What issue(s) are on your mind? With the budgets all finished for this year. What are those issues that need to be addressed or brought up for discussion?
We want to hear from you. SO look for the response box below and tell us your thoughts.
The opinions expressed are of my own individualy and are not to be interpreted as official of any governing body. Comments from readers are also of their own opinions and will be edited only if the content is harmful or non constructive to any individual. It is important to share information and thoughts on political process so that we may discuss issues that effect us all.
65 comments:
Businesses face competition, off shoring , reductions in force, mergers, buy outs, skills relocation and many other changes that effect the worke. Given Derry's current & future financial picture it would be nice to see controls in place to safe guard against work force reduction. Pushing out hiring and not back filling open reqs resulting from attrition today may help the future situation. In the private sector we have had to endore the phrase "do more with less" for a long time. What is being discussed in Derry is no different than in the business world. Its to early to hear that our services will be impacted. Trying using that logic when you go in and talk to your boss tomorrow as you are asked to work longer during a month end close or take on added work because a job req isnt being filled or you have to cover for workers laid off. The dollars and cents should drive these decisions in Derry and we need to plan today.
Why are we wasting our time electing 11 State reps to serve in Concord? Right now we’ve got 2 that haven’t even cast a vote in months and another that has missed a considerable number of votes as well.
I realize this is virtually a volunteer job, but Derry’s never going to get treated like the 4th largest municipality at the state level with almost a third of our delegation AWOL.
This has not been a do nothing session in Concord. There are bills on the State retirement system, school funding and a host of others that have the potential to cost Derry millions. It might be easy to point fingers at the town council and/or school board when you get that case of sticker shock opening your tax bill, but the reality is that the folks in Concord have a sizable impact on local taxes.
These seats are all open this November and I hope people take the time to look at who’s doing what and who best represents Derry’s interests.
You can check out a list of our state reps and their voting records:
Looks like Hopfgarten has voted on ANYTHING since January. Looks like he's about as good at the Statehouse as he was as a Town Councilor! Way to go ADT and EDFP supporters...
If we really only have 2 or 3 active Reps, should it surprise anyone that we are treated like a much smaller town like Newton?
Open note to Paul H...I sure hope the school funding thing doesn't come down to one vote.
I read in the Nutfield News that the council took $12,038 from the Derry library budget, which is a good thing. I also read that Cheryl Lynch, the library director said that if the council doesn't reinstate the money she "would do her best to move funds around to keep" the wonderful woman who’s position would be eliminated. Maybe the council should remove $25,000 from the library budget if there are "funds to move around." Let Lynch use her own money for this wonderful woman. Times are tough. If there are extra funds they should be saved.
Thank You for this open forum.
On the town website I see that Derry Fire is requesting an “invitation to bid” on a NEW type III Ambulance. This begs the question… Who is going pay for this? The Derry taxpayers I bet. And the taxpayers pay for the personnel that will use this new ambulance. Then why does Derry Fire bill the Derry tax paying citizens who this equipment is used to help? If I am going to be billed for using an ambulance that I helped pay for, don’t charge me for it’s service. Why don’t we get rid of this costly venture and use a private ambulance service and lower the overall tax burden from Derry Fire?
I agree with 1:16 let's discuss privatizing the ambulance service. It is used to hide the true costs of the fire department.
To anonymous 2/5/08 1:01pm
Our money is better spent on the DPL than on this so called Health Department that started off costing us only $10K and it's up over $100K. Don't believe the smoke screen and double talk regarding grants, refunds etc. This department is quietly absorbing tax $$$$.Last year they wanted a NEW vehicle, this year a substantial pay raise was asked for..Now does that sound like THAT department cares about YOUR tax $$? Preparing for doom and gloom comes 'job security'. Think about it!Are other surrounding towns paying $75K on bug spraying? Think this is worthy of a question or two during the public forum. Perhaps 'Al' can investigate this department. He's already working on the staff/vehicles issue...You go Al!
Derry's fire dept. spends money like a teenager in a mall with a new credit card.
Now they need a type III ambulance ,then a larger building,then a type III wide screen radio station,then that building won't have enough parking and it just goes on and on and on.
Derry needs new managers and not from Connetticut but from Derry.
It all comes down to having the managers move to the town of Derry so they can feel the Derry taxes, period.
Now folks get ready for all the excuses why we need this Global positioning ,doctor ready, Nurse good body assisted ,infrared contained, solar powered, tazer proof truck. "Because your going to hear it"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So get your type III crying towels out and open up your type III wallets AGAIN.
This has come to you from Derry, Siren Capitol of NH.
With a no-show record like Paul H's up in Concord, how could he ever run for anything ever again in Derry with a straight face.
Annon 11:56 is on to something - wasn' it only a few years ago that an education funding bill passed by one vote (a Rep from Londonderry had voted against their interests an caught major flack)
Where are the newspapers on this thing? Why aren't they grilling our Reps on their votes, lack of votes, AND committee work - all 11 of them? What exactly are these folks doing for us?
It all comes down to "work" - this gang is unwilling to "work" for Derry - all but two or three of them just want to whine and complain.
9:28 The votes are there for all to read on the legislature's web site. And how about our Gov'ner? Perhaps we should have a flood so that he pays some attention to us. Let's get a camera crew, it will be like honey to a bear.
All form, no substance.
Bring back Craig Benson.
Great Job DFD!!!!!!!
Check this out
'Another chance to live': Derry teen thanks firefighters who saved his life
By John Basilesco
Staff writer
DERRY — Ken Jarvis's family didn't know if he would ever walk again after a drug overdose put the 18-year-old in a coma for 3-1/2 weeks.
Yesterday, the Derry teen, who suffered brain damage from a lack of oxygen during the overdose, slowly walked into the Derry Fire Department's Central Station, with family members by his side, to thank the firefighters who saved his life on the morning of March 22. That day, when his mother went to wake him for school, she saw white foam coming out of his nose and mouth, and called 911.
Jarvis had overdosed on a combination of methadone, OxyContin and liquid percocet. He had also been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.
When firefighters arrived, he was having trouble breathing and wasn't getting enough oxygen, so they inserted an air tube in his throat and manually pumped in oxygen to keep him alive while they transported him to the hospital. He was taken to Parkland Medical Center in Derry and then airlifted to Boston Medical Center, where he remained in a coma for three weeks and three days. Since April 17, Jarvis has been recovering at the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield.
Yesterday, at his request, his mother, Colleen Whitney-Jarvis, picked him up at Crotched Mountain and drove him to the Derry Fire Department.
"The firefighters saved his life." she said. "The Derry Fire Department gave my son another chance to live. That and God gave him a second chance."
Jarvis said he's going to make the most of his second chance, which means staying off drugs. He said he has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and seeing a drug and alcohol abuse therapist. He still faces months, maybe years, of physical rehabilitation if he is to be able to live on his own
At his reunion yesterday, he gave each of the firefighters a bear hug for saving him. They included Capt. Scott Haggart, and firefighters Jim Moran, Ed King, Tom Small and Steve Auger.
They talked about his ordeal, and posed together for photographs taken by members of Jarvis's family.
Jarvis told the firefighters he is feeling better, but still isn't 100 percent yet.
"If you've never seen a miracle, you're looking at one," Jarvis's grandfather Kenneth Whitney said.
Only a handful of fire departments in the state can perform the procedure that helped save Jarvis' life, Battalion Chief Jack Webb said. It involves administering medication similar to anesthesia and then inserting an air tube to boost the patient's oxygen level to normal. The procedure is used for victims of drug overdoses, head injuries, strokes, certain heart attacks, and other traumatic injuries, he said.
Whitney-Jarvis said the last month and a half have been difficult for her son and the entire family.
"They said he was in a vegetative state and would never walk again," she said. "They would sit him on the edge of the bed, and he would tell me, 'I can't walk, Mom.'
"I told him, 'You're going to walk.' He's walking now, but it's all through a lot of family support and his physical therapist at Crotched Mountain."
Whitney-Jarvis said her son, who was a student at Pinkerton Academy, may live in a facility in North Conway, where he can continue learning to become independent again while attending a local high school there.
The oxygen deprivation Jarvis suffered during his overdose means he will always have disabilities, his mother said.
"He'll always be a person with disabilities and he can accept that," Whitney-Jarvis said. "He's doing everything he can to be as independent as he can."
Photos
Kenneth Jarvis, 18, of Derry, left, came to visit with and thank Derry firefighters and paramedics at the Central Fire Station on Saturday. He was there to thank the team for helping to save his life when he had a drug and alcohol overdose in March. He just came out of a rehabilitation program. He is giving a bear hug to paramedic Ed King. Allegra Boverman/Staff photo
Ahhh... the Derry Fire Dept. under the gun again. Not that I'm surprised. I hope as a citizen of this town we never end up in a situation where we have to turn to ourselves and say..
"We didn't know how good we had it, but now it's gone."
Go right ahead and privitize the ambulance service. See how well that works out for you. Yeah, you might save a couplea bucks on your tax bill, but the end certianly would NEVER justify the means. Here's a link for your thoughts...
[url]http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_125013336.html[/url]
Ask that family whether or not THEY think it's worth it. I think we all know the answer to that question.
And by the way, the private ambulance services in this area DO NOT do those types of interventions. They don't have the staff, training, equipment, or procedures to do it. Period. And THAT'S the truth.
Might be something to think about when all you want to see is your bottom line. Those who complain, complain, complain about the Derry Fire Dept obviously have no idea of the value. If Ken Jarvis had been living in Raymond, he wouldn't be here.
So what's it worth? Really?...
What's with the entire post having a link to other webpages?
Anon 10:17
<< “And by the way, the private ambulance services in this area DO NOT do those types of interventions. They don't have the staff, training, equipment, or procedures to do it. Period. And THAT'S the truth.”>>
I think you missed the point. My complaint is that we pay for this service through our taxes. Who pays for the staff, training, equipment of Derry Fire? All the Derry taxpayers do. So WHY do they charge those who use the service? Maybe Anon 10:17 would like to pay the Fire Department the $526 they charged me to transport my 7 year old son 4 miles to Parkland Hospital. Nothing was done for him at home or in the ambulance, no IV, no bandages, no heart monitoring. Oh yea, he did lay on the sheet on the gurney. Guess that does show me the “Value” you talk about of the Fire Department. I think it’s double dipping for money. I sure would hate to see the bill they sent to Ken Jarvis with all the trouble he was in.
Just because the Fire Department is trained to save lives does not give them a right to double charge the taxpayers of Derry. We already paid for that training with our taxes. Maybe Ken Jarvis’ family should have had an intervention with him before the Fire Department had to become involved.
So along your same thinking… Even though our taxes pay for school bus transportation, why don’t we make each kid who gets on the bus pay $1 for each ride. It’s the “Value” of the equipment, staff and training. Maybe we should have to pay $5 each time we want to walk into town hall, after all we pay for the staff, their training and equipment too, but the “Value” we get from it is priceless.
BC i love how we can click right to our reps info. I suggest people who don't like the performance from their reps SPRING into action. Start calling these uninterested individuals and ask why they haven't been involved. They were elected to represent us so lets see them do that.
Lets all get together and call them and being as civil as we can be tell them we want more from them.
I think what Derry needs for a boost is a little entertainment, for which people will travel for. How about a Drive in, the closest one is out in Milford, and I know that I spend a small fortune there each year on Milford businesses such as ice cream shops, resteraunts and gas stations. We are convienenltly located where I'm sure a lot of people up and down 93 would be visiting it. The problem is who the heck's going to buy a good lot of land with the taxes that will come with it? How about a small baseball stadium with a semi pro team such as the Concord Quary dogs. Major $$$ is being spent on businesses around Fisher Cats Stadium this time of year. Honestly though, other than projects like this, who is going to come to Derry to spend money besides residents and those who work here? Flagship's good to have, but how much do you think it's really helping the town with 9 other theaters within a twenty minute drive. Just some food for thought.
anon 6:35,
We need to think out side the box. What do we have most of in Derry? Children right. How about a mini go cart track? Miniture golf place, Outside batting cages or even maybe a huge water slide park. Why Not Derry?
Not everyone in Derry is a taxpayer... I'm guessing this is why the ambulance sends a bill to people. Most users of this service are probably people from out of town or are renters.
For the individual that mentioned paying a fee when you walk into Town Hall... guess what- you DO. How much do you pay the Town clerk to register your vehicles every year. Or how much do you pay for a marriage license or dog license? These are all user fees. Or in plain English- Taxes. That ought to cover the $5 you mentioned.
Even better. Anything like that would bring a lot of people and their wallets into Derry and would give the town a much needed boost. I'm not talking about turning the town into a tourist hotspot, most likely adding more problems than what it's worth. Just a few places that would make people want to come to Derry for an evening, especially families. We are convientently located on the beaten path of 93 for some good unique ideas. I'd really like to know how much entertainment complexes such as Canobie, Milford Drive In, etc. help out their towns. I'm willing to bet that it would do wonders for a lot of our downtown businesses.
If entertainment was the avenue, I would suggest something more like the Boston Aquarium, or a Science Museum.
Go carts , and other rides, are loud, they pollute, and they don't inspire people.
But, I would rather see Derry invest in itself in other ways: Like copy Germany's green energy program, wind mill farms, etc.
As I have said before, these are the things that can put Derry on the map, can create jobs, and inspire others.
Nick Arancio
A Farmer's Market would also draw man people. I have communicated with the state Agriculture department, they tell me it is very simple to set up a Farmer's Market.
I read, in the Derry News, that Derry hired someone to come up with ways Derry could draw business. And one suggestion was ... a Farmers Market.
When I ran for Town Council I suggested the FM, and I still do. As I have pointed out, it can start small and grow as demand grows. It would enhance / reflect Derry's image as a farming community.
Nick Arancio
BC,
Maybe Derry fire can take this young man to boston fire dept. and tell them to sign the new contract . It seems that the fire dept in boston does not want alcohol or random drug testing while they are on duty .SO THEY WONT SIGN NEW CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON.
Anon 1:54, maybe it's time that we ask BC to explain to us why it is we get a bill from the fire dept for an ambulance ride when we pay taxes for fire and ems. I would think that it is in fact the town that sets the rates that the FD charges for the service. I doubt that ever dollar that is collected from each bill goes back to the FD. I would also assume that the FD bills the insurance company (if the person has insurance) each time they provide service. One thing that I know for sure is that a private amb service might seem cheaper on the surface but are they going to provide the same level of care that the FD does? They aren't going to be able to provide the same number of ambulances for the town as the FD does. I talked to a guy from a private service and he told me that they make their money doing transfers from hospital to hospital or hospital to nursing home. My bet is that the same bill you got for your son would be even more if a private service transported your son. If you are upset at the level of care provided to your son, you should contact the Chief and see if there was any wrong doing and go from there. I'm not attacking you and I understand your position. My family has been treated just fine by the Derry FD. I have other family members that don't live in Derry that have had to deal with private services that haven't been as lucky. You don't know what you have until it's gone. I hope that BC sets us straight on how all of this works in the town. Where all of the money collected really goes.
What the heck does Derry Fire have to do with Boston and their contract? Sometimes you people don't make any sense!
Nick,
didn't we have a farmers market in Derry before? I believe Bev Ferante was involved. I remember her mentioning this. As I recall it was a lot of work for her. You should get in touch with her to get some details. I too believe this is a good idea especially with the gas prices to be able to buy local would be great. I know the gas prices will affect the bottom line. JF farms had something in the paper a bit back regarding this.
We should really focus on better resaurants and bars. Little towns such as Milford Amherst are dishing out great food. It is beyond me why Derry has made more of an effort in this regards. Maybe they have and I never heard about it I can't say. With the opera house our proximity to the highway. These are all in our favor.
BC, I agree with Anon, why haven't we utilized the Opera House to boost the downtown area. Why isn't our new economic development director out there tracking down quality businesses that want to come to Derry ... a Panera Bread would do great near the Overlook Medical Park. All I see is $$ going out the door, but nothing coming back in.
Saw this in today's Concord Monitor - perhaps Derry should be looking at this cooperative angle too to save money in these tough times.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/FRONTPAGE/805070303
Looks like the local press is reading this blog and gathering ideas for stories. Read linked story about poor representation records at the State level
http://www.derrynews.com/local/local_story_128101103.html
Those are all good ideas, but the main focus should be on how we can bring people into Derry to spend money, not just the residents of Derry. How about a Alan Shepard Space museum?
Do you folks sit around smoking dope before coming up with your ideas?
Nick please calculate the cost just of trucking the water to fill an aquarium. Do you think it is accidental that they tend to be near oceans?
As for the idea of a drive-in, yes go into that business if your current gig at the buggywhip manufacturer doesn't work out.
I don't think Derry's serious about developing their main street; there seems to be some resistance coming from somewhere.
Maybe we need a "Derry Downtown Special Services District"
How to Bring Business to Main Street
How other places do it
Oh yeah, I forgot, Derry doesn't subsidize Main Street businesses; just Super Walmarts. Classy.
In response to anon 1:54...
I agree with you to a point. I have no idea why/how that side of the equation works. It's way above my pay grade. I don't know why your son was transported and I don't know what was done while he was being transported. I live in Derry and I pay taxes, I also have very good health insurance and if I need to use the DFD EMS I would certainly be covered for any expenses incured. That's what my health insurance is for. I am not assuming or guessing on your situation as it may or may not be equivialant to my own.
What my point is, and maybe you missed it, is that the DFD is trained, qualified, equipped, and PREPARED to administer LIFE-SAVING interventions that the Derry citizen WILL NOT GET from a private ambulance service in this area.
You say that you are upset with your bill from the DFD for the $500 dollar tab for your son's transport. I ask you what it would be worth to you if the DFD saved your son's life? They do it day in and day out. EVERY DAY.
You live in Derry. Be thankful for that. Your family and friends are getting the absolute BEST value for your dollar when it comes to Fire and EMS response that you can get in the great state of NH. You could pay a little bit less, and when I say "a little bit less" I mean it, than what your tax percentage for Fire/EMS is in Derry for the value you get.
Had Ken Jarvis been living 15 minutes away in another town NOT covered by a Derry ambulance, he assuredly would most likely never have been here to tell his story.
So I ask you.... what is your son's life worth? It's not a pleasant thought to enjoy, but THAT'S the reality no matter how much it costs.
I have 2 children and knowing what I know, I wouldn't move ANYWHERE outside of a coverage zone for Derry's ambulance. Watching my children outlive me is worth more to me than the couplea bucks I'd save on my tax bill any way you want to shake it.
8:20 PM Could it be that our "main" street is doing fine? Perhaps you mistake a historical relic with what really defines a Main Street. Prior to the railroad coming through, Broadway was not our main street. Things change. Towns are not defined by buildings they are groups of people. It's all about the people and the people vote daily that Crystal Ave/Manchester Road is our Main Street. Welcome to the 21st century.
6:56 am
Hmmmmm....I'm 61 and was born in Derry and as far back as I can remember Broadway was Derry's "main" street. Maybe you and anon 8:20 are having somewhat of a semantics problem. By your definition Nashua's "main" street would be the Daniel Webster Highway; Salem's would be Rte. 28. I guess when I hear "main street" I think of a quaint area with shops that line the street and people walk the area. I don't think you can do that on Crystal Ave/Manchester Road. Just because Derry let their "historical relic" get run down and blighted and all the people went away the solution isn't to simply say we moved the "main" street and its now Crystal Ave/Manchester Road. In fact I guess I'd have to say that "historical relic" is the definition of 21st century "main" streets. I could however let my imagination run amuck but with that "conspiracy theory" comes to mind. We curbed residential building, over 55 housing is exhausted, the "main" street becomes a nice chunk of land for an Ash Street project part 2. You're right, things do change, but not in Derry.
"I think of a quaint area with shops that line the street and people walk the area" how Currier and Ives... you are right things don't change in Derry, not with people like you 1:04 who have missed what has been happening in consumer preferences in the last 50 years. There are lots of new things... malls, cars, drivers desiring EASY parking, the Internet... check it out.
Anyone notice that two of our reps in Concord voted FOR the funding bill that will strip $7.5MM from Derry in 2010?
here's a headline from the Internet:
"99 Bank-Owned Properties in zip code 03038!"
Is this economic reality reflected in the budget that will be voted on 5/20?
How could three elected reps from Derry vote on for that!? Let's all try not to send communists to Concord to represent us this time around...please! Also, why hasn't the media picked up on this?
6:40 AM
Bordering on a "historical relic" myself, an admitted luddite and superconservative; a Currier and Ives main street works for me. Just out of curiosity, what's your vision for the downtown area?
1:04 You may have your Currier and Ives if you wish, it’s a free country (mostly). Just don't pay for your fantasies with money taken from my pocket.
Why would you think the downtown area needs a vision? And why mine? Does the forest behind my home need my vision to grow? As a "superconservative" you must be aware of the purpose of government... Mr. Jefferson outlined it in the Declaration of Independence. I do not recall where government promoting one street's businesses at the expense of another's was enumerated.
Who are the Reps that voted against us? Names please.
Not to get in the middle here but as a resident broadway is a little embarrassing. The towns done a great job, now we just have to get after the property owners/merchants. I don't think its about promoting one street's businesses but more about promoting the town. Kudos to Benson for wanting to build on broadway especially in this economy. I think that if we as a town do nothing...not just on broadway but in the town as a whole, thats exactly what we'll get, nothing. Its hard to tell tone on blogs but it seems we could all be a tad bit more neighborly towards one another.
"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion." ~Jack Welch~
Benson Family's new project in the downtown is going to be another step in making our downtown a better destination point!! We make progress little by little!
Please note that the Benson improvement will not require public funding. No master plan, no feasibility studies, no outside grant applications, no TIF bonds that act as shell games with public funds... just individuals making investments for the purposes of personal profit. It's wonderful!
Anon 6:56 You seem to be confusing individual initiative with town initiative. The new Benson building proves the falsehood of "if we as a town do nothing... we get nothing" That's a line the politicos feed you to make themselves feel important. The most important things a town government can do is get out of the way. Provide the basic infrastructure, provide a low tax environment and leave people alone to make investments as the Benson's have done (and everyone else has done who currently owns property in town.)
You are probably correct about the more neighborly tone. Some frustration builds as we watch a well organized well financed cabal mismanage the town for decades.
Regarding the education bill that will result in a decrease in finding of $7.4 million for Derry after 2010.
Below is a list of the Derry House Reps and how they voted.
R Bob Fesh No
R John Gleason No
R Ken Gould Yes
R Paul Hopfgarten absent
R George Katsakiores No
R Phyllis K No
R Howie Lund No
D Linda McCarthy Absent
D Dan McKenna Yes
R James Rausch No
R Rick Wickson Absent
Ken Gould and Dan Mckenna cast the correct votes to save derry 7.5 million dollars...while the bill does put off that funding cut for ony 2 years, the funding cut would also be subject to a commission report or study groups reccomendation.
So the question is why did Bob Fesh, John Gleason, George Katsakiores, Phyllis K,
Howie Lund, & James Rausch vote against the amended bill. Apparently, party affiliation comes before Derry's interests with these people.
Keep in mind, folks, if the bill passed unamended, Derry would have lost $7.5 million.
Also note that Hopfgarten, Wickson, and McCarthy were absent for this key vote.
I see 9:01 is engaged in the "Big Lie" school of politics. Wow, what a spin! These two vote to screw Derry out of $7.5MM and because the action doesn't take place immediately, we declare it to be a correct vote.
"I will mug you next Thursday"... oh thank you, how kind of you.
Either you believe that 6 of our Reps all voted against the interests of Derry or that these two were out of line. 9:01 you should be ashamed of yourself...of course you may be one of those two in which case you still should be ashamed of yourself.
??
"Big Lie of School Politics"
??
No matter what our "politics", who in Derry wants a $7.5 cut in State funding?
Apparently only those part line Repubs who voted against the ammended version of this bill.
Oh protector of our crusty status quo Rep delegation in Concord --- read the bill --- establishing a commission whose findings need to be approved is a time tested and brilliant way to derail any initiative (and this funding cut).
Hats off to (Dem) McKenna and (Repub) Gould!!!!!
By not caring enough to show up, at least (Repubs) Wickson & Hopfgarten and (Dem) McCarthy didn't vote against our interests.
9:36 Very good. You have been studying your history. To make the Big Lie work you need to repeat it over and over. Here's a tip however, drop the absentee rep issue, it cuts both ways (McCarthy) and it makes it obvious you are trying to distract us from Gould and MCKenna's votes.
Now remember... say it again...
p.s. Gould is hardly a Republican, be serious. It used to be easier to get elected that way. Let's have some truth in advertising.
Why is it everytime we see the new economic development director she is with Jack Dowd. If she is so knowledgeable in her job, why is she hanging around with the DEDC. If she cannot do her job without the DEDC's interference, then perhaps we should cut that position ... less $$$ the council will have to take from public safety.
Good point 4:56. Does she have a strategic vision yet for bringing major development into town or just the usual DEDC pizza joint size projects?
Bingo 4:56 PM! The light has finally dawned! Now that she's on the payroll for $80+ a year, let's she how easy it is to get her off. We need someone to go to the downtown businessmen and women, form an organization and take it from there. The two forums she put together with RKG (at a nice price to the taxpayers) did not even includ an invite to the downtown businesses. Now wouldn't you think they would be her first contact?Again we are seeing more fluff and not much substance.
anons'4:56,7:52,3:50.
Wow, I thought my kids think they live in an "instant gratification world"... First,she needs to make the contacts in Derry. Then she needs to understand the dynamics that it will take to attract businesses here and by Talking with DEDC ( who gets no taxpayers money) she is doing the right things.
Also, There was an invite to the downtown merchants on the RKG study BTW. ( at least 3 owners showed up) and lets see the results before we discredit the process.
Two points: if she did not already "understand the dynamics that it will take to attract businesses here" why was she hired? Is this on the job training?
Also what is she going to learn from DEDC... what doesn't work? If DEDC had been wildly successful we wouldn't have had to hired her, they weren't.
I somewhat disagree with 3:50, the job is to develop Derry not just pump more money into the Broadway area. (Think Ryan's Hill... think big thoughts)
BC, why didn't we simply update the study that was done previously. It isn't that old and would have been far more cost effective then starting from square one. She was the economic development director in Dover before her position there was cut ... should she have already done her homework about Derry. She should be able to hit the ground running ... she should have contacts, etc. If the DEDC is doing the same work, then we could benefit without having to spend tax $$ on a position that isn't doing independent work. She was hired to bring new business into Derry to increase the commercial tax base ... that should be her vision and goal. Lets stop dancing around here, job performance for that position should be based on bringing in a specific amount of business every year, etc. Not business that has expanded, not a new pizza parlor, not another bank, but a business that is going to help with the tax burden on this town. You can sugar coat it all you want, but something just isn't right with this entire picture.
9:36 here's an alternative way of looking at the world:
If you are a Derry rep and there is a bill that screws us out of $7.4 million tomorrow you vote NO.
If there is a bill that screws us a week from next Tuesday, you vote NO.
If there is a bill that screws us in 2011, you vote NO.
You NEVER GIVE UP, and you NEVER support measures that do great harm to your town, the town you have been entrusted to represent. If you can't do that, you resign. Gould and McKenna should have resigned.
VOTING "NO" TO THAT EDUCATION BILL WOULD HAVE PUT THE $7.5 MILLION DOLLAR CUT ****IMMEDIATELY**** AT OUR DOORSTEP.
Fesh, Gleason, Katsakiores, Katsakiores, Lund & Rausch NEED TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES QUICKLY. Thank goodness they were in the insignificant minority!
11:44 That is simply not true.
I applied for the senior citizen low income tax deferment, and was told the results for the approval or not would be decided on at may 1 2008 board meeting. I have not heard of any decision.
BC - 7:52 AM I am not looking for 'instant' gratification...just progress. We keep spending $$'s on what was done in the past. She doesn't have to re-diagnose the wheel that has already been diagnosed broken!This is her expertise.So she stays on the payroll until someone realizes we can't afford her anymore and what have we gained in the meantime?Many years ago I remember attending a Civic Pride Survey held on a Saturday with Bill Zolla the facilitator (among others). No hired firm, just a large room full of community people and busnessmen evaluating the needs and direction of our community. The cost to the town was the paper we wrote on!Does anyone else remember this? My point..why do we always have to 'hire' consultants when our own in-house Economic Dev.Beth should be doing this? I guess if she can get someone else to do her work she is more 'skilled' than I thought!
Just watching the 11pm news on Channel 9 the the story regardings mosquitos control caught my attention.I went and clicked on WMUR's website to look at the map of towns in N.H. and what measures they've taken to combat mosquitos. WMUR-TV contacted every town in the state and quess what...Derry gave NO RESPONSE.Our Health Dept. is quick to ask for $$'s for spraying but lacks the couresy (or time) to be included with other cities/town's in the state. Just another example of just what 'isn't' happening in this department.
Hey Bc just reading the eagle tribune and there are some articles of hiking trails all aroung Derry. Wonder why Derry isn't listed in this article. we have several trails that are great for families. this would have been a great oppurtunity to help showcase Derry.
http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_150042348.html?keyword=secondarystory
The 6/6/08 Derry News has a great column by Bruce Kling in which he explores the issue of Dispatch Service costs. Too bad individual citizens have to dig out the facts regarding Derry Town expendatures. I thought we paid/elected people to do that. Thanks Bruce!
DJN
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