We didn't calculate graphics for Poliquin, Pollard and Plowman -- while Poliquin has filed an initial statement there were no finance reports available at the time of this report. Plowman and Pollard did have reports but there were neither enough donations nor expenditures to make it worthwhile to calculate. Plowman and Pollard are mentioned above Poliquin should have been as well. Poliquin was unintentionally omitted. I've added a paragraph above. Also a sidebar with hyperlinks back to all the quarterly reports we used in this analysis.
Licia,
We didn't note in this story that we did try to contact Mrs. Morse in Nova Scotia to get her response or reaction to this report. We were unsuccessful in those attempts. We should have included a line in this report to that effect.
There are 17 spots on the board and only 7 are LePage appointees.
There are two vacant spots - including the public representative.
But as you will also notice - several board members have been re-nominated to serve by seceding governors of varying political affiliations.
I think it's very unfair of you to ascribe political motives to all of these individuals carte blanche -- most on this board have chosen careers working towards saving the lives of others and have volunteered much time to that ends in their respective communities. Show some civility, appreciation and respect instead of trying to cast everything in a political light, especially when you are so far off the mark.
It's a cheap, easy political shot to rip off your cuff, but check your facts first. All of the folks on this board deserve a little appreciation and they have not ALL been appointed by any single governor.
Hi all,
We have had several kind folks call to offer to donate a wheelchair for Mr. Huard. He is going to be in the hospital for the next few days but his family is going to go and check out a nice, relatively new, electric wheelchair that is similar to the one he had this Saturday. The family also has the contacts for the other folks who were offering to help. It's awesome you guys thought about and offered to take up a collection for Mr. Huard. At this point it looks like he will be all set.
Scott
We fixed the mistake in this story Dan. If you want to email me a copy of your proposed ordinance for Dixfield and I'll put a copy of it up with the story so people can read it themselves. I think peoples should get to see the proposed ordinance for themselves, that would be great. Also if people are discouraged by the selectmen, they should run for those seats when the terms are up. If the majority of voters in Dixfield are opposed to the actions of this board you would think they would be voted out. That's usually how it works.
Thanks,
Scott sthistle@sunjournal.com
The story is in error. At town meeting last May townspeople voted against doing any ordinance at all and to go with state regulations. We will correct this story and note the error. So they didn't vote down an ordinance, they voted down ever doing an ordinance. We will get the story corrected. Dan we are told you were not at the meeting Monday night -- were you there?
The story notes the town already voted down an ordinance at an earlier town meeting Dan. How many votes on wind power does the town have to take?
"Town Manager Eugene Skibitksy said Tuesday that the board has no responsibility to place another ordinance before townspeople because the last one was voted down at a town meeting. With that action, the town has agreed to follow the state Department of Environmental Protection regulations for wind development"
I'm surprised there has not been a petition drive started on this one already for a statewide referendum on reducing the size of the Maine Legislature. Just saying. I'm guessing they could get the signatures for that pretty quickly.
A lot of good questions and comments on this story. I too was surprised this AP report did not tell us why they need to be exempt from this law? As it has been shown it can be as dangerous as driving under the influence and I can't honestly think of any reason why these emergency responders would need to be texting while on the job. If anyone knows the rationale behind this bill please let us know. Clearly the points made here, like - shouldn't they be setting the good example -- make a lot of sense, while this exemption, so far does not.
Pirate and parrot,
Thanks for staying with us through it all. Your sense of humor is always appreciated. And while I don't always like everything you write -- I'm sure you don't like everything I write either -- I do like your loyalty to our community and your style and you do make us laugh. You're a case study in the transition from the land of the unknown to this thing we have now. Your notoriety and wit have long prevailed. "There are good ships and wood ships and ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may ours always be." That's probably not an acceptable pirate toast, but nautical at least. Cheers.
Good point
We didn't calculate graphics for Poliquin, Pollard and Plowman -- while Poliquin has filed an initial statement there were no finance reports available at the time of this report. Plowman and Pollard did have reports but there were neither enough donations nor expenditures to make it worthwhile to calculate. Plowman and Pollard are mentioned above Poliquin should have been as well. Poliquin was unintentionally omitted. I've added a paragraph above. Also a sidebar with hyperlinks back to all the quarterly reports we used in this analysis.
Thanks for your comments
Licia,
We didn't note in this story that we did try to contact Mrs. Morse in Nova Scotia to get her response or reaction to this report. We were unsuccessful in those attempts. We should have included a line in this report to that effect.
Way off base and just flat-out wrong.
Dan,
The majority of this current board are Democratic appointees.
http://www.maine.gov/dps/ems/boards/ems_board/index.html
There are 17 spots on the board and only 7 are LePage appointees.
There are two vacant spots - including the public representative.
But as you will also notice - several board members have been re-nominated to serve by seceding governors of varying political affiliations.
I think it's very unfair of you to ascribe political motives to all of these individuals carte blanche -- most on this board have chosen careers working towards saving the lives of others and have volunteered much time to that ends in their respective communities. Show some civility, appreciation and respect instead of trying to cast everything in a political light, especially when you are so far off the mark.
It's a cheap, easy political shot to rip off your cuff, but check your facts first. All of the folks on this board deserve a little appreciation and they have not ALL been appointed by any single governor.
Donors have stepped forward to help
Hi all,
We have had several kind folks call to offer to donate a wheelchair for Mr. Huard. He is going to be in the hospital for the next few days but his family is going to go and check out a nice, relatively new, electric wheelchair that is similar to the one he had this Saturday. The family also has the contacts for the other folks who were offering to help. It's awesome you guys thought about and offered to take up a collection for Mr. Huard. At this point it looks like he will be all set.
Scott
Was Tibbetts escorted out of the meeting last night or not?
We fixed the mistake in this story Dan. If you want to email me a copy of your proposed ordinance for Dixfield and I'll put a copy of it up with the story so people can read it themselves. I think peoples should get to see the proposed ordinance for themselves, that would be great. Also if people are discouraged by the selectmen, they should run for those seats when the terms are up. If the majority of voters in Dixfield are opposed to the actions of this board you would think they would be voted out. That's usually how it works.
Thanks,
Scott
sthistle@sunjournal.com
You are right Dan.
The story is in error. At town meeting last May townspeople voted against doing any ordinance at all and to go with state regulations. We will correct this story and note the error. So they didn't vote down an ordinance, they voted down ever doing an ordinance. We will get the story corrected. Dan we are told you were not at the meeting Monday night -- were you there?
The town voted on an ordinance
The story notes the town already voted down an ordinance at an earlier town meeting Dan. How many votes on wind power does the town have to take?
"Town Manager Eugene Skibitksy said Tuesday that the board has no responsibility to place another ordinance before townspeople because the last one was voted down at a town meeting. With that action, the town has agreed to follow the state Department of Environmental Protection regulations for wind development"
Citizens' initiative
I'm surprised there has not been a petition drive started on this one already for a statewide referendum on reducing the size of the Maine Legislature. Just saying. I'm guessing they could get the signatures for that pretty quickly.
good questions, good comments
A lot of good questions and comments on this story. I too was surprised this AP report did not tell us why they need to be exempt from this law? As it has been shown it can be as dangerous as driving under the influence and I can't honestly think of any reason why these emergency responders would need to be texting while on the job. If anyone knows the rationale behind this bill please let us know. Clearly the points made here, like - shouldn't they be setting the good example -- make a lot of sense, while this exemption, so far does not.
Thank you
Pirate and parrot,
Thanks for staying with us through it all. Your sense of humor is always appreciated. And while I don't always like everything you write -- I'm sure you don't like everything I write either -- I do like your loyalty to our community and your style and you do make us laugh. You're a case study in the transition from the land of the unknown to this thing we have now. Your notoriety and wit have long prevailed. "There are good ships and wood ships and ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may ours always be." That's probably not an acceptable pirate toast, but nautical at least. Cheers.