Another concerned citizen....

I haven't lived in this town my entire life but I do intend to stay here 

and raise my family as I consider this my home now.  I did attend the town

 council meeting tonight as I also attend Friday nights "Emergency Meeting".

  At first I was as appalled and infuriated just like everyone else.  I went

 to hear about why this happened and what we can do about it.  All I got 

was, not much.  Maybe I missed something but thats what it seemed like.  
 
 

In good faith I went tonight to learn more.  Since some of the dust settled

 and the raw emotion has decipated, calmer heads started to prevail.  I did

 hear some good things from citizens and board members.  Mr. Crafts'

 reminder to everyone that they are tax payers just like the rest of us, rumors

 are just that, rumors and should always be taken with a grain of salt.  If you

 hear a rumor and want to believe it then you need to ask the questions and

 make it fact before you feed the fire. 
 
 

Mr. Bowie I think did as good a job as could be done to keep people on the

 task at hand and the subject of the moment.  The thing he said that really

 caught my attention was that we can't change anything UNLESS there is an

 error in the calculation.  I'm sure that is the problem.  I understand it takes

 money to make the town work and I really don't have a problem with taxes

 going up REASONABLY & EQUALLY.  I personally know people whose

 taxes went up $400, $50. Mine went up over $500 and I also know someone

 who's taxes went down over $400.  Mr. Sampson made a great point which

 proves the math is wrong.  Not everyones property for factored appropriately.

  So it sounds like their might be a reasonable way to correct this.  I'm hoping

 this isn't just wishful thinking. 
 
 

The last thing I got from the meeting will be something I will take to heart. 

Mr. Cote voiced the fact that the "people" of the town need to be more involved. 

Go to the meetings, join a committee, be part of the solution and stop pointing

 your finger and saying there is a problem.  Get up, this town and country will be

 what you make it.  That's how it was built and it has gotten weaker because

 poeple started getting lazy and expecting other people to "work for them",

  instead of the many working together to shoulder the burdon, the few have

 remaind and the load has not gotten any lighter.  Everyone wants equity, except

 in the work load, that just doesn't seem right to me. 
 
 

I would like to thank the council members for all their hard work.  I'm sure they

 don't get enough of it but they earn it.  I wouldn't want the job, you get to make

 deicisons for people who can't even show up and tell you what they want until it's

 to late so you have to use you judgement and then get yelled at and called names

 the whole time and you're in the same boat as they are.  Again I say, THANK YOU!!!
 
Tony Quatrano