Water Rate increase hearing
For those who didn't see it have a look see here.
http://207.172.210.8:5002/cablecast/public-site/index.html#/show/1550?channel=1
I will say Mike Cannon held his ground and asked a few basic questions that are on everyone's mind.. like what will the Mayor do to off set the 2% increase. She took great exception to the questions and perhaps Mike may have pushed the limit... but all in all.. I'm glad he did. Starts at 36:00
She doesn't like to be challenged. And notice how many residents were there.. maybe 5. At lest at Town Meeting, their budget went through Ways and Means for review. And maybe 120 or TMM's would be able to voice an opinion.
So from my years on Town Meeting, I know dept service is a major factor in our budget now as in the past. We are all paying for the neglect of the BOS... and it's almost funny that 4 members of the current council were on the Board years ago when many of these infrastructure needs were ignored.
So my rant is this: What FinCom didn't drill down on enough is the cost associated with the repair and state mandated upgrades. In every single project, there's a line item for detail pay. And over the year it can amount to millions. There's a reason why over 40 of our officers make over 100,000 a year. Why we can't use civilian flagers is beyond me.. or why can't FPD charge the city less for their work on detail sites.
We are compelled to fix whats broken and upgrade for State compliance.. no question. But why can't we look at ways to save a few bucks on every project. Two percent may seem nothing to the Mayor who makes over 180,000, but for us who are on fixed income, these increases, all be it small, amount to uncertainty for many in the City for the long haul.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 6:22 PM
30 Comments
30 Comments:
Mike Cannon acted like an asshole. How is the council and mayor supposed to get to a good working relationship when councilors act like this?
Canon is a tool. He is not looking out for the those in his district. He only cares about getting his rocks off trying to make Mayor Spicer look bad. Textbook case of Napoleon syndrome.
Jim you would have made a much better Councilman than Cannon. The guy behaves like a child.
Pillsbury for District Council!
The post was about the rate hike guys...
perhaps if there were more scrutiny of their (water and sewer) budget, some savings might have been realized. Enough to stop a rate hike.. I doubt it, but it would have shown me that they (The Mayor and FinCom) were serious about saving money.
And by the way.. Mike Cannon is much more diplomatic than I. I have been an ahole myself at times of sheer frustration with the powers that be. It's hard not to be when your ignored or marginalized for asked questions. Th Mayor dosen't like to be on the hot seat and it showed at that meeting.
Jim, I don't agree about Cannon being more diplomatic. Every meeting I have watched he tries taking a cheapshot at the mayor. He shows no respect for her, very easy to see why she would show no respect for him. Mayor showed reasonable restraint before bringing out the gavel.
Ok.. I watched it as well.. there is tension there I agree.
Jim Pillsbury defending Mike Cannon's behavior? Talk about the bizzaro world. Whats next, defending the behavior of Steffaninni at the library?
ahhhh yes... it's a wonderful world. You'll never read me defend John's library actions.
can we get back to the rate increase?
Agree with previous posters. Councilor Cannon is poisioning the relationship between the mayor and the council.
ok I see we won't discuss the rate hikes.
I think the proposed rate hike is ridiculous. If in order to meet our expenses we have to gouge the residents then maybe our expenses need to be reeled in. I think this was a sneaky way for them to get more money. Everyone yells about it when property taxes go up, but no one is paying attention to the water rate. This could set a precedent that we will see happen every year if there is no opposition this time. I would be curious, when is the last time that Framingham had a water rate increased put in place by the Town, not the MWRA?
I seem to remember at Town Meeting that increases were offset by the CFO by taking money from rainy day fund... perhaps I'm thinking of something else. But the past increases have been slight as I recall. Cutting expenses seems to be the only way to offset the increases... but who among the Council has the courage to ask?
It would be interesting to know how often this has been done in the past. It just does not seem like a very good move to make in your initial term as mayor, upping the water rate to cover a budget that is in the red. How fiscally responsible is that?
If anyone was paying attention maybe we could do something. No one even showed up for the meeting. Why doesn't anyone give a dam about this shit?
Jim district 4 got hosed when you were bumped out of the race. No good choices after that.
What a nice comment .. Thank you. I tried but those few who voted didn't seem to like my platform of accountability.
Even if 100 people showed up... it wouldn't have made any difference. Those elected at the top already made up their minds. It was up to FinCom to address the issue when it was before them. The City form of government is not looking so good for the taxpayers here, sorry to say.
So is this rate increase a done deal or does it have to be approved by the City Council?
I believe it's a done deal.
Jim will you consider running again for District 4 next election cycle? Cannon has to go, he is a loose cannon.
is that a pun? I'm not sure I would after losing three times in this Town.
Jim you could would win. You just need to check your "Weed is Everything" persona at the door. You're a sharp guy, but many people only know you as the "Weed guy".
I appreciate your thoughts... I'm not sure I could live long enough to shed the pot thing. And next year, I will probably be collecting signatures to get social consumption going here in Framingham, it was part of Question 4 that was passed. That will keep me in the "pot" thing for the next few years I'm afraid. I can't duck and weave my way out of it now, after 30 plus years of advocating. There's way to much stuff on the web that has been written with my name on it. I'd love to work on other things I'm passionate about, believe me buttThe old timers will never forget. Perhaps if the younger voters take an interest in Framingham next election, I could stand a chance.
You write your own destiny. You are a great asset here in Framingham if you could just learn not to fight with everyone. Just be a bit more civil. You need to remember the goal is to get people to see your side of things so you can get the things that are important to you passed, but sometimes you just piss people off and even if they agree with your ideas they vote against you because you pissed them off. Try a bit of diplomacy. You might be surprised at the outcome After all, aren't we suppose to mellow with age?
Yeah your right.. I plead guilty as charged. The pot thing just pushes all my buttons. We've come so far and now it's the same stale argument only with different players. We'll see on Tuesday if I heeded your advice...
Mellow with age? That makes me laugh. Perhaps I'll mellow out when I'm much older and on oxygen and a ventilator with a trach tube in a contained room.
I would take you with the ventilator tube and oxygen tank over Councilboy Mike any day.
How do we stop this?
flood the Council with e mails. I don't think the Mayor would stand in the way if the Council said no to the increase.
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