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About the ADT
A group of Derry citizens have formed this citizens' alliance to promote lower property taxes, property tax reform and honest, limited government. The Alliance of Derry Taxpayers believes that elected officials should carefully administer the spending of our property tax dollars.
Purpose
The purpose of this blog is to share and exchange information, or suggest new ideas that relate to politics in the Town of Derry and the property tax issues we all face. If you wish to remain anonymous that's fine. You can visit the ADT web site by clicking the link below to learn more about us and sign up. Please join us for thoughtful, meaningful discussion on issues that affect us all.
There are several issues regarding Derry town government that I would like to see addressed as follows:
ReplyDelete1. Our fire chief also holds another full time job. That should be stopped. We pay him full time, and he should work only for Derry. He also likes to run all over the country at our expense. This abuse should be stopped.
2. Derry residents pay a great deal more for ambulance service from our fire department as do other towns who contract for their services. We pay for the overall service, and neighboring towns get the service at a discount. That is not fair to the Derry taxpayers.
3. Why do we not get to vote on the lavish benefits and wage contracts the Council gives away to town unions. These contracts are way above the norm, and this type of flagrant "featherbedding" should be stopped.
4. Derry voter turn our in town elections is very low. Somehow we need to generate voter interest on town issues. While they sit home on election day, the "good ole boys" go out to vote and tuck it to all of us.
5. Somehow we need to get more input into the school budget. Just voting on the actual or the default budget gives us no real input into the budget. The school board represents the schools and not the taxpayers so they are no help here.
That's all for now.
Thanks for your comments and visiting our blog. I agree with you about the fire chief. That he can be paid for more than one full time job is a joke, but I'm not laughing either.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ambulance service, I know first hand how much we are overbilled for the service. Perhaps we should make changes similar to the alarm monitoring charges they just passed, increasing the fees for out of town users of the service. I may mention that at an upcoming meeting.
Every tax payer in Derry should be outraged about the union contracts that were approved. Most folks I know have had pay freezes at work and are just happy to still be working (those that are).
As for voter turnout, that is one of our main goals at ADT. We need to make folks more aware of what is going on and get more people involved and out to vote. Same thing with the school budget. Those meetings have very little if any public input because no one shows up. These are some of the things we're hoping to change.
As for your point #5, I was just appointed to a 3 year term on the school financial advisors board. While this board advises and does not make policy, I hope to share what I learn about DCSD finances with the community to make the school budget more understandable.
ReplyDeleteRe: Derry Ambulance & Community Costs: Great Ambulance service (personal experience) yet at what cost? I have been a Derry resident since 1985. I have watched my property taxes increase by more than 600%. The majority of this is a result of the school budget, yet every bit of waste costs. A complete independent audit of ALL Derry expenditures is the 1st step toward improving our costs. This cost will be small relative to what we are spending. The 1st step toward any improvement is identifying the issues.
ReplyDelete2nd, I firmly believe the apartment & condo complexes in town are being under-taxed, relative to what they cost our community. A hard legal review of what can be done to level the tax field, related to the apartment & condo complex costs, to our community should be conducted by a qualified, independent organization.
I have been following the 4A project since the mid nineties when it made sense. The more I follow it, the stranger it gets. Last week I looked up Boston North on the Secretary of State's business listing. Boston North was dissolved in 1986. OK, lets look at the land they own in Londonderry. Nice, they got 101 acres of land, right were 4A is coming through, from the town of Londonderry for $0 in 1995. What's up with that? In the meantime Boston North (dissolved) wants to meet with the town council in private so no minutes can be taken. Smells like back room politics in smoke filled rooms where shady deals are made.
ReplyDeleteI was curious to see whether any of the members o the group would clear up the libelous statement regarding Chief Klauber but apparently truth has already taken a back seat to politics on this blog. Too darn bad. I was really really hoping thisa blog would be different than that other one.
ReplyDeleteFact: Chief Klauber's work as a consultant for search/consulting company is FAR from a full time job. Rather, he is a member of a team on two or three assingments per year.
FACT: Numnerous fire chiefs and police chiefs in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire serve in this capacity.
FACT: It occupies no more than an average of 5 hours a week per year.
FACT: Klauber NEVER does his consulting work when he is on the clock in Derry. NEVER.
That said, if you want to critique the firefighters' contract or the money spent on ambulance service or the entire structure of the public service department sin the town... fine.
But coming out here and intentionally slandering someone because you have a longstanding personal axe to grind with the chief is immoral and beneath the dignity of the ADT.
C'mon Steph and Doug, you guys are better than this.
Doug, glad to see you on that board. The original poster is right about more accountability and input. That said, the original poster, who complains about low voter turnout, should get his posterior up and attend every single school department budget hearing and workshop and let his voice be heard. there ARE ways to participate in the process and be heard. You just have to do it.
ReplyDeleteIf not, the school budget and Pinkerton's budget will be rammed down our throats of taxpayers.
anon 2:35 - I don't think the original poster was as malicious as you're making it out to be. This is a concern I have heard from other folks as well, and I think it's a matter of perception. The fact that he is listed as an Executive on MRI's web site sure makes it sound like more than a consulting gig. He played a big role in the investigation that went on down in Gloucester in 2007. From what I read he was the lead in producing an 84 page report on the incident that occurred down there. If that can be done in less than 5 hours a week "off the clock" that's great, but a little more information on exactly what he doing for this firm, and when he's doing it, might go a long way in building more trust and confidence.
ReplyDeleteAs to the union contracts, while being a fire fighter is a noble profession, it shouldn't guarantee you large pay raises in a bad economy. I'm sure there are plenty of doctors, nurses, members of the armed forces and others who do noble and brave work who would like the same benefits. In times like these, it was inappropriate for the council to approve the contract and the voters should have had more say in it. That of course is just my opinion.
I guess it all boils down to one thing for me. A little more transparency in matters that affect all of us would go a long way to building more trust in our town officials and more confidence that they are doing the right thing for their citizens. Government transparency is one of the main goals of the ADT, and while others may perceive that we have other intentions, that is a fact.
Steph ... a simple phone call to the head of MRI would answer all your questions. "Executive" is a listing for every single consultant they have. They are legitimate queries, but they are easily answerable. The proble is that when erroneous accusations are tossed around, they distract fro the true issues, such as contracts and budgets.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere along the way, i think maybe 15-18 years ago, a council approved some rather irresponsible and libeal provisions in the firefighters contract. the only way escape out from under those is to threaten layoffs in the next negotiations and then follow through on the threat if concessions are not made.
That said, the neotiating team last time bargained in good faith and followed the marching orders given by the council.
Next time, the council needs to give different marching orders and THAT is where input from the public needs to come. A public hearing when negotiations are getting ready to begin, that would help define those priorities.
Voters in a town Derry's size are not afforded the opportunity to vote on union contracts and with good reason. It would pit town departments against each other in a political battle and would destroy the credibility of negotiating teams. That, and thee aere some people who will NEVER vote to spend money, even if it is fair.
Bottom line -- the ADT does some excellent work, but it needs to distance itslef from its more fringe and extremist fans and members ... Accusing Klauber of having another full time job is kind of like accusing Obama of not being a U.S. citizen ... It may seem that an outlandish accusation will rally the base to action but in the end it hurts the credibility of the cause. And give MRI a call, it should put your mind at ease.
Oh, and relative to transparency ---- I agree totally ... more transparency is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteBut remember this ... not one member of this council ran for office with the intent to hurt the town or its people. Every single one believed that he or she could help the town and every one is committed to doing what they believe to be the right thing.Always remember that simply because someone disagrees with you does not make them evil. That simple belief is at the heart of healthy and productive political debate.
If the Derry News editorial is correct today, the Council approved another $600,000 for Exit 4A. The Nutfield News today reported that benefits for the Derry School system employees will cost over one million dollars more in the budget coming up due to increases passed on by the State of NH. The Council recently approved, I believe, about 200 grand more for the TIF. In addition, the State of NH is taking away about 7.5 million in school funding in 2011. I also understand that Pinkerton Academy is proceeding with their multi-million dollar Fresman Center. How is the Derry taxpayer going to be able to absorb all of this? When will the State, the School Board, Pinkerton Academy, and the Council realize that they cannot keep dumping millions on the Derry taxpayers and expect Derry to survive unscathed? The extra property taxes charged for all these millions in increases in spending or cuts in funding will have the effect of lowering property values, increasing foreclosures, and driving the eldlerly and less affluent out of Derry. In the case of the elderly, they will probably sell their houses to younger folks with children which will put more children into the school system and increase the school tax. Not only that, but business's will be apprehenive about moving into or staying in a town where property values and declining, foreclosures are increasing, and property taxes are skyrocketing. In that respect, Londonderry and Windham would be perceived to be more attractive locations.
ReplyDeleteI am overwhelmed by all of this, and I do not see how Derry can survive all of this without some serious financial consequences. It just never seems to end. It just gets worse and worse. Both the Council, and the State have failed Derry miserably. I think in terms of the State, they have always had it in for Derry if you check history. In the case of the Council, the problem seems that there is always a majority of business people on the Council who are much more concerned with their personal business interests than the interests of the taxpayers. They also seem to have a squanderous compulsion when it comes to mis-guided and poorly planned and poorly managed business development projects which wind up going nowhere or costing us a bundel in lawsuits as the Fire House Tavern did and still does.
It seems no matter how we try to make things better, the majority on the Council, rising school costs, and the State always give us the "Sunday Punch".
How can we cope with all of this and how can we fix it before Derry becomes a ghetto of forclosed houses and abandoned business's? I cannot beleive that all this corruption and mismanagement has been tolerated by the taxpayers who stay home during town and state elections. It just boggles my mind how the voters have allowed this mess to continue unchecked.
How can we turn things around, or is it already too late?
Anon 10/29 12:24 Just curious...How do you know what the intent is of people running for council? Either you know them all so well as to be certain of their motivations or you must believe there are no people with self serving intentions that ever run for office. Please elaborate.
ReplyDeleteAlso if you favor transparency, watch the council tonight as they vote on airing the 4A mess before the public via the court system. Should be interesting.
It seems that right now all the emphasis is on the Charter Commission and the Council. That is certainly very important, but what are we going to do about the avalance of school taxes that will hit us in 2010 and 2011?
ReplyDeletePinkerton is going ahead with their Freshman Center which they say will cost between 22 and 32 million. I guess plus or minus 10 million is is of little concern to them. Nice to be that unconcerned about actual costs and the impact that will have on the taxpayer (that should tell us something right there). But, they, being a private institution, can charge the taxpayers whatever they want as they are in no way accountable to them. Derry should have built their own High School when they had the chance years ago.
Secondly, the State is cutting our school payments by about 7.5 million in 2011. Add to that the costs of the School employees' health insurance will go up about 1 million this year, if we believe THE DERRY NEWS. We still do not know what the dental insurance increase will be, but the UNION LEADER says it will be significant. THE UNION LEADER also printed this week that State retirement costs will go up about 30% overall and that will not only impact school expenses but town expenses as well.
Anyway, in the past, the Schools have been reluctant to cut very far in favor of just raising taxes. However, the impact this time will be significant, and we need to be prepared to represent the needs of the taxpayer. That will not be easy as the Schools are crafty and powerful and are very good at prevailing for their own selfish interests at the expense of the taxpayer. Just look at how easaily they took over the Charter Commission and prevented their takeover by Town Government. Scary isn't it!
I just read in this Sunday's NH News (Union Leader) on the second page legislative section, that a new law is to be voted on in the State Legislature with a very good chance of passing. The law will make it illegal for a Town Council to vote in secret meetings and to withhold informaiton from taxpayers. All that goes on in any meetings must be disclosed to the taxpayers. Any decisions made at secret meetings even to include bonding can be reversed by the Superior court. If any Councilor refuses to disclose what went on at a secret meeting or fails to compy with the State Right to Know Law has the choice of resigning or paying a $1,000.00 fine under this law.
ReplyDeleteIf this law passes, it will be a valuable resource for us to demand transparency and honesty in government. It also gives us more control of bad Councilers who try to act on their own selfish business interests as was the case in the recent $600,000 give away in the "Ghosts of exit 4A Scam." It will also give us a tool to reverse decisions made in secret meetings. A good tool if we get it.
Did you read in this week's NUTFIELD NEWS how Pinkerton Academy and the Derry Cooperative School District are going to sock it to us next year? Nice raises for everybody, the Pinkerton lavish Freshman Center going forward, and nice lunches for everyone. Must be nice to live in the lap of luxury while a larger and larger percentage of those who have to pay for it face foreclosure in these hard times.
ReplyDeleteLooks like our only option is to try to figure out how to get the voters out to vote for the default budget. At least that will save us a little that these squanderers won't get.
These schools must think this Beverly Hills!