Sturbridge Taxes Headed Down

I've got some good news, and I got some bad news for the residents of Sturbridge. But the rest of you should take heed as well. I went to the Selectman's meeting last night and here is what went down.

The Common Good

Exactly what constitutes the "common good"? When it comes to government spending, who defines "common good"? Should there be some kind of ratio which would determine the amount of pain one group to help another group? 5 to 1? 100 to 1? 5,000 to 1?

All Quiet On The Sturbridge Front

Bet you all thought I was gone huh? Nope, you couldn't be that lucky. I haven't been able to go to any local meetings lately which means I either have to write on what is in the paper or make stuff up. Of course there are many who say what we read in the paper is made up anyway. But who am I to say.

Fiscal Responsibility Means Thinking Out Of The Box

I promised the other day there would be no more posts about the Sturbridge Annual Town Meeting and I meant it. Well, okay maybe just a little bit more, although this isn't technically about it.

Town Meeting: Final Thoughts

Can we stand one more post about the Sturbridge Town Meeting? it will be the last, I promise, maybe.

The Suspension is Killing Me

Well it seems the Sturbridge Town Administrator has gone and got himself suspended again. For the second time it is because of his tardiness.

Happy Trails To You

It seems that all trails lead to Sturbridge, or could if we are willing to shell out some money. I wish I could tell you how much but it seems that the Town Administrator is being a little less than forth coming with the info.

Perusing On A Sunday Afternoon

On a lovely Sunday afternoon here in Sturbridge, I sit with my little notebook computer perusing the latest information on the upcoming Town Meeting and budgets. Ahh the interesting things we learn when we actually sit down and look.

Time to dump the CPA in Sturbridge

A couple of weeks ago I posted a copy of a "Letter to the Editor" regarding the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and the effort to repeal this act in Sturbridge. There will be a ballot question at the election on April 9th. I have been receiving more information on the CPA and the more I learn the more I am for voting to get the town out of the CPA.

It's Budget Time In Sturbridge

It's not often I agree with Mr. Creamer, really it all goes back to those damn brick sidewalks, but he does make some good points in his latest blog post. Selectman Thomas R. Creamer: The "Fairness Doctrine"

Life in Idyllic Sturbridge

Now I know I can sure be a pain in the you know where at times but having begun reading the Sturbridge Master Plan, Vision and Goals section, I was struck by a couple of things. Now I admit, this has been out since March 2011 and I am just reading it now, and it will become clear as to why I am reading it now by the end of this post.

Guest Post: Letter to the Editor

Here is a copy of a letter to the editor I was asked to post from the folks (in Sturbridge we call them folks, fits with the character of the town don't you know) who are trying to get a question on the town ballot regarding the CPA funds. As anyone who knows me knows, anything to halt to raising of my taxes I support.

What Were They Thinking - Again

First it was the brick sidewalks, then the front doors of the Town Hall no one could use and now it seems someone decided to out the old single pane windows back into both the Town Hall and Center School instead of energy efficient thermal pane windows.

Sturbridge Ballot Question Information

A couple of posts ago I received a comment on another post, the one about getting involved in local elections, regarding a ballot question on the Sturbridge ballot. The election is on April 9th. This is a subject which I totally agree with, and will be doing some more research on. Here is the comment:

Here's Your Chance

Looking to make a difference in Sturbridge? Well then, how about running for one of the town positions which are open in town government? Nomination papers are now availablefrom the Town Clerk, and you only need 39 signatures from registered voters, preferably ones that are still living and you could have the chance of a lifetime.

Ball fields, wood turtles and government control

Don't ever underestimate the power of a wood turtle, although with all apologies to those who like wood turtles, I am not sure it was the wood turtle who made the difference. Last night at the special town meeting in Sturbridge, Article 48 was defeated by ten votes.

Update on Article 52

I am going to share some link related to Article 52 sent to me by Linda Cocalis from the Sturbridge Board of health. Even though I am still not happy about the bag fees for the landfill, I guess I can forgive her now.

Criteria 3 includes schools and must be applied to regioanl schools as well
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/pubs-reports/navigating-the-green-communities-program-presentation-10-6-2010.pdf

http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dps/inf/stretch_code_overview_jun05_09.pdf

http://www.sudbury.ma.us/departments/Energy/doc5892/StretchEnergyCodeFAQ10-30-09%5B1%5D.pdf

Article 52: Vote No

I have been receiving more information on Article 52 on the special town meeting warrant for tomorrow night (December 5, 2011, 7:00 PM at Tantasqua High School). I wish I had know about this earlier so we could mobilize the forces, heck if the four Sturbridge residents who read this blog vote "No" we might win. All kidding aside...

Sturbridge Voters: Be very, very afraid

Yesterday I wrote a post about Article 48 on the warrant for Monday's special town meeting. Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous commented on it (thank you) and mentioned another, even more scary article that is also on the warrant, Article 52. What is Article 52 and why is it scary?

Sturbridge and article 48

The best part about reading the local paper (although if you only read it online is it still called reading the paper?) is reading the "Letters to the Editor" section. In my opinion, this is the still the best place to go to get what people really think about local issues. Why it was a letter to the editor which I worte which made me a legend in the tea party movement. Okay, for the record I am only a legend in my own mind but it sounded good.