Paul working for you.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Sounding off from Afghanistan
I may not have a selectmen with me nor do I have access to television, but I do keep up as best as possible and some people keep in touch with me. Now last I knew, there are no plans to build an elementary school anytime soon, heck we do not even have land yet for a school site. So why would anyone associated with the school district, past or present be wildly concerned with a plan on reuse of the three presently in use elementary schools? Last time I checked those are Templeton town property and we can deal with them as we see fit after they are no longer used for school buildings when and if that time comes. There is certainly no need for the selectmen to give immediate approval of any plan. Now maybe the state can assist us with funding for reuse of those buildings if it ever comes to that, but lets stay focused. First things first, lets plan and talk about it before we jump on anything. Templeton cetainly has no need nor business even considering buying Templewood golf course. If that is for sale, perhaps the owners should talk to someone who's property borders the golf course and who has or had plans for a sub division of some of thier land. Now I do not claim to be a mind reader but if there are people in Templeton with children is school and they feel frustrated for lack of movement on the elementary school or they feel the need to leave the school district for some alternative, as in the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, well I would say good luck to them and I am sincere in that wish. I do not wish for this, but if a mass exit of children from the NRHS school district were to happen, that would mean a need for fewer teachers and teacher aids which equals a reduction in cost as in a lower budget for the district. One major down side of such an event would be the pink slips of all those involved. I believe some people within the school district need to get a grip and realize there is some planning to do and first we need an actual land site controled and owned by the town first. I do not want to rush, I do not want to hear the sky is falling and see a couple hundred more thousand taxpayer dollars go down the drain, so to speak because we rush or we listen to dire unfounded hogwash. So I would ask whomever wants to speak in terms of idle or made up scenarios, get a grip and let the people who are trying to get a land site do the work and get an answer before we start yelling the sky is falling. This is no conspiracy theory, this is just my thoughts on things that I see and hear, thru e-mail and phone conversations and yes I bought an Afghan cell phone that I can call the states with and cheaper than a long distance call in the states. I will say this is a message from me to some people who may be trying to add to the mess already in place rather than let those who are actually trying to get some things going in the right direction. Perhaps what we really need and what the people with the school district can do is provide the enrollment numbers for the last five years or ten years or both, has enrollment gone down or up. That is important because even with the creation of MSBA, there has still been excess capcity being built into new schools built under thier guiadance as in taxpayers spending more money than required on larger school buildings than they need. Seems like there is still a culture of we need more and more for the kids and after you look at all the money spent on the kids, they are no better educated than before and there are numbers out there to prove it. Businesses spend millions on getting employees educated, colleges have more and more basic level course just to get kids up to spped to attend college and the military did a study that showed over half the kids who take an asvab tes fail because they can't comprehend the questions; translated, they were given a diploma but can't understand what they read. But still we need more and more money for the kids. But I digress because it bugs the hell out of me to here the teacher unions and others always saying they need money for the kids and the kids are the last ones to see anything from all that money. Perhaps I should not care so much but then I take after my dad. Thank you to all who read this while allowing me to sound off
. I need some more brownies damn it. oops, I said a swear word, my bad....from Afghanistan, Jeff Bennett
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Brownies are on the way
ReplyDeleteThe parents want a decent education for their kids. No one will dispute that kids deserve quality education. Veterans deserve proper benefits and an easy process to receive them. Seniors need quality services and support and our respect. Town workers need to be treated fairly with decent wages and working conditions. Our drinking water needs to be safe, our roads drivable, our utilities need to function properly. However, many people cannot afford their bills and taxes. The town doesn't have enough money to cover basic operating costs or "essential services". What everyone--the entire town--has to understand is the community and their elected officials are not against any of these needs and desires. No one is against kids, veterans, seniors, town employees or any other subgroup. The problem comes down to our bottom line. All of us have not paid close enough attention to how the town operates financially and because of this, we find our town does not have enough money to operate at a fair and affordable state that pleases everyone. It would be more productive if every special interest group would stop making other groups the enemy who are trying to take money out of their pot. It will not solve our real problem and will only continue to promote infighting in our community. Parents need to better understand how the town operates financially, meaning they need to educate themselves on why there isn't more money for education. Like wasting $700k on a failed town hall project. Seniors need to learn more about why the school is asking for more money for education. Everyone needs to understand what conditions our town workers have had to deal with and what it costs to maintain the town and provide emergency services. Every sub group that makes up our town directly affects all the other subgroups. And if you truly want to help your own group that you feel passionately for, you must understand the whole picture and support all the parts. This is why our Advisory Board is more important now more than ever. They are solely focused on the whole picture, the bottom line. They are trying their best to allocate money in the most equal and responsible way possible. No one is going to be 100% satisfied with the final budgets for several years to come. Its the reality we face. If anyone is interested in fighting for more money for their special interest group, attend an Advisory Board meeting. You will get unbiased and factual information there that is not tainted with misinformation. In order to achieve a comfortable balance, we all have to come together, educate ourselves on ALL the parts of our community, and respectfully agree on the best possible plan we have available to us. Being a good selectman means having to juggle all these subgroups and try not to show bias to one over another. This is difficult to do as we have seen one selectman after another show bias towards different subgroups. They are elected based on promises they've made to these subgroups. I hope that anyone that runs for selectman will understand the real job description and why it is vital for them to do their best to represent everyone with professionalism and respect.
ReplyDeleteFINALLY, someone with a brain !
DeleteThe Advisory Board is the most important board in town. For years this board has been neglected and abused by the Board of Selectmen. At one time some say it was to powerful but if there is any power at a local level, this is where it should reside. Nice job to the present Advisory Board for their good work!!
ReplyDeleteWith a Statist agenda handed down from "No Child Left Behind" at the federal level and our school systems blatant disregard for true history and push for mediocrity, it may be best for all involved if we home school our children.
ReplyDeleteOR send them to MontyTech where they care more about the students than the administrators
DeleteJeff, i cannot disagree with you any more, and quite frankly i am shocked that someone with your knowledge and skill would say something so absurd and backwards. The backbone of this town- and all towns- is the education system. If we do not educate our children, and our children's children- we will be nothing here in Templeton. The easiest way to grow and succeed is to educate. Unfortunately, a reality that is associated with this is they need an environment conducive to learning. I don't really understand your comment that kids want more and more today to learn. Well no, they are simply asking for a building that is not asbestos and mold ridden--fact. This building was built in the 1930's. Many of these problems should be expected. It's time we man up and give the townsfolk what we all deserve. Better schools= increased home values.
ReplyDeleteP.S. thank you for serving our country.
or get together with a few nearby towns for a charter school and get them away from the union choke hold !!!! when you out spent every other country and finish 25th in testing, there is a problem !!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd the infighting continues....
ReplyDeleteYou want more money for your kids? Then help town officials find where it is going to come from. No one is saying they don't deserve it or that they don't desperately need a new building. There is NO MONEY! Its not the union's fault either. Go back and refresh why unions formed in the first place. I agree that some unions have gotten out of control with demands and rules. I lose jobs to union workers all the time. But blaming or eliminating unions will only reduce power to the workers and gives more power to the wealthy. If you want to solve the unions, then you have to change legislature. Unfortunately, that's not an easy task. The teachers have a right to unionize and ask for fair wages. However, they can't get paid if there are no funds in the bank. If you want to cut costs of education, look at administration costs and the hoops that state and federal government demand on schools without concern for cost. The town officials are working hard get a new elementary school as best as they can with the funds available. Unfortunately, the town lost several years with poor leadership on this subject. And here we are. No money. Higher demands. No money. Some say raise taxes. Many cannot afford higher taxes and will not vote for an override. So, what do you do? There's still no money. Pointing fingers won't help. Coming up with options and compromises will. If this town cannot come up with options and compromises, then we need to look at other towns of similar size and income level and see what others have done to find solutions. We are not the only town that is in this situation. If any parent out there is unaware that this town is close to going into receivership from the state, then you are not really doing your child any justice by screaming until you're red in the face about what they need. You're trying to fight a battle without knowing the whole picture of what or who you're fighting. Learn WHY the schools are in this predicament and then help find a solution. Understand town finances. Then you'll understand what is possible and what is not for your little ones.
A Building does not teach the kids, Teachers are supposed to. Teachers and Ruth Miller need to STOP blaming 4 walls and some desks and start taking pride in what they do instead of wanting more easier ways to accomplish what they CAN do if they really cared!!! former Teachers Pet
ReplyDeleteFirst off, education is the key to everything, formal or thru "hardknocks" as in experience. I remember at a meeting of the elementary school building committee, one member commented on how he visited Murdoch high school in Winchendon and stated how he thought it was a great looking building but he thought there was good money wasted on architecture rather than on substance. I read that as all you really need is a box, a simple square building to have classrooms in. I always thought it was the people inside the box who are the ones to inspire kids to want to learn. As for the glitz and gizmos to inspire the kids, just take a look out back of NRHS and you tell me if that 6.8 million dollars or whatever the true number is would have been better spent on say laptop computers and a person who really knows that subject and was truly interested in showing kids what one can do with the internet. Now that might have something to talk about. I digress. What I find absurd and backwards is someone associated with NRHS past/present to even suggest taxpayers of Templeton consider buying Templewood golf course for a backup site incase the plan from sen Brewer fails. My first thought is "with what money would we do this with?" 2nd, said person wants selectmen to immediately concieve a plan for the reuse of the soon to be vacan school buildings so we can get funding when we build a new school next year?? WTF? we do not even have a town controled building site and you want us to create a committee and spend time and taxpayer money on a plan to reuse town buildings when we do not even have a place to build a new school. That in my opinion is backward and absurd. On top of that, put the "parents will vacate the NRHS school system in droves if we do not do this now and you may find resistance to spending a large amount of tax revenue on this but we must do it" Really, well where is this tax revenue to come from? Pardon me from disagreeing, but I find all of this absurd and backward, to go down the same road again that got us where we are...broke and in debt.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, spending a lot of money on a new school doesn't help educate kids. Gizmos and gadgets are not necessary.
DeletePeople are confused about technology. Using technology, like a computer, does not make one proficient in creating new technology. The first computers were created by people who had never used a computer. They were proficient in physics, electrical engineering and mathematics. I don't get too excited by "technology" as it is used by our schools. Certainly, the wind turbine has always been a questionable educational tool.
Microprocessors were created by people who had never seen a lap top. The engineers who invented them went to school at a time when 30 kids in a classroom was not a big deal. Likewise with the folks who worked at NASA in the early days, when NASA could actually accomplish great science and engineering.
Computer technology has increased productivity in almost every field of work. Except for education, which has somehow managed to reduce productivity since computers became widely available. If you disagree with that statement, you don't understand the meaning of productivity.
Mark-
DeleteI agree that technology is a tool, but it is an essential tool for our kids to know how to use...wisely and well.
Technology does not replace teachers or curriculum. Problem is thinking that schools are like a business. Nothing further from the truth. Schools must take any and all children who walk through the door...ready or not here they come. Thta's what PUBLIC education is.
Not all children who walk through that door are "ready to learn". Some have not had breakfast, some have not had a decent night's sleep due to many factors - homeless, divorce and/or custody issues. The "playing field" is not equal and I doubt it will,ever be.
How are you quantifying productivity in education? What is your measurement? Test scores? Which ones? What are the population sets you are comparing? Apples to apples or something else?
Productivity is the cost to educate a student.
DeleteIn the not too distant past, you would have seen 8 classrooms and one office in a neighborhood school building, ten employees (1 principal, 1 secretary, 8 teachers) and they educated 240 students.
Today, that situation would not exist. There is a whole lot of "work" going on that didn't exist in the past. Much of that "work" does not educate students.
The people who learned under those primitive conditions did the space program, invented computers, microprocessors etc etc.
As for technology in the classroom, it should reduce labor costs, but it does the opposite. We now employ Director-level people to administer "technology". That's just one example of all the jobs that exist today that didn't in the past.
There has always been poverty there have always been bad home situations. The sad truth is the schools are ineffective as a social service agency. Too often, it becomes somebody's empire to build. Like your friend in the Veteran Services business. You should be concerned about efficient delivery of chartered service within the schools, just as you are for veterans.
Another thing that irks me about education today is the Taj Ma School mentality. Someone with a "PhD" in education tells us a school is inadequate, but never says the reason why. My example school build from the not-too-distand-past has only 9 rooms. Eight classrooms, one office. Nowhere to put the Dean of Students, the Technology Director, 5th grade Guidance Counselor etc etc etc.
As we spend too much on lackluster results. 25th in test scores, 1st in spending. The one thing the educators are better at today is convincing parents that the children's future is at risk if we don't spend even more.
you may think I contradicted myself by speaking against gizmos (funny word) then speak in favor of laptops so I clarify (I went to those old moldy worn out school buildings so I may not be to smart) The gizmos that I am really against are the big offices, lounges etc for the staff, because I always hear the argument it is for the kids. Well talk to the kids and se if they ever got thier large art/music study space they were promised when the big $85,000.00 main staff office was created a couple years back. I hope Templeton does not go down the road of making kids pay to take part in sports. I thought we have an epidemic of children being to fat and they need exercise so I hope we donot charge them for the privilege, now that would be absurd and backwards. If one wants to see absurd, ask the school committee if you can sit in on the next teacher contract talks. Take the time to go look at any municiple union contracts. Absurd is Templeton taxpayers having to pay $250.00 to each member of the highway department for work boots. Not a knock on anyone, that is just an item in the union contract. There is also longevity pay within the police union contract, I bet there are a few secretaries who work for Templeton who would like longevity pay. That is the dilemma, everyone wants more except when it comes to more taxes, of course if we spent them wiser, we could perhaps not have so much trouble with tax rate increases. I hope this clears up some of my backward and absurd thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Dave Smart will pass on his boot money this year to save money??? Lol. Probably not! Yet very quick to point fingers elswhere of wastefulness!
Deleteseriously, boot money for the highway guys that work in all weather conditions. well deserved. How about the light & water ladies giving up their "clothing allowance"
DeleteI really do need to weigh in on this one. I have seen the classroom from the outside and the inside. My wife and my children are products of the Narragansett school system. My wife has a doctorate, my son is a software engineer and my daughter is a navy pilot (Annapolis graduate). My point is not to boast, but to illustrate that you do not need the latest and greatest in physical plant to be successful. You need PARENT INVOLVEMENT, DISCIPLINE, and BASIC MATH and SCIENCE. All that is non-existent these days. There is too much emphasis on sports and extra curricular crap.
ReplyDeleteMath and Science is what makes America successful, NOT FOOTBALL.
As far as the Teachers are concerned. They are not permitted to actually teach anymore. They can't discipline, they can't eject disruptive pupils. They are babysitters, jailers, truant officers, shrinks, parents (because the real parents don't participate). The state has placed so much unfunded burden and paperwork on the schools and teachers, there is no time left for actual instruction.
I know what I am talking about. After spending 30 years in high-tech and computer engineering, I taught Vocational Tech High school for ten years. After spending all those years with intelligent, motivated people, then going to high school to teach was an eye opening experience. Also I do NOT believe a 13 year old kid knows what he wants to do for a life career. I know from experience that most of them simply want to be with their buddies. Mostly they think by going to a Vocational school they won't have to do any math (what a shock my electronics students got :) ) I think the state should close all the Vocational High schools, concentrate on math and science in traditional high schools, spend LESS on sports and move the vocational stuff into the Community Colleges where the students will be more mature and have a clearer idea of what they want to do when they grow up.
Until the State and Feds begin funding all the bullshit non teaching mandates, we will NEVER have enough money to do what needs to be done. Also there is a mandate called "inclusion" where lower performing and "special needs" students are "included" in the regular classroom, often without the aid of extra adult help. In my experience all this accomplished was bring down teaching level to the lowest common denominator. What do you think this does to the learning of a gifted child? Then we wonder why many of our schools are under performing.
I want to point out a study that I recently read. Out of eight college degrees that do NOT return sufficient ROI (return on investment) education is the sixth WORST. There are so many dedicated people who teach for the love of it, why can't we stop blaming teachers for the downfall of education and look to BOSTON and WASHINGTON where the real blame lies. One more point; Back in the day, school administrators had an investment in the community and stayed the course. These days superintendents and principals are like "Whack-a-moles", they disappear from one school system and pop up in another one after a couple of years simply to further themselves (or they go fired) ** LET THE FLAMES BEGIN **
Very true and well said Tom J
ReplyDeleteTom and Mark,
ReplyDeleteYou both have very valid points to make. I've talked to legislators who want to extend the school day and the school year. The debate is how to make that happen. The current school year is based on an agrarian society...Hello? Anybody? I think our society has changed!
I just read in yesterday's Telegram that schools will now have to allow transgendered students to use whichever bathroom that corresponds with their sexual identity. This is in addition to anti-bullying laws including sexting and threats made off the school property.
Teacher evaluation is changing to a include student growth as a component in a teacher's evaluation. Crisis intervention is changing due to Newtown. Next year, I'll probably be required to carry concealed in order to protect my students.(a very scary thought given my lack of coordination and fine motor skills). Maybe drones will be next.
All I want to do is to teach my kids information literacy skills so they can be wise and alert consumers of information; so maybe they can discern when someone is feeding them a bunch of bull.
It is truly a brave New World.
Julie - One thing I am concerned about is the lack of emphasis on physical science in schools. There was a noted scientist who once said something along the lines of "if it ain't physics, it's Stamp Collecting". This reverberates whenever I see the schools concentrating on life science (collecting microscope slides, studying botany, etc) and giving short attention to physical science.
DeleteThere is much more economic benefit to physical science than life science. But physics is hard, compared to sciences like ecology, and human nature is to take the easy path. A hospital as the biggest employer in this region is not good. Basic economics will tell you that we need to export something (from this area) to pay for the food, fuel and widgets we cannot produce around these here parts.
If we built stuff around here, we could use the influx of money from other areas that buy our "stuff" to buy those things we cannot produce locally. The way to master the building of "stuff" is through the study of physical sciences and the application of those sciences (AKA mechanical, electrical, chemical etc engineering).
Last time I looked, people were not flying to Gardner to get treated at HHH. You can't build an economy selling each other hamburgers, and you can't build an economy selling each other any service, unless those services include the production of everything you need. So we should focus on physical science, because we sure don't live in the Garden of Eden, despite the Right to Farm ordinance.
I haven't been to a local science fair since my sons were in grade school. It's been a while. How many science fair projects are about physics compared to how many are about ecology, botany, global climate change, AKA "stamp collecting" (Ernest Rutherford).
As one could imagine highway workers get into water/mud and are prone to work related foot /toe injuries. Providing a benefit of 250. for steel toe boots is insurance to keep from having comp.claims a win win. Not sure when the boot allowance came about. Maybe it was one year no pay raises were offered?
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last year that light and water went without a raise? When did any union for town department employees go without a raise? How much clothing allowance do the other town employee unions give,for other than boots. I can tell you the boots are a safety factor that is a benefit for the town also. A pair of chipawa quality boots as i wear are a tool not a garment and with out the allowance may not be as good a quality boot we need. For the record i used a coupon and saved the town 75$ off regular price and i will for the record not use the 60$ left over. ANON "1257" i hope you will match my deferred allowance and also sign in to help people understand we are all in this together, unless you don't live in Templeton! Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.
Shareholder
Dave Smart
One purpose of the petition to abolish the L=W commission is to get the negotiation for future contracts more in line with what the Templeton employees get and deserve. Not just what the ratepayers will be charged for, or the use they get from the electricty . The commission has a problem when it comes to the pay equality compaired to the rest of town and i'm not just talking about union help. When the pervious general manager got an increase of 9,800.+ for one year then left the next year? Hmmmmm The pension of the master plan general over 80,000 per year 2nd largest in worcester county. Why is my light bill so high? We need not do any more then look at the bills and see the problems at light and water are a product of lack of checks and balance ,The commission! I hope all the anonymous can stand up and be noticed at the STM, O GEE that will be for the voters in Templeton to do so, that thins the crowd a bit. The truth is out there, Templeton is being taken for a ride and it has one hell of a tab. How much will the rates go up for the raises this year? I hope the contract is put on extention for 6 months while the commission is voted in or voted out, For now on March 6 the voters will be allowed to have a voice. WE will get to have a choice to keep the commission that got us hear or remove the commission and better the department to work for Templeton from hear on.
ReplyDeleteMarch 7 can be a brighter Light + Water future for Templeton and the ratepayers.
Take back the Light and Water
Shareholder
Dave Smart
You should be run out and beat for the way you speak about your union brothers! Absolute disgrace to the union and the town! The Light Co. Is the way the entire town should be run, LIKE A BUISNESS! You speak about light co like everyone over there is dumb... You will never make what a lineman makes bacause you are a truck driver and they are a skilled labor force that requires many year and thousands of hours of training! Cant speak about managment but the lineguys over there are NOT over paid one bit! I would like you to come to work with me for a day and let you know what its like to have three phases buzzing a foot from your head and knowing that if tou make one mistake you may not be coming home to your family! I would stop being a SCAB on this rediculous website and tell these guys to their face that you would like to strip them of their benefits lower their pay and then proceed to put them on the same level as a truck driver! You my friend need a reality check. Ask them what they get and why! Stop running your uninformed mouth on here and giving people the wrong idea of what these guys do. I am a lineman for National Grid and have been for 15 years! I was told about this website from a friend of mine and cannot believe my eyes when i read this stuff. I do personally know a couple guys over there and they are top notch. So to anyone that can distiguish their right arm from their left, please discard any thoughts that this guy has to say about the union help at the light co!
ReplyDeleteTo anon 7:14am
DeleteI don't think Dave is criticizing any of the linemen or other worker-bees at water & light. If you had bothered to look at all the previous posts on this and other topics you would have noticed that the linemen have been given many kudos on their excellent work. The criticisms are directed at *management*. Templeton Municipal light rates are among the highest in the state. There are almost *no* "benefits" such as net-metering, ability to shop for power generation, bogus windmill, paying $3.00 for the "privilege" of being a customer, no energy saving programs, and a BOGUS PILOT formula, etc. Also "back in the day" the rate payers used to get a REBATE from excess charges. All the heartburn on this website is with management and the commissioners, who have been mostly unresponsive to the requirements of the ratepayers.
So I would suggest that you follow your own advice and do a reality check yourself and find out the facts before you shoot your mouth off.
Thanks for reading and welcome.
7;14 If you dont work here and you probably dont live here ,then put your name on your big complaint . who you trying to fool ? not me . I for one know a lot of people that have put there kids thru college being A STUPID TRUCK DRIVER . just goes to show us that all of the people that work at TMLW. THINK THAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE .
DeleteIts apples and oranges! If you cant figure that out its too late for you!
DeleteI agree with 714! I know the light co only gets 175 for boots! Maybe i could find a 75 dollar coupon somewhere.... Hmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteRun the town like the light dept yeah right we would all be broke. oh wait GS & CS, BC, Dob tried that - we are broke.
ReplyDeleteOne should at least be willing to put a name behind his opinions.
ReplyDeleteTo anon 7:14am
ReplyDeleteI don't think Dave is criticizing any of the linemen or other worker-bees at water & light. If you had bothered to look at all the previous posts on this and other topics you would have noticed that the linemen have been given many kudos on their excellent work. The criticisms are directed at *management*. Templeton Municipal light rates are among the highest in the state. There are almost *no* "benefits" such as net-metering, ability to shop for power generation, bogus windmill, paying $3.00 for the "privilege" of being a customer, no energy saving programs, and a BOGUS PILOT formula, etc. Also "back in the day" the rate payers used to get a REBATE from excess charges. All the heartburn on this website is with management and the commissioners, who have been mostly unresponsive to the requirements of the ratepayers.
So I would suggest that you follow your own advice and do a reality check yourself and find out the facts before you shoot your mouth off.
Thanks for reading and welcome.
Anon 7:14-
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking an interest town politics. I signed the petition for a number of reasons, but most specifically is because the Light & Water department is NOT run like "a business".
I can't think of any business that would tolerate a 2 1/2 year delay for a cost certification for a multi-million dollar project(wind turbine). I can't think of a business that would tolerate the management of a department being deliberately obtuse regarding the multiple water main breaks on July 14, 2012. The town (BOS) still has not received answers to these inquiries, that were made months ago.
Baldwinville Rd reconstruction is set to begin in March...yes next month. There is no plan or information from the water department on repair or replacement of the water mains along the stretch of Baldwinville Rd where some of the water main breaks occurred last July. I believe this lack of planning and lack of accountability would not be tolerated in the "business" world.
The Light union (IBEW) is a different contract and union than the water department. Very different skill sets and contracts for Light vs. Water.
The Water Dept. Union is the same local within the same union as the Highway and sewer department. Before Chapter 93 Acts of 2000, all of the highway, sewer, and water department workers were members of the same local and the same union. Currently, highway and sewer contracts are negotiated by the BOS. The water department contracts are negotiated by the Light & Water Commissioners. If you have town water, you might want to pull out your water bills for the past ten years and review the phenomenal increases including the $28/quarter "service fee". Staggering long term debt and salary increases within the water department have led to an unsustainable situation. The rate payers(taxpayers/shareholders) can no longer be expected "to pick up the tab" with increased rates and unresponsive management.
You stated that you work as a lineman for National Grid. Are the clerical/office staff members of your union? Do theses workers receive a clothing allowance as part of their union negotiations? I had never heard of such a thing until I was elected Light & Water Commissioner.
On the Citizens4Templeton website there are links to documents which will provide detailed background information:
http://www.citizens4templeton.com/Important_Documents.html
One place to start for background information is:
Timeline for Chapter 93 Acts of 2000
Below that link is information about Light & Water links. If you have more time, please review the e-mail correspondence between the BOH and TMLWP under Interesting Reading. It truly is interesting reading.
Have a great day
Julie Farrell
""Anon"" 7:14 I almost feel that you have been here before and posted with out control of your thoughts. I have said before and to their face that i have no problem with them or their compensations. That being said you should know in the past history in Templeton the fact is the light and water management has been in my opinion smoke and mirrors and my hope is on March 6 the smoke will be cleared and the clear vote will happen.Thats none of your business. National grid has a poor reputation from what i hear and is the only argument when the talk to sell TMLWP comes up.
ReplyDeleteYou must be proud to work for them so long and get paid what you get. We here in Templeton are also proud of our linemen and also feel they do a great job,they do. Did you read that tooo. Befora you club me dude. Union on the highways behalf tells us what we already know, theres no money for raises, we get that and can only hope for the best next time. The fact that the management and the commission doesn't get the problems in Templeton are siad to us by them not to be their problems are fuel for the debate. If the fair share was paid to the town in the correct formula as pilot should be. Templeton wouldn't be broke and would have extra money for the things like school,highway police,fire,town services!
My piont in answering your comment is to let you know i do this not for me but the people in Templeton that are in my opinion taken advantage of by the light and water and not for us to attack any union or union brothers, you need to ask people in town if they were a secratary/clerck/office addministrator/assistant/whats the pay scale for the people in a safe office with only 120 buzzing over their heads worth, you need to do a fact finding mission and see the Templeton Light and water in the true light. Please put away the club your argument ended when you started it like that. The petition is the only way we have to be a voice and the debate as to the fate of the commission is ours and i'm glad you won't be there,or take part in it!
The coupon thing is simple and the whole town can save alot if the eyes were open a little wider and the prices were looked at closer. 100 bags of oil dry price can result in over pay by $200.00,people who care about Templeton see this stuff. By the way do ngrid afford you linemen the stirups for intervention of suspension trama Templeton doesn't. Guess that won't happen to you guys!
I'm a Bucket truck certified with no extra pay highway guy that cares about Templeton. Stay safe my friend. Please post with your emotions in check. Your points are better served that way. Better yet if the information you see here bothers you don't read it, stay away from this rediculous website and stop making threats.For the record I have worked with and talked about things with the light and water guys, It's the commission that we have the problem with. They have dug the hole their in and will bury
Templeton in it. Our linemen can work anywhere they want and are alot safer in Templeton than where ngrid has been. Look at your infrstructure and ask yourself should i retire?
Look at the green issue's they face and why 2 wind turbines are rusting away while they play games and cost the taxpayers plenty. Tempelton has alot of problems and debt at L=W and the day will come for the change to happen, It's just as you said "business"! We need to run it for Templeton.
Shareholder
Dave Smart
RE: Mrs. FarrellFebruary 17, 2013 at 10:23 AM
ReplyDeleteOH my gawd, Julie packing a weapon? Lookout Bubba.....
No one is more afraid of that scenario than I
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I think we lose focus, my main point was to raise the issue/question of why should/would someone from the NRHS school district be suggesting (in a threatening like fashion in my opinion) that Templeton selectmen nee to immediately come up with a reuse plan for 3 schools, look at buying Templewood golf course for land for school in case the other plan fails and if you do not do all this there will be a mass exedus from the NRHS school district. Perhaps the district personnel should concentrate on runninf the school and leave the rest to others. As for unions and labor costs, check out the cost of labor for the new elementary school in Ashburnham and you will see part of the reason why a school costs so much.
ReplyDeleteWell, if all these people are going to move out of Templeton because the school system sucks, I say good luck selling your poorly constructed, new development house built in 2004 when there is 25 or 30 on the market here already. Hate to say it, but you guys are stuck here for a while. So, why not help to fix the things you don't like in this town instead of threatening us and taking the easy way out? Set a good example for your kids by rolling up your sleeves and work for what you want.
Deletehouston are you anon 714?
ReplyDeletewould your brother aprove?
ReplyDeleteI can't understand why the people that begrudge teachers a decent salary considering what is asked of them and what is entrusted to them often are the same people who don't blink an eye about Tom Brady making $20 million for throwing a freakin' football. Those same people will spend 500 bucks to go to a Patriot's game, but complain that a teacher makes $50 grand after 10 years of service WTF !
ReplyDeleteAsk your self this question: Who contributes more to society, Freakin' sports celebrities or those that educate our children? I'm NOT a union fan, but without a union, some of you would have them working for minimum wage while at the same time expecting them to be father/mother/shrink/jailer/babysitter/guidance councilor/wizard.
I am NOT in favor of unfunded mandates and I will NOT vote for an override. But I feel some of you anon's need to look in the mirror before you blame everyone else for the demise of education. Try spending some time in the classroom and see goes on there. I have criticized teachers in the past, until I tried it myself. I guarantee that most of you out there could not do that thankless job.
**Let the Flames begin **
Very well said!!!
DeleteTempleton's school system does not "suck" relative to nearby districts. Take a look at the MCAS test scores, compare them to Gardner and you will see higher scores in Templeton/at Gansett.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't mean there is no room for improvement. But relatively speaking, the system is doing "OK".
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/state_report/mcas.aspx
Obviously, we shouldn't be satisfied with the status quo. We're spending too much money for education. It's a bubble that has to burst, like health care. But it's not correct to think that parents can achieve better results by fleeing Templeton's school system. We provide the same as everyone around, with results that are at least comparable.