(August 21, 2003)
OK, so no one asked me my opinion, but
here goes just the same.
One of the greatest mistakes our town made was shooting down Mary
O’Donnell’s Village project. A majority voted in favor (myself among
that select group), but simple majorities don’t matter when a 2/3 vote
is required. I would imagine even some of the project’s detractors
(perhaps not the hardcore ones) may be having second thoughts about
the wisdom of that vote, given what 700 housing units will do to our
already-stressed tax rate.
On the need for affordable housing,
there’s no question that a strong case can be made for it. How many of
us could afford to pay today’s market prices for the homes we live in?
Speaking of the ballfield projects (were
we?), did you read about a $21,000 expenditure in the ballfields
budget for maintenance of the fields? Wasn’t that supposed to be done
by volunteers? In fact, wasn’t that a rallying cry when this project
was brought before voters? Unless someone rewrote the definition of
“volunteer” in the last few days, I’d guess that means someone told us
one thing and did another. $21,000 isn’t a lot of money and it’s
probably a fair price, but that was not what voters were promised.
On the ballfields topic, I’d still like to
see an accounting of how much our Town Fathers are spending to
litigate against Sharon Davis over a $4,000 piece of property that she
owns. Am I the only one who thinks the town’s challenge of her
ownership is the dumbest thing ever done? Why is it that our Town
Fathers were willing to volunteer $15,000 of taxpayers dollars for a
reward to catch the arsonist who torched the barn but cannot let go of
a $4,000 land dispute and will continue to run up the legal tab? My
advice? Forget the reward. Give the land back and call it a day.
My next ballfield question is over “eminent domain” of Hilltop land.
Shouldn’t this whole issue of access have been settled before we ever
started work on the fields? 11th hour negotiating isn’t exactly
arguing from a position of strength. I’m not an expert in eminent
domain, but how does this meet the definition of “hardship” usually
associated with eminent domain? Why don’t we ever learn from our
mistakes? This looks like more of the same “business as usual” here:
start first, worry about the details later.
The fireworks we watch on the 4th will
pale in comparison to what you see when the Town Government Study
Committee recommends combining the highway, water and sewer
departments into one DPW – especially from the water department.
Isn’t it great living in a coastal town
with a beach that you can’t use? That’s a little bit like having an
airport in your town that won’t allow planes to take off or land.
If you want to get an idea of what it must
be like to drive in war-torn Iraq, you don’t have to go too far. Just
take a leisurely cruise down Main Street.
My vote for the worst highway eyesore in
town is that traffic monstrosity at the Bickford’s (Exit 9) Exit. That
looks like even more of a war zone than Main Street.
Now that our new town hall is about to
open, what should we do with the old one? Why don’t we take a page out
of St. Joseph’s book and offer it to the highest bidder as long as
he/she removes it from the site? While we’re at it, why not do the
same for Maple Avenue School?
Why don’t we either do something with Camp
NeKon or sell it?
I miss Old Home Days. That was a great
event. Even better than the luminaries (another great event), because
at least it’s during the day and easier to avoid stepping in
horse-droppings.
I think it should be far more difficult to
override Proposition 2 ½ than it is. Why should it require a 2/3 vote
to rezone a piece of land yet only a simple majority to spend beyond
prescribed limits?
My partial list of great public servants:
Mary Lou Murzyn. Tom O’Brien. Terry Murray. Susan Farrell (sure, I’m
biased). Gordon Fogg. Jon Alberghini. Dave McKee. Mimi MacInnis. Carl
Atwood. If you think you should be on it, don’t worry. It’s a partial
list. More in another column.
As a postcript to above, Kingston is lucky
to have John Creed, Brian Caseau and Tom Calter on the Silver Lake
Regional School Committee.
Bad public servants: Don’t get me started.
Bradford House brunches are one of the
greater treasures of our town.
OK, gang, please note that this month I
have made an attempt at providing balance — some positive with the
negative. See you next month; that is, unless I give it all up and
move to California and run for Governor. Why not? Everyone else is. |
