Council meeting 11.29

 

http://207.172.210.8:5002/CablecastPublicSite/show/2715?channel=1

Not to pick on the CFO, but she doesn't seem to get that our history with water issues stems from the failures of past administrators to get to the bottom of the problems and make the hard decisions necessary to permanently resolve the issues. We learned, including the 20 people on FB, that the entire water billing department has turned over. That there's only one water technician for the entire city. We also heard that water consumption has continued to decrease. We are supposedly operating in the black so far, (first quarter) but she said we have to wait and see how the revenue matches up with the expenses. 

I believe I heard two water consultants say over the past few years, we can expect double digit water rate increases to catch-up with ever rising expenses. Some mandated by the Feds and State. I fear they are balancing the balls in air until budget time.

Of note, there was background material on the meeting portal that was added late to the agenda. I think it was minutes before the meeting started. It boggles my mind how the presenters expect the public and council to read, interpret, digest and frame relevant questions. I think of few of the councilors don't even have the background material opened on their lap tops during the meeting. 

You may want to see what the agenda items were and the background material supplied for the first two agenda items. A Park&Rec spending proposal includes upgrades to Simpson Park and the Temple Street playground. Both of which I can't see spending too much money on since they are both located in terrible spots with limited parking and crosswalks. 

Another head scratcher was the Technology Department master plan. Believe it or not, they are once again asking for money to rebuild the city web site. A subject that has been talked about for as long as there's been a web site. I've ranted and raved over the lack of qualified oversight there for more than decade and not much has changed. We need leadership from the administration and not just the same status quo. Or a plan, a direction, some vision, a GPS to chart where we were and where we are going as a community. 

http://framinghamma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=13598