One of the comments suggested a poll about the use of paper ballots vs. voting machines for the referendum on the Sardinia-Chaffee Fire Service Award on February 24. I hadn't heard anything about that, and honestly, if the majority of the Town Board decides that paper ballots are the way to go, there's nothing to be done. Instead, I added a very simple poll that would reflect on the actual vote on February 24: vote yes, vote no, or vote "no, go back to the drawing board and come back to the voters with the least expensive option."
I think you can guess which one I chose, and will choose. I'm astounded that four people who look to be reasonable, thinking human beings (Balus, Uhteg, Phelps and Kenyon) would reject a financial option that is substantially less for this town's taxpayers and put in place one that shows that in Sardinia, fiscal responsibility is less important than political expedience.
Not surprisingly, the Fire Department has a page on their web site devoted to the Fire Service Award. Read it in conjunction with the letter to the Arcade Herald by Mr. Robert Church (who I don't think I've ever met, but maybe he reads this site?), and get out to those informational sessions to see what the facts are on February 5 (7 p.m.) and February 7 (10 a.m.) at the Sardinia Community Center.
Monday, January 26, 2009
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This whole thing is turning into another political mess. Now we are using paper ballots because suddenly, the BOE has decided that the machines are illegal. And no one knew this? We were told that Norm had checked into this and oops, they just let him know? Right. I can understand why the board would want to offer some type of program up for voters to decide on but think a) too many that shot this particular program through benefit themselves personally-wrong, wrong, wrong! b) the program we are voting on is not fiscally smart-didn't we hear that it is better to spend more tax money over the long run because voters are not intelligent enough to see the savings of paying one lump sum? and c) paper ballots are a joke! Who will monitor the final tally? Norm? The Fire Company officials? I would hold off until people can be appropriately trained to use the new voting computers. This isn't some ten dollar deal we are looking at and it deserves to be done correctly.
ReplyDeleteDo a quick google search for "hacking voting machines" and you'll see that they're even less reliable than paper ballots. Like any election or vote there should be oversight by responsible officials. The idea that the volunteer firefighters would be dishonest and scam the town is a frightening suggestion and I think going down that path offers no solution to the disagreement, only more mistrust.
ReplyDeleteA poll could be possible if set up properly and done by telephone to every Sardinia resident. That's unlikely (and can be expensive), so I must question the accuracy of the poll on this website - whatever the results will be. No offense Kara because I appreciate your idea, but you have 5 votes so far that could come from anywhere. Don't expect them to be an indicative sampling of Sardinia.
I'm always surprised by how biased the Arcade Herald is on their editorial page, and how eager to make enemies those editorial writers are. No one threatened that the fire company wouldn't service them if the pension was passed. Firefighters have a duty to act without bias towards race, religion, sex or political opinion. That is their legal charge. But think about it, if the fire company offers no retirement benefit to it's members and thus no incentive to join (other than a member's sense of duty to their town and its residents) and because of that their membership is 60% of total, how much are they physically able to service the public? What will their membership look like in two years after vocal members of the town, supported by biased local media outlets, put the fire department through the ringer-washer and drag it through the mud? Are the actions being taken by either side in this argument helping the fire department at all?
EXCELLENT OPINION, I AGREE WITH YOU.
ReplyDeleteDon't loose sight of the fact every volunteer fire co. is no more than a faternity for family members and friends. They all have the common interest of being first at a fire or accident scene, helping where needed and then telling the story to all that were not there. I've seen some cases where 15-20 volunteers are at a scene where only 5-6 are needed, but more is certainly better. It goes deep into everyone's makeup 'Head turning at a accident scene or even slowing down to see if the trooper is writting a ticket. They get to do it as part of their job, they get to wave the glowing flashlight - you have to keep going. Now if this all justifies a retirement fund????. I have not been to a meeting on the issue yet, but I'm sure the Fire Co. has presented numbers on how the membership is slipping drastically and what the projections are for the future, how many response calls have been made when the volunteers are just NOT AVAILABLE. Most fires I've read about in a rural community seem as if 90% of the time are a total loss due to distance and response times. Can the town have more than one fire co.? Has the Fire Co. submitted grant applications to Homeland Security for funds and training as thousands of fire co's have done - receiving huge $$$$$$$$ - MILLIONS.? It may not be used for retirement, but maybe encourage more members to join if the building, equipment and infrastructure had more to offer. I agree it is WAY OVER the top on cost - but when the town sits on MILLIONS what do you expect! Wow I even heard absentee ballots could be used - who is going to verify the legallity of those puppies? There has to be a better approach to this issue where the firemen and the residents feel treated fairly without pissin anyone off!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think this whole issue is doing just that, p------- people off. Residents are mad and saying nasty things about the whole issue which looks like they don't support the fire company but in reality boils down to the fact that they are mad with the way it has been handled by the board. The fire company will come away feeling like they are not appreciated and what good will come from that? A big mess is what this has turned into and it's a shame because it could have been prevented with a little thought and reasoning.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a hard time seeing where you feel it's the board that has created the problem here. I was under the impression the 'Service Award' program was because Volunteer Fire Co's. were not getting enough new members. Is this the case with Sardinia? They have 44, how many more do they need? According to web sites at other Volunteer Co's. the numbers are not much greater than 44 and they serve 12-18,000 residents. Maybe this is a self created problem by the Volunteer Co's. to get a Service Award Program. It is their call - how is it monitored?
ReplyDeleteI will clarify why I feel it is a board problem. They were the group who voted in the proposed amount we will vote on. It is not the most economical choice for the town but it was stated that it was felt that the town would never pass through such a huge amount if they did indeed, go with the most sound money plan. So, they went with the program choice that will, in fact cost the town more in the long run. Also, the board ignored the fact that this program, for the huge cost it will be, only serves a select few. Also, questions are raised about the point system. Some belong to the department, go through training but do not go to calls. Yet by going to training, will earn points. Does this help the fire company out? It was pointed out to the board that this program has not proved to raise membership. However, the board ignored this when the point was made. I know of two families in town who have sons as members and they themselves think the program is not the right choice. I am very indebted to the fire company for their hours and service. I DO think we should offer some type of gratitude. I do NOT think this program is the right fit for this town though and will not vote for it. I think other alternatives should have been offered and explored. And, they well be if this does not go through. I hope that this whole thing doesn't backfire on the fire company and leave members feeling unappreciated when in fact, it is just a numbers thing.
ReplyDelete"However, the board ignored this when the point was made". This wasn't the same board with 3 volunteer firemen / or spouse was it? I see where your comin from - but it still all boils down to having that 3.2 Mil. in the general fund! If we where all paying town taxes and holding our elected officals ACCOUNTABLE for spending our tax dollars this issue would have a totally differant perspective. To keep 44 firemen satisfied in something they basically live for - serving the public,looking at and touching fire trucks and gathering together, while costing the town another $1 million dollars on top of the fire protection costs already in the town budget is comendable BUT it seems almost mundane when compared to Sardinia that has a hamlet with NO WATER PRESSURE, a proposed Business Park situated in an abandoned gravel pit with NO WATER OR SEWER, a Community Center with poor heat, leaky roof and ALWAYS in need of updates, a Town Hall (Community Center) with limited parking, peeling paint, a rear entrance that looks like 'Under Attack' with broken glass block/wire and concrete, and Savage Rd. from Genesee to Rt.39 that reminds a Marine of Irag and IUD's that have exploded. We are a farming - rural community, and to be able to say "let's spend 1 Million on a Service Award Program" is only attainable because of the $3.2 at hand - All I ask is "IS THIS THE BEST USE FOR ALL??????? If this is all the Town of Sardinia can see as it's future then so be it - I just feel there should be higher goals.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Kara has so nicely made the list /ideas generated by townsfolk available and many seem more pressing than the award program currently in the spotlight. Whoever said that money can't buy happiness was right on the mark. It will be interesting to see how the vote goes----and probably painful.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that this is the first time I have visited the site and good job! Intelligent exchange of information and opinion is a welcome change! I like that Kara has a "no - but go back and rework the proposal" vote on her poll! I do think the fireman deserve a pat on the back but this is to fisclly irresponsible in today's economic climate. AND WHY oh WHY does this have to be rushed through by the board? Paper ballots? Come on! Lets take the time to do the whole thing right because special elections don't come cheap - but apparently our town board doesn't care. sad sad sad. I also agree with the person who posted on 2/2/09 with the state of disrepair in the town - isn't OUR money better spent? And what has been done in recent years to recruit new members to the F.Co.? It seems like a good 'ole boys group to me and never the line will be crossed. We have been in the town for sefveral years and until the svc award mailing came, or they were soliciting for $ donations to the carnival handout, no one has asked us to join... let's send this back to the drawing board!
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