tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post115083111709958778..comments2021-12-12T09:07:17.657-05:00Comments on Stephanie's Town Meeting Experience: The EndStephanie O'Keeffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13139345960579356043noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150940710695493612006-06-21T21:45:00.000-04:002006-06-21T21:45:00.000-04:00Technical stuff:When I first tried to post a comme...Technical stuff:<BR/><BR/>When I first tried to post a comment, I had trouble registering. Then Stephanie explained that you don't have to register: you can click on "Anonymous" and still include your name if you want. That's what I proceeded to do. I'm not sure that all those who choose "Anonymous" are aware that it's possible to include a name in the text of the message. Of course, maybe they are and just don't want to.<BR/><BR/>Then, just the other day, Jonathan O'Keeffe explained that if you choose "Other" and type in your name, it appears at the top (and you still don't have to register). That's my favorite.<BR/><BR/>Altogether, Stephanie, this is a wonderfully user-friendly setup.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150935763151981762006-06-21T20:22:00.000-04:002006-06-21T20:22:00.000-04:00Thanks for a thoughtful look at town meeting. I'v...Thanks for a thoughtful look at town meeting. I've learned a lot from this blog. How would you feel about attending some School Committee and other meetings and sharing your insights? (just kidding - I know this could become a full-time job!). Seriously, though, I agree with Richard Morse - the Gazette and Bulletin could do a much better job of informing Amherst residents of what's going on at Town Meeting and other meetings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150918112133614332006-06-21T15:28:00.000-04:002006-06-21T15:28:00.000-04:00Good for you Stephanie (you’ve been right more oft...Good for you Stephanie (you’ve been right more often than wrong and on this one you made a hole-in-one)<BR/><BR/>Eva is losing her ‘institutional memory’. A long, long time ago Cherry Hill WAS part of the LSSE Community Service Budget and it lost money hand over fist (FY87 thru FY90).<BR/><BR/>And I love the old (already getting tired) excuse: “the new Town Manager will have more urgent things to deal with” routine. But if Cherry Hill doesn’t go out to bid, then he’s going to have to deal with that somewhat incendiary “shy and quiet fellow.”<BR/><BR/>FORE!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150916938032657802006-06-21T15:08:00.000-04:002006-06-21T15:08:00.000-04:00Eva – I supported the Cherry Hill RFP because it s...Eva – I supported the Cherry Hill RFP because it seems like a very sensible option to me. I am obviously late to this issue and don’t know all its historical details, but I am a firm believer capitalism, with all it inherent rationality and incentives. If a reasonable RFP fails to get any interest again, that speaks loudly to the viability of the course. We can’t affect the past and can only hope to make the best decisions going forward. If this option is pursued and a management company can run the course successfully, that looks like the best of all outcomes to me. If that doesn’t work, then we’re right back where we are now. If there’s a downside, I’m not aware of it, but I would welcome the information. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for those names – I will add them to the text now.Stephanie O'Keeffehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139345960579356043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150855695093602842006-06-20T22:08:00.000-04:002006-06-20T22:08:00.000-04:00Since Mary Carey looks in, I was wondering what th...Since Mary Carey looks in, I was wondering what the readership of this blog thought of the Gazette's USA Today-style "coverage-in-a-box" of Town Meeting this spring. <BR/><BR/>I hope that the format was imposed on Ms. Carey by some editorial dunce from above, because I hated it. It seemed to trivialize our proceedings. Now I know that there are some in our august body who mistakenly assume that the whole world is watching us. The Gazette seemed to believe that the Valley was watching, but only for laughs and entertainment. <BR/><BR/>This is a town whose political health desperately depends on some critical mass of citizens actually understanding crucial policy choices. AND it's a town where individual commentators can assert with an air of authority almost anything in print or on the floor of Town Meeting without the accompanying assurance of careful fact-checking. Therefore, I find the Gazette's and the Bulletin's reporting moving steadily away from assisting readers in fulfilling their civic responsibilities, and more toward "the funniest thing that happened last night." <BR/><BR/>It's unfortunate. If we can't read serious, thought-provoking, mind-expanding print journalism about local matters in the Valley, then I submit that it's doomed just about everywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150854586770364712006-06-20T21:49:00.000-04:002006-06-20T21:49:00.000-04:00Stephanie, Thanks for taking the time to recap thi...Stephanie, <BR/><BR/>Thanks for taking the time to recap this for all of us who were to exhausted to do so! It's been great to read your take on things, and the comments folks make.<BR/><BR/>One thought I had on Article 40 - the fact book. I think this would be the perfect exercise for an unpaid intern from either UMass or Amherst College to undertake. Some gov't. student looking for some experience during the year could put this together and learn all about the town and it's different issues/committees/boards etc. at the same time. And it would cost very little in staff time. <BR/><BR/>Thanks again, Stephanie! See you in the fall!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12758832883080087379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150850001477317392006-06-20T20:33:00.000-04:002006-06-20T20:33:00.000-04:00I really enjoyed your blog, too, Stephanie. --Mary...I really enjoyed your blog, too, Stephanie. <BR/>--Mary Carey, Daily Hampshire GazetteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150842693382968092006-06-20T18:31:00.000-04:002006-06-20T18:31:00.000-04:00Hi!1.I loved your reference to that shy character ...Hi!<BR/>1.I loved your reference to that shy character commenting on Art. 39. But since you voted in support of that article, let me ask you why, i.e. what is it you thought it was designed to do in the immediate future? Answer: to try for the third RFP in less than 5 years. Not a single taker in either of those first two tries. The petitioner claims he knows why and has a plan for success this time. Did you hear him explain it?<BR/><BR/>I voted against it (having explained my reasons to the petitioner long ago): I don't mind trying again, but not this year: a. Cherry Hill has just been moved into the General Fund; I want to see how that works out. b. I suspect the new town manager will have more urgent things to deal with in the coming months.<BR/><BR/>2. The FC's concerns regarding Art. 40 (fact book) had to do with the staff time required, especially when $20,000 had been cut from the Gen. Govt. budget.<BR/>I share that concern and ended up voting in support of the article only once the amendment had been added that provides adequate flexibility for when this (very useful document) is to be produced.<BR/><BR/>3. Here are the names of the excellent (friendly, helpful, smart, supremely competent) trio who staff the Town Manager/Select Board office. Go meet them!<BR/><BR/>Joyce Karpinski, Libby Lass, and Gail Weston.<BR/><BR/>4. I will really miss this blog. I agree that it should not be allowed to deteriorate. As you say, see how it goes. <BR/>Anyway, thanks so much for doing it!<BR/>EvaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22213795.post-1150832552606521132006-06-20T15:42:00.000-04:002006-06-20T15:42:00.000-04:00On April 26 I acquired a YTD (Year-to-Date) expend...On April 26 I acquired a YTD (Year-to-Date) expenditure report showing Cherry Hill consumed 88% of its budget (as of March 29) for essentially half the Fiscal Year. I honestly couldn’t believe the number and went to see interim Town Manager John Musante. <BR/><BR/>“You’re not really going to look me in the eye and tell me Engstrom can run Cherry Hill for three full months on only $27,000” I said incredulously. “Yep” replied Musante.<BR/><BR/>Last night, however, Musante admitted (after I read the most recent the YTD report for May) Cherry Hill busted its budget and will require a “$10,000 to $15,000 Reserve Fund transfer” (definitely the latter). He was wrong about Cherry Hill expenditures (with lots of data at his disposal), and he’s just as wrong about revenues.<BR/><BR/>Plus, notice Ms. Awad never apologized to Town Meeting for misleading them with an incorrect revenue report (“$176,000 as of May 22”) at the May 30’th Cherry Hill budget discussion. <BR/><BR/>With Cherry Hill accumulating only $167, 896 thru June 1’st, AND with May’s revenues down 20% from last year (in spite of a rate increase) AND with the rains thus far in June, it’s safe to say CH will be down 30% from last June’s $34,020 (or about $24,000) thus bringing the FY06 total to around $192,000 or $15,000 under goal. <BR/><BR/>Tap that Reserve Fund again!<BR/><BR/>AND, the FY07 budget was formulated assuming FY06’s revenues/expenditures were accurate. Thus, we are doomed to see this FY06 $32,000 imbalance repeated in FY07.<BR/><BR/>Hey, $30,000 here and $30,000 there…pretty soon you’re talking real money.<BR/>LarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com