Thumbs up to Biddeford City Councilor Jim Emerson for his proposal to institute a hiring freeze for the city, as taxpayers are facing a 9 percent increase next year. This expense is due to the $34 million renovation to the high school that voters approved in November 2009. With such a big tax increase coming, it is prudent of the council to not only freeze hiring, but to also demand a zero percent increase budget from both the city and the schools. It will make for lean times initially, but taxpayers cannot afford to fund both increasing costs and the school improvements.
Thumbs up to all the companies and individuals who have lent a hand to the Blackington-Zunser family of Lyman, which was recently combined when Gloria Zunser died of cancer in late December 2010. Thanks to the generosity of Melissa and Rusty Blackington, the five Zunser children can stay in their own home with their siblings ”“ and two additional ones ”“ but the couple will need continued support as they raise their new brood of seven. It takes a village to raise a child, as they say, and those in Lyman and the greater community have certainly stepped up to ensure that this new family venture is successful. We wish them all the best.
Thumbs up to those Old Orchard Beach town councilors who expressed support for a business that would rent out personal watercraft for beach-goers. The idea deserves consideration. Town Councilor Sharri MacDonald made a good point when she said, “We need to do something to bring amenities to the beach.” OOB is already a destination and could become even more popular and prosperous if officials are open to considering innovative ideas.
Thumbs up to Arista Development and Sanford Downtown Legacy for their willingness to work together on a proposal for a new Walgreens Pharmacy and credit union complex at the corner of Winter and Main streets. Legacy had originally been critical of some aspects of the proposal, saying it was incompatible with the town’s vision for its downtown district. Arista listened to their concerns, however, and the parties have found a mutually acceptable ground to bring the new businesses into town. This is how community development is supposed to work: By compromise.
Thumbs up to the Town of Wells for considering live streaming of meetings online, and giving the service a trial run this month. With cable growing more expensive, many residents don’t have the service, while Internet use is becoming almost as necessary as a phone line. Posting live video of the town’s meetings will allow more people to participate in the municipal process ”“ people who can’t get to meetings for one reason or another or only want to tune in for a particular issue. In this era of Web-dependence, online meetings are the best way to reach residents directly.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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