I would like to take this blog in a more information sharing and educational direction. I will also be including some video bloging of topics and views of the important issues that we all talk about at home at the dinner tables or out at the coffee shops each day. I would like to keep it from attacking other positions as much as possible and use it as a tool to get more information out to people at their lesiure.
I am asking for topics that people are interested in most. Any ideas?
I have also added a link to the Derry Rail Trails website. There you will find timely information about their plans to bring this exciting project to Derry. And please consider a donation as they are trying to use the least amount of taxpayers money as possible.
If anyone else has a link they want displayed-Just let me know.
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26 comments:
bc, excellent idea.....now spell "educational" for us once again please.
How about a discussion on "The Best of Derry" - What do folks think are the positives of the Town?
A review of the Master Plan would be great too - are we staying true to it - does it need reworking?
Where is the town heading? What's our long term plan? How do we attract more business (tax revenue) to town?
The town's election is only a month away. Would you be able to get some info on all the candidates? There are a few contested seats this time around. I also noticed a few young names on there. Good for them! For wanting to put there names on the ballot and help out the community. One young man is running for council. Speaking with him, he seems to care deeply about the future of Derry. He seems motivated to win. Another young man,a veteran, who's running for library trustee, Brendon Walsh. He spoke the other day at the town meeting. He seems to care a lot about the safety of our kids. Brad Benson's also running for council. Good for him! He is always very courteous. It takes courage to run for a usually controversial seat when you own a business in town. Also, Neil Weatherbee (a familiar name to Derry) for council, who shows the motivation we need.
Anyhow, we should know more about the candidates. I hate talking to people who go in the booth and just select the names they like! We need to be careful about doing that. If that was the case, Brendon Walsh and Carla Carney would be getting my vote for everything (I love those names!). You should post links to any articles and editorials that come up about this election.
How about a section on why the Town Council strongly dislikes the Fire Dept.
Anon.11:45,
It’s quite refreshing and encouraging to hear someone speaking with a positive and objective tone about the candidates. I was surprised that you’ve referred to me as a familiar name to Derry. I don’t really see myself that way, but I hope you’re right. For folks wishing to learn more about me and my reasons for running you can go to www.newvoice08.com. End of shameless plug.
I’m also glad you mentioned Brendan Walsh. I didn’t immediately connect the name with his running for library trustee so I’m glad you pointed it out. I do not know him but heard him speak at the special council meeting last Saturday. Very inspiring! We need more people like him who are willing to step up and speak their mind and give of their own time to make the town a little bit better.
Don’t forget there are also some new faces running for school board after both Grace Reisdorf and Matt Hannah decided not to run again. Matt in particular leaves some awfully big shoes to fill. But I know 2 of the candidates, Wendy Smith and Mark Grabowski, currently serve on the school’s Fiscal Advisory Committee and also have given of their time for both the schools and other causes in town.
One last shameless plug. The Community for A Better Derry website is trying to serve as a clearing house for news and opinion stories in the local media as a way for people to get informed about the issues leading up to the election. Just mouse over the Democracy in Derry button to check out the stories.
Thanks again for the positive tone and comments. We need more of that in our town.
I would really like to get a chance to meet and speak with as many people as would have me. I want only to make this town great and for others who have recently moved here to feel the same! I grew up in a small town in Texas and haven't felt like I was home for a long time. Derry is felt like home when we first moved here 3 yrs ago.
Thanks,
Drew Hill
My new site is a work in progress, http://www.drewhillnh.com/
i have an idea BC. why don't we have a "fresh start"
with a new town administrator?
who among us is not concerned with the account that appeared in the paper, once again painting derry in a less than flattering light? it seems once again the derry town council has let one slip through and into our midst.
in short order, mr stenhouse has unfortunately lived up to the numerous warnings about his MO that were sounded out of rochester. these same warnings that were known by and overlooked by members of the town council prior to his hiring.
who's going to pay if push comes to shove with stenhouse? this is just the latest indication of poor judgement demonstrated by the town council due to it's inability to recognize and place long term objectives in front of short term convenience.
BC, what are you going to do about it, including getting our money back from the placement firm that brought us this retread stenhouse?
oh, and speaking of retreads, don't even try to cover your tracks. it's public record who voted in favor of this apparently disingenuous man.
For the record, the vote was 6-1 with councilor Fairbanks being the lone dissenter.
If Stenhouse doesn't work out, there's plenty of blame to go around. The fact is anyone can make a bad hire.
Well Rochester bought him a large boat...
Maybe this summer Derry will be able to buy him a King Cab Ford F-350 to pull it with!
I can not begin to express how I felt when I read (and heard from others) of Stenhouse's full blown article in the Eagle!What even brought on such an interview anyway? How can this man go on as our t.a.? We can't respect him.How does he have Derry in it's best interest. Tell me,how can he, in clear conscience, collect a check every week from us...aaah yes now I remember it's all coming back to me...Rochester, their councilors, and the boat 'Serverance'.. and the headlines when he came to town 'What you see is what you get"! Will Stenhouse be upgrading his boat on Derry's $$$'s this time. Councilors please look at this seriously. You can not allow a t.a. to be out there being so arrogant and disrespectful!It's just not professional!!
I would like to know who it was among our rocket scientist councilors that gave Mr Stenhouse the sense that the residency requirement was flexible.
Chances are we will all find out who it was through the depositions that are likely to be required if Gary continues to unwrap his litigious game plan as he did in Rochester.
More legal entanglements?..More avoidable bad press?..More evidence that things need to change in how Derry has been run by the same old crowd? You bet!!
A possible bad hire selection of a town administrator by the council? Why would we expect anything other than this?
I would like to know who it was amongst our rocket scientist councilors that gave Mr Stenhouse the sense that the residency requirement could be waived?
Chances are we will all find out who it was through the depositions that are likely to be required if Gary continues to unwrap his litigious game plan as he did in Rochester.
More legal entanglements?..More avoidable bad press?..More evidence that things need to change in how Derry has been run by the same old crowd? You bet!!
A possible bad selection and bad hire of a town administrator by our council? Why would we expect anything other than this until council personnel and ability's move up the scale?
Yeah, this guys out of his mind. Who goes around making idiotic comments like that? Why did he feel the need to bust some sausage guy's aggies? He's no good for our town. Now he's refusing to move here even though there is a set clause in his contract. He played you guys (the council)like a fiddle... get rid of the clown.
The fact of the matter is that when we went out to advertise for the TA. We did not get many good candidates to select from. Seems that the overview summary for the hiring stated that the town is being pulled in different directions with political in fighting and not much directions and goals. It also stated how many TA's we have had in the last 10 years or so with the average stay being a couple of years. This is the message that Derry sends to anyone with experience or talent.
It doesn't matter-we will chew you up and spit you out no matter what you bring to the table. ( something has to change here folks)
I agree with you on most issues, and I'm glad we've got you on a seat, but come on...we could've done a lot better than this guy. It seems that this guy was just a "Ahh...good enough" TA. This man is an insult to Derry.
Stenhouse, enjoy your retirement and have fun counting our money. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. If you ever decide to come back to Derry again, stop by the transfer station and get yourself a delicious sausage.
I understand something has to change. I also fully believe your statement that there weren't many good candidates because of the way the Town treats its employees. I am also aware of the vote which 6-1 in favor of hiring him.
However, this guy brings it on himself. It's almost like he wants to get fired within the first year and collect some money from us.
Brian
I hope you are listening...People are not happy and you've only heard from a few here in your blog. He's not in when you call him, he's left early when you call him and he's not one for returning phone messages either. Sorry to say, He knows the 'system' well and will play us like a fine tuned violin. We are concerned and not over reacting!
I have read many of the comments for some time. I don't say much, I mostly listen (read). Here is what I will say:
“The town Council forgot it works for the residents of Derry, allow me to remind them. I am not a politician, I am a neighbor. And I am running for Derry NH’s Town Council, District 3.”
Nick Arancio
http://nick4district3.com/
Vote: on March 11th, 2008
Nick,
You made a few good points on your website. Unfortunately, I was stunned when I read about your idea on closing The Derry Public Library and consolidating with Londonderry to save money. Have you been to the library lately? Weeknights are jammed with students taking it upon themselves to learn and study. To put up a closed sign and to tell the kids they have to find a ride over to the Londonderry Library is asinine. Libraries are the center of communities, especially in Derry. Maybe you should sit down and rethink a few ideas before you talk about saving money at the cost of children who are trying to better themselves.
Well it looks like the Council blew it again with regards to the FF's contract. Way to go!
BC,
what is the clause in his contract, Stenhouse can't he be fired in the first year with minimal compensation? Then where does this leave us he know he has the bull by the horns because no person in their right mind will want to be TA in this town
anon 8:20,
The longer Mr. Steinhouse stays on without termination, the less he will get as a severance package. If terminated early then of course the higher the severance.
Brendan,
Thank you for reading my site. And I must not have written the website well enough. I did not mean that I wanted to close the Library, only that "IF" things get bad financially then that would be an idea. And even then, it is only an idea to discuss with the public. I want to make sure that all people get basic services above anything else.
Nick Arancio
Nick,
Thank you for further explaining your idea. I still have to respectfully disagree with you. Closing the library shouldn't even be considered an option in a plan to save the town money. Too many youths depend on the library for studies, research and recreation.
I hope I don't come across as bashing or heckling you. That is not my intention. You seem to be a good man with good values. I just hope you can put some more thought into this topic.
Brendan,
You do not come off as bashing, your comments are perfect; friendly, and clear. And, I hope I hear lots of constructive critisism and feedback.
I was expecting to hear from someone on how nervous I was at the last Town Meeting. I felt nervous, and did not read my speech very well. I am proud to say, that I went back to that microphone for a second time. I was more relaxed, but still nervous.
I will be speeking againg on March 4th. I have high expectations of myself, and I hope to be more relaxed. I will push my way through my own barriors.
Nick,
You did fine. Everyone is nervous when you come up to the microphone for the first time. In fact I get a little edgy if i'm on the "other side" addressing a different board. So relax and speak whats on your mind!
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