I have done this in the past and will do it again.
Time to rate the current council. We have had the new council seating as of March and we have come to the first quarter.
Grade this current council!
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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.
14 comments:
D
Business as usual in Derry. Tiffs without WalMart, budgets without meaningful cuts in fat. Metts gets high marks for his management of the meetings (if only his votes were on par with his leadership). Someone put a mirror under Wetherbee's nose, I think the man may have expired... no sign of life there.
Largest problem, no evidence of perspective. $80,000 issues get the same level of attention (sometimes more) than $8,000,000 items.
For sacrificing your personal time, I give you all an A.
For doing what you believe is right, I give you an A.
For working as a Team, I give you a c-.
For spending Derry Treasure responsibly, I give you a B-.
For problem solving, I give you a D.
For increasing Tax Revenue, and bringing new business to Derry, I give you a D.
Best of luck in the coming election, see you in the debates.
Nick Arancio
Grade the council? Why don't you all weigh in on Dowd's latest hare-brained idea to build a parking garage downtown?
I also would like to know why nearly every business owner downtown say's they never see any councilors, the town administrator or the new economic development director around just to check in on how things are going?
BC, any idea who put the new blog on townofderry.blogspot.com.
As far as grading our council, I'm not too impressed by anyone.
RM A- (serves very well as chair)
JF D- (wrong personality for job)
Brian B
Bret C-
KC C+ (observant. Needs to grow thicker skin)
NW B+
BB C
anon 8:10,
Not sure whos blog it is, however just took a look and all I can say is welcome aboard the blog waves!
I'll weigh in on the parking garage....
Putting a parking garage downtown seems to be putting the cart before the horse. Parking only becomes an issue now because people are heading to the downtown to frequent a particular business. You go to the bakery, you want a spot in front of the bakery; you go to Rig's you want a spot in front of Rig's. I'm not going to park in a parking garage across town, walk down to the bakery and pick up my cake and walk back. If the downtown area were a "destination" spot people wouldn't mind parking in a lot or where ever a spot is available. If the downtown became so popular that traffic was backed up with people waiting for a parking spot then, and only then would a parking garage be needed. Maybe he's looking 50 years into the future.
Overall I would grade the Council a C-. I'm growing extremely tired of the infighting and self serving members of the Council. If the entire Council was up for re-election today the only sitting Councilor who would get my vote is Rick Metts. I beleive the Manning St. issue has damaged Brian's creditability to the point where it can not be repaired. It's obvious that Coyle and Fairbanks ran for Council to further their own political agendas. The jury is still out on Carney. He has the potential to be a quality Councilor but needs to break his ties with Coyle and Fairbanks and vote his own conscious and not theirs. It's still too early to have an accurate impression of Benson and Wetherbee. My hope is that they all put the Town of Derry first and work together to get this community back on its feet. We're on that slippery slope and we'll be heading down fast unless we see some positive action by the Council.
2:16
What does "their own political agendas" mean? Does it mean make decisions based upon their values? Certainly it can't mean furthering a political career. I don't think either as their eyes on higher political office.
Please explain.
You also seem to assume that a willingness to "get this community back on its feet" is all that is needed. I do not believe that BB or NW are competent to do that no matter how willing they are. "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
Nick -
"For spending Derry Treasure responsibly, I give you a B-."
How could they have been much more irresponsible and still stay in the tax cap?
What about the $6 million Tiff bond in support of a WalMart that isn't going to be built? (The widening will put money in their friends pockets though won't it?)
Do they need to be wheeling bags of cash into the trunks of their cars before you question their fiscal judgements?
The B- I gave for "spending Derry Treasure responsibly" was based on many factors including; Size and scope of the budget, the idea of a tax cap, the challenge of getting anyone to agree, the time and effort in reading (item by item).
I would have done things differently; like a 5 - 10 % cut in almost all departments. In my last debate I mentioned the problems of institutionalized budgeting. Well, one way to deal with it is a reduction in every departments budget. But, would I have been able to convince anyone else to agree with me?
Nick Arancio
Nick,
The size and scope of the budget is not relevant to the question of whether they are spending it wisely. The tax cap was not their idea and at least 4 of the councilors would trash it in a heartbeat if they could. They didn't get everyone to agree, the votes were often 4/3 and at least one of them showed no evidence that he read the budget. Other than that I agree with you completely.
2:16
Still waiting to hear want "their own political agendas" means. You have had about 2 weeks to think about it. Does it have meaning?
2:16
Still waiting...
Guess it must be meaningless B.S.
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