Bob Unger of the Standard Times has an opinion piece today questioning whether or not we can find the political wherewithall to regionalize services. He quotes a developer for Pennsylvania as saying "That dog won't hunt", meaning that the parochial issues within each town prevent the realization of savings which exist for those who must pay the bills. Some commeters have questioned why there is any dismay over the sweetheart contracts given to a few town employees. The reason I am dismayed is that these contracts represent the very problem that Mr Unger hopes will be addressed. Will our town and others continue to protect and reward narrow interests or do what is best for those who are footing the bill, the taxpayers? Recent developments are not hopeful...
...in that regard. The taxpayer was not represented at the table when employees are given lifetime appointments. The patrons and the taxpayer are not represented when the Library Trustees refuse to even try to find out if they can save tens of thousands of dollars while continuing to provide service at our library. The taxpayer is not being represented when Dartmouth has three separate Fire Districts, all with their own narrow interests, providing service to one town.
When the town government refuses to pursue cost saving by means such as contracting out trash collection or library services, regionalizing dispatch services, animal control, and many other services, consolidating fire districts and town departments, or creating competition for delivering public education by having charter schools, the largest group that is being disadvantaged is the taxpayer. The taxpayer is more often than not the forgotten group in discussion about layoffs and service reductions but they are the group who lose the most. The taxpayer is paying more than they need to for services or is losing services while not getting any reduction in the cost to themselves. I am well aware that bringing up all these points means that I am going against the entrenched interests in the Fire Districts, schools, police, town employees, Library Trustees and others. I was elected by the voters and taxpayers to represent their interests on the Select Board. I try to keep that in mind at all times. The primary question should and must be, Is this good for the taxpayer? Other considerations must take a back seat to the best interest of those who pay for it all. What are your thoughts? Can the town do this or are we too beholden to special interests and old patterns?
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Regionalization? Has the time for reform come?
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I think the time for regionalization has come. Dartmouth needs some changes from the old way of doing things.
Like it or not, most of the country has already made the changes we are talking about. Example-Why should the taxpayers of Massachusetts pay to support 300 sites for 911 dispatch when California does it with four statewide sites? Time to get on board Dartmouth.. and other communities. I wonder if the present financial situation will be the catalyst for change.
So, Trimble, get off your lazy keester and DO IT!
If talking produced good government, Trimble would be President and Dartmouth would be a world leader. Unfortunately for us, all we get from Trimble (and Michaud) is talk.
I just read Michaud's opinion piece in today's Standard-Times. It is so obvious he and Trimble are connected at the hip. They both blather on about regionalization, privitizing services, etc., etc., etc.! And then comes the informative statement - it is someone else's job to actually do it! Un-friggin-believeable! As Michaud admits, it absolutely IS simplistic of them.
Bill... Joe... PULEEEEZE JUST SHUT UP AND DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!
It seems all they know how to do is talk, talk, talk. If they would just dedicate 10% of their hot-air time to really doing something that they talk about, they'd have something tangible to point to. It's pathetic. In their minds, they must actually believe they are doing something. But, in actuality, they ain't doin' squat!
I swear, if these guys were carpenters, they'd try to talk a nail through a board! Or, more likely, they'd launch an intergalactic search to hire a carpenter with advanced nail-driving credentials so they'd have someone else to drive the nail they've spent years talking about. Even then, that nail wouldn't be driven until there's a comprehensive nail-driving plan in place. And not just any nail-driving plan... it's got to be the bestest nail-driving plan ever.
LMAO This really would be funny, if it weren't so obvious that THEY ARE THE PROBLEM!
Here's the deal. If I were on the Select Board and wanted to pursue regionalization, I would go to work on it. I'd contact representatives of communities where it has been successfully implemented and meet with them to get as much information on the process as possible. I would then identify those I want to explore regionalizing with and begin working with them to gain their support and commitment, and then to begin the process necessary to make it happen. It's called doing something! It's no more complicated than taking steps. First you put your right foot forward, then you put your left foot forward. Then... whaddayaknow... you've moved forward!
What I would NOT do is keep blathering on about it at every Select Board meeting. Talking is not the same as doing! When will Trimble and Michaud understand that?
In other words, start actually DOING SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It ain't rocket science, Billy! Are you sensing my frustration here, you friggin' DEMAGOGUE?!
So, run for Select Board. Nat Dias is up for reelection in 2009. So is Diane.
And - - -if you armchair quarterback, why don't YOU call some of these communities up on your own, and get some info, citizen to citizen, and come back and present it to the SB. Kind of a one-man/woman "study group" with a "plan." Think of what a heo/heroine you would be.
If this Board needs some fresh ideas, how about some citizen participation from you? Then you could sit back and complain if no one listens or explores your ideas.
Rome wasn't built in a day. We have had lots of talk, but as I see it, anyway, there has been some progress. Joe has worked with the Sheriff's Office. Bill has some excellent ideas, and if you agree, then maybe YOU could help explore some. Study groups have presented ideas to the SB for a few years now, but it hasn't acted on them, for the most part, except to give the studies lip service - - "look into it," "discuss," - - you get the picture. So why haven't past SB's done anything, either? THEY are a good part of the problem, at least in my opinion.
At least now, there is talk that, yes, needs to be followed up by action, I agree. So, do you have any suggestions how those of us who are not on the SB can help?
Here's a suggestion: tonight's an SB meeting. Why don't you come to it, ask to address the Board, and ask the members how you and the rest of us can help get some action on the ideas they all talk about. Those in the community who feel there is need for more immediate action should be willing to help in this project. I would.
But, do you also see the resistance that is put up when regionalization, outsourcing, privatization, etc., is mentioned. Witness the library, for example. Everyone must hold on to his/her own. Everyone is threatened by change, understandable, but we get nowhere without it.
To anon 5:44, Try to pay attention. The town of Dartmouth pays an Executive Administrator $119,000 plus to put together a budget and present it to the SB. For years we have been borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.That won't work any longer. Now, we have a SB that is willing to make the changes we need. It starts with leadership at the top. We are moving in the right direction. Thanks, SB.
At the present time regionalization for 911 services is being examined by our police. This information will be brought back to the new EA and the board. Other communities will be part of this. If we had a proactive Executive Admin. we may already be delivering services in a more cost effective way. Gagne (gang of eight) et al. were just marking time because they thought their contracts were for life. Now that's grounds for some people to get fired!
TO THE LAZY KEESTER--
RUN FOR POST OF SELECTBOARD AND SEE WHAT DUTIES OF EXECT. ADMIN. YOU CAN DO !!!!REMEMBER HE IS BEING PAID HANDSOMELY FOR SELECTIVE ACTIONS--RECEIVING $119,000.00 INCOME FOR A NON EDUCATED EXEC. ADMIN.
THANK YOU JOE MICHAUD, DIANE GILBERT, BILL TRIMBELL---
GOD BLESS YOU ALL !!
Sorry, in the above post, I stated that Nat Dias would be up for reelection in 2009. I'm wrong. Diane Gilbert and Bob Carney are up for reelection in 2009. Dias is up in 2010.
anonymous 5:44. All you keep doing is screaming. I really think you should seek help. You are a very angry person. Joe & Bill did do something. Along with Diane they voted not to renew Michael's contract. One very major step towards a more productive future. What is your suggestion? Keep Michael, Carney, Dias & Co.? What have they done to help? What has Carney suggested other than we should pay our employees more? What has Dias suggested other than we should hire all friends & family? I heard each of them say this at SB meetings. I haven't heard anything else from them regarding how to balance the budget. What has Michael done? Has he told his dept. heads to look into privatization, consolidation or regionalization? Oh yes, an RFP was requested for trash collection a while back. Unfortunately our very own DPW was given the other bids before they submitted their own which of course was then lower than the others. All bids should have been sealed & presented including the DPW's. Who was responsible for this? If not Michael then why didn't he ask the dept. head to justify his actions? If Michael was not responsible for the other bids being available to the DPW then he is responsible for holding them accountable. The DPW should have had to go through the same RFP process as anyone else bidding on the job. Why wasn't Michael overseeing this process? The status quo will fight tooth & nail to stop any progress. Then you have the nerve to say Bill & Joe aren't doing anything.
Dartmouth is one of the largest towns in the state and could be a leader in trying to bring affordable services to the residents. Dartmouth should begin to contact other towns and talk about what implementing regionalization could mean for the state. We can no longer afford to do things the way we have in the past.
No way. We can't do that. Sheesh! We have at least another year's worth of talk we can get out of this. Then and only then will we actually do something. And, only if someone notices we haven't really done anything. On second thought, if that's the case, well, we could always talk some more. or maybe fire someone and pretend that's doing something.
If demagogues could fly, this place would be an airport!
LOL
if this placewas an airport people would demand free curbside luggage check and free parking(they pay their taxes) and complain about the air traffic controllers pay
Hey....it's time for everyone to take a deep breathe and hold it for 6 minutes, this will be a quick fix for what is ailing you, if you survive... let the hot air out slowly, it will help in lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
Although, you may not agree, Dartmouth will survive and our planet will continue to orbit around the sun. It's so easy to point fingers and name calling, but when everything settles, and it will, nothing will change.
I have no horse in this race, so I'll make my few known to all who care to read.
Increasing property tax is one way of maintain our town services and guaranteeing a continuation of our way of life. In the form of a referendum, I propose a 10% across the board property tax on all town properties. This is a take it or leave it proposal, one simple vote on April 7, 2009 will decide our future direction. This act will provide our town with direction. If approved, the town has enough revenue to support all departments and beef up the reserve account. If it fails, so be it. My property taxes are approximately 5,000 thousand dollars and I can afford the increase of 10% or 500 hundred dollars. As you may have noticed, I didn't point an accusatory finger at any one person, town/city or state. I know the average Dartmouth home is taxed below my own property tax level. I'm able to pay a much more higher tax rate and we have many home owners who can afford to do the same. For those who can't afford to make a higher tax payment, I ask that you step aside and allow those who can to make up the difference. I love this town and everyone who lives here. It's truly a nice place to live.
To Bill Trimble.....I'd like to share some insight on town related departments but unable to do so. Can you be kind enough to provide your e-mail address.
Thank you.
My email is pokanoketlax@hotmail.com
to 9:41, I happen to be a senior on a fixed income and I cannot afford a 10 % tax increase on my property. I'll step aside. Will you give me your email and tel no, so I can call you so you can make up the difference for me. thanking you in advance.
Hey look it's Uncle HYPO "old timer"... can we hear the SCORE story again PLEASE i love falling alseep infront of my computer
When you've lived in Dartmouth as long as I have, you get to see how things turn out. Some of you new people think you know everything. Not so. Yes, I would love it if Dartmouth stayed the same. I wish we had a golf course instead of a mall, but that will never happen. Times change and we need to change with the times. We can no longer do business as usual. The country and the world are doing things different and we must do the same if we want to survive. I'll step aside and let you pay my tax bill if you want.
Old timer - you say the country has changed how they do business? How do you come to that conclusion? If you mean the deficit spend to bail out loser companies with money from my grandkids pockets I guess you're right-they realize they have tapped out the current and next generations and now need to go for the toddlers future earnings. Get a grip man.
We all have to change as long as things don't change for you, right?? Being grandfathered into the old ways is a true benefit isn't it?? Going forward, no one is allowed to enjoy the benefits that i have benefited from, is that what your saying. If we do away with all these wonderful benefits i propose there be no grandfather clause, i think your tune will change very very quickly.
What in the world are you doing? Information just in via e-mail, that an unnamed SB member is attempting to negotiate a contract with the county sheriff for full police coverage, of all Dartmouth police activities. Several attempts to contact the sheriff's department, for comment, have not been returned. It appears that all Dartmouth police personnel will be layed-off. Police dispatchers will be transferred to the sheriffs department.
Sounds like another empty building will sit on Russell Mills Road. This action will save approximately 4.2 million town dollars. Unconfirmed sources have the one SB member supporting a one full time police chief, with several call police officers. Good luck Dartmouth.
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