RUMFORD — Despite having a large chunk of this winter's operating costs tied up in a court case, Black Mountain Ski Resort snow-makers made enough snow for Saturday night's Snowmobile Hill Climb.
General Manager Jim Carter said it wasn't easy, because the weather didn't cooperate, and then tossed in a heavy rainstorm last Sunday night into Monday.
“We started making snow on Nov. 20, and then the weather turned warmer,” he said prior to the 6 p.m. start of racing.
“After the rain, it was prime snow-making temperatures again," he said. "We've been running straight around the clock and when conditions are right during the day.”
Snowmobile racers had a base of 16 to 24 inches of man-made snow on the 250- to 300-yard course up the mountain. They would ride one at a time on an expert trail across from the lodge.
By 5:45 p.m., racers were being turned away at the registration table because they hadn't pre-registered. Sledders from all over New England were participating in the resort's biggest and first climb of the season.
There wasn't much to see from the small fenced-in area for the large crowd, because it was several yards behind the starting area where sledders would open up throttles to zip up the mountain.
Brandon and Erica Robin of Rumford brought their children, Kyle, 6, and Konnor, 4, to check out the action.
“We came out to watch the races because Konnor is obsessed with sleds,” Brandon Robin said. “He's hoping for a green one for Christmas.”
“I don't think it will fit in Santa's bag,” Erica Robin said.
Brandon said it was the family's first foray out to watch a hill-climb event. He said they usually try to make it out to resort events.
After the hill climb venue was set for snow, Carter said snow-makers focused their activities on the Nordic trails to get ready for the U.S. Cross Country Championships on Jan. 1-8.
That event is expected to attract 500 of the nation's best Nordic skiers and an entourage of 100 coaches, support staff, families and spectators.
Were it not for volunteers and thousands of dollars of in-kind donations to get the resort ready for the Nordic event and the season, the resort likely wouldn't have opened, Black Mountain board President Roger Arsenault told selectmen Thursday night.
Five days before the resort is expected to open for the season, Black Mountain still hadn't received the $51,000 that voters agreed to donate to the resort. The Oct. 13 vote was 405-370.
The money is tied up in a lawsuit filed in August, challenging the resort's use of the petition process to circumvent the defeat of its initial funding request at town meeting in June.
Despite the court case, Arsenault said resort staff and volunteers went ahead and got the resort ready for the season as best they could without the money.
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Voters did approve funding Black Mtn nearly two to one
but the change in town meeting without correcting the charter made it difficult for the voters to say what they want. Black Mtn does a great job of fund raising and has a wonderful group of volunteers. Black is one of the last great things in this town. If some people had their way, this town would be a ghost town.
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Your excuse that voters didn't know what they were voting for has been used way too many times and it is a well known fact that the voters knew what they had done when they voted $0 funding regardless what the charter read.
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The fact is, the community voted for funding Black Mtn by almost a two to one margin. Clearly the community supported Black Mtn. Thankfully, voters supported changing the charter to allow voters to actually have their say.
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Kudos to the area folks at Black Mtn. for hosting this large event. Let the whining commence. You are damned if you don't host events (by the people who seem so eager to ruin the opportunities in this town) and damned if you do (by the same bunch of naysayers - go figure). As with the Community Center and Rec Park and all not for profit organizations, thank you for providing a venue for our youth (and us older folks who gladly support your efforts with our tax dollars and recreational spending). Thank you for investing in our community and adding value to life in this area. Your efforts are supported by a majority in this town. Hats off to all of the volunteers who make this mountain a nationally recogniized gem.
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You just don't get it. They aren't investing in your community, we are all being forced to hand over our hard earned money to them because they refuse to properly run their facility. Great that they hosted this thing. How about charging what it cost to put it on including making the snow, plus a little towards the fireworks they will be hitting the selectmen up for in January, and a little towards getting things going next year so they are self-supporting instead of undercharging and wawawa to the selectmen and finance committee.
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I do get it armymom. I just don't agree with your point of view. I do believe that Libra/ME Winter Sports did invest quite a bit in our little mtn. I see a new lodge, new lift, new trails. I don't know if it will ever be self-sustaining financially, and I am OK with that. Small, community based ski areas such as Black, Titcomb, Spruce and others probably aren't, and will never be, money makers. I also understand that people, such as yourself, who probably don't use the facility or have children who don't use the facility are upset that a tiny portion of their tax dollars are used to sustain BMOM. But, I look at this mountain and this organization in a different way than you. I am OK with my tax dollars being used to help finance the Rumford Community Ctr, even though I have not visited the facility in years. It is a wise investment in our youth (as well as offering activities for adults). I am OK with my tax dollars being used to support the Parks and Recreation budget. Again I feel this is a wise investment for our youth and all citizens. I don't get upset when I walk along the trail along the Swift River and see the trail being used by my fellow citizens, many who are senior citizens. I don't get upset with the Parks dept for not charging them to use the trail or other facilities. It is a wise investment in our well being and recreational opportunities. These aren't money makers either. This is the way I look at Black Mtn. This is part of our heritage and I am thankful for all that these people have invested financially and volunteer-wise to our lives in this area. I am OK with my tax dollars going toward this enterprise...last year, this year and for many years to come. It is a wise investment.
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Excellent points on the other small ski area and funding. Got me to do some checking. They are not getting taxpayer funding according to the Annual Reports for Jay (Spruce) or Farmington (Titcomb) found online. Only BMOM is demanding taxpayers bail them out year after year. The Town of Farmington owns and operates their own community center which they fund. They do not fund a private club like GRCC. Jay does not fund a private club either.
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The youth of our town already complain that their is nothing for them in this town. We have a few bright spots for them like the GRCC and the sports programs they run, Black Mtn and the life that they breathe into this community and the support of the Parks Department. It sounds like some on here want to cut anything young people and families do have. I guess it would be fine with these people if they just let our young people find drugs and raising hell to keep them occupied because if they had their way, there sure as hell wouldn't be anything else to do here.
Why would a young family want to move here? There would be nothing for their family if these "party of no" people had their way. Forget about economic development. No one would want to move to the lifeless community these people want to create. Then these very people that tried so hard to run Rumford into the ground would complain that our town leaders and economic development groups don't produce anything to promote growth.
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Good pts, Chuckster. If BMOM and the GRCC did not exist, then I am quite sure Rumford's leaders would create more opportunities and venues for our youth through the Parks and Rec dept. That would lead to higher taxes (probably similar to what the town's contribution to these two organizations is right now) and quite possibly more employees on the town payroll to run these venues ( I'm sure that you naysayers would love that!). What exactly would you folks like to see for activities for our youth is this area? Who would provide it for a profit? Would it then be affordable for the children/parents to pay to play? I hear plenty of whining and very few solutions from you folks...other than to stop contributing our tax dollars to these organizations. I know that your overriding concern is to keep more $$ in your own pockets...I do get it. Come up with some ideas and we can mull it over on this site. Armymom, you seem to think it is so simple to run BMOM your way? Why don't you buy it so we can see the profits that you pull in. You can hire watchdog, commonsense/candiceanne, and get some other people off the dole while you are at it. That would be a real treat.
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I should hope Jake is very correct in with Jake's statement, "if BMOM and the GRCC did not exist, then I am quite sure Rumford's leaders would create more opportunites and venues for our youth throuth the Parks and Rec Dept." I would emphasize that these opportunities would be available to ALL youth not just the priveleged few in the community served by BMOM and GRCC . The town does provide a variety of recreational opportunities for youth funded by taxpayers and more could be offered to ALL youth if funds were not being diverted to private clubs that are not open to all. The library runs programs, fewer than in the past and is open far fewer hours with the 20% budget cut. Parks and Recreation offers programs and facilities like the walking trail you mention Jake at Hosmer Field and another at the library, lots of baseball and softball fields, ice skating, hockey, tennis, children's playground, to name only a few. The schools offer a tons of programs again open to every child in the district, not just those who can pay more including: art, drama, various clubs and athletics. Black Mountain and GRCC are taxpayer funded then have added fees and costs that are way out of reach of a majority of families. Every resident pays taxes either directly on the home they own or are buying or as part of their rent. Most are struggling to pay for food, basic clothing, and to keep that roof over their heads. They can't afford ski clothing and equipment and certainly not transportation to the ski area, food and lift tickets once there. In the case of GRCC it is taxpayer money, plus GRCC membership, plus the fee for whatever program or activity, plus transportation, apprpriate equipment and clothing, not happening for most families. These families are getting to subsidize the recreation of the few privileged families which is just plain wrong. The things offered through the library, parks and recreation and the schools are taxpayer funded with no additional charge for participation. If their is a charge for a school program it is waived when the family income is such that they don't have the means to pay and if materials are needed there are materials that have been donated to meet those needs, not so with Black Mountain or GRCC where if you don't have the cash you are shit out of luck. If the taxpayers were not saddled with BMOM, they don't fund GRCC any longer that I am aware of and should not be, that money could go to fully fund the library restoring those programs and to Parks and Recreations for their offerings both public town departments running free to all residents programs with equal access as it should be.
As for buying Black Mountain, it isn't for sale. Maine Winter Sports made the mistake of buying it a few years ago with some very bad conditions written into the sales agreement. Among those really bad conditions was the preservation of the existing board which had run it into the ground financially necessitating the bailout and purchase by Maine Winter Sports in the first place. Maine Winter Sports paid off all the debt and poured millions into capital improvements. Maine Winter Sports is also responsible for the ongoing capital costs which leaves only operating costs to the board, that is one cushy way to run a business for the board and one dreadful burden on Maine Winter Sports. Maine Winter Sports gets the capital bills but no return on investment. Noone is going to buy Black Mountain even if it were for sale and be saddled with this board running it and no possibility of return on investment, that would not solve anything. The only way to solve the problem is for the board to voluntarily dissolve and allow Maine Winter Sports to appoint proper management or to sell Black Mountain free of the board that has been preventing the BMPM the profitable facility it should have been all these years.
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Now, let me see if I understand what you are saying here...You aren't upset that the taxpayers of Rumford are paying $51,000 in support of Black Mtn, you are upset that skiing isn't free for everyone? Or every child in Rumford? And have the taxpayers pay how much for this? Let's use your hero Les(s) Otten's former business as an example of what you are proposing...Sunday River charges about $75/day to ski there. For $51,000 you could have 680 skier visits...or in other words, 100 kids could ski for 6.8 days, or 680 kids could ski for 1 day. And that doesn't include rentals (which Les didn't give away for free). That won't cover many of Rumford's youths will it. So how much do you propose the taxpayers should spend? Would you propose doubling the $51,000 amount? That would give 680 kids two days of skiing. Not much is it? How about giving 680 kids 10 days of skiing...that would be $510,000. I'm not sure what you are proposing to spend on this free recreation for all kids/all the time, but I don't think the taxpayers will jump at the gun to do this. And you either want to abolish the GRCC or at least have the taxpayers pay more so that all programs are free for all? I am not sure what the dollar amount will be with what you are proposing? Do you care to give some estimates? I'm not saying that BMOM and GRCC are perfect. However, they do a good job for what little funding they do receive. You do seem eager to paint the BMOM board as corrupt/incompetent. Care to share what you would do differently (and the costs associated with that)? I do know that BMOM/RSU 10 did offer free skiing - I believe it was once a week last year, with discounted rentals, and that this year there are free ski lessons for K-grade 2 I believe. I don't for a minute believe that parents can't afford for their children to participate in either the GRCC or BMOM. Both offer reasonable rates. It is a matter of priority for the parents. Even section 8 households can 'afford' cell phones, cable TV, cigarettes,liquor etc...If the parents want to make this happen for their children - they will. So you confuse me...are you proposing that the taxpayers of Rumford make all recreational opportunities free for all? And, more importantly, what are you proposing for a tax bill?
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No, you have chosen to not understand what I am saying here. I am unequivacally upset with taxpayers money being used in support of Black Mountain. It is not a matter just a matter of skiing being free it is also a matter that this is a private company that is not providing a critical service such as ambulance that is being given taxpayer money while not providing equal access of service to all. What is happening is Rumford taxpayers who have no ability to access the facility are being forced to subsidize the non-essential and very expensive recreational activities of the affluent few. It is rather like using property tax revenues to provide food stamps at the town level for individuals with incomes of $50,000 and higher and families with incomes of $100,000 and higher. I would hope you would argue that providing food stamps to these folks from property tax revenue would be inappropriate. It is worse to take money in the form of taxes and use it to provide discounts for expensive recreational activities for high income earners at privately owned and operated facilities. Skiing is a very expensive proposition any way you look at it. It costs a lot for a ticket, it costs a lot for the equipment, it costs a lot for the clothing, the majority of families in Rumford can not afford the clothing never mind the rest of it. Many have difficulty providing a warm winter coat for their kids!
An estimated 25% of the population of Rumford is retired. It is estimated the real unemployment rate in Rumford is between 25% and 30%. On SS, SSI, or SSD which ranges from about $500 a month to under $1000 a month you are not skiing. On $230 a week unemployment with a family to take care of, you aren't skiing and neither are the kids. Just how many families on Falmouth St., Cumberland St., Waldo St., Hancock St., or from Strathglass Park can afford to ski? NONE! Many don't have have phones at all, many don't have hardwired phones opting for cellphones instead in answer to that. Many don't have cable TV. Many don't use tobacco products or drink. They can't afford any of these. BMOM and GRCC charges reasonable rates with the aid of taxpayer funding if you are a well paid postal worker or lucky enough to still have one of the few remaining paper mill jobs or you work for the town, not if you are a sales clerk, mechanic, unemployed or on a fixed income.
What should be done differently at Black Mountain? That has been stated over and over by several people here, charge what it costs to provide the goods and services and keep the operations going. They had a snowmobile event this weekend that was supposedly a big success with a turnout so large they turned people away. They should have been charging enough to pay for the snowmaking that was necessary to put on the event, to cover all the expenses, to cover part of their annual party with fireworks in February that they hit Rumford selectmen up for and we taxpayers end up with the bill for, and something to set aside to get things going next year, simple. Ski ticket prices should represent the cost of use, to make the snow, the employees, insurance, the lodge, the power and all the rest divided by the number of tickets conservatively expected to be sold. This is not rocket science. There is not a merchant in town that can't tell you how to calculate these things, what you have to do to stay in business. The first step would have to be for these people to acknowledge this is a business not a hobby or a plaything; that there is really money and the future of BMOM is at stake. They don't see it that way now. They expect the taxpayers and Maine Winter Sports are going to keep paying for their fun and failure to take the business of running the business of BMOM seriously.
Tax bills in Rumford do not reflect the current state of affairs. The town government does not reflect the significantly reduced valuation and it certainly does not reflect the significantly reduce population from a high of 13,000 to a current estimate of 4,000 people. There are more town employees in town hall then there was at both the peak of population and the peak of valuation. Many have made suggestions in these pages on ways to reduce the costs and size of Rumford's Town Government over the past few years; ways that would not adversely effect level of service. Unfortunately those with the power to effect change prefer to spend than preserve the integrity of the community. People are losing their homes because they can not pay. We are also losing our children as they leave for education, for work, or just to escape. The school system is out of control. Governor Baldacci started things in the right direction with consolidating SADs into RSUs but as so many others have written it did not go nearly far enough and Superintendents like Tom Ward who stayed used it as an opportunity to expand their base instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to consolidate schools and improve our children's educations with the added benefit of improving our communities, employment opportunites, possibilities for economic development, our homes and family lives with reduced taxes. If Rumford's Selectmen, Finance Committee and Departments got down to the business of running government for the benefit of the taxpayers and citizens and the RSU #10 board reined in Tom Ward, consolidated schools, generally got down to business of educating wisely we could be a great community with a lot more offered to our students and our citizens easily with 25% knocked of our tax bills. That would make us truly attractive to businesses and industry looking for a home which would bring jobs and expand our tax base and further reduce the mil rate. The approach so many of us on these pages, many you folks accuse as all being one person but are in fact many with well thought out proven methods they have learned of, are sharing, and promoting, would make Rumford a better more desirable place to live, raise a family, work, and employ others. Isn't that what we all want?
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It is you who have chosen to confuse the issues. You are against the non-profit BMOM (is GRCC also non-prof?)because they don't offer free skiing for all and say that you would hope that the town would take over the recreational opportunities on one hand and lower the astronomical costs for the unemployed...yet you are also against taxes going up because of the senior citizens/unemployed. Which are you advocating for? Are you proposing that the town offer what BMOM and GRCC offer for free (i.e. with tax dollars)? If you think that the GRCC or BMOM programs are only for the affluent, I would suggest that you go live in other areas to see what these programs cost in tax dollars and out of pocket costs. You complain about the library hours being cut - and I agree with you on this - but fail to see that it would take more tax dollars to increase the library hours of operation. Which is it?I don't think that your Doom and Gloom crowd would go for that. I feel that what we pay in tax dollars to BMOM/GRCC is a good deal. It helps to provide affordable (not free) recreational opportunities for a fraction of what it would cost the town to provide on their own. Your idea of the Rec dept. taking over these programs would add to the town payroll and increase taxes dramatically. I think this town/non-prof situation is a good deal for all citizens. I believe that Maine Winter Sports is an advocate for affordable winter activities - not free. Correct me if I am wrong. Then you throw in this absurd notion, a favorite of the Doom and Gloom crowd ... that cutting the education budget would really help the offerings for our students. I love that one! Easily knock 25% off our tax bill in your mind? Really. With your moniker, I assume you have some connection with a serviceman or woman. Your absurd education scenario is like someone saying we should cut 25% of our military budget so that we can 'help' our servicemen. Really! (With Dick Cheney's corrupt Halliburton company screwing the American people by overbilling and incompetence - we may help our servicemen by cutting out Halliburton) Our children have left this area for better opportunities long before the population decline. The mill employment numbers dictate that fact, not BMOM/GRCC etc. I find your concern for the unemployed folks commendable, but your solution to offer free recreational opportunities doesn't jibe with your desire to cut taxes. There is no 'Free Lunch' - somebody has to pay for it...and I think this town's collaborative effort with BMOM and GRCC is a frugal compromise. You, the other hand, appear to want it both ways...offer more - but not pay for it. Which is it?
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There is a huge difference between the Parks Department/walking trails and BMOM or GRCC which are privately owned getting taxpayer money. I don't have any poblem whatsoever with the Parks Department being taxpayer funded and the walking trails in the Hosmer Field Complex maintained with open public access, they are publicly owned. BMOM and GRCC are not publicly owned have fees/memberships which they should, they are private clubs/organizations and the users must pay adequately to cover the costs of operations. Do you realize that our Public Library lost 20% of its budget this year? Do you know that our kids do not have access to the library at all on Saturdays any longer because of this? Do you realize the library is only open 9-3 on Mondays and 9-2 on Fridays closing both days before kids can get there from school. Tuesday, Wednesay, and Thursday they are open 9-8 still but the reduction in hours is a serious detriment to our kids education. Four part-time employees were laidoff from the library as a result of the cuts. That $51,000 that BMOM wants to run their private playground for a couple of months would keep the library open until 8 Monday through Friday and 9-5 on Saturday year round. With $51,000 the library could rehire the 4 part-time people that were laid off. That $51,000 doesn't include what it cost to have the special election because BMOM wouldn't accept the voters NO in June, plus there are the legal fees, money that would have been better spent on library services or those walking trails at Hosmer Field. The priorities here are more than a little messed up. BMOM can and should be taking care of itself. If you are so wanting to support BMOM and GRCC there is nothing to keep you from writing them each a check along with all the other folks that think these are worthwhile private ventures and leaving the taxpayers money for where it belongs, places like the library and the publicly owned walking trails.
I am sure you will correct me if I am wrong, but I haven't found anywhere that either Spruce or Titcomb get taxpayer money. Only Black Mountain has been on the taxpayer tit year in and year out for over $3.5 million in just "Gifts" since 1990! That doesn't include the free services or getting out of paying any and all taxes. It is time for BMOM supporters to support BMOM with their own personal "gifts" or BMOM to make it on its own either way leave the taxpayers' money out of it.
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According to the Farmington annual reports for 2009 and 2010 available online, Titcomb did not ask for and did not recieve any money from the taxpayers. According to the Jay annual reports for 2009 and 2010 available online Spruce Mountain didn't ask for or receive any money from Jay. It looks like only BMOM is the only ski resort asking for or getting taxpayer money. All the others are self-supporting.
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Frank you just need to go away, why do you think you have any clout at all. You made a fool of yourself and the town when you where selectman. Why is it you feel the need to open that uneducated trap of yours. If you had any idea how embarrassing you are. Please just go cash your tax payer funded check and go away.
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rumforddude, do you realize that the taxpayers of Rumford have shelled out nearly $3.5 million to BMOM just since 1990 in direct "gifts" and that does not include all the free services they get because they don't pay taxes or the lost tax revenue because they pay none? BMOM has cost the Town well over $20 million dollars if you add it all up! Doubt me, take a look at what Sunday River pays just in taxes. Rumford should be getting tax revenues from BMOM not paying, paying, paying.
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Sorry Rumforddude I'm not looking for clout. I 'm still interested in the voters of Rumford and protecting them from people like you.The real embarressment is you. A person who is the real uneducated one. Who continually wants to hide behind a wall and slam people who are truly watching out for the town. You surely are not one of those.
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Speaking of whiners. Shame on you Mr. Grumpy.
Good job BMOM for making due with what you have. It would be nice for people to do a little math of their own. Everyone cries that 'we need to attract comsumers to the area' yet here we have a place that attracts 100's for winter events and they have to grovel and play court games to get assistance from the town it's adding value to. The sheer history of Black Mountain is staggering. To lose it would be a shame.
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had been properly managed from the time that Maine Winter Sports dumped over $3 million into the facility, noone would have to worry about losing a valuable asset to the River Valley. It would have been self-sustaining long ago.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If BMOM actually attracted
If BMOM actually attracted consumers to the area, to the mountain with 100's of winter events and they ran the operation properly they would be rolling in dough and wouldn't need to grovel. They don't run 100's of winter events or attract consumers to the area. This is the third major even since the mountain opened in the 20s and we are paying for it. Do you know Bonnie that the coaches and competitors don't even pay for their motel rooms? We are, the "local sponsors" that got stuck with this albatrose? You didn't see Les Otten "groveling and play ing court games to get assistance from the town" he ran his business and built it into the premier ski empire, that took a board of idiots equivelant to the BMOM jokers to take down. You are right Bonnie the "sheer histor of Black Mountain is staggering," millions of dollars out of Rumford taxpayers pockets and still counting. BMOM needs to be turned over to someone who has a clue, can properly manage it, make it profitable and self-sustaining. Gone with the curreint disaster board.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."They don't run 100's of
"They don't run 100's of winter events"...Correct, and Bonnie didn't say they did. Bonnie said "we have a place that attracts 100's for winter events".
"he (Less Otten) ran his business and built it into the premier ski empire" that couldn't pay its debt and had to be dissolved.
Laughable comparison.
"BMOM needs to be turned over to someone who has a clue, can properly manage it, make it profitable and self-sustaining"..like Less Otten?
Laughable
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were made that if monies were not received then the mountain could not open. The voters have been duped again into believing these poor me whining threats. IT OPENED! The tax payers are tired of giving to an organization that sits back and does nothing in fund raising to help themselves. That's the bottom line. They should have seen that from the previous years election that was very close to getting voted down. But this board at BMOM lacked insight to say they best think about fund raising campaigns other than always coming to the town. Oh and the town did give additional assistance to their opening with having to call in the police for some type of unrulely disturbance. The bar must have been open.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Another "gift" to BMOM
That would be the Rumford Police Department funded by the Rumford taxpayers, in other words, another "gift" to Black Mountain which pays no taxes. Did they get an ambulance on standby at our expense for their event which would be at our expense also?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Shame ,Shame
The people voted down the moneys initially and BMOM started whiningt about it. They weren't the only ones that got voted no monies. The Selectboard vcoted that it wasn't a critical circumstance and voted not to have a special town meeting twice. By process BMOM got 500 signatures for over-ride to get their special town meeting to get another vote for it being a critical circumstance and to get a special election. The board could have made the motion once again not to give a revote but they buckled once again to the whiners 4 to 1. $51000 is not a big junk of an opperating budget. When defeated at the polls they should have immediately started fund raising but they chose not to. Instaed they , BMOM, are the ones that have cost the town extra legal fees because they couldn't except the vote of the people like other organizations who got voted $0 amounts. The others that got $0 didn't whine and they weren't assisted with circumventing the vote like BMOM was. They got off their butts and look at other avenues for getting the monies.
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