GilfordGrok

In no particular order (as I'm a bit behind here):

• Nice to see that the overall hike in the Operational budget (i.e., no warrants just yet) was minimal - 0.36%.  However, I asked the question "Does that amount include the last year's warrants?"  Hmmm, small problem - that gives the budget a lot of headroom for "actual growth without numerical growth" as there were a number of warrants last year.

• That said, who is going to play "find the boots" (from that old corporate expense report joke)?

• Glad to see we got an budget EXCEL spreadsheet this year - makes some things much easier.

• Am glad to see that the Potter Hill Road - the unused library property - will be bidded out (or, at least it looks like it so far).

• Interesting time at the latest Selectmen meeting (yup!  Full room with overflow!).  It seems that whenever Joe shows up, an officer to escort him out of the meeting is soon to be seen.  Interesting too, that it seems that the Faye cousins seems to allude that not much of an effort has been expended in finding the heirs.  And it certainly looks like they were ticked.  I have my doubts that this issue of "now what do we do with the old Library" will neither be quiet or cheap.  My thought?  Since the Library Trustees decided to build the new building and that they knew about ramifications of moving out, perhaps they should be on the hook for the cost, rather than the Town taxpayers?  Some will most likely take umbrage at this notion, for all kinds of reasons, but shouldn't everything be on the table?  The Gilford Steamer 10/16 editorial labeled "Library Deceit?" was rather amusing - and pretty much spot on.

• Speaking of the Library, looks like from Terry's post, somebody over there has their knickers in a knot.  I have to admit, I burst out laughing when I saw the graphic on Doug's post - and I agree with its sentiments.  Scope Creep is one of the biggest killers of projects - you start out with one thing and it just keeps growing until it is out of control.  Books, magazines, literary things - certainly part of a library mix.  A lot of the "projects" that I see, however, should be somewhere else.  WHY should electronic gaming be part of the library mission?  Or are they trying to turn themselves into THE Community Center (which I thought was supposed to be the domain of the new privately owned building going up next door?)? Unless they want to be part of the Parks and Recs budget?  And frankly, I don't believe that the proper role of local government for either department should include pasttimes that are better served at home - and not at taxpayer expense.
• Well, football made it into the budget, and here, like clockwork, will be hockey.  I'm just dying to know when the Wavemaker swim team is going to make a pitch to get funded - pool, locker rooms, and lifeguard all included....

• Ames Farm?  Their "neighbors" just making it seem that they just want to run them out of business (or at least hamstring them sufficiently so as to hasten that day).  Maybe it's just the curmudgeon in me (hey, I'm getting only enough!), but they knew about the Ames operation well before they moved into the area.  It seems to be the same thing as when people move into town and then complain about the plane traffic.  Or further west, move into a brand new subdivision, the wind shifts, and then they learn about the pig farm a up the road aways - and demand that the farm be shut down even though it's been there for decades.  My vote is for the Ames property.  Or if you don't like it, OFFER TO BUY the Ames property outright instead of "taking by regulation".

• Juris lawsuit - I am not privy to ANY special or inside info.  That said, it seems to me like a play for $.  So far, unless he has video or audio recordings to the contrary (which may or may not be legal), he's only got a he said / they said case.  Like I blogged a while ago, it still seems to be a case of a bad political bet gone bad.  Yes, Juris and Boucher seemed to play the game so that John did not get elected (and then he may have led the charge for a firing), but publicly slagging your bosses on the radio and in the print media is not a long term job security strategy.  First Amendment?  Seems like they made no attempt to stop the actual speech, but it doesn't mean that they have to listen to it....

• It will be interesting to see how the taxpayers take to the new Police Station - I'm thinking that this will make it onto the ballot in March.