Saturday, June 21, 2008

Library

The informational meeting on the library proposal was held today at the north firehouse. Quite a few folks came, I'd say about 50. They listened politely to the consultant the town hired as he went through his charts, talking about putting a new library here or there on town property He then opened up the meeting to questions from the floor. Most of the "questions" were statements in opposition to a new library, with a smattering of statements in support. The meeting then was broken up into groups that were supposed to talk about various aspects of the process, but I and lots of other people left because we weren't interested in various aspects of the process, we just wanted to express our opposition.

Any reasonable person would come away from the meeting with the belief that there was little - make that no - chance of a new library being built. But I'm sure the proponents won't get that message, just like the proponents of last year's annex proposal didn't get the message when the townspeople overwhelmingly expressed their opposition. That's not because the proponents are dense, it's because they're persistent. They use the "nose under the tent" approach: If you just keep talking about it (and hiring consultants to do fancy presentations), eventually it acquires a life of its own, and the opponents get tired of fighting.

So if you're opposed to spending any more time or money on the library dream, let the selectmen know. If we don't nip this thing in the bud, the proponents could slip it through.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Cell Phones

When the planning board proposed its new "improved" cell phone equipment zoning bylaw a couple of years ago, many of us said it was just a thinly disguised effort to keep cell phone equipment out of Egremont, and consequently it was likely illegal under federal law. (At the time, I was personally told that by representatives of two telecommunications companies.) Well, it looks like Verizon has now informed the town that they want to put cell phone equipment in town and can't under the PB's bylaw, and they may be ready to take legal action if the town doesn't do something.

It's always nice to be able to say "I told you so." But much more importantly, we need cell phone service in town, for safety as well as business reasons. It's time for the selectboard to act. We need a provision that permits - not prohibits - cell phone equipment. Our zoning bylaw contains a careful procedure for issuing special permits that could easily be extended to telecommunications equipment. But if we do that, we should also make the issuing authority the selectboard, not the PB. The PB's history of animosity toward telecommunications equipment disqualifies it from overseeing a permit process as important as this.
Board appointments

As is customary in June, the selectboard plans to fill vacancies in town boards and committees at its meeting next week. If you're interested in being on a board or committee, and have the necessary expertise, please, please submit your name by sending a short simple letter to town hall saying something like "I would like to be appointed to the XXXXXX." You may, but need not, add information on your qualifications and why you're interested.

The selectmen don't have a great track record in seeking out qualified candidates for town boards. They generally just appoint from whoever volunteers. (And they tend not to appoint people whose viewpoints thay don't like.) Not surprisingly, that often results in populating boards with folks who have a narrow agenda and/or perspective and not a great deal of expertise, and that often results in boards doing more harm than good to townspeople. These appointees may think they're saving the world but too often they're hurting us Egremonters.

Unfortunately, qualified people frequently don't like to serve on boards because they have real lives and don't want to spend their time dealing with what often seems unrealistic and impractical. You may feel that way, but I urge you to get involved. The next silly board action may be on your application!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Information Meetings

Two information meetings are being held on Saturdays in June: (1) The library study committee will try to convince Egremonters that we need a library to replace the old one. You might want to go, especially if you feel as I do that that's a pipe dream and the committee should hear the reality from taxpayers. (2) The conservation commission (and guest speakers) will hold forth on what's allowed and what's not on tree cutting. If you think you can cut down trees on your own property without restriction, think again. Big brother is watching.

Exact dates and times can be obtained from town hall. And there'll be sandwich boards at strategic locations in town announcing the meetings.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Selectmen's Meeting

Last week's selectmen's meeting was more cordial than the first one attended by new selectman Bruce Cumsky. The only controversy was created by me, when I suggested the selectboard - not the library committee - should approve expenditures under the library architectural contract. All three selectmen disagreed. One said that would be micromanaging. The other two believe that the library committee has spending power.

I'm not sure what the law is (I intend to research it), but as a matter of policy, I believe what town boards and committees do is subject to control by the selectboard, i.e., the buck stops there, not at the committee level. And I think that's particularly true when it comes to expenditures. I'd have to think twice about voting for budget items at the annual town meeting if I knew that the money would be spent by some committee without prior approval by the selectboard. What do you think?