Northend linear trail?
The linear trail was soundly defeated at referendum last year (my feeling is that the voters rejected the idea for several reasons: primarily cost, safety of crossing route 70 & no connections to the existing trail), but there are some people who still staunchly defend the value of the trail and want to see it continue.
As well, there are also some people who absolutely oppose developing the northend.
And there are some people who fall into both of these categories: opposing northend development and supporting continuation of the linear trail.
As we advance in discussions of developing the northend, I wonder if people who oppose northend development will view this as a chance to resuscitate the linear trail?
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
29 comments:
Even if there are strong defenders the biggest loser in the last local election in the trail.
Backing spending money on a premature and unnecessary trial extension cost the GOP their council majority. Obviously their brethren in DC decided to emulate their approach to pork barrel, with the same results at the polls
I am getting tired of the “Three Angry Republicans” on the Town Council – Schrumm, David Orsini and Tom Ruocco. Orsini and Ruocco do what ever Schrumm tells them to do. It is almost comical watching them on television when they look at Schrumm before they speak.
I live in the second district and voted for Ruocco last time and I will vote against him in November 2007.
I agree, I am a Republican and my party can't move forward until these three are gone. They cost us the leadersip in town. The angry white man routine has turned off the entire town. We won't lead again until we have new blood in our party.
Anon 9:58, 10:13, and 9:17 - You don't think anyone actually buys your phony comments, do you? Please find another blog. Try www.getalife.
extending the trial was a dumb idea but yes, those comments are on a par with Alan Bisbort's juvenile and delusional rants
I am Republican and usually end up voting for Dems because i am sick of some of the Republicans too...I wouldnt vote for Schrumm if you paid me.
George W. Schrumm is just angry.
9:17, 10:13, 12:47 - Let me guess, one or all of you are dems on the tc. lol What's even more commical is watching Hall try to be humorous, although sometimes out right rude, with councilors & the public. He really needs to improve the way he runs the meetings. Or how about the newest lady...she just goes on and on and on with her comments. Waiting for her to tell the seniors to move out of town as she said once before. She promised big increases in senior tax credits during her campaign - I guess that was just to get elected. And how about the commical other lady...she just spews her kind comments to the point it sounds ridiculous. Oh yes, those dems...wanting turf fields, consultants for everything under the sun, 2 million dollar ball fields etc....I want I want I want.
Let's set the record straight-the Republicans wanted 900K for the trail that would serve no benefit for the town and that is wise spending of money? The meeting where turf is brought up at least had a packed house of citizens who wanted it and it would cost the town 0 (zero) money-repeat 0 money. The millions for ballfields was reduced to less than 150K by a Democrat Councilor who took a leadership role in that regard. So please-before you make critical comments make sure you have all the facts on the table. Oh-the pool. You mean the pool that the Republican majority messed up so the Democrats have to fix it? Oh that pool.
And as far a Chair Hall goes-at least he is respectful of ALL the citizens who come to speak-the former chair was not and made some very disrespetful comments to citizens who came to the council. That is one of the good things that has happened-a real change in tone and attitude. People in the community have commented as such and have noticed so it is fresh air.
And ideas-the last time the Republicans were in charge we got very ineffective leadership-remember the zero budget for education but not the town side-let's face it that was just a big payback and was also one of the reasons why the Republicans are in the minority, we need to think more thoughfully than that when the chips are down. Now matter how you slice it the citizens sent a message in 05 and it was cut the crap and start addressing the issues of the town. And that is exactly what the Democrats did and will continue to do. The Republicans need to get smart and start puttng up more reasonable candidates (not the ones serving now) if they have any hope of staying relevant. If they all follow the same influence as in the past then they will be sitting looking over at a 6-3 or 7-2 majority for the Democrats. I am an unaff. voter who will vote for the person-and the people I like now are the ones who make the most common sense. That would be the Dems.
Oh-the seniors will get their tax relief and the Dems will all fullfill their obligations=which is a promise made and kept. That dog don't hunt if you are saying that there was a commitment not kept. When the Rep were in charge there was actually no action taken and it took a Dem majority to get er done.
The North End development project will increase the taxes paid by residents substantially. The infrastructure costs associated with the plan at minimum are: a new fire station, additional police, costs of getiing utilities, water, sewer and natural gas across 691 to the site. Even if the developers pay for some or all of the installed costs the residents will be left paying for the annual costs. The question that needs to be asked is; what is the projected tax revenue increase from the devlopment, how much is the annual increased cost to the taxpayers. If the annual tax revenue from the development is equal to or large than the associated annual costs then the plan should go through. If it cannot pay for itself, it should be rejected.
Yes, let's get the facts straight. The republicans put the linear trail out to referendum for the voters to decide. It got defeated-end of story. At least the voters were able to decide which is the way it should be. The dems were supposed to put the $300k tech. initiative out to referendum but somehow it was reduced to $275K, given to the boe, and the voters were NOT able to decide.
The ballfields - the dems spent 9K on a consultant just to find out that the 2 million would be too expensive - they should have known before hand.
And the pool, let's see, besides consultant fees, just how much more the dems will want to spend on it to supposedly fix it. Right.
The 0 growth budget year for the boe - they got $234K so there never was a 0 growth yr.
The turf - the AD recruited all those people to the meeting. As far as no cost to the taxpayer - you must be kidding. Any state funds are really taxpayers money coming back to us, the cost would have likely been more than 850K, the replacement of the turf (& machinery) in 10 or so years would come out of the boe's budget, etc,etc.
And here's one more - during the last budget cycle the reps wanted to reduce the tax increase even slightly more yet the dems didn't want to. The further reduction wouldn't have effected any programs or services, yet the dems went with the higher increase.
Yes, get your facts straight.
No not end of story-beginning of story. Reckless spending is a trait of the recent Republicans here in Cheshire and in Washington. The extra 234K that eventually went to the board of ed was voted down by the former chair and vice chair. So if it was up to them it would be a zero. ONly the level headed moderates prevailed.
The turf money will go to some community so why not Cheshire. It will actually reduce the cost of maint. and that is a fact.
Under the leadrship of the Democrats the budget surplus went up not down and the bond rating increased so we can borrow money cheaper. ONe of the reasons-good communication between the town manager and the council-of course since the Dems took control it got better. Facts are stubborn things and there they are. The money for the tech for the board was a very good way to not overspend and to get the board what they needed.
Oh the turf-many groups of citizens have met with the state delegation asking for the money so there is a growing number who want to see it happen.
Let's see, every pro team is removing artifical turf because of the added injuries, and of course it's time for Cheshire to get it
Giants just put it in and the Patriots put it in two monts ago. get the facts straight.
Ten NFL teams have Field Turf in their stadiums, while 18 use it at their practice facilities.
Since the Democrats had been in the majority for only the last six months of FY06, they can hardly claim full (if any) responsibility for the most recent budget surplus. At best, they can share the credit with the prior council. FY05 and FY06 produced budget surpluses of $1.5MM and $2.1MM - largely to the efforts of the prior council. An interesting side note, had the TC granted the Education Dept.'s request in the "zero-growth" year, the town would have seen deficits, or at best, no surpluses in the past two years.
As for the bond rating change, I believe every member of the TC that was quoted said this was something that no single council member or party could take credit for. Rather it is the results of years of prudent financial planning.
As far as artificial turf goes, there have been many numbers thrown out there - starting with the $500K request by the TC to the stte legislators. But if you read the papers, there has yet to be a turf field put in for under a million dollars. No one did their homework on this one and no one has any idea how much this field will cost. That's not leadership.
Field turf is different and I believe has higher installation and maintaince costs.
and in some sports, artificial turf appears to be getting phased out wherever possible. Unless of course you think Jayson Blair was writing sports articles for the NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/sports/baseball/09grass.html?ex=1268024400&en=59d09972c6a97247&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt
"It was the end of baseball in Montreal that eliminated the last outpost of artificial turf in the National League. In the American League, artificial turf remains in just three stadiums - the Rogers Center in Toronto, the Metrodome in Minneapolis and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., the home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays."
11:43...
you mention "field turf." Is that different from the "artificial turf" proposed for the high school? I don't know and haven't researched it. As for costs, I've asked for lifecylce costs several times, but haven't gotten anything yet. I stopped asking though because the turf hasn't been discussed by the council for a while now.
Also, if you want to add links, you can use this link
Field turf is the brand name of the newest art. surface. There is no more astroturf.
Bottom line from a Repulican:
Pool was our fault as majority.
Trail is a waste of money.
Schrumm is too negative.
Hall does a good job and is a nice guy.
hey, did some orthopedic doctors contribute to the Democrats in Cheshire?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_toe
Turf toe, more properly known as a metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain, is an injury to the joint and connective tissue between the foot and one of the toes, usually the big toe. Turf toe is named from the injury being associated with playing sports on rigid surfaces such as artificial turf and is a fairly common injury among professional American football players.
Anon 10:47
THANKS for getting the facts straight - I couldn't have said it better myself!
Godd on all of you guys, now we are getting a discussion with value.
The 234k for the BOE in o budget year was given to Chehsire by the State a designated as ECS, Educational Cost Sharing money. For the Council to allocate in other line items, technically would have wrong.
The artifical turf does not have a lower maintaince cost. The AD said in ameeting the cost to maintain the current grass field was $16,000 per year. He did have a cost to maintain a new field, but thought it would be lower than $16,000. Again, another instance of lack of reliable data. We do not need new turf, we need common sense leadership in the BOE & Town Council.
The $900k for the Linear Trail was put out for referendum, but the Republicans did not clearly explain what their plans were. Only after the Dem's called them on it did the Republicans come and say we wanted the voters to choose. Originally, the Republicans thought the 900k would easily pass. When told it was a mistake, even after the election, some refused to believe.
All Town Councils for the past 12 years owns the pool debacle. The only piece of work left is to see who is nuts enough to want to ask the taxpayers to spend several million dollars more to fix it.
What this Town needs is elected leadership that operates on common sense. We should buy what we can afford, not go out and borrow more money because the rating is so good. The better rating comes from the work of Milone, the Council does nothing to improve this.
To get money from the State because if we don't somebody else will is a wrong reason. Focus on what is important, sewer upgrades, road repairs, affordability for all to live in this place. Keep this in mind, if we continue to spend like we have, a few large parcels of land will be developed for low income, based on State statutes, the zoning board cannot stop it. What will it cost all of us when a 500 apartment complex goes up, 1200-1500 more kids in the school system, new schools are needed, think of what that will do to this pretty little town.
One problem we have is several of our Town Council members have family members working in other town departments. We can argue all day about the definition of conflict of interest, but here it is. Each og the Town Council members ahve their own pet projects or desires they would like to see get done. We need people who will make decisions based on true needs, not favorite sports, family relationships or business interests.
turf toe is an old injury that came about when there was only astroturf. Field turf does not give this kind of injury-get the facts straight.
Whatever that means.
So we ought to waste a million dollars of state money finding out if we increase injuries to our student athletes?
No wonder we have $16 billion in state debt and a health care crisis
Your all nuts and you all need to get your facts stight. If you all have such great ideas and want to use individuals names, use should have enough guts to use you own.
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