http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140218/OPINION02/702189963
Springfield lost big opportunity February 18,2014 Rutland Herald Springfield lost big opportunity This is to share my concern and extreme disappointment with what occurred this week in the region. In my opinion, Springfield lost out on the biggest opportunity this area has ever seen. With the nay vote from the Public Service Board (PSB) for the North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project (NSSEP), we lost on a number of fronts. It’s unfortunate the town leaders did not take a position on this critical potential development. Chairman Morris is the only member to state publicly his opinion. This was too big of a project for the leaders to take a sideline position. At the final PSB hearing, the PSB board asked for input from the town of Springfield. The town’s attorney stated Springfield’s position was: To support whatever the PSB decision was regardless of “in favor” or “against” the project. That is a weak position for leaders to take. In this case, did the loud minority win? Was the silent majority too silent? The facts seemed to get tarnished with inaccurate information about the project circulating almost weekly. I have lived most all of my 56 years here, raised a family and been involved with local politics. I remember the shops booming, Main Street bustling and people taking pride in being from Springfield. That time is gone. It’s not coming back, and we need to re-create this town. We are very lucky some of the plants are occupied and creating jobs. Springfield is a diverse economy today with some great success stories, but also a large sector of social services. I hope, for Springfield and the region, the benefit of another golden opportunity rides into town again soon. In the meantime, expect your taxes to remain in an upward swing with the grand list growing very slow. Taxes will continue to increase. I hope those individuals that fought so hard for their view of the industrial park to remain unchanged pay for their view now. Maybe that will help the grand list. JOHN HALL Springfield
It wouldn't have mattered if the proposed project was a feedlot or a poppy field, the NIMBY's would have still objected either to the greenhouse gas emissions from bovine flatulence or the opium dangers associated with all the pretty flowers! Not to mention the truck traffic. Truck and truck after truck after truck! NIMBY's are completely self-serving and merely use the veil of altruism to mislead others as to their true motive - STATUS QUO.
ReplyDeleteHah! Have you ever gotten near a bovine feed lot like those in Kansas/Nebraska? Those things are "fragrant". A commercial pig farm is a close comparison. I'd be happy with a Flanders type poppy field in the space where the woodburning plant was planned, but the feed lot should be in your back yard.
DeleteI love the smell of feedlots in the morning. It smells like....victory!
DeleteThose old dairy farmers among us would welcome that feedlot in our backyards and the economic rewards that accompanied it. I doubt the aroma would waft as far as Ludlow though, so folks like Old Bob here should be safe!
DeleteOld Bob here lives in North Springfield. I suspect you don't know what a full-blown 'fitting-up' feedlot smells like. The homes of their owners are not close by.
DeleteThe problem with Springfield is the lack of leadership. There seems to be a leftist slant with their policies which do nothing more then build upon the current welfare state. As long as they continue down that path we can say goodbye to any sense of self-pride.
ReplyDeleteI find the Springfield's plight the result of simple, self interest. Be it the NIMBYs with bio mass, or the N. Spfld school gifted as a property buffer. Dozens of tax exempt properties benefiting special interest. Selectmen voting on budgets they personally benefit from. School board members with special needs children in the system. The school system using town funds for mailings to promote their budget. A community band that's so lame they can't pass the hat to fund their effort, relying on shaking down tax payers to bank roll their hobby. Town employees herding up elderly with free rides to the polls and coaching them how to vote. HCRS workers doing the same with mental patients. A legion of slugs on bogus disability and unwed welfare mothers that eagerly vote thru every budget, indifferent to those that fund it. A culture of pure selfishness, that's Springfield!
Delete1:07, I can assure you our selectboard does not have a "leftist slant." I know one when I see one.
DeleteRight! At your weekly meetings!
Delete9:31: I sure hope so!
DeleteAbsolutely, comrade. May I buy you a cup of coffee? Oh, sorry, I forgot, you're off coffee.
DeleteAll i see between the comments here and on the other post is a lot of hate.
ReplyDelete6:03, a lot of that spite, anger and hopeless despair comes from the advantage of being anonymous. We can vent all our fears and prejudices without losing whatever respect or status we have in the community. It is a safety valve. It's just too bad that those commenters don't have a more productive way of dealing with their issues.
DeleteIt takes a hater to know hate when they see.
DeleteAbsolutely! My Scottish genes dictate, "Never forgive; never forget."
Delete"It's just too bad that those commenters don't have a more productive way of dealing with their issues."
ReplyDeleteSame reasoning goes to those who don't disguise themselves as well.
I'm so ready to put this issue to bed. Enough already. Proponents of the plant never did produce facts about how this would affect Springfield's taxes because it wouldn't have. The plant's taxes were to have been "excused" for years. This plant was not the start to solving Springfield's problems. Sorry, but it's the truth.
ReplyDeleteSorry, your wrong.
DeleteAnonymous: man up and use you name
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: man up and use your name if you believe what you say
ReplyDelete