dd Littleton Common: November 2007

“If you never change your mind, why have one??"


Wednesday, November 28, 2007

YANKEE OPTIMISM!


One trip around the Town Offices will reveal a time of change; a time of optimism. Many initiatives have been in the works that we should be proud of as a Town. IBM, the Community Preservation Act, Personnel Bylaw, professional management enhancements, integrated economic development strategies, more space for our seniors are among our recent progressive changes. We even had front page recognition of our Veterans on a holiday all too often taken for granted. We are taking a broad approach in planning Littleton's future.

There is indeed a lot to be optimistic about. We are working together better than anytime I remember. Walls are coming down instead of being built. From schools to public safety, it suffices to say that this an exciting time as we unite to face the future.

While we should enthusiastically embrace our positive efforts, we have to recognize that there is no silver bullet and even stand out planning efforts will be subjected to significant challenges. Thomas Jefferson said,“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Let’s be honest, we are in an economy that's less than robust and is unfortunately predicted to get worse. The weak economy will tend to limit the success of even our best economic development activities. Like everyone around us, we are going to need to compete for a limited amount of growth potential. The housing market is off and property values are flat even in the most optimistic view. The quest to continue in our educational investments along with the enormity of our capital needs stretch beyond our ability to pay for them in the timeline we would like. Inflation, primarily driven by energy costs, takes even more of our operating capital and yields nothing in return. The short of it is that our challenges are quite daunting and there is not yet tangible relief on the horizon through our economic development strategies. Homeowners are feeling far more than a pinch these days as they try to make ends meet; therefore, the thought of additional taxes should be a fleeing one.

Considering the times, we have indeed made huge strides in preparing to secure our future and we must relentlessly proceed with great enthusiasm, but these efforts will take time. In the meantime, Littleton’s particular style of Yankee frugality must prevail.

How will we do what we need to do? Have you got a good idea to add to the mix? Let me know, right here!

posted by Alex McCurdy at 5:18 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Monday, November 12, 2007

My Opinion...


It is true that our elected officials are chosen to carry out the various statutory functions of our government. Voters make their choice on the basis of opinions, character, experience, commitment and leadership qualities. They see their candidate as one who will represent them in harmony with their own point of view. One way government can go wrong is when those elected officials begin to believe they are the ones who know better and begin to lose their peripheral vision, responsiveness and align themselves with smaller groups of similar thinking constituents. This begets the misapplication of power or privileges.

I am sure that most elected officials don’t set out to be “powerfully privileged”, but in some cases, it happens. Therein lies the need for protective checks and balances and the Constitution provides them. Some of our officials indeed have areas where they may temporarily exercise broad application of power in situations such as a public disaster or a health crisis. Yet, even these applications have very specific limitations.

Littleton’s political checks and balances are guaranteed through the election process, town meetings, open board meetings, information and ongoing active interest by the citizens. Our most powerful check and balance is one that I supported and continue to support: recall election by the citizens. That, however, is exercising checks and balances way too late into a situation. The most important point is when voters become passive or apathetic in exercising oversight, things can more easily go astray within their government.

I am being a bit subjective here, so take this with a grain of salt, but the current Board of Selectmen is well-grounded, diverse and not focused on “power” issues. The result has been meaningful progress. The road to where we are today has been at times contemptuous, controversial and polarizing, but those problems have played a function toward finding where we are now. I hope you will agree that we are moving forward and that you know that it is you, the citizen, who demands we move forward. We will all be the fortunate benefactors.

There are a lot of truly wonderful people in Littleton that have perpetually amassed to preserve our community spirit. Once in a while you might need to remind us where we come from and I hope you continue to do that! Right here on littletoncommon.org is one such place. A place where you can agree, disagree, offer suggestions and foster intelligent debate. My only request is you do so respectfully. Respect, I happen to think, is what the current Board seeks to both give and earn. Respect is also the key that will start the engine every day of our commute to the future.

posted by Alex McCurdy at 3:46 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION STARTS UP ~ FARMERS NEEDED


Our newest town entity, the Littleton Agricultural Commission, held its first meeting on November 6. The Commission, consiting of all volunteer members, was voted in at the Annual Town Meeting in 2006 along with a Right to Farm Bylaw. Among other things, this Commission is charged with the preservation of farmland and interaction with farmers. Our Farmers hold a significant piece of our remaining open lands in Littleton and are a link to our community history and culture. Farmers face a daunting task ahead; development pressure, taxes, regulations all work against their future. Mother nature and daylight to dark working conditions don’t allow them much time to advocate for their trade. The Agricultural Commission is one tool that can help them and help us keep farming in our plans for Littleton. Now that the Commission is functioning, I urge that farmers take the opportunity to become involved. Farmer members are needed, Please apply.

I strongly support agriculture. In fact, I was a farmer for many years of my life. It is a backbreaking labor of love. It is also essential piece of the American way of life and part of our overall economic development strategy. I ask that you buy local when it comes to agricultural products, and support our struggling farm community.

For more information about the role of the Agricultural Commission go to www.littletonma.org and hit the Agricultural Commission link. There you will find information on the Commission, its mission and contact information. To apply, send a letter of interest to the Board of Selectmen at 37 Shattuck Street or email a letter to the Selectmen via JGibbons@littletonma.org. The Commission will hold its next meeting on November 20th at 7:00 p.m.in Littleton Town Hall. Anyone interested is invited to attend.


posted by Alex McCurdy at 3:10 PM 2 Comments Links to this post