Open Thread
The 75 comments was a record, but it took too long to scroll down to the last comment.
Here's more paper to write on.
Here's more paper to write on.
posted by sallyann | 7:43 PM
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Red-StaterWisdoms
Red-StaterWisdoms explores the differences between the Red and Blue states on social, personal and political issues.
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Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
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9 Comments:
Loose ends on campaign questions:
Someone asked what I would do with the blog if I'm elected Supervisor.
FDR had his "Fireside Chats" and I'll have the blog. It's important for any elected official to hear from their constituents, and it's important for officials to hear from the people. I want an "open" dialogue with the citizens of Lindley. You've all heard about "the meeting after the meeting"...that meeting takes place on the blog.
Someone asked about the Town taking over the Fire Department.
Absolutely not. We have one of the most efficient "volunteer" fire departments in Steuben County. They know what they are doing. If I'm elected Supervisor I would not "micro manage" the fire department, but provide enough oversight in the interest of taxpayers on the matter of the budget. I would also assist the fire department in writing grants for equipment if they deemed it necessary.
Any questions?
Would it be better to have a highway super thatis hired by the town and not elected? If elected they are in office for a long time a lot of time to cause damage and the town boards hands are tied from dealing with them because they are elected.If they were hired and were doing a poor job and not doing as the town board wishes they could be fired and a new super could be hired at any time.Seems like the town super always has a attitude that i am elected by the people so you the town board can not do any thing to me.Is this true or is there anything the town board can do to control the town super?
"Anonymous said...
Would it be better to have a highway super thatis hired by the town and not elected? If elected they are in office for a long time a lot of time to cause damage and the town boards hands are tied from dealing with them because they are elected.If they were hired and were doing a poor job and not doing as the town board wishes they could be fired and a new super could be hired at any time.Seems like the town super always has a attitude that i am elected by the people so you the town board can not do any thing to me.Is this true or is there anything the town board can do to control the town super?"
One could ask the same question about any of the elected positions held in this town. The voters can call for impeachment of any elected officials if there is substantiating evidence and the majority of the voters support the impeachment.
Again, the election process allows the majority to make the decisions. That's why it is so important to vote.
The very first question that I ask someone who is complaining about the state of our country, politicians, etc. is "do you vote?" As far as I see it, if they say no, they have no right to complain because they are part of the problem.
As the old saying goes - "actions speak louder than words!"
On the issue of the fire dept. I have heard they have to pay for all their own eqipment, i.e. boots,radios,suits etc. Is this true? If it is, are there any grants or state funds that could do that. I think our fire dept. does a great job and they are never rewarded.
On the highway super being appointed- I think that would be a bad idea, also they are only in office for 2 years and could be voted out if the people do not like their work. Obviously anyone who runs for and wins that job position is an adventerous type as there is no guarantee the person would still have a job in two years. I would think if appointed/hired by the town board you would have a lot of favoritism talk in the corners of Lindley. Obviously, our current highway super must please most of the people most of the time as he has repeatedly been voted in for many years.
T:
Yes, the fire department must pay for its equipment, but "volunteer" fire departments are usually better equiped than "professional" fire departments and a lot less "regulated" by restrictive laws. Volunteer departments in many rural locations, ours included, respond to more fires and MVAs and have excellent "response time". Professional fire departments are subjected to budgetary restrictions/labor costs that prevent cities from being able to purchase equipment. If the Town of Lindley took over the fire department, we would essentially get a "lesser" department. Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of protection in rural areas.
T- the fire department has applied for some grants over the past couple of years- they just haven't gotten approved for one yet. Not because the requests don't have merit, but because so many other departments are putting in for them as well and the small towns are usually on the end of the list, based on number of population served.
Everyone who applies for grants, doesn't necessarily get them, but if the Fire Dept. keeps trying, sooner or later they will find the right one.
Sally and KathyB i agree with your opinions on the highway supervisors job and the Fire Dept. issue but the sad fact on the fire dept. issue is that in the not far future the town of lindley along with other towns will have to face the issue of dwindling members in the fire dept. as the current membership ages.In some towns it has already started.Possibly in the near future the current fire dept. as we know it will be a thing of the past and only be part of our history.Then the town of lindley will have a problem on their hands.
You're probably right that in some rural areas in a few years it'll be hard to find young people willing to volunteer in their local fire departments, but I honestly don't believe that's going to happen in Lindley. We as a small rural town have managed to hold onto the traditions of the past, volunteering for the fire department being one of those traditions I speak of. There are many families in town who have raised their children with solid traditional values and the importance of "giving something back" to your community.I'm positive a whole new generation of firefighters will answer the call of duty when the older firefighters fade into the shadows.
I read an article the other day about the dwindling numbers of volunteers for the volunteer fire companies and it is a reality for many towns. I agree with Sal that -"there are many families in town who have raised their children with solid traditional values and the importance of "giving something back" to your community", and in that regards, we townsfolk are lucky.
It is very important that we all do what we can to support our local firefighters and fire department. Without a volunteer crew, we are faced with the choice of raising taxes to support a paid department or, more likely, having to rely on outside departments, who have their own residents as their priority. In addition, our house, farm and business insurance costs would go up because we wouldn't have local responders.
I think it would be great to hear from the department, telling us what challenges they face, what equipment or training needs they have, etc., to help everyone understand how we can better support their efforts.
From my own personal experience with the Lindley Bicentennial celebration, I can attest that there are a lot of hardworking, dedicated folks who live in this town, who are willing to help out, if they know what is needed from them.
Also, I want clarify my previous statement about elected officials -
I was not suggesting that we impeach Dick Johnson by any means. I think that Dick and his crew are doing a great job with what resources they have to work with!
My point was to the previous writer that the voters have control over all the elected positions in town. The writer was of the mind that somehow the highway department is accountable to the town board, instead of the residents. The reality is that all elected officials are accountable to the residents who elect them and, because of that we, by our vote, get to do the "job appraisal" for each official. As someone mentioned in an earlier post, Dick has been re-elected several times- apparently the majority of the voters in this town seem to think he is doing a pretty good job!
Why would any of us choose to give up that control and allow the personal feelings or dislikes of a few to impact the operations of the town?
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