February 8, 2011
To the Editor
Last night, after an interesting round of idea sharing by community members and town board members, the town board of the Town of Woodstock rescinded its resolution of January 25th 2011 stating that “Shall the Town of Woodstock transfer up to $50,000 from the Building Capital Reserve type fund to the Community Center Capital Project. We would like to say thank you to those who worked so very hard to help convince our elected officials to be open to reconsidering this resolution. Thanks also to the Woodstock voters who signed the petition calling for a referendum on this resolution. Your efforts helped alert the town board members that they must take into careful consideration the needs and wishes of local taxpayers.
During part of last nights discussion, council woman Magarelli shared that it has been recommended that a structural engineer make a formal assessment of the Woodstock Community center. We and others look forward to hearing what this assessment will say about this tired old structure.
In the mean time, we would like to reemphasize that many of us urge the Woodstock Town board to give strong consideration to committing time, energy and funds to the needs of all our town employees. Think first of those who work at the police, court and dispatch and those who work at the Comeau offices. These are the areas of building improvements that we see as a priority.
Sincerely,
Janine Fallon Mower
John Mower
jmower@hvc.rr.com
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Why I agreed to carry petitions
February 1 2011
Letter to the Editor,
Why did I agree to carry a petition asking for a public referendum on a town board resolution passed on Tuesday Jan 25th 2011? When I saw the dollar amount on draft agendas of the resolution to transfer $ to a Community Center Capital Project more than double from $17,000 to $50,000 in less than 48 hours, I thought, don’t we already have plans drawn up to make improvements on this 100 year old building? The second draft agenda contained a resolution that was of more concern than the fee for an architect. The town board was prepared to vote to commit the Woodstock tax payer to $ 450,000 worth of improvements to the building that was built for summer services by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Johns in the early 1920’s .
During the beginning of the 15 minute special town board meeting, it was apparent that something drastic needed to be done to raise community awareness to what was going to occur that night. Supervisor Moran presented the resolution and once he hastily read thru the first resolution, without taking a breath he called for a vote on the commitment of $450,000 to the Capital Improvement Fund. I interjected myself into the process by asking why the dollar figure had to be in the resolution if the purpose of the resolution was merely to create the account so that private donors would have a dedicated fund their donations could be allocated into. Jeff Moran replied that the $450,000 is a maximum or a cap to be spent on the improvements. Cathy Magarelli interjected that this resolution shows the private donors that the town has intent to spend money to renovate the town community center.
Here’s what I think. We, as taxpayers, are waiting with trepidation for the cost estimate for the renovation of another old building to improve the working condition of the police, court and dispatch. I’m not ready to commit via resolution monies from “general fund revenues “or “proceeds from the sale of bond anticipation notes, bonds not to exceed $ 450,000” for a community center. I am also; as I’m sure others are, waiting with a little impatience for a plan to be presented to improve the working conditions of the town clerk and other employees who currently work out of another aging structure at the Comeau offices.
I’m told it’s too late, the resolution has been voted on and it’s not possible to rescind. Sign the petitions calling for a referendum and send a message to the town board that we want the needs of the employees to be taken care of first.
Janine Mower
jmower@hvc.rr.com
Letter to the Editor,
Why did I agree to carry a petition asking for a public referendum on a town board resolution passed on Tuesday Jan 25th 2011? When I saw the dollar amount on draft agendas of the resolution to transfer $ to a Community Center Capital Project more than double from $17,000 to $50,000 in less than 48 hours, I thought, don’t we already have plans drawn up to make improvements on this 100 year old building? The second draft agenda contained a resolution that was of more concern than the fee for an architect. The town board was prepared to vote to commit the Woodstock tax payer to $ 450,000 worth of improvements to the building that was built for summer services by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Johns in the early 1920’s .
During the beginning of the 15 minute special town board meeting, it was apparent that something drastic needed to be done to raise community awareness to what was going to occur that night. Supervisor Moran presented the resolution and once he hastily read thru the first resolution, without taking a breath he called for a vote on the commitment of $450,000 to the Capital Improvement Fund. I interjected myself into the process by asking why the dollar figure had to be in the resolution if the purpose of the resolution was merely to create the account so that private donors would have a dedicated fund their donations could be allocated into. Jeff Moran replied that the $450,000 is a maximum or a cap to be spent on the improvements. Cathy Magarelli interjected that this resolution shows the private donors that the town has intent to spend money to renovate the town community center.
Here’s what I think. We, as taxpayers, are waiting with trepidation for the cost estimate for the renovation of another old building to improve the working condition of the police, court and dispatch. I’m not ready to commit via resolution monies from “general fund revenues “or “proceeds from the sale of bond anticipation notes, bonds not to exceed $ 450,000” for a community center. I am also; as I’m sure others are, waiting with a little impatience for a plan to be presented to improve the working conditions of the town clerk and other employees who currently work out of another aging structure at the Comeau offices.
I’m told it’s too late, the resolution has been voted on and it’s not possible to rescind. Sign the petitions calling for a referendum and send a message to the town board that we want the needs of the employees to be taken care of first.
Janine Mower
jmower@hvc.rr.com
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