May 20th, 2009
Hi Everyone,
Well, after giving this quite a bit of thought, I’m diving in! There’s lots to do and I’ll be looking for all the feedback you want to offer…because I’ve spent so many years of looking at what is wrong with Rochester government (and telling about it) my goal is to keep the campaign looking forward 100%. I also hope that by announcing my intentions early, I can help set the tone and the agenda so we can see an elevated debate on the critical issues that we all know are important to Rochester…
The site has nothing on it yet, but as the days, weeks and months go by, it will fill up fast with my vision, where we need to change, innovation ideas that I’ve talked about and new ones I’ll be searching for and what our first steps should be to start moving down a better road…
I’m excited about beginning this journey and I’m looking forward to your honest input… I can be very self-righteous about my views, but I realize that I don’t have all the answers, so my ears are wide open!… we had much success with the cap because it was a real team effort…
So, let me know what you think of the outline I put together for the new site…
4 The People
Thanks!
Fred
Related articles:
May 16, 2009
Fosters
ROCHESTER — Former Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association (RCTA) vice-president Fred Leonard announced this week he plans to run for mayor during November’s election.
“My decision to seek the position of mayor is based on my belief that Rochester deserves a strong leader who understands that government is in place to serve the people first and always, with no exceptions. There is no substitute for a thoughtful, open and thorough local government that supports the community it serves,” Leonard said in an e-mail Wednesday announcing his candidacy.
Read More…
Posted in City Issues | No Comments »
April 20th, 2009
Ward 1
Sergeant Stephen Burke
Officer Aaron Garneau
Officer John Harding
Email Ward 1
Ward 2
Sergeant Gary Boudreau
Officer Josh Ouellette
Officer Michael Brinkman
Email Ward 2
Ward 3
Sergeant Eric Babine
Officer Michael Lambert
Email Ward 3
Ward 4
Officer Chris Mangum
Email Ward 4
Ward 5
Sergeant Jason Thomas
Officer Keith Mackenzie
Officer Dominique Benoit
Email Ward 5
Ward 6
Sergeant Gary Turgeon
Officer Michael Miehle
Officer Todd Pinkham
Email Ward 6
Posted in City Issues | Comments Off
March 16th, 2009
Posted in School Issues | Comments Off
March 8th, 2009
Up to 46 Rochester school jobs could be cut
So, the school admin is proposing a school budget with “no” increases in it. However, there is a caveat. If the state does not come through with the level of funding that they had ‘promised’ last year, some drastic cuts will need to be made. These staff cuts are ultimately being blamed on the tax and spending cap. Had the caps not been in place, the school board would have expected Rochester taxpayers to make good on the state’s broken revenue promise to the tune of about 2.7 million dollars.
It is about time that the school department took a long, hard look at staffing levels - both faculty and administrative.
ROCHESTER— Up to 46 jobs could be cut from the School Department in order to meet the city’s tax cap, school administrators say.
Officials proposed a long list of potential staff reductions to the School Board’s Personnel Committee on Monday night.
Read More…
Posted in School Issues | 1 Comment »
March 8th, 2009
From a recent letter to the editor of the Rochester Times:
To the Editor:
Is this anyway to run a City? I should think not! So imagine you require the assistance of the Rochester DPW and it is after hours. So that you do not feel totally deserted by the DPW, (after all you pay your taxes, which in turn contributes to their salary), you are directed by a recording to contact the Rochester Police Department.
Do not get me wrong, I fully support the police, but when cars are playing slip and slide up and down the street, the police are not the first ones that come to mind when calling for this type of assistance. Apparently, and I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, there is nobody to help you after hours especially in the winter. You see, when it snows (which it does often in New Hampshire) everyone who can drive a plow truck who is employed by the city is out plowing.
Mind you no driver is held in reserve so that the city always has someone fresh to put on the road, nope they drive for 16 hours straight and then go home for approximately 24 hours. This is the law. The streets are ignored because the entire plow crew is on their mandatory rest period. Even if it is snowing, sleeting, etc. too bad.
Oh, on another note, has anybody calculated the overtime we pay out for this inadequate use of monetary funds and personnel? This is a blatant example of fiscal irresponsibility and poor management on the part of the director of the DPW. Would it not seem more logical to stagger drivers so that some are always fresh, outsourcing when there are gaps and last but not least save the taxpayers of Rochester some money. Winters are tough enough but when an entire Department gets eight hours of overtime per plow driver guaranteed every time we have a snow storm this is a budget that needs to be looked at very closely and the taxpayers of Rochester should demand an audit. Who are these people that the city hires to spend our tax dollars like there is an endless supply? I do believe the well has run dry.
For the naysayers and finger-pointers, the Tax and Spending Cap had nothing to do with current budget short falls. This is still last year’s budget. The first budget it will have an impact on will be the one going before the council for the next fiscal year. Thank the Lord there will have to be restraint and accountability, as it appears there has been none in the past.
Mary Helliwell
Rochester
Posted in City Issues | No Comments »