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Many
Problems – Few Answers
The Springwater Town Board met
November 7th, was well attended and highlighted by a public hearing on
proposed 2006 budget. Tax rates unchanged but income up due to increase in
assessed value. A number of questions from the audience revealed some
interesting facts, such as, the Town is spending $55,000 for medical
insurance for five employees, who contribute nothing toward this cost. A
question was also asked why revenue from local sources was down 24% (over
$15,000) since 2004, but Supervisor Walker could offer no explanation.
Another resident proposed that a small amount be budgeted each year for a
beautification project and generously volunteered to put together or work
with a volunteer committee to do all the necessary planning and work, and
even possibly raise additional funds. The idea received a cold shoulder from
the majority of the Board; no funds provided in budget and no indications of
any follow up interest. The same resident also volunteered services to help
establish a Town Web site. One Board member noted he had been working on this
for some time and some funds were in the 2006 budget to do this. (As a
backwoods computer nerd, I admit I have no idea what is involved, but on
checking with Springwater Preservation, discovered it took them two weeks to
get a web site up and running.)
Several residents asked about the need for a Town Comprehensive Plan and a
question was raised why the Town was making no effort to enforce the junk car
law, but the Supervisor offered no response. Another resident, who has
courageously waged a year and a half effort to get the Town to do something
about vacant and un-maintained structures asked about the status of a
proposed property maintenance law and un-boarded structures with
un-maintained yards and even one open sewer pool. He noted that the
Supervisor had told him the structures had been boarded, which was obviously
not the case. The Supervisor stated he thought they had been (which obviously
shows he never went and looked). The Supervisor responded that this would be
discussed in a following Executive Session with the Code Enforcement officer.
(This does not appear to be a proper subject for an Executive meeting - more
government from behind closed doors). It was also announced that the LONG
DELAYED sewer project was out to bid with bid opening scheduled for December
15th (no estimate of what a nearly one year delay will increase
the cost).
In the absence of any regular reports by the Supervisor, the above is
provided as a public service. YOU BE THE JUDGE (of the quality of government
in Springwater).
PUBLICUS
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