GilfordGrok

While I acknowledge the fact that Gilford has an energy committee, and the PD has purchased a more fuel efficient car for the Chief, I see little to no evidence that our town is doing anything, especially when it comes to vehicle usage, to save on fuel costs. From the view of the average citizen, everything looks like it's the same as it was when gas was a couple of bucks a gallon. WHY are we running the big Ford paddy-wagon van around on patrol? Why aren't the PD's SUVs parked till winter?

And of course, there is the FD's red F350 gas guzzling pickup truck. You know, the one that's constantly spotted at the various ATMs about the area, sandwich shops, coffee houses, and other such destinations. Obviously these are important missions, but with the price of gas, maybe the town should by a small fuel efficient car for those on the town clock to use for such purposes.

Click here to read the Citizen story about the energy usage changes and progress made in OTHER towns in the area. But I guess we're Gilford, and we have money to burn...

Posted by Doug at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Terry S. at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saw this post over at EIAOnline:

America loves its public school teachers. So much so that it continues to hire legions of them while growth in the number of students continues to peter out. An Education Intelligence Agency analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures shows that while K-12 enrollment grew only 2.45% between 2001 and 2006, the K-12 teacher force grew by 5.71% over the same period.

I took snippets from the table found here to create this:

EDUCATION INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Current Spending Statistics of Public Elementary-Secondary School Systems for 2005-06
State Rankings in Enrollment, Teachers, Per-Pupil Spending, and Spending on Compensation 

I see that while NH enrollment has dropped 3.56% since 2000, teacher employment and compensation and per-pupil compensation has gone way up (note: inflation has been between 2-3% or so for each year since 2000).

Kids down, teachers up.  

Since I saw this after the SAU closed, I can't fill in the relevant number for Gilford, but it would be interesting..... Oh, and in case you were wondering where the data came from:

Notes: 1) Data derived from U.S. Census Bureau Public Education Finances 2006, issued
                April 2008, Rankings & Estimates, NEA Research, December 2007, and
                Digest of Education Statistics 2002, National Center for Education Statistics.                           
    2) "Compensation" includes salaries, wages and fringe benefit contributions on
                behalf of employees.    

Posted by Skip at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"I have no agenda," Hayes declared. 

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However, he suggested that "it appears that decisions are not being made and when they are, it is with a look over the shoulder to the Budget Committtee.

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"The Budget Committee doesn't run the town," he said.

The Selectmen, in Mr. Hayes' opinion, have spent too much time actually worrying about the impact of their decisions on the taxpayers instead of just getting on with the business of increasing both taxes and spending.

Could it simply be that he's still sore because that body didn't pick him to fill an open seat when he applied two years ago?

Posted by Doug at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Gunstock Commissioners recognize the need to raise capital to fund future improvements to keep Gunstock competitive in our markets. 

"explore a partnership with a private entity (or entities) that would work with management, the commissioners, and elected county officials to come up with a strategic plan that would ensure the growth and survival of this unique asset."

Left alone --- doing business as usual --- is a risky and potentially devastating strategy for Gunstock in light of the serious issues the mountain faces. Closing should not be considered an option:  Gunstock generates between $45 to 50 million into the Lakes Region economy annually and provides jobs for over 500 people.  It is a key economic engine to the region.

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Gunstock needs, like any  21st century business, to grow and adapt to the challenges of the real world and the marketplace today. A truly high-end, first class, 4-season resort doesn’t exist this close to the Boston market. Most all major ski areas have adopted a formula that utilizes real estate as a part of their over all revenue stream to succeed.

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The Gunstock Commissioners are best suited to facilitate this process and protect the interests of the county.

Posted by Doug at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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From the Gilford Steamer:

First-year committee member Dale Dormody said that he hoped the same level of decorum was maintained "outside the meeting room as well as inside."

Same as he's said before - all but a campaign promise...and the result is? 

From the Citizen:

"The long and short is I am here to ask you for more time to allow for the staffing of the energy committee," said Dale Dormody.

"I think you have put the cart before the horse, when the selectmen have not adopted the committee," said Alice Boucher, chair of the Board of Selectmen, adding, "We are the three that will decide when and how the committee will be formed."

...but back to saying how he wishes to have things run...before he runs for it...

Requesting at least 30 more days for applications to be received, Dormody also raised some points about weaknesses he found with the board's attempt to solicit applicants.

...he found fault with the BudCom during the campaign...now finding fault with the Selectmen?

Naw, he must have been misquoted.  Let's find out from his website:

The three Selectmen - Gus Benavides, Connie Grant, and Alice Boucher - apparently felt that the applications received to date met this standard, though it is unclear whether their decisions were based on any personal knowledge of the applicants and their qualifications.

Committee members, as chosen by the Board of Selectmen, are: Doug Lambert, Chan Eddy, Howard Epstein, Gino Crecco, Bill Knightly, and Patrick McKenna.

Guess not - another possible swipe at the Selectmen?  Doesn't seem like he likes those appointed so far by the Board either...

Question - how does he know that the applicants DON'T meet the criteria?  Has he asked? Psst...try putting in an application first.... might increase credibility.....

"There seems to be some hesitation for people to put their heads above the line because some boards out there, who shall remain nameless, have been somewhat contemptuous in the past," said Dormody, in a veiled reference to disputes among members of the budget committee.

...now casting aspersions towards his fellow BudComm members?

Kinda sounds divisive to me...

Posted by Skip at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Connecticut company testing for wind power potential and impacts on the 24,000-acre Phillips Brook property in Coos County said it is looking at developing a 100-megawatt windpark by 2009. The 33 to 67 turbines -- each about 400 feet high -- would be spaced just over 1,000 feet apart.

Meanwhile Tillotson Corporation, owners of The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, is looking at a smaller field of wind turbines to the north of Phillips Brook on its North Sanguinary Ridge, said Richard Harris, spokesman.

The article further reports that thus far there is no opposition to the project. If built in the range as proposed, the electricity generated will supply power to 16,500 homes with 33 turbines and as many as 33,500 if 67 are erected.

I still think Belknap County should be looking into wind power of our own. We have the mountains. We have the wind. We have the need. The question is, do we have the foresight?

Posted by Doug at 08:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Petitioners assert that the Chair of the Belkap County Convention & administrative assistant violated NH's Right-to-Know law on Monday, July 23rd.

Every citizen during the regular or business hours of all such bodies or agencies, and on the regular business premises of such bodies or agencies, has the right to inspect all public records, including minutes of meetings of the bodies or agencies, and to make memoranda, abstracts, and photographic or photostatic copies of the records or minutes so inspected, except as otherwise prohibited by statute or RSA 91-A:5.

 Each public body or agency shall, upon request for any public record reasonably described, make available for inspection and copying any such public record within its files when such records are immediately available for such release.

LAWMAKERS HAVE BECOME LAWBREAKERS.

Continue reading "Second RTK suit filed in Sheriff replacement flap in less than four weeks..." »

Posted by Doug at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"the violation of the specific command of RSA 91-A is plain and indisputable. The county delegation should have known that a secret ballot vote in a public session violated that Right-to-Know law on its face."

Posted by Doug at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

 1. Conduct research on methods to reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions.
 2. Conduct research on methods to reduce overall energy usage, encourage conservation, improve efficiency, and seek alternative environmentally-friendly, renewable sources of energy whenever feasible for the town and school district.
 3. Seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes.
 4. Keep a spreadsheet of resources available on related topics.
 5. Investigate available technology and software to assist in the creation of an overall energy usage plan, with monitoring and analyzing capabilities.
 6. Recommend to the Board of Selectmen (and School Board) specific programs necessary to implement the action plan.
 7. Research funding sources to implement the action plan.
 8. Keep accurate records of its meetings and actions.
 9. File an annual report with the Town Clerk to be included in the city’s annual report. Any savings (expenses) realized through the GEC’s recommendations will be included, recognizing some figures may be estimates.
 10. Attend events, conferences and meetings, as necessary, to develop and retain contact with organizations and agencies working on similar programs.
 11. Organize or participate in any activity necessary to further implement the action plan.

Posted by Doug at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

    [Cross-posted at GraniteGrok]

Letter to the Editor,
 
After reading the Citizen's article, "Judge won't block Belknap County Sheriff appointee" and Laconia Daily Sun's article, "Judge won't stop Wiggin from becoming sheriff but wants time to determine if process was proper", it appeared obvious to me that there's some confusion between a "public officer" and a "public employee".

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In the Laconia Daily Sun it says that,

"Mohl interrupted to point out the Convention could have treated filling the vacancy as making an appointment or hiring an employee and, while complying with the Right -to-Know law, held all its proceedings in non-public session.  "Given that they could have done that, if I'm right," he asked, "what's the harm of doing part of it by secret ballot in public session?"  

In the Citizen it says,

"Mohl did say that if the process was an appointment, as Lambert and Tardif contend, the delegation would have been well within their rights to enter a nonpublic session for the vote." 

The position of Belknap County Sheriff is that of a public officer as defined in "TITLE LXIII ELECTIONS Chapter 661 vacancies among public officers elected at state elections"  "RSA 661:9 County Officers."  Officers are elected positions like, City Councilors, Selectmen, County Delegation, County Sheriff, Governor, etc. these are not employees.    The Right-to Know Law RSA 91-A "TITLE VI PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES Chapter 91-A Access to public records and meetings Section 91-A:3 Nonpublic Sessions."  Section II says what matters may be acted on in NONPUBLIC SESSION.  Section II. (b) says, "THE HIRING OF ANY PERSON AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE."  The title of 91-A "Public Officers" and "Employees" makes a distinction between the two.   Section II (b) doesn't included Public Officers because they are either elected, or appointed to an elective position when a vacancy occurs.  BELKNAP COUNTY SHERIFFS ARE NOT HIRED. 
 
 
David Gammon
Laconia, NH

Posted by Doug at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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[This is also posted at GraniteGrok]

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Friday was the hearing for the Right-to-Know suit filed by me and former Laconia Mayor Tom Tardif under NH's Right-to-Know law (RSA91-A). (Click here to read a prior posting with the details and here for the Citizen newspaper's reporting on the matter) As expected, our elected representatives vigorously defended their actions instead of simply dropping back and doing the right thing in compliance with the law. You know-- default in the direction of openness. Instead, it's time to circle the wagons...

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One of the things we asked the court for was to deny the assumption of the Sheriff's position scheduled for Monday, July 9th based on our contention that the secret ballot used in an open meeting by the Belknap County Convention was illegal. Unfortunately, the judge decided that no harm would come from this happening, no matter what he ultimately rules on our overall case. While he's right that the matter is one of process versus whether the person is suited for the job, which nobody questions, it validates the egregious action. Furthermore, I still believe this leaves the county wide open to future messy litigation as defense attorneys seek exoneration of clients using all available means, at undoubtedly great cost to the taxpayers.

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I believe we successfully made our overall point and will be found correct by the judge. What was interesting was that the county's attorney framed the convention's action as being an exception to the Right-to-Know law because they held an ELECTION, which is exempted from the statute. The problem for the county is, if that were true, then the election would have to be under the auspices of one of the three types as defined by NH's election laws. If that's the case, then the county violated ELECTION law instead of the RIGHT-TO-KNOW law. Either way, a body comprised of those we elect to MAKE the laws has broken some law, thus causing our honorable

lawmakers to become lawbreakers!

Here is the testimony I gave to the Belknap Superior Court today at 9:00AM:

Your honor,

If the use of a secret paper ballot by a public body in a public meeting, in this case, the Belknap County Convention, is allowed to stand, I fear the citizens of the county, and even the whole state, will be negatively impacted.

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The law is quite simple. The Right to Know law- RSA 91A clearly includes a meeting of the Belknap County Convention as a “public proceeding”, therefore making the body subject to all of the rules governing such events. (91-A:1-a, I, d.) To make an exception in this case, one would need a new law, as none presently exists.

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RSA91-A:2, II states that

“All public proceedings shall be open to the public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meetings of those bodies or agencies. Except for town meetings, school district meetings and elections, no vote while in open session may be taken by secret ballot.”

I’m not sure what part of this the County Convention didn’t understand. It plainly says “NO Vote while in open session may be taken by secret ballot.” Given that we’re not talking about a town or school district meeting, the only other exception allowed for a secret ballot vote is for an election.

Continue reading "Right to Know lawsuit update." »

Posted by Doug at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

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GraniteGrok blogger Doug Lambert and former Laconia Mayor Thomas A. Tardif filed a suit Tuesday against the Belknap County Convention, comprised of the eighteen elected state representatives of Belknap County. The petitioners claim the "secret ballot" vote used by the County Convention in appointing a replacement to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the elected County Sheriff is a violation of state law prohibiting such acts.

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RSA 91-A:2 states in part that

Except for town meetings, school district meetings, and elections, no vote while in open session may be taken by secret ballot.

As I noted in this prior posting, the Citizen newspaper, along with the Laconia Daily Sun, and the actual recorded minutes of the meeting all reported that the vote to choose a new Sheriff was conducted via secret ballot. Contrary to what some members of the County Convention believe, this was an APPOINTMENT to fill a vacancy, NOT an election.

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We are asking the Court to do the following:

1. The Court enjoin the illegally appointed Sheriff, Mr. Craig Wiggin from affecting his “official” duties on July 9, 2007.
2. Order the Belknap County Convention selection process for the Belknap County Sheriff to succeed Dan Collis as Sheriff be re-done, and
3. Order the defendants to comply with RSA 91-A:8 and other applicable Laws, and
4. Award the Plaintiffs all out of pocket expenses incurred by the petitioners personally against the defendants individually, and
5. In addition to any other relief awarded pursuant to this chapter, the court may deem, just and meet.

In other words, make this particular governing body comply with the law! Oh, and as this post from over six months back reveals, this is only the latest occurence where this bunch of elected "leaders" has chosen to stretch the boundaries of the state-mandated public's right to know.

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In her latest Memorandum on NH's Right to Know Law, State AG Kelly Ayotte writes in the introduction that

The public's right-to-know what their government is doing is a fundamental part of New Hampshire's democracy. For our government to remain of the people, by the people, and for the people, while protecting individuals' privacy, it is essential that the people have reasonable and open access to the information that will inform the people what their government is up to and how it is performing.

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With the exception of the public business conducted at traditional annual town and school meetings, New Hampshire uses a representative form of democracy. The people's elected representatives set and carry out most public policy. New Hampshire's Constitution and the Right-to-Know Law ensure that the public has reasonable access to public meetings and public records that show what those elected representatives and the appointed public officials that carry out our laws are doing.

Precisely. We'll see if the judge concurs this Friday morning at 9:00 AM in Belknap County Superior Court.

Posted by Doug at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sorry Doug, I am the contrarian in this discussion. From Instapundit: 

OH, GOOD, SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT:

Solar scientists predict that, by 2020, the sun will be starting into its weakest Schwabe solar cycle of the past two centuries, likely leading to unusually cool conditions on Earth. Beginning to plan for adaptation to such a cool period, one which may continue well beyond one 11-year cycle, as did the Little Ice Age, should be a priority for governments. It is global cooling, not warming, that is the major climate threat to the world.

So we'll either be roasting, or freezing. I guess either way, more insulation in my attic is a good idea.

While I think that there is global warming, I DO remember the dire warnings about global cooling back in the mid 1970's and how up in a stir folks got (although to be sure, not as much as they are now).  Frankly, cycles come, cycles go.  Cycles intersect with other natural cycles and things can look goofy for a few decades (not even an eyeblink in geological terms).

Humans adapt, be it cold or hot; that is what life is about: change and not static conditions.  

(tongue in cheek) -> Can't these PhDs get their story straight?  After all, look at all these folks without degrees or minimal degrees all a flutter that "the earth has a fever!  We're all going to die!"

Honey, where's my parka? 

(Cross-posted at GraniteGrok.com) 

Posted by Skip at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Searsburg, Vermont
Pre & Post Construction Survey Results

"The most common reaction was a sense of 'awe' or express 'amazement', while others find the rotating turbines 'calming'. For some the experience was 'almost spiritual'."

Public Acceptance Study of the Searsburg Wind Power Project:
Year One Post Construction
Clinton Solutions December 1997

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Posted by Terry S. at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Thus, after about five minutes, ended the public hearing on the $53,686,000 municipal budget, of which $35 million would need to be raised by taxes.

Posted by Doug at 04:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

"The manna of liberty must be gathered each day, or it is rotten. Only by unintermitted agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. Republics exist only on the tenure of being agitated." --Wendell Phillips

Posted by Doug at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Homeland security?"

asked the board [selectmen] to authorize the department to seek and accept a $30,500 grant administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security, which requires a matching contribution of 5-percent, or $1,525 from the town. 

Continue reading "Kudos to the Selectmen!" »

Posted by Doug at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (1)

It can take an extra half-hour each day for Concord police officers and detectives to don and take off their uniforms, check their guns and other equipment and go through messages — and they want to be paid overtime for that prep time.

Posted by Doug at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Posted by Doug at 06:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Click here to view the video.

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I mean, really, how hard is it to see there’s a huge fiscal crisis upon you, yet not do anything to change the situation that led to the crisis in the first place?  Is it really that difficult to understand that the state’s long-term debt burden would be eased by switching to a defined-contribution plan?

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What’s worse the legislature is also considering bills to “bail out” the pension fund. That means “raise taxes”. And doesn’t it occur to these morons that the system has to be “bailed out” because the state can’t afford the benefits?

Posted by Doug at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 32:15 Budget Committee Membership. –
    I. The budget committee shall consist of:
       (a) Three to 12 members-at-large, who may be either elected or appointed by the moderator, as the town or district adopting the provisions of this subdivision shall by vote determine, who shall serve staggered terms of 3 years; and
       (b) One member of the governing body of the municipality and, if the municipality is a town, one member of the school board of each school district wholly within the town and one member of each village district wholly within the town, all of whom shall be appointed by their respective boards to serve for a term of one year and until their successors are qualified. Each such member may be represented by an alternate member designated by the respective board, who shall, when sitting, have the same authority as the regular member.

Continue reading "Who died and left HIM boss?" »

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Government Worker Benefits Bankrupting States - Union Head Response - Bankrupt Private Companies Too

by Bull Dog Pundit

While it might not be the sexiest of topics, it is the most fiscally alarming - the out of control costs for government worker retirement and health care benefits.  But a recent article on the huge gap between government worker pensions and private pensions startled me.

The U.S. government has a bigger unfunded liability for military and civil servant retirement benefits ($4.7 trillion) than it does for Social Security ($4.6 trillion).

Read that again - the US government owes its workers more money (which it doesn’t have) in retirement benefits than is owes to the nation as a whole in social security.

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But that’s not the worst part. For most of you, state and local taxes are going to significantly increase thanks those government’s promising the moon to employees, but not paying for it.

Pension promises have “gotten out of hand,” says Peter Hanson, 73, chairman of NAI James E. Hanson Inc., a real estate firm in Hackensack, N.J. His firm offers a healthy private pension - up to 25% of compensation, given to employee retirement accounts - but it is tied to profits and given as a lump sum, not a lifetime promise of benefits.

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Governments’ generosity could have serious consequences for taxpayers and pensioners. Some states - including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia - have troubled retirement systems that may require huge tax increases, spending cuts or even defaulting on promised benefits.

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The financial soundness of civil servant pensions varies across the country. Government pensions are, on average, in a similar condition as private pensions - about 20% below the assets needed to be properly funded. But some states, especially in the industrial Midwest, have severely troubled pensions.

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“The taxes needed to pay for these promises would push many of these states’ economies into a death spiral,” Chicago bankruptcy lawyer James Spiotto says.

And the public employee union head’s response to this?

Supporters of government pensions say the decline in private pensions is the problem, not the generosity of public retirement plans. “Rather than lower the bar for public employees, we need to stabilize retirement programs for everyone,” says Richard Ferlauto, director of pension and benefit policy for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a union with 1.4 million members.

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He acknowledges public pensions are getting more scrutiny. “People want to know, ‘Why should you have more security than us?’ ” he says. “It’s pension envy.”

What galls me most about this is not the fact that he’s defending the benefit. After all, he’s a union head and that’s his job. The real problem here is his failure to realize that there’s even a problem.  No mention is made of the huge tax increases on the people that are going to be required to pay for these benefits.

Posted by Doug at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)