tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post5341825275682434180..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Not Worth A Bucket Of Warm SpitLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-38115207196611319842016-11-06T10:26:05.663-05:002016-11-06T10:26:05.663-05:00It does seem like the consensus is that that someo...It does seem like the consensus is that that someone else besides the owner should decide how to use the property and that this person could be appointed or elected, but no matter what, it should not be the person that owns and invested in the property? <br /><br />Is this a UMASS philosophy experiment to see how much people can bend over, while debating the color of their socks?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-37091921850168358492016-11-05T21:16:19.801-04:002016-11-05T21:16:19.801-04:00I agree. Council or mayor should be the appointing...I agree. Council or mayor should be the appointing authority. Currently the town manager nominates and select board appoints. Similar would probably be okay if there's a mayor, or if there is to be a manager, the town council could do both.Scrooge McDucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-64235216510558768662016-11-05T12:57:09.341-04:002016-11-05T12:57:09.341-04:00Thank you Scrooge
The person(s) who appoint(s) th...Thank you Scrooge<br /><br />The person(s) who appoint(s) the Planning Board should be elected.<br /><br />Right now an appointed Town Manager appoints members of the Planning Board. To use your comparison--an elected governor appoints the judges. <br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-35562357111685853102016-11-04T23:58:53.844-04:002016-11-04T23:58:53.844-04:00Thanks Dave!
Been a great fall so far.
We do...Thanks Dave! <br /><br />Been a great fall so far. <br /><br />We do live in interesting times.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-88076515257199993942016-11-04T21:53:33.525-04:002016-11-04T21:53:33.525-04:00I may be simple but I believe that ultimately the ...I may be simple but I believe that ultimately the office makes the person, not otherwise. So whatever the outcome, we ultimately come to the high ideals of the office wheather mayor, TM select board or a hybrid. This is a principled community and that will always will out. Many thanks Larry for having this forum you've created. A beautiful fall to all.....Dave Williams Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02130833894432609112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-7697609298056776312016-11-04T20:27:05.448-04:002016-11-04T20:27:05.448-04:00Perhaps the judges of one's property should no...Perhaps the judges of one's property should not be appointed or elected as both these methods seem to avoid the concept of property all together. I suggest the traditional method of getting to be judge what can be done on a property is to pay money for the property or negotiate rights and seal them with a contract. Let the owner decide and it is his property, let someone else decide and it is their property. If the property was owned and now is not, but was not bought, then has it not been stolen? <br /><br />Bottom line, the who decides what rights someone has on a property is the owner. Paying endless taxes while having rights reduced or bowing down to endless restrictions is what peasant tenants do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-31946105929061820622016-11-04T15:56:21.796-04:002016-11-04T15:56:21.796-04:00Kevin 3:04
I agree that the planning board is sup...Kevin 3:04<br /><br />I agree that the planning board is super important and with your permission would like to expand on your statement. The board members have to act like a panel of judges when considering permit applications. So they should be appointed, not be elected, to avoid "tyranny of the majority." Massachusetts was able to lead the country in same-sex marriage because it appoints, not elects its judges. <br /><br />Just look at the difference between our elected school committee (grandstanding, ineffective, and combative) compared to the appointed planning board (who all get along, and have been highly successful in encouraging new development). This concept should carry over to the planning board and ZBA under any new government. <br /><br />But the planning board can only propose new bylaws, not approve them. Once town meeting is gone, I think all new bylaws and zoning bylaws (and the budget) have to be approved or denied by the town council.Scrooge McDucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-39569779875075011952016-11-04T15:07:28.422-04:002016-11-04T15:07:28.422-04:00"A mayor can be anyone, qualified or not.&quo..."A mayor can be anyone, qualified or not."<br /><br />Shows the value of voting. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-84282193258242910652016-11-04T15:04:49.383-04:002016-11-04T15:04:49.383-04:00The big story is the Planning Board, who appoints ...The big story is the Planning Board, who appoints the Planning Board. Town Meeting, made up mainly of property owners -- homeowners and landlords -- has final say on zoning. And the average age of Town Meeting members voting on zoning is 67, retirees. Who don't care about jobs, just keeping things the same. The pro-Town Meeting members will hold out for an elected planning board. But zoning has a 50-year horizon, not even ten or twenty years. That would make them what, 113 by then? Seriously.<br />kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-59456410414226321202016-11-04T14:19:16.594-04:002016-11-04T14:19:16.594-04:00Oh, Larry is sure. Who knows a warm bucket of piss...Oh, Larry is sure. Who knows a warm bucket of piss better than Larry Kelley? Afterall, his blog is just that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-65405770395574480752016-11-04T14:11:27.367-04:002016-11-04T14:11:27.367-04:00Finance director and town manager are different jo...Finance director and town manager are different jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-82233999108345119642016-11-04T13:09:23.564-04:002016-11-04T13:09:23.564-04:00Are you sure, Larry? Remember this was in the era...Are you sure, Larry? Remember this was in the era of chewing tobacco and spittoons.<br />Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-9237098871234305562016-11-04T13:08:52.290-04:002016-11-04T13:08:52.290-04:00Who will then hire a trained professional to be Fi...Who will then hire a trained professional to be Finance Director.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-79762018738328930972016-11-04T13:06:55.919-04:002016-11-04T13:06:55.919-04:00A town manager is a trained professional that is h...A town manager is a trained professional that is hired from a pool of applicants. A mayor can be anyone, qualified or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-41919264250941324882016-11-04T11:59:02.414-04:002016-11-04T11:59:02.414-04:00I cannot wait to vote to eliminate town meeting.I cannot wait to vote to eliminate town meeting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-86865787351698221482016-11-04T11:48:30.669-04:002016-11-04T11:48:30.669-04:00The actual quote is "bucket of warm piss,&quo...The actual quote is "bucket of warm piss," but I try to be family friendly.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-55845419659021181722016-11-04T11:43:49.194-04:002016-11-04T11:43:49.194-04:00Bucket of warm spit lol! I just wanted to comment ...Bucket of warm spit lol! I just wanted to comment how wonderful Paul is,if we get a mayor he's got my vote! He really is a pleasure to speak with. He's very down to earth. Unfortunately I can't say the same about select board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com