I Suck At Public Meetings

Last night, Karen and I attended our town's public meeting. On the agenda for the public meeting was the Conservation Commission's hearing in regards to Jacob's Pond, which is located in our neighborhood. Now I suck at public meetings. Well, truth be told... I should actually say the Conservation Commission sucks at public meetings. The meeting last night only reinforced my disappointed with government bureaucracies.

For anyone curious, the meeting was brought to the neighborhood's attention (albeit a little late) because the Jacobs Pond Estates, which is the senior housing located on the opposite side of the pond, is asking to be relieved of their annual contribution to the cleanup and maintenance of the pond. Sure, it seems like a harmless request.

Unfortunately, the problem is far greater than what it seems. In fact, the problem dates back to the creation of the Jacobs Pond Estates itself which is almost ten years ago. According to the written documentation, the original proposal to build the Jacobs Pond Estates failed to gain any support. In order to gain the support of residents, the builder went door to door to speak to the residents of the neighborhood to see what concessions he could make so that he could build the Jacobs Pond Estates. The concession that finally appeased the residents was that the builder and the subsequent owners of the Jacobs Pond Estates would contribute annually to the cleaning and maintenance of the pond. Again, that sounds great.

Unfortunately, this is where things get complicated. The payments were to be made to the town's Conservation Commission. It turns out... the Conservation Commission has not collected any payment from the Jacobs Pond Estates for over 5 years. Apparently, the commission just forgot about collecting the funds altogether.

It was not until a couple of years ago that the Conservation Commission discovered this error. Naturally, they then asked the Jacobs Pond Estates for the funds from all the years that they, the commission themselves, forgot to collect. Naturally, that caused an uproar with the Jacobs Pond Estates. (Don't get the elderly angry.)

Balking at the request, the Jacobs Pond Estates asked to be relieved of this annual contribution. In response, the Conservation Commission said they would consider relieving the Jacobs Pond Estates of this annual contribution based on whether their septic was contributing to the wasted in the pond itself... which is really not even the original intent of the formation of the annual contribution.

And thus, that is the history in a quick nutshell. Last night's meeting was absolutely useless. As of right now, I'm afraid I do not have any faith in government... regardless of whatever decision the commission makes.

Had the commission diligently collected the annual funds, the shock of the request for the large sum of money for the past collections would have been lessened. The Jacobs Pond Estates still may or may not be asking to be relieved of this fund, but at least the town would have had the funds to clean up the pond.

Never once did the Conservation Commission ever admit fault or took responsibility for the creation of this entire fiasco. The commission just said they are not accountants and it just happened. For me, I would have respected the Conservation Commission had they, in fact, admitted to their errors. The passing of the buck has always annoyed me. If that is a frequent occurrence in government, then my faith in government is lacking. Even if the commission provided a course to rectify the situation, I would have been appeased. But sadly, no. (I'd shake my fist at the Conservation Commission if I thought it would help.)

That said, the Jacobs Pond Estates also never admitted fault or took responsibility for not making past payments. One of arguments made by the Jacobs Pond Estates is that they are on a fixed income and are being singled out to carry the burden of cleaning up the pond.

Now I can sympathize with them to a certain degree. After all, the economy is not well. Times are tough. No one wants to pay more than they have to. That said, this annual contribution is written in their deed... the very same deed that they must sign when they purchase housing there. It's a written legal document.

The Jacobs Pond Estates should be ashamed of themselves if they did not read their documentation. After all, if someone agrees and writes that they will pay me any amount of funds, you better believe that I am going to diligently collect the funds and hold that person to the agreement. I don't think I know anyone who wouldn't. I can only wish that I could forget to pay bills... and then complain later that I have to pay them.

All in all, last night was an exercise in futility. It's very disappointing when bureaucrats ruin things by shifting the focus and not taking responsibility of their actions. It's disappointing in how people can think cry foul over something that they personally (and legally) agreed to do in the first place.

Needless to say, my outlook on society right now is bleak.