The entire turf discussion (3 of 3)
Here's the last few minutes of the turf discussion:
Catching my attention were the following words:
"It was people grandstanding... 15 minutes to tell the Board of Ed 'it's ok for you to study whether or not we're gonna have astroturf or not.' That's it. That's what it should have taken."
FACT: there was no need for the turf to be on the agenda.
The reality is that the Council majority chose to use the bully pulpit and show their support for the turf. And as far as I'm concerned, that's fine. Council Chairman Matt Hall sets the agenda. He can put anything on it that he wants. And if I recall the meeting correctly, to his credit... and to the credit of Elizabeth Esty... they had the candor and integrity to comment that this discussion was a show of support for the turf supporters.
But the comments from elsewhere actually sadden me.
To suggest that this discussion:
1) was needed for the BOE to move forward and
2) should have taken 15 minutes
was an act of intellectual dishonesty. And it was perpetrated on the public. The reality is that this discussion should have taken zero minutes. And every member of the Council knew there was no need for the turf to be on the agenda... except for a show of moral support. And again... I'm 100% fine with the use of the bully pulpit. I think many elected officials should speak up more. But I really was saddened by this display.
To use the Council Chambers for such words was, in my opinion, intellectually dishonest and merits an apology to the public. Perhaps this would be a good place to begin with improving Council decorum?
Tim White
7 comments:
Is there a time frame where the town has to accept or reject a grant like this?
It makes no sense to accept the money until we know what we will have to pay and if we can afford the difference.
IMO Florio didn't do his job by getting all the facts and figures before it came before the council.
Grandstanding will hurt those TC members next November. Hopefully all will remember this.
That segment was interesting. It looked like DeCaprio was a bobblehead at the beginning while Altieri picked it up at the end. Almost too giddy.
I did like to hear that this process was wearing Ecke out, perhaps this means his end is near.
As I listened to Matt Hall discuss how these fields we have are not "kept up" very well, I wonder what makes him think a $1 million field will be kept up?
Will they have to hire a special maintenance crew to take care of it?
Isn't that where the problem lies....the town just isn't taking care of the fields so they aren't in very good shape. That will scare me. We go and install a $1 million field and they don't have the maintenance crew to take care of it. So, instead of 8 to 10 years in life we get 5. Who will pay for the replacement then?
I sure hope they have a plan for that.
Isn't that where the problem lies....the town just isn't taking care of the fields so they aren't in very good shape.
There are other droids of which you are not to know.
Similar to cutting costs on maintenance, cutting costs on construction could cause problems in the future.
For instance, it is possible to save money and cut corners while constructing a field.
One need not sift the soil... thereby leaving rocks in the topsoil.
For the first year or two, everything would be hunky-dory. But after a winter or two, the rocks may start coming to the surface.
I'm not saying that has happened in Cheshire... I'm just offering my understanding of problems that could arise from cost cutting measures during the construction of fields.
First of all you don't need turf it is a want. People have been playing on grass for at least 100 years and all of them are fine enough all ready! Mr. Ecke you temper tantrum was worse than my 2 year old. The fact is you and your fellow D's got caught trying to pull one over on the town. Your actions are far worse than any other person on that council. If you don't like being there go home. Time and Time again the D's try to ram this "stuff" down our throats and make us swallow it. Turf? We are spending over $450,000 a year on a pool that should be filled. Bravo to Tim for saying we should use the grant to fill that "hole". It is time for people in this town to say enough is enough. Anyone ever think that the people who maintain the football field are not very good at it? Maybe we should take a look at that?
STOP SPENDING MY MONEY ON STUPID STUFF!!!
THIS IS FUBAR!
11:18 "Is there a time frame where the town has to accept or reject a grant like this?"
TOO LATE - they already accepted it!
"IMO Florio didn't do his job getting all the facts and figures before it came before the council."
That didn't matter to him - all he wanted to have happen at the meeting was to have the council accept the funds. He didn't want to answer questions - he never does like answering any tough questions - just watch him at a budget meeting. We pay the superintendent $160K plus and he's doing exactly what he wants - not necessarily what the public wants.
I remember when I asked a question:
"How many teachers do we have?"
I got an immediate response...
Oh wait...
No. I didn't.
Actually the meeting got adjourned.
My b.
Mike Ecke seems to have a serious anger issue. If he can't stand being on the council or isn't interested in the public's or fellow councilors' comments, then he should step down.
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