I attended Tuesday’s Planning Board Hearing on the proposed McLean Hospital rehabilitation facility, and I witnessed the not in my backyard (NIMBY) effect in full force. I’m glad so many residents took the time to attend and voice their concerns, and I’m glad that they had this opportunity, and others, to freely voice their comments and questions. It’s a relatively transparent process that will lead, hopefully, to a final outcome that is agreeable to as many people as possible.
After the meeting, as I lay awake in bed contemplating the impending federal fiscal cliff, the characteristics of a 21st century education, and what color Christmas lights I should use on the bushes by the road this year, it occurred to me that we as a town should work to capitalize on the level of citizen concern expressed at this meeting, and try to redirect it to other important matters facing the town. Templeton is a relatively small town, and one could argue that in a community this size, everything is in our backyard, whether literally or figuratively speaking.
For example, just several hundred yards away from the site of the proposed rehabilitation facility is the Templeton Wastewater Treatment Plant, home of the contaminated lagoon. In this part of our backyard, we’re looking at PCB contamination, EPA interventions, and millions of dollars worth of decommissioning costs. This is definitely a NIMBY!
About 100 yards away from the proposed site is the American Tissue Mills 23 acre parcel, extending over the river (and through the woods and behind my grandmother’s house) to behind Lee’s Hot Dog Stand. The property is saddled with liens and a sketchy trail of ownership and lack of accountability. No hope in the near future of development or tax revenue, and probably some degree of contamination from the Baldwinville Products days. You guessed it: NIMBY!
I could list other NIMBYs in our community, ranging from 252 Baldwinville Road to a failing, aging water infrastructure, but my point is simple. If we can work to engage others in town to apply the same level of concern for town affairs as is the case when there is a neighborhood-specific, controversial situation at hand, Templeton will reap the benefits of many minds working to craft solutions to some of our biggest challenges. If we don’t all start working toward common solutions with a heightened level of concern and awareness, we will all suffer from the sanctions of bankruptcy and receivership.
Darren
I see no reason for the public outcry. This facility is a treatment facility for fellow humans looking for help for a SICKNESS. We could, might some day or might have a loved one who might benefit for a facility such as McLeans some day. What is the big deal. If we are fighting to keep them out I think we should also fight to keep an additionl liquor license, the very evil that prepares clients for McLeans, out also. Double standards? I agree with Darren also. Where is that neighborhood watch when it comes to town business other than flouride and McLeans? If they meet all the guidelines welcome them to our town. Take a look around your town, as I have posted before we have people walking/biking around town that have more potential to be dangerous than the highly supervised clients in a rehab center such as McLeans.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Darren
ReplyDeleteTempleton needs all of its citizens to participate. We are all in this together whether you like it or not. The only way Templeton will stave off bankruptcy and receivership is for every person AND every department to work together to find solutions to our financial problems. It IS all about the money.
If we can get our foreclosed/abandoned properties back on the tax rolls, that is a step in the right direction. If Mclean operates and opens a facility in town, that can be positive thing for the town.
There can be no more free passes(no scrutiny) for certain departments. If the town of Templeton goes into state receivership, then TMLWP will be sold off as an asset to pay our debts. The Light portion of TMLWP is one of the few assets in town that can readily be converted into cash. Plain and simple.
Receivership will hurt EVERYONE and EVERY department in town. We are running out of time to find a way to work together to find solutions to our problems. Once the state comes in, they won't be asking the good residents of the Town of Templeton what they want to do. The good residents of Templeton will be told what is going to happen and here's the bill.
Figure it out!
Julie Farrell
For some people McLeans is the difference between living a productive life, and going the other way, to a loss of a quality life and eventually a premature death. The people who go there are going because they have a problem. They need the help McLeans will give them to understand why they are addicted, and how to fight the cravings. This group will do what it has to, to make it a good place for the neighbors, and the clients that come. I think the neighbors should be thrilled that a group like McLeans wants to buy it. Some of these groups are not as structured, and not as nice. Julie and Daren are right. We have a lot of problem areas in our town. Just because we have lived with them, does not mean they are ok. I think we just learn to live around them. It is kind of like they are not there. We are in for some very hard times in Templeton. We need the help of all of you. Open your eyes to your surroundings, there is alot that needs to be done, and we need help to make our town a better place to live. Bev
DeleteI for one am glad that an entity like McLean's is looking at opening a facility here in town and that they are willing to pay the taxes on this property and fix it up. I have knowledge that another company had put in an offer on this house and the clients that would have been moving in would have been far worse. The other company takes care of young adults with emotional and sexual deviant behavior. I agree these people also need help as my son works to help care for these people but I think McLean is a better choice.
ReplyDeleteAre you certain that this facility will be subject to property tax? What if it is classified as an educational endeavor?
DeleteYes, part of the agreement is that they have to pay taxes in the amount of $36,000. They are voluntarily doing so based on an increased assessment.
DeleteI have attended both parts of the hearing and i intend to continue going to the end . i would like to thank the planning board chairman for letting the people speak about there concerns and wishes .
ReplyDeleteGood blog Darren! I totally agree with the NIMBY thing. I wish people would open their eyes a little wider and see there are other people that live here in Templeton, too. Maybe if they paid attention to more issues than the ones that they can see directly affect their own life, we would be able to live in a healthier and stronger community. Its sad that all the mommys and daddys come running when there's a school issue and then walk out when THEIR issue is over. We'd probably already have a new school, town hall, police station, and newly paved roads if everyone did their part and paid attention...even half of the time. We can sit here and blame the Skeltons and their minions until we're blue in the face. But we also have to blame ourselves as a whole community for not paying attention for years and years. We let them get away with whatever they wanted. They ruined the town. One thing I have learned from Pauly is that its up to you/us to protect our money and how it is used. I know its hard to raise a family and work a million hours a week just to get by and not have time to pay attention to much else. I'm guilty of not paying attention for years. I regret that now. If only I paid attention 8 years ago...If only 100 other people did the same...Maybe we wouldn't be where we are. Citizens of Templeton have to understand that all the issues are connected. If you want a school, then pay attention to town politics. If you want your roads fixed, pay attention to town politics. If you want better this or better that, pay attention to town politics. It matters who you elect to office....if you even bother to vote at all.
ReplyDeleteI think its the funniest thing ever that the people that live in Templeton don't want "people with problems" to come into town. Ha! A dysfunctional town like this doesn't want others with their own dysfunctions to come here to get better. Oh, that's right! Come here and get worse. (That would make a good welcome sign at the town line) Better yet, lets not have anyone come here. Lets not encourage ANY business to come to town. Lets not pay our taxes for years and years, too. Who bothers to collect them? Lets have our utility companies submit the same annual report 2 years in a row and just ignore it. Lets hire shoddy lawyers to mishandle town business which results in millions of dollars owed to the town go poof in the air. Disappear. Lets have a recall of selectmen and then re-elecet the recalled selectman. How much money wasted on that? Lets hire and fire and re-hire a town coordinator all in six months. Then, lets get all mad when our town isn't our town anymore. We will all be wards of the state when the town goes bankrupt and then stand around and wonder what happened. The whole McLean issue is the cherry on top of this dysfunctional sundae. Actually, its very sad and not funny at all. The people that are against this company coming to town live their lives in ignorance and fear. And that is exactly what NIMBY is made of.
ReplyDeleteQuestion? Are the people at the meetings allowed to speak as "anonymous".........
ReplyDelete