Having survived the triathalon of retirement lunch, election/town meeting, and easter, I have this restful rainy day to think and read and write. I lost the election 163 to 143. There are few positives here except that we had a large turnout, that I gained 58 votes from last time, that I now know every pot hole on every road in Unity, that I know a lot more people in town, and that I have been changed into a more social (I really want to say ministerial) person by the campaign. Anne Lamott's article about her year on match.com tells a similar story.
Some notes about town meeting. Sherry transcribed the meeting, so we will have an exact record of who said what.
- Someone asked if a hearing is required before turning a paved road back to gravel. We don't know the answer to that yet; there was no hearing before turning Kanokolus back to dirt.
- Someone asked if there was a trial period in the 3 year snow plowing contract with Farley and Sons at which we could opt out. The selectmen did not know the answer to that, but there apparently is and a straw vote was overwhelmingly in favor of ending that contract.
- The selectmen agreed to have a special town meeting soon to discuss how we can finance desperately needed road repaving. If someone doesn't push on this item, it will never happen.
- We voted to pay for redoing the comprehensive plan. That needs a push for starting right away and for having it be hugely inclusive and led by someone with experience in these things.
- More people got to witness how incoherent and volatile Ron is. At some point Unity needs to adopt a recall ordinance.
- Town meeting lasted 5 hours. I wonder if we could pass an ordinance that states that the article about donations to area organizations has to be passed or failed as it is. The budget committee hearing is where the value of these donations is fully aired and debated. It seems like a waste of time to do it all over again at town meeting, but it's important that people be heard.
Splendor in the Brass is the name of this year's JazzFest shirt. Greatly looking forward to the trip which will include some Lafayette festing.
This steam punkish thing was in the eye doc's office.
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