Let me reiterate the most important part of my email- why have we not applied for funding for the water mains if they are needed to be immediately replaced? We are in compliance with the HCA now and qualify for the MassWorks grant, and we will be in compliance until at least Dec 2024.
If we waited until March 2025 town meeting to vote on the HCA proposal, we would only fail to be compliant for 3 months… and great news! The Massworks grant deadline is in June, so those 3 months of noncompliance wouldn’t even restrict us from applying for the Massworks grant in 2025 to cover the pipes. Furthermore, when you are on town boards and committees, your opinions are influential and can carry additional implications beyond what a normal citizen expressing their opinion would have. Especially when there is a quorum of members of your committee listening to your opinions, as there are on LincolnTalk. This is why I think it’s important to also include the board(s) or committee(s) that you represent when sharing your opinions on town matters (especially those topics that are in your committee’s purview). Sarah Postlethwait Lewis Street On Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 9:31 PM Rich Rosenbaum <s...@bcdef.com> wrote: > *It would be much more transparent if members of town boards would include > their respective board in their email signature when commenting on town > matters in LincolnTalk (especially when voicing your own biased opinion).* > > When speaking only for myself, I hesitate including mention of any > committee memberships. To some people it might seem that I am implying that > my (biased) opinion should be given greater weight (even if I indicate that > I am not speaking as a committee member, nor representing any position of > the committee). > > My personal opinion should hold the same weight as that of anyone else, no > more, no less. > > I have no special superpowers (unfortunately). Anyone can be as informed > as I am on town financial matters by attending our open committee meetings. > Since I have the additional responsibility of representing the citizens of > the Town of Lincoln to the best of my ability, I may do additional reading > and research but everyone can access the same resources that I can. > > (In the spirit of John Mendelson's recent thoughtful note, I am happy to > table this discussion until after the holiday.) > > Rich, speaking just for myself > > > On Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 6:32 PM ٍSarah Postlethwait <sa...@bayhas.com> > wrote: > >> Are you also speaking as a member of Fin comm? >> >> It would be much more transparent if members of town boards would include >> their respective board in their email signature when commenting on town >> matters in LincolnTalk (especially when voicing your own biased opinion). >> >> It’s also worth noting that we are currently in compliance, and will be >> for all of 2024 and qualify for all the funds being discussed. >> If our water mains can’t last a couple more months after December 2024 >> until the town is able to make an informed decision, then why haven’t we >> applied for these funds now while we are still in compliance? >> >> This rush towards December 2024 is unnecessary. Especially when 4 story >> 48’ buildings with no lot limits (besides 25’ setbacks) at the mall are >> being discussed in planning board meetings… >> >> Sarah Postlethwait >> >> >> >> On Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 5:47 PM Rich Rosenbaum <s...@bcdef.com> wrote: >> >>> >>> *It’s a little like asking us to make a YUGE leap of faith.* >>> >>> An alternative would be to take a different leap of faith that none of >>> the following happen: >>> >>> - we end up delaying so much that we miss the deadline for complying >>> - we no longer qualify for state funding for needed repairs and >>> replacement of our past-the-expiration-date water mains >>> - we end up with a bond to pay for a very, very large bill to keep >>> clean water flowing to our faucets >>> >>> Rich >>> (speaking as a citizen of Lincoln) >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 5:01 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Amen. >>>> It’s a little like asking us to make a YUGE leap of faith. >>>> It makes the argument that we should proceed with extreme caution and >>>> not make any changes where these questions might come into play, esp. a >>>> challenge to our wetlands bylaw. >>>> >>>> >>>> ------ >>>> Sara Mattes >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>>
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