Last evening the Derry town council held it's Public Hearing on the FY08 Budget and CIP ( Capital Improvement Plan ). After many workshops, televised repeatedly on the budgets for this year I was expecting a large turnout of citizens to express the pleasures or displeasure with this upcoming budget.
After last years charter revision proposal- I expected to see the people who wanted to have a say on the budget to be at last nights meeting in force. I was wrong!!
We had maybe 6 people. SIX at the public hearing. And with those six, I heard from 2 of them actual questions on the budget. Very good questions mind you and well thought out. These two did follow what was going on and I felt really had some input.
The other 4 people were the regular nay-Sayers- You know the ones who no matter what you do or say they will find some complaint. Some of these people seem to be regulars and as far as I can remember were always doing what they do best. Did it contribute? Well I leave that up to the people whom have watched over the many years chime in on that one.
Yes, I have been an elected official long enough to know that I'll be hearing from some that will say the reason they stay at home is because we don't listen to anyone or we will hear that people stayed home because they are satisfied with the way things are.
Well, I say that it is called " Copping OUT ". People will use any excuse that will fit and that is troublesome. I will say one thing though. people elected the people they want to do the homework and to make sure things are running smoothly. Time will tell though, how we do during the year.
One interesting comment from a citizen. We should measure our accomplished goals from the previous year. Did we do what we said we were going to do? That's a great idea and one we should follow.
How do you think the council is doing with this years budget??? Comments are appreciated.
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15 comments:
I'VE TRIED TO WATCH AS MUCH AS I CAN, IT'S VERY LENGTHY - HATS OFF TO ALL OF YOU FOR PUTTING IN THE TIME.
A COUPLE OF RANDOM THOUGHTS --- I'D LIKE TO SEE A TABLE BY COUNCILOR, THAT WOULD SHOW THE NET IMPACT (CUTS AND ADDITIONAL SPENDING) OF THEIR VOTES FOR THIS BUDGET --- THIS PROBABLY CAN'T BE PULLED TOGETHER, BUT IT WOULD CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE WHO, AMONG YOU, ARE THE REAL FISCAL CONSERVATIVES.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE COUNCILOR WHO LIKES TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF AS THE CHAMPION OF THE TAXPAYER HAS SUPPORTED SOME COSTLY SPENDING.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, IN ONE SENSE ATTORNEY COYLE'S THOUGHTS AS EXPRESSED IN THE DERRY NEWS TODAY ARE UNNECESSARILY AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
NO ONE VIOLATED THE CHARTER IN SIGNING THE AMBULANCE CONTRACT - LEAST OF ALL THE FIRE CHIEF(?!). IF SOMEONE DID VIOLATE THE CHARTER, AS ATTORNEY COYLE STATED, THE COUNCIL HAS A DUTY TO, AT LEAST, REPRIMAND THAT PERSON. IT SIMPLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SHAME ON ATTORNEY COYLE FOR NOT MOVING LAST YEAR TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SEEK APPROVAL ON SUCH CONTRACTS.
HAVING SAID THAT, I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS TYPE OF CONTRACT APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
6:33,
Thanks for your comments. I agree that a chart for each councilor would indeed be interesting to see. I can tell you that I have offered via motions the most cuts. I made a motion for $145,000 in cuts on one night- Both these cuts would have no impact to services- next would be Kevin- he offered a $50,000 cut in fire budget however according to Chief Klauber those cuts would effect service and it is interesting to know would of effected service to Hampstead road station ( Old east derry fire dist area).
BC,
Why would the town of Derry and it's councilors let this official, who's main home is in Conn., sign any deals with anybody? MY OPINION is we are being klaubered with expence at the cost to taxpayers for his ego trip.
In the NEWS PAPER , he states 50,000.00 cut would harm services. Well, sending four fire trucks a day to the work-out center and stopping at 7-11 for slurpies isn't going to put out any fires or save lives.
BC, The town of DERRY is going to spend what it wants no matter howmany taxpayers show up at budget meetings, MOODY AND KLAUBER JUST PROOVED IT!!!!!
Some clarity please --- who actually signed the contract?
It is my understanding that the Chief did not, only the Town Administrator did. Even if the Chief did sign it, his signature does not carry any authority. The Administrator simply followed precident and according to the Town Attorney, it was prefectly legal, indeed, even appropriate.
AGAIN, shame on Attorney Coyle for LAST YEAR NOT moving that these type of contracts be approved.
PS: The last election pulled the fiscal conservative & Republican mask off of the Libertarian (WH3)-'nuf said about him.
10:31,
You are correct. The acting town administrator signed the contract not the fire chief. yes it was perfectly legal and it had been done in the past the same way. For Mr Coyle to say he was "sandbagged" is a little much. However, he makes a good point that councilors should see the contract. In the future, it should go that way. ( lets not over re-act). They fire administration are professionals and know what they are doing. Next time, councilors should have a chance to see and make comments. But the mis-trust needs to be worked on in my estimation
Brian:
My comments are not on the budget, but on the blog responsders. One can only assume "annonymous" is a Derry Firefighter! I really think that you(Brian) should NOT post "anonymous" posts whether they agree with you or not
Paul H
Paul H,
People responding to my blog can post by creating a name such as your self " Paul H " or can leave a post anonymously.
Anonymous is not anyone individual here. it justs means someone did not create an on-line name. ( I thought the same thing at first but found that different people post under anonymous)
I don't see a big reason to stop people from making a comment this way. I trying to understand your logic but do not know where you are coming from on your reasons.
Please explain!
BC,
When one is not sure who signed what, this blog avenue is a great place to get things clarified.Nobody is perfect and has all the answers.
I dont ware a mask as you know BC,and don't hide behind anonymous names.I vote REPUBLICAN, and always will.WHY? DONKEYS like to spend money that isnt there's and Liberals are all gathering at state houses to doom everything our forfathers have freed us from.
BC, I cannot understand why more people don't speak up about wasting of taxpayers money.NUF SAID
ps: Can you imagin Paul Revere coming into Concord and LEXINGTON MASS. YELLING OUT " WAKE UP, THE ANONOYMOUS ARE COMING !!!!
I have watched the budget workshops and have been happy and somewhat surprised to see that ALL the councilors seem to be voting what they feel is right regardless of past or present alliances. Sure there have been dissenting votes but not the same old 5-2 splits we became so familiar with on the previous council.
I have to say that I was frankly shocked after just having over 1600 people vote to have a say on the budget in March, only a handful actually spoke on it, and while most of them were "regulars", at least they participated in the process rather than just complain about it.
Also, I for one hope you continue to allow anonymous posts on this blog. It allows those who may not be either technology or blog savvy to speak their opinions without having to start a blog account. Anything that increases dialog, regardless of the point of view, is a good thing.
Paul H apparently comes from a different school of thought. Whether "anonymous" is a Derry firefighter or not, he has just as much right to express his views as wh3 or anyone else. And giving himself a blog name like wh3 or paul h, not only still doesn't give him an identity, but is irrelevant to the dialog it creates.
You keep running your blog how you want and Paul H can run his how he wants, if he even has one.
nfw,
AMEN
"Anonymous" here again,
Hey wh3, my post exposed your false assertion that the Chief signed the contract. Can the truth be a bad thing?
The only other point that needs to be (re)highlighted is that Attorney Coyle had a chance LAST YEAR to move that these type of contracts be approved bt the Council --- HE DID NOT MAKE THAT MOTION.
With this egg on his face, his political instints are to point the finger elsewhere - a very divisive tact.
The shame of it really is that in many cases he does not have to be accusing/divisive; Attorney Coyle's passion for politics drives his thinking. In this case, his position is the correct one --- these type of contracts, within reason --- should be approved by the Council.
By the way wh3, would you care to put up a $1,000 bet/donation to the Iraq/Afgan Vet Memorial that I am not a Fireman and do not work in the public sector?
ANONOMOUS,
I did not state you were a fireman, or work for anybody.I do not bet,or do not waste taxpayers money.I leave that for the Dem's.
If you are the anonomous that likes to bet,you might want to hook - up with the nice x employee from the DEDC.One grand is a drop in the bucket for her.
I spend my donations AND time on KOREAN AND NAM VETS SIR , BECAUSE THOSE CONFLICTS DIRECTLY EFFECTED MY FAMILY IN A BAD WAY.
THIS ANSWER IS ONLY FOR THE BETTING ANONOMOUS ,NOT THE OTHER 10 BAZILLION. HAVE A HAPPY DAY.
As a proud, left wing, liberal Democrat, I find it interesting that conservatives use the word "democrat' like its an insult. I would never denounce a Republican. We are all entitled to our respective views. What do conservatives deride Dems? Perhaps because they cannot beat them with facts so they resort to so called name bashing.
Today's paper shows that Attorney Coyle's politics are about to drive yet another Town Administrator out; this at a time when we are trying to recuit a permanent one?!!?
Attorney Coyle had felt
"sandbagged" which means he felt someone dupped him on purpose....now, in a most condesending tone, he believes that Dr. Moody simply didn't know any better.
Unfortunately, it is Attorney Coyle who didn't know any better --- it is he who was ignorant to the precedent and the Town's legal opinion. It is he who did not move last year to require these type of contracts be approved.
This also falls into the parade of examples where Attorney Coyle has issued a legal judgement from his seat on the Town Council (a legislative body). This particilar political judgement also serves to cast doubt --- without any supporting facts --- on the impeccable reputation of Dr. Moody.
PS: This also marks a feable attempt to further politicize our Emergency Services --- The Chief DID NOT sign the contract and does not report to the Town Council.
The wrong person is considering resigning!!!!!
AFTER WATCHING THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS I CAN'T HELP BUT VOICE MY CONCERN.....IS ANYONE (THE COUNCILORS)PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO THIS NEWLY CREATED HEALTH DEPARTMENT? FIRST STEP WAS GETTING THEIR PRESENCE IN THE DMC, NOW WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY THIS YEAR TO FUND/SUPPORT IT...THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.THERE'S A HIDDEN AGENDA HERE AND IF THE COUNCIL ISN'T CAREFUL THE TAXPAYERS OF DERRY WILL BE FULLY FUNDING THIS REGIONAL HEALTH NETWORK.I HEAR ABOUT CROSS TRAINING AND NO NEW HIRES. WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS? EIGHT HOURS HERE AND THERE WILL SOON END UP TO 40 HOURS A WEEK, WITH BENEFITS. LUCKILY THEY DIDN'T GET THE NEW CAR THEY WERE ASKING FOR! LOOK INTO THIS. PLEASE
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