IT SNOWED (!) LAST NIGHT

Don't you know, good friend Jan just had to call me about 9pm last night to say "Look out your window."

And here I was in the office (second floor) and all I could see of the outside was DARK (we've lost 4 hours 31 minutes of daylight. And you know I AM counting those minutes!). So down the stairs to the main floor I go, phone in hand, asking "Where, front or back?" (having no idea what she wanted me to see - or where she was calling from). She does have a wicked sense of humor I'm discovering.

"Oh, look out the back door - out the back porch," she says.

So, I throw on the outside flood lights - thinking maybe it's that dang raccoon that's been digging up my tulip bulbs AGAIN. Found them UPSIDE on Saturday and had to plant them again (only the 4th time!). Lord knows what, if anything, will bloom come Spring. For all I know, Jan is in the driveway. But "NOOOooooo" It is snowing! That big, puffy, wet stuff - all over my car, the walkway, the lawn - everywhere.

I'd sort of thought that's what it was, just hearing the tone in her voice and said, "It's NOT snowing," just before I opened the door.

Then I heard her laugh. Evil laugh that woman can have. (Of course she is a snowmobiler and can hardly wait for that stuff.)

But REALLY?!!! It is OCTOBER - and only the 18th. Not even Halloween, for heavens sake. Forget Frost on the pumpkins - there was snow!

The good news is that with this morning's sunshine, it is gone. Gone. Out, out damned white spots.

Shiver me timbers. Must have been a bad dream. If only.....

FROM AN EMAIL - HOW TO SAVE BIG FEDERAL BUCKS

"The Proposal"

When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers must find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well. Wall Street and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision," and his board of directors gives him a big bonus. Our government should not be immune from similar risks.

Therefore: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members.

Reduce Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State).

Then, reduce their staff by 25%. Accomplish this over the next 8 years (two steps/two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting.

Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:
$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)
$97,175,000 for elimination of their staff. (Estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each 2 members of the Senate every year)
$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (Those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork ear-marks are at $15 Billion/yr).

The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country! We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing. Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)

A Note: Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems.

Also, we had 3 senators who were not doing their jobs for the 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have accepted full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in Senators & Congress.

Summary of opportunity: $ 44,108,400 reduction of Congress members.$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced House member staff. $150,000,000 for elimination of reduced Senate member staff. $59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining House members. $37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining Senate members. $7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of Congress members. $8,073,383,400 per year estimated total savings. (that's 8 BILLION just to start!)

Big business does these types of cuts all of the time.

If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits, taxpayers could save a bundle. Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term.

If you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, forget this message. Otherwise, I assume you know what to do. (Tell people about this blog's address!)

CLIFTON LIBRARY BENEFIT A HUGE SUCCESS

Sunday's benefit Gospel and religious songfest at Clewley Farm Restaurant was well attended and provided an even better than expected financial boost to the Clifton Free Library.

Dola and Company (Dola Hinckley, Nancy Hatch and Cindy Dunton) put on a good show that was well received by an estimated gathering of 30 people plus the crew from the restaurant.

Penny Peasley and Mary Bragg, two of the three women who do all of the work of the library, were in attendance and Penny talked about how the day's donations would go for new books for the library. Penny also pointed out that while the library has held craft shows and food sales in the past for that purpose, it hadn't been able to do that this year. Caroline Baker, the third member of the stalwart threesome was not in attendance but Penny spoke for her as well when she said the community was encouraged to come to visit and get to know how well the library is stocked with hard cover, paperbacks, large print books, magazines and video tapes.

The library is located in the Clifton Town Office and is open Wednesdays from 1:30pm to 7:00pm - except during the winter it may be closed if it's a bad weather day. The place is so social and comfortable, you may want to stay and chat a bit with whoever's there at the time you drop in.

The Donation Bucket was passed around and was well received and supported by all - to the tune of contributions totaling $263.54, all of which will go toward more books for the library.

Penny, Mary and Caroline particularly wanted everyone who attended and participated in the Benefit Concert to know how much they appreciated the support of the library. Now, come check out a book or two!

Five Seasons Gifts Shop was open and people had a chance to see the wide array of gifts, cards, bird houses, photos fit for framing, dishes and vases, wood sculpture, etc. on display. There are toys for children and decorative collars for pets. Candles, maple sugar candies, jewelry, beautiful one-of-a-kind Christmas tree decorations as well as Halloween decorations. You name someone you need a gift for - you'll find something at the shop at Clewley Farm Restaurant.

Gift Shop Hours will be: Tuesday & Sunday - 9am-2pm; Saturday - 9am - 8pm. The shop will close at the end of December and re-open around Easter.

QUESTION 2 - MUNICIPAL EXCISE TAX

Question 2 on the November 3 ballot reads as follows:

"Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55 percent on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?"

This initiative has been the product of the Maine Heritage Policy Center.

If the Question is approved, it will become Law. (That means if the majority of the voters vote "YES", it will become law. If the majority vote "NO", it will not.)

What is the law that has been written relevant to this Question?

LD 974 "An Act to Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy Efficiency", (which) would cut Maine's excise tax rate in the first year of registration from 2.4 percent to 1.2 percent. In the second year, the rate would be cut from 1.75 to .08 percent. For the third and subsequent years, the rate would be cut from 1.35 to .04 percent.

The law also eliminates the sales tax and the first three years of excise taxes on hybrid, hydrogen, electric and other high-tech vehicles and high-mileage vehicles.

How does this apply to our local communities?

1. Municipalities like Eddington, Clifton and Holden keep the excise tax collected from the registration of cars belonging to residents of their towns. The towns' Boards of Selectmen use that money for each town's road reconstruction, labor, equipment, salt and sand and other costs related to their town's roads. [NOTE: This does not apply to Route 9, 46, 178 or 1A which are the responsibility of the State Department of Transportation.]

2. This law will not lower the excise tax - associated with a vehicle's registration cost - of any vehicles older than six years. And this law will not exempt any new vehicles from sales tax or give them a three-year exemption from the excise tax associated with registration unless the vehicle is a hybrid, hydrogen, electric or other high-tech or high mileage vehicle.

Looking around at the vehicles that drive around Eddington or are parked in the driveways of our town's residences, most appear to be close to or older that six years. Those owners will not see a benefit by the passage of this Question or law.

Vehicles less than six years of age will see a 55 percent reduction of cost in their annual excise tax until the vehicle is six years old.

The owners of the hybrid, hydrogen, electric or other high-tech or high mileage vehicles will see no benefit once those vehicles become older than six years.

3. Eddington does have one car and farm machinery dealership - Eddington Auto; but it is unlikely that business will see much benefit from this law. However, if Eddington Auto does sell hybrid, hydrogen, electric or other high-tech or high mileage vehicles, it may see an increase in sales if this law passes.

How will the State benefit if this Question/law is passed?

1. The Maine Heritage Policy Center states that the tax cut it proposes will stimulate auto sales and that auto sales are a chief component of the American economy.

2. The Center also reports that approximately 6,000 people are employed at 134 licensed new car dealers throughout the state.

3. The purchase of a new car carries a high excise (sales) tax, which the Center states is an obstacle to new car purchases. This is the reason that the Question/law proposes no sales tax for the specified cars and why it proposes an exemption of three years for any excise (registration) tax (when the value of the car is at the highest). [NOTE: The registration/excise tax charged each year is based on the vehicle's Blue Book posted value. However, Maine's rate becomes fixed when the car is six years old regardless of its Blue Book value.]

This Writer's Thoughts:

1. I am totally turned off by the ads opposing this Question. Threats that the passage of this question will (automatically) increase my property taxes raise my blood to the boiling point. What doesn't threaten to raise the property taxes of everyone in this state? So enough on that issue. The ads have completely avoided addressing THE issue which is that excise taxes across the board are too high. Period.

2. I don't know how much Eddington or Clifton would really lose $$ wise if this Question/law passes. I've heard $137,000 for Eddington and something like $67,000 for Clifton. That is probably bases on the 55 percent reduction for those cars less than six years of age that were registered in Eddington and Clifton last year. The figure probably came from MMA (Maine Municipal Association)

3. BUT-I can't see why buyers of only certain select types of vehicles should benefit from the exemptions listed in this law. And a lot of cars that are six years and older are in good condition, well cared for and get good mileage.

3. Everyone uses the roads. This is not a one-size-fits-all state. We have a FEW large cities (not metropolitan areas, just large cities), and some of the newer hybrids, etc. vehicles may work there very well. However, for the vast majority of this state, we're dealing with rural roads - and potholes and shifting asphalt at that. We're looking at (and for) trucks and tough cars that last in those areas and under those conditions. The vehicles "protected" under this law aren't going to be the bread-and-butter trucks and tough cars most of us are going to be buying - or driving longer than six years, thank you very much.

3. I'm all for supporting the Maine Automobile Dealerships. My dad worked for one for years right in Bangor. But the way to do that is to write a law that brings the sales tax and the registration costs into a more reasonable bracket. Right now they aren't. Not in Maine.

I have a 2002 model car. Registration for that car in Florida is $39. Here in Eddington it's $107. (not including the special license plate). (BTW, I loved hearing Florida has it written into their state constitution there will be no state income tax in that state, either.)

Look at the number of "snowbirds" who leave Maine and take their cars with them, register their cars out of state because the costs are reasonable, and then come back to Maine for six months minus one day with those cars - just to avoid the excessive tax. Those registration costs could stay right here if the costs were more in line with reason than with highway robbery.

4. The Boards of Selectmen in Eddington and Clifton and Ellsworth (and probably Holden) have voted to oppose Question 2.

And I'm going to oppose it, too. Not because those governments have opposed it but because I think it's a bad bill. It singles out certain vehicles that are not going to be genetically workable across the state, particularly in rural areas, certainly not in the winter (and I don't know too many families that can afford a separate winter vehicle) and not with the cost of such vehicles when one takes in to consideration the average income of Maine families.

I think car registration costs and Excise Taxes across the board in Maine are too high and what this state needs is a bill that lowers all excises taxes, including cars older than six years. I understand towns need money for road repair and associated costs but the answer is to expand opportunities for businesses to come into the communities and succeed, thrive and become a productive part of the town's tax base.

*******
Have a good weekend. Woody Woodson's @ Clewley Farm Restaurant tomorrow night. And Dola's singing Gospel Music there Sunday afternoon from 1-2:30 as a Benefit for the Clifton Library. Five Seasons Gift Shop will be open Saturday. LOTS of beautiful gifts for everyone in the family on display. Reasonable pricing, too.

*******

Monday's blog: Question 1

THANK YOU CRAIG

Spotted Craig Russell from the Eddington Fire Department out along Route 9 this morning taking down the flags from the utility poles. Kind of sad to see the flags coming down but better than to see them whipped to shreds by the all-too-soon-to-be bad weather. I'll just look forward to when they go back up next Spring - although I hope the Annual Report will be updated as to the people who donated to the flags purchased. I noticed the absence of several names in last year's report. :-(

The weather reports of wet snow in Bangor Tuesday afternoon (for about 10-15 minutes) were valid. I drove down from Orono in some of it and heard some of the sales staff at the Target store say they'd watched it fall in their parking lot. At least it left almost as soon as it arrived but - Good grief! There are still tons of leaves on the trees that haven't fallen. (And then there was that multi-car mess on the black ice over on Wilson Street/1A in Brewer yesterday.) Should we be thinking this will be a bad or early winter? At least the loons are still here which should be some kind of a good sign. I'm listening to them as I write so I'm going to think it is.

And last but not least - what are you thinking about all these negative ads re: the Ballot Questions for November 3? With the exception of the campaign for "No on Question 1", it seems the rest are all basing their arguments/positions on fear and negativity. I look for the issue and what seems right versus wrong - fair versus unfair. What seems to be good government versus more government. And I read A LOT - from as many positions as possible in order to be as informed on the issue as possible. I've never found basing my vote on my emotions to be as wise as basing it on facts and right v. wrong etc.

But what about Question 3? I haven't heard or seen any media ads on that issue at all - and that Question has to do with whether or not be should repeal the mandate of school consolidation. From what we saw here last year, the one option that was offered was certainly not more cost effective than what we have right now. In fact, we could cut some of our existing central office costs without consolidating with any other district by at least $20,000. Just ask me how.

And many of the larger towns like Bangor or Brewer were not required to make any changes. Granted, the more rural areas don't have as many voters as the large towns and cities, but consolidating distant rural areas isn't necessarily better for the children if they have to be up at 4:30am in order to be on school buses for a couple of hours just to get to school. Children, up through their teen years, need 8 hours of sleep each night. That's not my opinion; it's been proven through scientific studies. So how can children learn or stay healthy when they're not sleeping like they should, riding on school buses for 3-4 hours a day to/from school? And what's the condition of their minds, their attitude toward school, and the impact on their parents - the bus drivers?

Maybe, like in so many things that have come out of Augusta in recent years, ideas need more thought and research before there are mandated changes and unreasonable promises and expectations. Maybe cultivating an environment that would bring more businesses to the rural areas would bring more jobs = more families = justify districts staying where they are. It ALL starts with business growth.

I think the news burps with our Governor the last two days are insulting. NOW that the income revenues are even worse than previously projected - to the tune of $200 million less income to the State - the Governor thinks that State government needs to "tighten its belt along with the homes and businesses that have been cutting back because of these difficult economic times." I want to say, "Give it a rest, Governor." How bad does it have to get in this state before state government gets the message that Maine State government is too darn expensive - too big - and spends too much of the taxpayers money? Maine state government already said it was cutting back $90million in education funding in 2011. Maybe this will increase the decrease. To justify the threats of Question 4 not matter how the vote goes - do you think???

State government supposedly cut back last Spring to bring in the constitutionally required "balanced budget." The "balancing" cut back even more on voter-mandated education funding even after it used the federal stimulus money to pay a portion of the state funding. The "balancing" took over county jails, which were running just fine, to help run the state prisons which weren't running so well - and the result of which is now the county jails are being undercut by the state and that need for additional county jail funding being passed down to local property tax increases.

So - remember how the Governor said consolidating state corrections with county corrections would PREVENT an increase in property taxes - AND consolidating school districts would prevent property tax increases? Is this not similar to the argument being used for Question 2 regarding the Excise Tax? Apparently Maine state government and the proponents of the new Excise tax and the opponents of TABOR II think all they need to do is to tell the voter to do - or not do - something in order to not increase their property taxes and Pavlov's dog (us, the taxpayers who own property in this state) will roll over automatically.

I said earlier, I don't respond well to threats and fear.

I just march to the voting booth and VOTE. Sure, people can vote Absentee Ballots but Why unless they're going to be out of town? (And that's something else I don't understand. Bangor has shut down all polling places except the Civic Auditorium. It used to be there were polling places every 10 blocks or so. That's the way it is in most places I've lived. And the places are staffed by volunteers. (Of course the voting booths usually have machines to take care of the ballots and do the counting, too, which cuts down on the time it takes to know voting tallies. Here in Eddington, at least, we have 12 hours to vote at the Town Office and there are only 1600 of us registered. I'll bet there will be fewer than 400 that will vote on Nov. 3 - absentee ballots included. A pathetic example for our children.)

So, have you done your research? Made up your mind? Gotten your absentee ballot from the Town Office or plan to be marching in there Nov. 3rd? If so, good for you. If not, better get going. It's one of those American responsibilities that comes with those flags that Craig's taking care of today.

Tomorrow: Is Question 2 - the repeal of the new Excise Tax Law - well written. Pros and Cons.

LETTER TO COMMISSIONER GENDRON - et al

The following letter was mailed out last week - probably received by the recipients on Tuesday following the Monday holiday. Since I mailed it, there has been a suggestion copies should be sent to the Minority leaders of the Maine Senate and House of Representatives as well. That will be done this week.

Why the letter?

IF current Maine law does not mandate an employee (whether he/she is a school district or any level of government) to exhaust all administrative levels of appeal before he/she can take any employment-related complaint (such as termination) to the courts, such employees are always going to be in a position to hold taxpayers hostage to potentially unjust financial compensation. (And the taxpayers can end up having to pay the costs incurred by both parties.) In such cases, the law is faulty and needs to be corrected - particularly Maine school law.

Since the Maine Legislature appoints the Commissioner of Education - rather than the position, among other, being one elected by the people of the state - those members of the Legislature need to be accountable to the taxpayers if and when current law does not protect the taxpayers. After all, we are the ones who will be ultimately saddled with the bill.

On the other hand, if current law does require an employee of a school district to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to taking such issues to the courts, the Maine Commissioner of Education needs to be held accountable to someone for allowing the current legal situation (between the former superintendent of SAD 63 and the School Board) to have reached the level of irresponsible legal costs due to the actions of the former superintendent and her legal counsel.

So, this is what the letter said:

*****


October 9, 2009



Ms. Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

RE: Louise M. Regan v. SAD 63 et al

Dear Commissioner Gendron;

As a taxpayer and voter in the town of Eddington who has been closely following the lawsuit between former SAD Superintendent Regan and the SAD 63 School Board that terminated her employment, I am extremely disappointed with your failure to insist that Ms. Regan exhaust her post-termination administrative remedy under state law before proceeding with any other legal filings. By your office’s failing to act in this manner, you have caused an unnecessary financial burden on the taxpayers of the communities within SAD 63.

Not only have Ms. Regan and her attorneys avoided what your office should have required as soon as the predeprivation due process was completed, they have continued to drag the matter through numerous filings and hearings at both the state and U.S. District Court level accruing extraordinary legal costs for both the plaintiff and defendants. Only now that the potential date for a jury trial is being discussed in Penobscot County Court for April 2010, nearly three years after the fact, is the plaintiff asking the court to schedule an Alternative Dispute Resolution – a negotiated settlement - which we, the taxpayers, will be saddled with even if we do not believe the School Board acted inappropriately.

In my opinion, the failure of your office to act has resulted in our School Board and us, the voters and taxpayers, being held hostage to the irresponsible behavior of the plaintiff and her legal counsel.

Sincerely,





Ms. Rusty Gagnon, M.A.

Cc: Governor John Baldacci
Attorney General Janet Mills
Speaker of the House Hannah M. Pinngree
Senate President Elizabeth H. Mitchell

LAST CHANCE RANCH FUND-RAISER @ CLEWLEY FARM RESTAURANT THIS SATURDAY

Great television news promotion on WABI news this morning for the fundraiser this coming Saturday from 1pm - 8pm at the Clewley Farm Restaurant to help raise funds for the horses at the Last Chance Ranch in Troy, Maine. An International Buffet will be available - $9.95 for adults and teenagers (children under a certain age eat for free). All proceeds from the buffet will go to the ranch - specifically for food and care of the horses.

There'll also be a 50/50 raffle and gift certificates from local businesses. Any questions, or if you want to make a donation, contact Cheri White at 299-5996.

The Gift Shop at the restaurant will be open from 9am - 11am that morning as well.

*****
BTW, the Gift Shop is looking for volunteers to work short shifts on various days throughout the season. Interested? Call the restaurant and leave a message for Deb.

******
Speaking of volunteers....The Clifton Library is in desperate need of a few volunteers to work a couple of hours - Wednesdays only. The library is only open from 1:30pm to 7pm on Wednesdays, but the few ladies who are doing all the work could use some relief. How about it people? Lend a hand to a great lending library.