ROTFL
Registered: 03/30/06
Posts: 142
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| #31 |
Random shots at a discussion that has strayed from its original topic:
Charlie McMahon was proposing to have baseball fund the lights at Griffin. The installation wasn't going to cost the taxpayers a thing. That doesn't make them a good idea, BTW, but let's at least get the facts straight.
In fact-- outside of new school construction, the "millions" spent on athletics has largely come from private donations funneled through the town sports leagues.
The league voted Charlie down but I have heard he is going to come back with another proposal to try and overcome their objections. If you don't want lights at Griffin, this is the time to make it clear to your town officials how you feel.
SomeOneCares is absolutely correct: A house with kids is a net budget liability for the town. Think about it-- 85% of our tax money goes to the schools. Is 85% of the property in Windham home to school age kids? NOPE. This, BTW, is why commercial property helps lower taxes. Businesses don't add to the school budget. And their taxes MORE than pay for the extra burden they place on the much smaller town budget.
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crankyoldguy
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 666
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| #32 |
And then there are those never ending maintenance costs. How much do you think it costs to maintain all our playgrounds, recreational areas, trails and other unnecessary but "prestigious" additions to the town (like our landscaped gateways)? We'd surely get the bill for operating and maintaining those lights at Griffin Park even though they'd be "installed for free".
My biggest problem is with people thinking that their fellow taxpayers, their friends and neighbors, owe them recreational facilities. You know, stadiums, lights, paved trails etc. None of that is the business of government nor should it be funded by taxpayers. That fact that it is so doesn't make it right.
People aren't taught economics 101 anymore; there ain't no such thing as free lunch. Neither are they taught the ancient principle that all governments are inefficient self serving entities that need to be limited. Governments only gives us what they take from somebody else. Like the other ancient principle states, "the government that can give you everything you want can only do so by taking everything you have". I'd rather keep what I earn rather than give it away to pay for someone elses recreation.
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SomeOneCares
Registered: 10/15/08
Posts: 380
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| #33 |
Out of curiosity. For any of these private/town ventures what funding model is setup?
For instance, if lighting is placed at the park I would imagine that the projected cost of maintenance and energy consumption for say a 10 year period would be part of the proposal and the appropriate funding projection would be put in place to support that. For instance, use fees for leagues, etc would support the ongoing costs.
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crankyoldguy
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 666
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| #34 |
Another day of people parking along Range Road without getting all 4 wheels off the road. Are these users of Griffin Park ignorant or just plain stupid? Will this continue until someone gets hurt or killed? |
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WindhamAccountability
Registered: 06/19/09
Posts: 8
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| #35 |
Looks like this one is trying to get thru the back door! This doesn't include the lights for the Baseball Field, Soccer Field and Skatepark either!
Planning Board
Meeting Agenda October 14, 2009 @ 7pm Planning & Development Meeting Room Call to Order/Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance Conceptual Consultation Proposal for Griffin Park Lights, which is located at 111 Range Road (Lot 22-R-900), to install 54 lights around the parking lot and the walkway.
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mdb
Registered: 02/13/06
Posts: 146
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| #36 |
Fix the parking first |
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synergy
Registered: 03/31/08
Posts: 71
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| #37 |
Have abutters been notified? |
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WindhamAccountability
Registered: 06/19/09
Posts: 8
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| #38 |
The best question may be this: Who is paying for the electrical usage for these lights? |
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CCSW
Registered: 11/17/07
Posts: 89
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crankyoldguy
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 666
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| #40 |
Charlie sure does like spending other people's money. Maybe we need to consider trading him in for somebody with fewer (ball) sports connections. |
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CCSW
Registered: 11/17/07
Posts: 89
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| #41 |
I do not oppose this going to ballot.. Let the town decide in March.
Who will pay for this NOT our tax dollars!
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windhamresident
Registered: 08/27/08
Posts: 169
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| #42 |
I find it funny that people piss and moan about items they do not think they should pay for. I'm not a senior, so why should I pay for the senior center. My sister lives in town and has no kids, why should she have to pay for the school system, ball parks, etc. The point is, we all pay for things that we may or may not use, that's how it is. I would love to only pay for what I use, my tax bill would only be about a 1,000 bucks. |
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twit22
Registered: 10/07/07
Posts: 1,767
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| #43 |
WV:
Boy we have our differences no doubt about it, but you hit the nail on the head, kudo's to you..the twit, julia bye
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crankyoldguy
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 666
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| #44 |
We SHOULD all pay for the services we all need; police, fire, property maintenance, etc. We also have an obligation to educate our kids so that they can become citizens with something to contribute to society.
I still don't understand when and why recreation became the business of the taxpayer? We spend millions on facilities that are used by less than 10% of the population.
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SomeOneCares
Registered: 10/15/08
Posts: 380
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| #45 |
I'm sure if the little league, soccer league, skate board licensing, etc was set up to make the park self sustaining in maintenance and utilities few would have a problem with the proposal. I suspect that this is not the case. Additionally the quotes of the neighbors are interesting. They all fall into the mode of - I'm not really opposed to the lights as long as they are off by 'the end of dusk' when the park is suppose to close. My reaction is then why bother?
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