Thursday, February 5, 2009

Oh say can you see...


So for the first time in perhaps 20 years, the Amherst Town Hall Town Room (home to Monday night Select Board meetings) sprouted an American flag.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that the flag went into hiding while the Constitution was being shred by the executive branch, god bless their patriotic hearts.

Larry Kelley said...

Yeah well we sure don't have to worry about that now with the current rookie.

I just wish he'd select Cabinet folks who, you know, paid their taxes.

And it would be ever so nice if Amherst actually had an "executive branch."

Anonymous said...

true. rule of law. amen.

How many tax cheats did he nominate? There's a joke in there somewhere, hmmm... How do you get a lefty to pay their taxes? Nominate them to a cabinet position.

We should explore in your blog how having a mayor would work. Would there be a council? If so, what role? would it work like federal system with a chief executive and a legislative group for appropriations? How big would the legislative group (city council ) be? How would it affect the cost of government?

Larry Kelley said...

I can tell you are a new arrival.

Yes, there would be a City Council, replacing the Amateur Hour, Antiquated Town Meeting of 240 supposedly elected members--the vast majority nominated with only one vote (their own) and some even going on to get elected with only one vote (their own)

The last Charter failed by 14 votes in 2003 and by a few hundred two years later.

Unfortunately it had a "weak mayor" and kept an appointed Town Manager. That was the death knell.

If you lose the Town Manager, that frees up $125-K (plus his $5-K car and cell phone allowance).

Pay the Mayor $60-K and a council of seven $10-K each and the cost to the taxpayers is a wash.

BUT, when you get a tad more efficient and businesslike with our $60 million budget--even a lousy 1%--that's another $600-K.

Anonymous said...

Let's hope that we do not get a mayor like Shaffer. Why don't you run for Mayor, Larry?
By the way, Shaffer is at the VFW tonight, hopefully. I cannot wait to hear more of his lies.

Until later...................