Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Open forum 3/18

Tonight, we had the first of two public hearings on the budget. It wasn't the biggest crowd I've ever seen, but a few people did attend and speak. Personally, I appreciated the people who were calling for no tax increase this year... particularly with market uncertainty, rising food prices and... talk of $4 gas by Memorial Day... I think avoiding a tax increase is a worthwhile goal.

One thing I forgot to mention last night... about the Youth & Social Services budget... they're planning on launching some sort of student outreach effort. It'll be done via web-based video. I'm not sure if they'll be using YouTube or Google or Daily Motion, etc. But I do know that they won't be using either the school website or the town website... because as I found out last night... the town website is incapable of providing you with video.

Yes. You heard that right. The town website can't handle video. Of course, brought to you by blogger... my freebie website... is quite capable of handling video, but... ummm... well... I guess it'll be impossible for the town to ever provide you with Council/PZC meetings over the web. Sure... the town could create it's own blog at no cost... and link the town website to the blog at no cost... and have staff spend ten minutes uploading each Council meeting to Google Video, but... ummm... well... who among you believes this rubberstamp majority is willing to direct staff to do that?

Anyway, back to my point... I appreciate the initiative being taken by the Youth & Social Services department in trying to contact kids and provide them with an outlet... I know that as soon as I reached Dodd, and for several years thereafter... until either any of my friends or I could drive/work... I was often looking for something to do... some of it was afterschool sports, but especially in summer I had time on my hands and I think a lot of these efforts could have a real benefit... I recall always having fun at the "youth center dances."

Finally, as an update to my previous post on Town-owned vehicles, here's an update for the PD:
Tim White

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Sure, the town could create it's own blog at no cost... and link the town website to the blog at no cost... and have staff spend ten minutes uploading each Council meeting to Google Video, but..."

Oh no, the town should spend $20,000 to hire a consultant to figure out how to do all this!

Why should the town save money when we have all this money to spend?

Anonymous said...

2008 Trailblazer for the Chief who also wants a 13% increase?

Are there any rules as to what type of vehicle the town buys the adminstrators? Or do they get to choose what they want? In this day of high gas prices, don't you think we should be enforcing that we buy better fuel effecient vehicles instead of gas guzzlers like a trailblazer?

I think it's time to look at the vehicles being used, especially since we are concerned about who is using the gas in this town.
Time to tighten the belt!

Anonymous said...

As time goes on it is very apparent some people who wish to know will be willing to read more on a particular subject matter. To start with maybe the pool is a good place to start. Stay tuned.

Anonymous said...

Historical fact-The pool took a great deal of time by many in the town knowledgeable in the field of swimming. After many past/failed referendums the idea of a large pool came to exsist. Build it large so it can be used by many at the same time. Swim lessons, lap swimming, pool parties, diving, scuba classes, water exercise etc. All can be done at once. Build a small pool with 6 lanes and "the only people to use it will be the swim teams." (this is exactly what would have happened. Cheshire High swim team. 2;30-5:00 Age group swimmers YMCA USS teams 5:00 -9:00. 5 days per week and weekends. Get the picture. Well lets build a large pool as stated before. to be continued

Anonymous said...

No increase in taxes, YES, YES, YES..

Anonymous said...

Why would we not be purchasing a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid instead of a Chevy Trailblazer anyway. The town should be purchasing fuel efficient vehicles.....

Anonymous said...

Many people in this Town are aware that todays cars can easily go over 100,000 miles and still be safe. We have a town garage that repairs amd maintains these cars. If they do a good job of oil changes etc. they can go the 100,000 miles and be safe. Let's look at this budget more closely.

Anonymous said...

pool history 2-Problem-the hole was dug after being surveyed in the wrong "spot". ist major setback. redig then the Ledge had to be removed. blasted and carted away. The 1st major expense. to be continued

Anonymous said...

Pool 3- Many town officials took the fall for the numerous "problems" that occurred during the construction of the pool and it's structure. However let's go back. Referendum time. We may remember the $ but that is in the past what needs to be recogniized is the Process of how the referendum passed. A lot of hard work by the committees, calling and giving the "facts" about how beneficial the pool will be. The people voted and the pool with its bubble was a "go". That is what was decided. A large pool to accomodate all, covered by a large bubble, (the most cost effective) to enclose would be a figure that would be far too much money so thus the bubble. This bubble would be removed each spring to make this large pool an outdoor pool. The cost was clearly stated and all who showed up to vote knew the $ amounts. It was voted on and here we have what was planned for. To recap: the pool was designed to have the bubble removed in the spring summer and part of Sept. The cost was explained. In Sept the bubble would be put over the pool for the winter use. All involved knew the pool area would have to be heated at a projected cost. This bubble was the most cost effective means to offer a year round facility. THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR.
to be continued.

Anonymous said...

Didn't the pool end up costing something like 3 times what we voted on?

Anonymous said...

That might have been what the voters voted for but they were wrong. Don't spend my tax dollars on a pool! It should be filled in or sold to a private group. So there I said it. If people want to keep the pool for the towns people let them have a fundraising drive every year to make up the short fall.

Keeping the pool "afloat" is not the taxpayers problem. It's bad business...

Anonymous said...

A vote is a vote. It passes or it fails. It is not a vote of what is right or wrong but what is. Hopefully those who were against came out to vote however as usual the voters cast the votes and the results came in favor of building the pool. Unfortunately the general public only get the "facts" from what is written in the newspaper and we know how creative that can become. Stay tuned.