tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post1392373242216493939..comments2024-02-18T06:41:44.121-05:00Comments on Thinking Out Loud In Sturbridge: Now, The Rest Of The StoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post-66762676619393996992011-01-01T18:30:33.032-05:002011-01-01T18:30:33.032-05:00A short hand version of Mr. Creamer's response...A short hand version of Mr. Creamer's response from my point of view:<br />Thanks for the comments, thought I'd give my side. I know that a times I get a little wordy and repeat myself but in my defense I went to a Catholic School....enough said, don't like it, sorry!<br />Brick sidewalks.the process was legal, the BOS used Chapter 90 monies which usually fund road projects but the DPW hasn't use those funds for 2 years, rather than let the money, more than $l million, just sit and get interest 3 out of the 5 Selectmen voted for brick sidewalks...all perfectly legal. It isn't taxpayers money, it comes from the State...er, uh, well from the other pocket of taxpayers.<br />As for the ADA access, someone goofed, it wasn't this current Board but it is now our responsibility, as the old saying goes "the buck stops here". We're working on it.<br />The sidewalks clearing on Rt, 20/131, first I was against changing the policy, let the town clear the sidewalks but then I flip flopped and wanted the property owners to clear, then I flip flopped again and thought the Town should clear but the other Selectmen thought differently, it isn't my fault, I'm have to follow the majority.<br />That's it folks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post-10908646920065674112011-01-01T01:08:26.337-05:002011-01-01T01:08:26.337-05:00Mr. Creamer, thank you for your kind response. Of ...Mr. Creamer, thank you for your kind response. Of course, on some matters we agree and on some matters we disagree. I have long understood your reasoning regarding the BOS's choice to go ahead and use our Chapter 90 funds for the brick sidewalks - I simply disagree with it. <br />As far as the proposed gas station, it does seem to me that they should get the sewer "gallonage" they've requested.<br />Regarding the good Sisters' teaching methods, there are plenty of older folks in these parts who had certain methods, processes and procedures knocked - er - instilled in them also - and not even one of them writes with their left hand. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post-71661120724638806492010-12-31T20:05:50.856-05:002010-12-31T20:05:50.856-05:00I thank both John Q and Simple Folk for sharing th...I thank both John Q and Simple Folk for sharing their honest concerns/thoughts, and as it appears a response is expected, I should take a moment to oblige. I will first somewhat apologize that my choice of words and sentence structure are not fully embraced by all. Having said that I am burdened with being me and must therefore convey my thoughts in a format most comfortable. I dare not have the Sisters of Saint Joseph come beckoning at my door after years of Catholic education because I failed to utilize the tools that were pounded into…err…I mean instilled in me.<br /><br />In terms of the brick sidewalks, rest assured that Process and Protocol were properly adhered to as the funds for same were never intended to (and will not) come at the expense of residential taxpayers. The funds for such come from state allocated money distributed annually to each community, which are themselves governed by the local elective body. True enough, those funds (Chapter 90) come from state and federal taxes/fees but they constitute an annual allotment conveyed whether we use them or not. To that point, we have amassed in excess of $1 million in Chapter 90 funds as we have not initiated any Chapter 90 projects over the last two years, and had not expended all of the funds we had prior to that. Thus, the funds were there and the Process allowed the BOS latitude to leverage them for a project it deemed worthwhile. Three members of the Board deemed this project worthwhile. We don’t set the rules on the Process of using State funds - the state does. We merely worked within the framework they established.<br /><br />As for the ADA access, I’ll not comment on where the ball was dropped, but I will say that the decision for such did not come from this Board of Selectmen. It was not a determination that was discussed or debated by us, nor was it one – I believe – we were really knowledgeable of. That said, we are now the ones solely responsible for the outcome as we are the leadership of the community and I am one who firmly believes that everything rests with us. As I have publicly stated on several occasions shame on ME for not being more informed and more involved in the process. I have been a selectman for 21 months and I should have been more up to speed on this project. In that respect I failed.<br /><br />In terms of the snow-clearing of the Route 20/131 sidewalks, I have previously voted against modifying the policy, but this year did support the initial vote to move away from a previous 15 year practice. Upon further consideration and review, I publicly stated that I no longer supported the change in policy as I believed it to be somewhat ill-advised, but, that I would stand by the Board’s wishes in terms of their final position. As 4 members of the Board still believe it to be the appropriate course of action, I stand by their determination and will work collectively with them on transitioning towards enforcement - as I have an obligation to recognize the importance and sanctity of majority rule. <br /><br />That is getting pretty close to as simple as I can be. I hope it helps somewhat.Reconciliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03062430343428782386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post-61118315403172805172010-12-30T05:13:31.766-05:002010-12-30T05:13:31.766-05:00I also thank TC for posting his side of the issue....I also thank TC for posting his side of the issue. I also agree with John Q Public that TC could speak/write in a plainer, simpler language for us common folk. I once worked for a Professor who believed that it was better to use a "5 cent word" than a $$ word whenever possible. TC has worked hard for the Town but short and sweet, plain and simple, don't believe we'll ever see that from TCSimple Folknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377411732843394854.post-53242829531540013382010-12-29T19:26:03.304-05:002010-12-29T19:26:03.304-05:00I wonder if the reason that some (family and/or fr...I wonder if the reason that some (family and/or friends of the 26 people who showed up at the BOS meeting) are so opposed to the future gas station has anything to do with the (false?) claim that Playa Del Carmen was abandoned? In other words, does someone have after-thoughts and other plans related to getting their hands on the building and land parcels in that area?<br />My personal thoughts are that the gas station should be allowed the approved sewage request.<br /><br />Having said that, I must still question a couple of things in Mr. Creamer’s post. He wrote:<br />“…adherence to Process and Procedure ensures continuity in the<br />decision-making process and prevents public officials from circumventing<br />and/or manipulating the process to their liking, which would surely be a<br />dangerous and irresponsible course.”<br />And he spoke about being mindful of: <br />… “irresponsible expenditure of tax-payer dollars…”<br /><br />These important subjects (process(es) and procedure(s), without the capital “p’s”) seem to have had less importance put on them than they should have in the recent past, and many of us still worry about “irresponsible expenditures of tax-payer dollars.”<br /><br />I appreciate Tom’s hard work and willingness to debate, but do disagree with some of the methods used by our officials in some circumstances (such as funding for the brick sidewalks), and decisions (such as not making the front doors of public buildings ADA compliant because of the “look” of ramps, etc.), and, rather than working to change the law, going back to enforcing an ill-advised by-law requiring the public to shovel the sidewalks on Main Street, which didn’t work out the last time it was “enforced.” I would expect that if there was a law suit because of an injury related to a snow and ice covered sidewalk the town would still be responsible, because they the town is the “party” responsible for enforcing the law.<br /><br />So, in closing, may I say, “Good Work, Walley, for asking questions, and Good Work, Tom, for trying to keep things in proper balance, and admitting it when things aren’t quite right, or slip through the cracks. Oh, and Tom, please feel free to write and speak in a plainer, simpler language, comfortable to all of us.John Q. Publicnoreply@blogger.com