The Big Picture

 Chairman,CAVE
 (Citizens Against Virtually Everything!)

I would hate to be branded a member of CAVE -- I have long supported a new public safety building to replace the undersized, decrepit facilities now in use.   But I can very easily see both sides on this one -- I can even argue this issue with myself:

Will the Building make us safer?  Well, it will probably decrease Fire/EMS response times to somebody's house -- but not mine..  

Is it necessary?   There seems to be a growing trend towards building huge municipal edifices over the past decade.  I know it has been said that the buildings are being built to some sort of new industry standard or accreditation yardstick.  I would think a more important yardstick would be the number of  "Boots on the Ground".  People put out fires, rescue people, and capture Bad Guys -- Buildings don't.  But, Buildings do provide healthy work environments that may allow people to do their jobs more efficiently as well as provide facilities for the continue training of people.  Buildings also make a good place to store equipment in a manner that will make it last longer and/or work better (and provide a secure place to store Bad Guys until they can be given to somebody else).

Is it the right time?  It's never the right time for anything   Our local infrastructure is falling apart because nobody has agreed to spend anything on Town Buildings for decades.  The Great Local Wizards of Yore saw Commercial Development as the Work of the Devil.  They went out of their way to block commercial development -- which shifted a huge portion of the tax burden onto homeowners.  And, then they started selling their land to new home owners who increasingly needed new expensive services -- like schools, police & fire protection.

A Municipal Translation Guide

I recently read an amusing article about meaningless words and phrases that should be removed from everyone's vocabulary.  It contained the usual suspects -- "like",  "literally", "changing paradigm", "outside the box", etc.

It made me think of a newer variation -- "Meaningless Words and Phrases That Could be Eliminated From Local Government Discussions."  But, knowing how unyielding the local vernacular is to modification of any sort, I , instead, offer the following translation/response guide.

1)  "Transparent" -- Buzzword #1 -- nothing could be bad if it is described as "transparent"!  Generally used to criticize somebody else's work -- even though the speaker would probably do nothing different if given the opportunity.

2)  "Seek Community Input"  -- The speaker is seeking to avoid making a decision for which they could be criticized.  This allows blame to be spread around based on the public opinion they will receive from the 7 people paying attention to that particular issue.

(First Rule of Thumb for Government Speaking -- When in doubt, repeat the phrases "Transparent" and "Community Input" as many times as possible!)

3)  "People have expressed concern" -- Very similar to #1, except the speaker is unwilling to say that it is either their own opinion because nobody else was paying attention to the issue, or nobody was willing to be publicly associated with their own opinion.

4A)  "It's a Process" -- A meaningless phrase used when the speaker doesn't have a constructive idea; or just wants more camera time.  We need to spend less time discussing process, and more time discussing progress.

4B)  "Evolve" -- Nothing has happened yet, we're not sure what will happen in the future either.

5) "Think outside the box" -- Speaker really has no idea what to say; but doesn't want to admit it.  (I would say that Speaker should be put inside a box -- except that somebody is liable to interpret that as a threat and pressure the local constabulary to investigate a potential domestic terrorism risk.)

6)  "Uncharted territory" --- I got no F'n idea what's going to happen!

7)  "Deferred maintenance"  -- Something we know we should have done previously -- but are now pretending to be surprised that we hadn't done previously (related to the Ben Franklin quote -- "a stitch in time saves nine")

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot!

OK, The Accountant beat The Tree Warden for State Rep., that's a Good Thing.   And, on the State Senate side, as much as we all love to hate Beacon Hill and its inhabitants, who wants to wait the decade before somebody stops using "who is" in front of your State Senator's name?  If you need the State's attention, do you want to be represented by a freshmen Senator from the Minority Party, or The Boss -- Pragmatism wins!

But what happened to el Presidente ?  Is anybody better off than they were a few years ago?  My obvious bias would be to support a corporate restructuring guy over a "Community Activist" -- since (a) the Country obviously needs some restructuring and (b) who really likes "Community Activists"?.  I think its  time for the Grand Old Party to start reeling their right wing in a little ... lest it break off entirely!

And, does anybody feel they will be better represented by the left wing Professor from Oklahoma (even worse than a "wash ashore!") who scammed the system by lying about her heritage?    Didn't a couple of Boston Firemen try that a decade ago? Was anybody else amused by her rant about the Government needing to "do something"about the cost of higher education?  Perhaps they should crack-down on overpaid Professors !   Was it me, or did she seem incapable of answering any questions without repeating mouth loads of "sincere" rhetoric -- that had nothing to do with the question asked? 

Speaking as a guy who has taken several dogs, cats, rabbits, and  a guinea pig for their final car ride (and who watched both his parents die miserable deaths), I was surprised that voters weren't willing to allow terminally ill patients the same merciful treatment we allow our pets.  I would be willing to bet there were a lot of folks who were incapable of travelling to the polls yesterday who may have felt differently on the issue.  Well, I am sure somebody's guilt was eased by the fact that they were able to prolong an "existence" -- maybe they made themselves feel better?

But, then again, it looks like we'll have some medical marijuana to play with while we're all waiting to check out!

The voters have spoken.  And, as the old saying goes, "the only thing worse than Democracy, is Not Having Democracy!"

Not that my Opinion matters ...

I am under no illusion that my endorsement is worth more than a "warm pitcher of spit". In fact, because of my very strong (and unapologetic) views on certain issues, some (including members of my immediate family!) may occasionally prefer I sit quietly.  But, hey, I'm not sensitive!

There was an amusing Letter to the Editor in the CCT recently endorsing the Town's former Tree Warden to be our next State Representative.  The writer said we needed an "energetic" representative who wasn't "out of touch" with his constituents.

Right criteria  -- but he tried to apply them to the wrong candidate!  

"Out of touch" certainly describes most of the denizens of Beacon Hill -- including the Governor, his friend in Washington, and the law professor/Indian princess from Cambridge/Oklahoma!

But it doesn't apply to  Randy Hunt.

Even if I haven't agreed with Randy on every issue over the years, I have never questioned that his actions were sincere and well-researched.  Even overlooking his record of constituent service -- every email or phone call responded to quickly and personally -- dealing with a wide variety of individuals and small business owners is the lifeblood of his public accounting practice.  You can't be more "in touch" with people than when you sit down with them at the end of the year to review what they worked hard to earn, and what  the government will be taking away from them -- in many cases to give to those who didn't work very hard.

Randy is certainly accessible and he definitely communicates regularly with his constituents.  I heard he even writes a blog to share his opinions and observations --- actually, I heard he writes "the nice blog".  (Who writes the other one?)

And, as far as "energetic", obviously that letter writer never saw the campaign-o-cycle!

Please vote Tuesday.

The Power of Marketing ! (From Anonymous Contributor)

Occasionally, I receive pieces written by folks who may have an opinion on an issue, but may also personal or professional reasons for not raising their objections publicly -- hence the "Anonymous Contributor" label.

Truth in Advertising?

Behold! The mighty power of marketing (and power)!

Anyone besides me noticing the all court, full time marketing blitz being conducted by town employees and others to justify the new public safety building? 

Town employees have even gone so far as to set up tents on Saturday mornings at the Wing School soccer fields to distribute glossy public safety building brochures that attempt to justify and explain the building to otherwise occupied soccer moms and dads. 

Setting aside the important question of whether a new public safety building is needed and justifiable; isn't this and related activity a political campaign for a tax increase? 

Aren't there laws governing election campaigning? Isn't this group of town employees and volunteers actually operating an unregistered Political Action Committee (a PAC)? Since when can the town and town employees conduct a political campaign funded by of all people us taxpayers? Who else but us taxpayers paid for the brochures and architectural drawings?

Where’s the ire?

Where’s the outrage? Where are our town officials? Where’s Taylor White – aka Mr. Open Meeting Law? Where are the police? Oh, that’s right – they’re all running the campaign. 

The Hostage Crisis Continues

From the Sandwich Broadsider:

Sandwich historical group seeks Clark-Haddad Hall curator-ship

"...The Sandwich Historical Commission in this regard is working on the idea of creating a curator-ship for the building, involving somebody or a group who would move in and take up occupancy.

Commission member Lisa Hassler, a realty agent and historical preservation enthusiast who lives in the Clark-Haddad neighborhood is spearheading that effort. 

The commission has talked with neighbors. Commission chairman Terry Blake says the neighbors don’t want Clark-Haddad to be sold. They prefer preservation and occupancy...."  (Click here for Full Story)

Several years ago, a former School Committee acknowledged the obvious when they voted to move the School Administration Offices out of its decrepit Dewey Ave location and into the High School Building.  This certainly seemed logical -- the move increased operational efficiency and decreased maintenance costs.  It was also assumed that once the building was declared surplus and sold it would increase municipal cash flow -- money that could be used to reduce some of the other capital needs facing the Town.

Not that easy.

STEM (Part 2)

School Picture Day?

In addition to concerns about the way the STEM concept is being "sold" to parents & taxpayers (see Part 1), I have a few more specific thoughts after watching much of last week's School Committee meeting.

Safety -- The loudest recurring theme coming out of this meeting seemed to be the safety of the incoming 7th & 8th graders.  Ironically, it seems many folks are less concerned about adult strangers off the street wandering around the pool area than they are about allowing 12 year-olds in the same building with 17 year-olds.  To hear some parents talk, you would swear that SHS is marketing hash pipes and maternity clothes with the Blue Knights logo.  We do need to hear a the plan for limiting interaction between the 7th & 8th graders and the "general population" -- but it's probably not a deal breaker for me.

STEM (Part 1)

From the Sandwich Enterprise: "In response to the concerns expressed by many parents, Superintendent C. Richard Canfield announced that he has utilized "left-over" FY '12 maintenance funds to purchase 450 Big Plastic Bubbles to protect 7th & 8th graders if they move to the High School next year.  As their contribution to the transition effort, the combined PTA's of the Wing, Forestdale, and Oakridge Schools purchased 448 "My Child is Gifted & Talented" bumper stickers to be affixed to the plastic bubbles.  It is unknown which 2 of the new bubbles would NOT be receiving a "Gifted & Talented" sticker -- although a spokesperson for the Wing PTA assured reporters that none of the "non-G&T" students attended The Wing."

(OK, that wasn't really in The Emptyprize, but given their typical loose grasp on reality...)

Parents' Expectation Letter

I've seen a dramatic increase in letters from teachers this year requiring parents to sign off and acknowledge each teachers expectations for students behavior/performance, etc.

As my children have prohibited me from returning said letters to each teacher with my own list of "expectations" attached, I am going to attach it here.

Dear Teacher,

Thank you for your recent letter outlining the expectations you have of my child, and (presumably) myself.

I assure you, my child will be expected to behave in your classroom, and complete his/her assignments on time and in an appropriate manner.  My child is also expected to treat you, your colleagues,  and his/her classmates with appropriate respect at all times.

If you ever find that not to be the case, please let me know and his/her attitude will be adjusted accordingly.  I do not make excuses for my child's behavior or performance.

In return, as a parent and taxpayer, I expect the following of you and the School Administration:

• You will use classroom time to teach.  I have no problem helping with homework.  But, I do not expect to be teaching original material at night.  I have been on the Earth for a half century (OMG!) and I spent 17 years in School, but unless we're talking Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, or Business Management, I will probably not teach your subject as well as you do.

Legalus Pissing Contestus

My Latin is rusty, but I believe the above phrase describes exactly what we are now witnessing in the case of Johnson vs. Sandwich School Committee, Marshall, Crossman, Kangas and Linehan.

While most of the general public has moved on to iPads, STEM, and other pressing issues (soccer, Pop Warner, and North Face jackets), the Johnson case continues to wind its way slowly through the justice system.  The most recent report is that the "Discovery" phase of the case is expected to run through March 15 of next year.  So far, the State Appeals Court & the State Supreme Court have "discovered" that there was a valid contract and that nobody made a proper effort to void it.  

I'm not sure what's left ..... other than running up the legal bills and continuing to delay accepting responsibility for the "real" decision -- who wants to be in the room when its time to approve a settlement?  

Without talking to anybody, if I was a fly on the wall, this is what I bet i would hear:

From the School Committee:  "We have no money.  She's a Town employee, the BOS needs to fund a settlement."

From the BOS:   "The School Committee caused this when they didn't bother going to court to void the contract.  We warned them they were being irresponsible, but they did it anyway.  We know that two of the four culprits aren't on the Committee anymore -- but, Screw them!"

From FinCom: "The Schools would have had the money to settle this lawsuit if they hadn't gone on their year-end shopping spree.  We like the Superintendent, but he left his Committee hanging in the breeze with their pants down on this issue.  The Committee should have discussed year-end spending including a litigation reserve -- not just allow this hot potato to get dumped back on the Town."

From Kangas:  "We need to stop kids from leaving the District, regardless of what it costs ... What?  That wasn't what you asked? Oh, What was the question again?"

From Crossman:  "We were thinking about maybe having a meeting to talk about forming a subcommittee to maybe have a fundraiser for the pool maybe, um, someday ......."

From 93% of the Electorate:  "When does soccer practice start?"