out of sewer and water funds to purchase anything not pertaining to sewer or water. And when did that transfer occur from sewer to offset taxes? ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! I could go on and on but I just can't waste my time.
-Roberta Fraser
Gee, Roberta, you must have either missed this meeting or slept through it; so just to set the record straight here's a cut & paste of the BOS meeting minutes exactly as posted on the town's own web site, word for word:
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Board of Selectmen Minutes 10/22/2008
Printer-Friendly Version
Town of Winchester 1 Richmond Road Winchester, NH 03470
MINUTES of the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Wednesday October 22, 2008
Board Members Present: Sherman Tedford, Chairman; Gustave Ruth; Kenneth Berthiaume; Roberta Fraser and Ted Whippie. Also present Robert Gray, Town Administrator and Ellen Cole, Executive Assistant. The meeting convenes at 7:03 PM.
1st Order of Business: Acceptance of Minutes:
Minutes of the October 15, 2008 regular BOS meeting: Selectman Fraser makes a motion to accept the minutes. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
2nd Order of Business: Department Head Updates:
Monthly report dated October 22, 2008 from Town Clerk Jim Tetreault featuring Statistics from September 2008 compared with data from 2007 [a copy is attached]. Jim Tetreault adds in his report that there is a constant flow of newly registered voters.
3rd Order of Business: Any other business that may come before the Board:
The Highway Block Grant Budget will not discussed this evening.
A representative for the Conant Public Library comes before the Board to discuss their budget. She requests $70,000.00, due to increases in oil prices, salaries, computer purchases and retaining a bookkeeper. They receive a monthly check from the Trust Fund, which has a current remaining balance of $275,000.00. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to approve this proposed budget of $70,000.00 for 2009. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
The Board discusses the Thayer Public Library Budget. The Trustees have requested $1,500.00 to put towards the purchase of fuel oil. Selectman Fraser supports having the people of Winchester contribute money to this library. The Trustees maintain the property and library from income derived from trust funds, and the library is open to the public. Selectman Whippie makes a motion to approve the proposed budget of $1,500.00 for 2009. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
Accounting Supervisor Sharon Haley has made changes to the proposed insurance figures for the Town Clerk, Water and Sewer Departments because of new health and dental rates from LGC. These amounts need to be approved by Board, because they are different from the original amounts requested. Sharon Haley went with an alternate deduction plan with a change in coverage on the non-preferred drugs. The Insurance Budget went down because the rates did not increase as anticipated when the first budget was drafted. Selectman Whippie makes a motion for approval as needed in those named departments. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and adds the total insurance budget will be $55,876.00, and it passes 5-0.
Next the Board engages in conversation regarding Street Lighting. Chairman Tedford looked at a majority of the streetlights and comprised a list of 33 lights he suggests be turned off. Turning off those suggested lights could reflect a savings of $3,000.00/year. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to turn off the street lights Chairman Tedford suggested and see how it goes from there. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0. Selectman Whippie adds this is not only a money saver, but also conserving energy. Selectman Fraser states she would like to review Elm Street again and work on notifying the residents in the paper and postings in the Town Hall that we’re shutting off lights at certain locations by December 1, to see what kind of reaction this gets. The streetlight posts will be marked with a ribbon. Chairman Tedford makes a motion to propose the street lighting budget for the next fiscal year be $19,000.00. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
Erin Robb, Chairman of Town Beach comes before the Board with updates. Erin Robb says a majority of the new fencing is up on the upper level and she is pleased with the work Secord did. The Highway Department has not picked up the leaves and old fencing. She has spray painted the grill posts, which are now covered with leaves and are more difficult to find. Erin Robb needs assistance with assembling the picnic tables and moving them to the lower level for storage by the fence. Selectman Whippie suggests she contact Dale Gray to get these projects taken care of for the Town Beach, and the Selectmen’s permission is not necessary. Next there is discussion regarding the new building and demolition of the old one with exception to the stairwell, which will remain intact. The salvageable items remaining in the building need to be removed and put in storage and then be sold since they are town property. The Board would like to see some proposed Plans to get estimates on the total cost for this handicap accessible, open concept pavilion. Selectman Ruth suggests seeing the “whole” package including the replacement design before proceeding further. Erin Robb will get quotes and submit to the Board for approval and asks the Town to advertise for bids to meet the Town’s requirements. Town Administrator Bob Gray will talk to Highway Department and get the fencing out.
Gary Beaman has an Agreement with the Town relating to Map 6, Lots 15, 17 and 20, which expires December 31, 2007. Gary is requesting a one-year extension because he needs more time to sell the stockpiles consisting of crushed gravel and stone. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to extend this Agreement through December 31, 2009. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
At last week’s meeting the issue regarding lease/purchase of a new ambulance came before the Board. The Ambulance Department makes a request for immediate Lease/Purchase of a 2009 Ambulance. After review with the Town’s attorney and DRA, a Warrant Article will be needed to go before the people to be able to lease/purchase a new ambulance. The language must include “monies will not be from taxation”. If the lease/purchase agreement has a non-appropriation (escape) clause, then a majority vote will be needed to pass the article. The lease information will need to be included on the warrant article, including contract terms and an escape clause. Ken Smith explains most likely the lease payment will be $27,000.00/year for a new 2009 ambulance. Chairman Tedford makes a motion to support a lease purchase. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
Chairman Tedford reads out loud a ZBA Notice to Abutters for Public Hearing on November 6, 2008 at 7:00 pm, for a variance (Article XXII, Section H1 of the Zoning Ordinance) requested by Dapkus Fireworks for Storage of State of NH Permitted Fireworks in the Commercial Zone. Map 30, Lot 3.
Next for discussion is the overflow of stray cats on Willow Court, which is public property with private residences. Chairman Tedford says the animal control officer should be here to discuss. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to table, having Gene Park here. Selectman Ruth seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
Residents want to target practice in Musterfield Park. People are allowed to hunt and fish on this property, as long as they are not accessing the park in a motorized vehicle. Chairman Tedford is concerned that this is a liability to have people target practice and the Town’s attorney should be consulted. Chairman Tedford suggests hunting would be OK on this town property, but not target practice because there are not enough buffers. Selectman Whippie states Lot 16 is good, but no one is out there to monitor. The question is raised if we are to allow a public shooting range, does that require a Warrant Article for the people to decide. Another question raised among the Board is should we post the property. Chairman Tedford makes a motion to not allow target practicing on this property until after consultation with LGC, and then the Board will readdress. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion and it passes 4-1.
4th Order of Business: Open to the Floor (15 minutes):
Chairman Tedford opens the floor for any questions/comments. Billie Jo Knoll with Wal-mart comes before the Board to engage the Town’s involvement with Fast Friends. The Hinsdale Greyhound Track closed and Fast Friends is looking for assistance with used blankets, comforters and toys for 110 dogs. The Board agrees to put a box in the Town Hall for these contributions and will put information on their website to help promote this cause. People can also access more information at: http://www.helpinggreyhounds.org/ .
Kenneth Cole comes before the Board to briefly discuss that target practicing in Musterfield Park may be a Planning Board matter, and not for the Selectmen to decide. Chairman Tedford responds that because it is a public “safety” issue, the Board does have the authority, but understands Kenneth Cole’s inquiry.
Herb Stephens comes before the Board to ask if can attend a 2-day Emergency Response Training seminar in Concord. It is explained to Herb Stephens that he does not need permission from the Board to attend this seminar as it has already been approved in his budget. Therefore no motion is required by the Board. There is no further comment from the floor.
5th Order of Business: Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3II (a):
Chairman Tedford makes a motion to enter non-public session. Selectman Whippie seconds the motion. A role call vote is taken and all members vote “yes”, and the Board convenes in non-public session at 8:25 PM.
6th Order of Business: Reconvene Public Session:
The Board reconvenes in public session at 8:48 PM. The non-public minutes under (a) are not sealed.
7th Order of Business: Office Documents:
1.Purchase Requisition from Arlington Paving to repair patch of pavement on Keene Road/Route 10 on October 21, 2008 from the water break in the amount of $3,700.00, signed by Gary Puffer and Bob Gray. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to sign this Requisition. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
2.LGC Insurance Rates Memo from Accounting Supervisor Sharon Haley for Board’s Recommendation to choose alternative prescription co-pay option with a decrease in premiums of 3.5%. Selectman Berthiaume makes a motion to approve this option. Selectman Fraser seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
3.Two Applications for Sewer Availability and Connection: Gary Beaman for 2 new commercial lots, signed by Rick Meleski. After the Board signs the applications go to DES for approval. Selectman Ruth makes a motion to sign these applications. Selectman Berthiaume seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
8th Order of Business: Water Fund/Capital Reserve
Chairman Tedford talked with Treasurer Peg Tatro regarding money in the Water Fund (roughly $318,000-$350,000.00). Chairman Tedford suggests transferring at least $200,000.00 from the Water Fund to the Capital Reserve to earn better interest. Selectman Fraser makes a motion to transfer $250,000.00 from the Water Fund to the Capital Reserve, and if there is a problem with that transfer amount, Peg Tatro can come to next week’s meeting to discuss. Selectman Ruth seconds the motion and it passes 5-0.
Selectman Berthiaume brings up the 2008 County Tax Bill and the Board decides to discuss at length at the next meeting on October 29, 2008.
9th Order of Business: Adjournment
Selectman Whippie makes a motion to adjourn. Chairman Tedford seconds the motion and it passes 5-0. The meeting adjourns at 9:00 PM.
Respectfully recorded,
Ellen A. Cole
Executive Assistant
October 22, 2008 BOS Minutes approved by:
Sherman Tedford, Chairman Gustave Ruth, Selectman
Kenneth Berthiaume, Selectman Roberta Fraser, Selectman
Theodore G. Whippie, Selectman Date Signed
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Just in case you missed it, I'll c&p it again for you;
"Selectman Fraser makes a motion to transfer $250,000.00 from the Water Fund to the Capital Reserve, and if there is a problem with that transfer amount, Peg Tatro can come to next week’s meeting to discuss."
So where are these lies you speak about Roberta. Why transfer money FROM the Water Fund TO the Capital Reserve Fund FOR the Water Fund? Sounds like a big shell game to all of us.
It's this way because people in town are tired of seeing all of you rewarding yourselves year after year with raises, performance bonuses, cost of living adjustments and so on, all while you consistently go over budget in dept. after dept. leaving us with higher taxes each year to cover the shortages and digging deeper and deeper into our pockets until there's nothing left. The salaries for Dept. Heads and Supervisors in this town are outrageous, this isn't Boston or New York. With the whole darn country forced to cut spending, a 6.5% unemployment rate and higher food and fuel prices, what's Winchester's excuse for keeping the status quo? Where the hell is the fiscal responsibility? There are quite a few people in town elderly and disabled on a fixed income struggling to get by; yet this town offers no disability rebate on taxes as the state mandates and many other towns have implemented; but you'll hand out raises and bonuses to town employees like candy at Halloween and you wonder why people are upset! With us all facing a higher county tax this year to off-set the new jail and possibly another school increase too, explain to all of us the reasoning for adding thousands more to the budget?
The ball's in your court
Just another attempt to discredit the people who have brought all of this to light. Come on Ms. Fraser, provide us with some answers, please. Why isn't the town cutting back and trimming the budget? Why all of the raises while others are losing their jobs and homes? I don't see any evidence at all of anyone down at town hall thinking about anyone but themselves and you wonder why people like myself are mad as hell. Spend, spend, spend seems to be the credence of all of you.
Exactly, how can you expect us to believe anything you say Roberta when we see with our own eyes that spending is up. That you and the other selectmen have given employees large bonuses and raises despite the fact the we are all in a pinch this year. You come here and belittle the people who provide us the information, taken straight from town records and call it lies? They may not have all of the facts straight; but that is no fault of theirs. I myself have attended meetings in the past, asked questions concerning the budget and spending and have been thanked for my comments and never in all that time have I seen any cuts in spending, just more tax increases. I too am very suspicious of a group of people who seem to have no regard for the burden they place on others by rewarding themselves and other employees year after year. You say that the town is running as cost efficiently as possible. I say hogwash to that statement, it's plain as day that's not true with all of the over budget spending in each department of town government.You also say " I am always open to suggestions." Well how about cutting back, freezing wages and stopping all of this unnecessary spending and hiding the facts? How about for once you all think about the rest of us and stop trying to keep up with Keene and start acting like the small poor town we really are? It's nice to want to present the town as a great place to live; but not at the expense of it's citizens while you all reap the benefits, while putting us in the poorhouse. What do you say to that?
I'd like to suggest that our elected officials, the one's holding the purse strings, read the article on the front page of the Keene Sentinel titled DARK DAYS AHEAD and then using common sense and a semblance of conscience revisit these raises and bonuses and increased departments spending and start doing the right thing for a change. Show us you have OUR best interests in mind when coming up with a reasonable budget to run this town. Our tax rate is higher than Keene's for God sake's and you wonder why there are no businesses knocking on the door to come here and why people are so mad at those we have elected? Look at your record over these past 3-5 years. You all need to get a grip on reality and realize what a burden you are putting on all of us, even those who supported you in the past are questioning your judgments and decisions.
I stand to be corrected about where the money came from that John Stetser and the Selectmen used to lower last years taxes. It was drained from the town's Unreserved Fund balance. which is the money left over at years end. This money is set aside as a reserve for emergencies and for cash flow out of the General Fund. The state recommends a reserve of at least, 5 - 17%, as near as I can tell from the records I researched, that amount was about 10%, roughly $1,000,000.00 when they just about drained it to lower taxes leaving just an estimated 5%. To dangerously low just to lower the tax rate to hide the wasteful spending. In my previous comments, I had quoted information provided by a source in town government, stating that it had come from the Sewage Dept.; however it actually wasn’t and I'm attempting to correct my previous post. I am still researching to see if this money from the Water Dept., placed into the Capital Reserve Fund,can be used on anything other than water projects. Roberta Fraser, of the BOS wants to challenge our creditability, it's evident that they don't like the fact that we are providing information to everyone. As has been said before, if we error we will correct our posting, after all we are only human and it may happen again.
But speaking about credibility and apologies, how about our elected officials? What about all the wasted spending of our tax dollars? For example; the bridge on Ferry Brook Road, that had washed out from heavy rains. They sent Dale Gray and the highway crew out there and after two weeks and a cost of approximately $70,000.00 to repair the bridge, it washed out again costing us thousand and thousands more to have the work done correctly. This was all done under the supervision of the Selectman and John Stetser. And what about the paving of the town garage, done using money out of the A.C Lawrence Fund account; or the fact they recently placed money into the A.C. Lawrence Fund account to pay John Gomarlo for his Comp Time, that he shouldn’t have been paid for, or how about drawing a check and paying for the new $300,000.00 plus fire truck we didn't need before it was even built and that the money sat idle, instead of being used for the sewer plant or some other town repairs, before the manufacture could accept the payment. Now a bridge on the Old Westport Road is closed, the selectmen knew it needed repairs or replacing long ago; yet they went ahead and spent thousands on repaving roads around town and another $50,000.00 was paid out to Lane Construction for chip sealing instead of making the needed repairs to this bridge for town resident to drive across safely. Where is the apology for wasting our tax payers money?
Thank you, Bob, for correcting the facts in the original post. That is all I am asking. Post the correct information first, then you can all say whatever you want about it. But please remember that alot of what was done in the past was done by the Town manager, not the department heads. They were threatened quite often if they disagreed. And I would love to see something about the school budget on here sometime, since that is where most of your tax dollars are going.
Thanks,
Roberta Fraser
In regards to the school budget you mentioned; why not send us your thoughts and we'll provide you space to get the discussion started. Would it not be better to come from someone who could provide honest facts? What do you say?
Take a gander a todays Sentinel,MUST MAKE DEEP CUTS TO BUDGET. Lynch wants a( no growth ) budget for the next two years, should we ask for less?
Why don't you ever answer anyone's questions Roberta? It's obvious that you visit here daily and we'd like some answers to subjects we consider important. You're quick to call foul when something isn't quite right; but ignore us when we ask a pressing question, why? Also you mentioned that Dept. Heads were threatened by John Stetsor, would you care to elaborate? Are we to believe that he had complete control over everyone, including the Selectmen and that's the reason for just about everything gone wrong in the past? That's a pretty big pill to swallow, where's the proof?
I also would like to see some proof and get some answers but, it just seems like as we ask for more answers there is more brought up about blaming everyone that is not here anymore. I understand that it all started then (in the past) but what about what is happening rite now.
To answer to Mary K, I don't come here daily. I very seldom go here unless too many people have contacted me about what is being posted that I just can't help it. Also, I don't have a computer right now. As an elected official, obviously I can't elaborate on alot of what goes on in regards to any personnel. And I know it is hard for anyone to believe that one person had such control, but since he had the support of the majority of the BOS, he did.
I don't know enough about the school budget and what is spent to elaborate on any part of it. I'll get first hand experience when we start the school budget with the BC in December.
You may not be able to elaborate on certain subjects; but you most certainly can share your opinions with us as a resident of the town. Do you think it's fair to continue raising taxes to pay for raises and bonuses and over spending? You state you only come here when you have personally been contacted about subjects posted here and that you do it just to set the record straight; yet you provide no proof and very little info to back up your statements. As for the school budget we all know what's going on, the state continues to stick it to the people despite the Supreme Court's ruling, completely dodging their responsibilities to pay for education for our kids.
For someone to post something negative, and then come back and say that she can not answer her own comments. We all have freedom of speech. I understand where you would need to stay quiet about some things because they are not completed, but once a subject is done, that the BOS has been discussing, it becomes public knowladge. I just don't like to see someone try and hide behind excuses.
Lets all take a deep breath and be careful, Out of the five selectmen we have, Roberta seems to be the most sensible one most of the time.
Would you like to have 5 Ted Whippies on that board?She cant do it all by herself, when I go to a BOS meeting or a BC meeting the place is usaully empty(very few townspeople) Voter turn out is always low.I think the amount of people using this sight is great but show up to some meetings sometime, lets get our registered voters to actually go vote, These are the things that bring change not talking, but doing.
We all should get on a get out to vote kick and get Ken and Roberta some help. Although i dont think all the dept. heads can be rehabilitated, and some we can live without. This is the year, GET ER DONE.
We must finish cleaning out the town hall in March of 2009. Never was I convinced the town would stop this obsessive spending once John Stetser's was removed, Stetser was just part of the problem. While we work on next year's budget the selectmen have voted increases in every dept. also some budget committee members don't thinks it's their job to cut the budget. I was totally appalled when I heard this statement at a budget committe meeting recently.
When I sent the Winchester News Letter to every house hold in Winchester last year, we knew there would be more hard work to finish the job of returning "our town" back to the people's control and stop the wasteful spending. Ted Whippie, Sherman Tedford and Gus Ruth vote every time to protect the town employees and their over budget spending. Almost every dept. budget is over spend by thousands. There is no accountability to stay within their budgets. Just look at last years budget over spending on wincheterinformer.com home page. Every dept head that over spent should have received a written warning letter and if they were to repeat this they would be looking for other work. I feel the dept heads are blotting up their budgets in case we make major cuts at deliberative session. (They just might be right if we get our way).
This year we will send out a second Winchester News Letter to complete the work we have started. Instructing voters how to vote to finish the job. We are mad as Hell and by reading the posts here we are not alone. It is costly and we will be asking for donations. So please help us finish the job we started last year. If nothing else please vote with us.
We've been looking over the town budgets for the past few years and it's evident to see that despite the fact that the town does not have the businesses to offset property taxes, the officials in Winchester continue to act like we're a big city with all kinds of money in our coffers. Our town's budget continues to grow year after year and is loaded with unnecessary expenditures and yet despite the fact that the country is in a recession, it' just more of the same again this year. Why aren't our town officials in touch with the real world? Why aren't they acting in a responsible manner and doing what's best for the people of Winchester instead of adding to an already pork filled budget? They say they are doing the best they can and quote the Local Government Center as a guideline; but just because you can do something, it doesn't mean you have to; especially when your actions will put tremendous strain on the townspeople to keep up. No other town in our area spends as much on personnel as Winchester does. High salaries, overtime, raises and bonuses and cost of living adjustments, coupled with the best insurance our money can buy shows just where the loyalties lie, to themselves. There is no fiscal responsibility at town hall, it's time we demand some.
Correct me if I am wrong, but don't we have a lot of personel in town hall that were hired on as part-time employees (who did not receive benefits), that are now full time employees (receiving large benefit packages)?
I would like to see all of the departments (other than police) revamped and with less employees. Do we really need two full time accountants, and a full time tax collector? How many employees do we have with the Highway Department?
I agree - we need more employees like Rick Meleski who goes above and beyond in his work.
Our Town needs to figure out the actual budgets for each department and stop with the "Stealing from Peter to pay Paul" business! Also, if they have a maintenance budget - maintain it! I am sick of hearing that things are falling apart and in dyer need of being replaced, when in truth, if the money alloted for routine maintenance had been used properly we wouldn't be replacing everything (sewer plant included). The school being the number one culprit of this.
You are correct, but i would include the police. If i am correct we have six cars and seven officers, some days there are three of both on detail. I spoke with a chief from another town and he said other towns can't afford to do this, checked with a town manager in another town got same answer. No one seems to be fighting over this work, i wonder why? On the news today governer Lynch told his dept. heads to renegotiate with employees in these tough times. We have a couple or three we could live without. That includes dept. heads.
Under any other circumstances we would suggest that all of this needs to be brought up at a BOS meeting and attended by as many people as possible to express the town's people's desire to streamline depts. and personnel and for the town to become as cost efficient as humanly possible; thus taking the strain off of taxpayers to constantly dig deeper into their pockets each year. However; after reading about how they have been doling out raises, performance bonuses ( despite dept. budget overspending ) and increasing department spending, I seriously doubt discussion would accomplish anything other than to create more frustration. The only foreseeable solution, would be to vote those who would not promote change for the good of the community, out of office and elect officials who will listen to and act in the town's best interest.
From my observations at the BOS meetings, God Himself could approach the board with a excellent suggestion and He would be shut down with the same attitude as they give everyone else...GO AWAY and LEAVE US ALONE. Most of them get on the defense when approached about budget matters and over spending.
I can understand why JohnP railed on this website two weeks ago - because I watched them railroad his suggestion that they fire the water dept employee that hasn't been CLD certified yet and hire someone else that is more qualified. Sherman told him that he didn't realize that the town was in a "pickle" as he stated and they couldn't fire him on his suggestion. Then Roberta informed him that they hired him knowing that he didn't have his license, with the knowledge that he would work on getting it. For that reason they couldn't fire him. JohnP left the meeting humilitated by their actions. They considered the source and shut him down.
As a community we need to come up with a strategy in which we know they will listen and they will act upon our wishes. Perhaps talking with them one on one - as neighbor's talking to neighbors. But standing before the microphone seems to get their hackles up. Perhaps it will take getting hundreds to sign petitions on certain issues and attending a meeting is the only way. I don't know.
I still can't figure out why they have to have private work sessions and RSA meetings every week.
It would seem by reading the above posts and by their own actions, that no matter what, our selectmen are steadfast in their approach and carry on business in town in their usual way no matter the circumstances or seriousness of an issue brought before them. What good is it to have a governing board that doesn't pay attention to current events or take heed of the complaints by it's constituents? It is my belief that these members have had their own way for so long that they know no other way to act and until we vote them out we can expect no acknowledgment of any problem brought before them. There have been too many instances of people going before them and not getting any results what so ever from them. As for them handing out raises and bonuses to so many in town who clearly don't deserve then, never mind the hard economics at hand, is totally unacceptable in my eyes and their behavior is a slap in the face to every tax payer in town.
I have said this many times.......people need to go to BOS and BC meetings. The few I have made it to never have any one attending, We should bring back town meetings, we should actually get out there and vote. The voting turn out is so small it is pathetic. If a hunred or more people started showing up at wed. night meetings with the select board maybe they would start listening, But at this time it is the same very very small amount of people like "johnp".Agree with him or not, and I usually dont, he at least goes before the board (almost weekly) with his questions and concerns. The selectmen are elected by us to carry out the best interest of the town, so go to the meetings in large numbers and help them go in the direction we need to go in.The citizens of this town are just as much to blame as the boards we put in place. it will take all of us to make it a better place.
I mad it to last weeks BOS meeting and was very depressed about the way things were handled. There was not a lot of topice but there was almost no discussion. I am deffenitly going to try and make a weekly aperiance at these meetings again. I do agree tho that the only way anything is going to get done is for people to show up in large groups. One person at a time is not going to do anything except help make the board feel more superior.
It is probably time to return to a three selectmen board. It is time for the three Amigos to go. Ted Whippie, Gus Ruth and the Shermanator Tedford. Watch for my blog you decide.
I can almost guarantee Ted will not run again this March he has burned his bridges and his friends that voted him in the first time have changed their minds
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