http://blog.inthegazette.comQuick Bloghttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/06/13/book-aims-to-help-keep-actors-sane-balance-emotions-june-13-2008.aspx#comment-1119715Nurse2008-06-16T09:11:04Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/05/29/weekly-interview-highland-soles-may-30-2008.aspx#comment-1082351Garrett2008-05-30T13:41:32Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/05/23/letter-clynk-clunks-may-23-2008.aspx#comment-1068548Borm Nuck2008-05-24T13:15:07Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/05/09/genealogy-junkies-find-links-to-the-past--may-9-2008.aspx#comment-1067338Muriel Locklin2008-05-23T11:45:40Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/05/16/letter-clynk-too-much-information-for-me-may-16-2008.aspx#comment-1057041And Hannaford may be clumsy about keeping information secure, but I'm not worried because everyone knows that Clynk is a completely separate, Maine-based company that merely has a contract with Hannaford. Stop being so paranoid.]]>Amy2008-05-20T10:13:16Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/05/16/weekly-interview-emily-rines-may-16-2008.aspx#comment-1055733It is designed for kids of all ages as it is two books in one – children first learn their alphabet through produce poems and then go on to hundreds of related activities. Coauthored by best-selling food writer David Goldbeck and Jim Henson writer Steve Charney. More at HealthyHighways.com]]>Scott2008-05-19T15:24:50Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/04/24/cliff-whites-notebook-goodbye-gazette-printed-april-25-2008.aspx#comment-996730Colleen Marshall2008-04-24T11:46:56Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/04/18/budget-deficit-questions-continue-printed-april-18-2008.aspx#comment-984379
To the editor,

“There needs to be better accountability, there needs to be better policy and procedure, and better internal monitoring of programs to see what is working and what isn’t."

Auditor Ron Smith's second to last statement in this article sums up perfectly the need for a town manager in the Town of Buxton.

A few weeks ago I submitted a letter voicing my support of the petition circulating in town, started by Mr. Andy Townsend, to hire a town manager and how doing so would streamline the town's financial system and improve efficiency. The current financial situation in the town's recreation dept. would not have happened if Buxton had a town manager.

It is common practice within town governments to move monies from one budget line to another to cover over expenditures as long as at the end of the year, the department finishes in the black. Things happen during the year that are unforeseen and you have to be flexible. And sometimes, due to a mistake or underestimating, a department does go over and that department head must explain why at a special town meeting. And hopefully he would have a good answer. But to have over expenditures due to sloppy billing and accounting practices is inexcusable. And a town manager would not allow that to happen. A manager would have the time to spend reviewing account status and if a program was not sustaining itself, he/she would be able to fix it or shut it down.

To paraphrase select woman Pulsoni from a few weeks ago, "These are tough economic times". But apparently the times are not tough enough yet in the rec department to ensure that the bills were sent out and to pursue collection on outstanding invoices, to the tune of $30,000 dollars. Isn't that what the rec directors position salary is? In theory, the department isn't taking in enough money to that. Apparently, the recreation director is applying the practices he learned at his other career as a representative in the Maine Legislature of "have the program now and pay for it later" school of thought.

A good town manager would demand that any program that any department head wanted to pursue be presented with a serious need, cost benefit analysis, and a way to financially support the program through the most cost effective means. And if the program is approved, he would have the time to follow up on the program, and its status, thereby giving the taxpayer the most for their tax dollars and good quality assurance.

Please support Mr. Andrew Townsend's petition to allow a vote on a full time town manager. There are petition are at most of the town stores or you can contact him directly at his published phone number.

Jeff Grinnell
Buxton Maine]]>Jeff Grinnell2008-04-20T08:56:13Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/04/11/weekly-interview-sue-richardson-printed-april-11-2008.aspx#comment-968217Potato Richardson2008-04-14T09:56:53Zhttp://blog.inthegazette.com/2008/04/04/ease-on-down-ease-on-down-the-road-printed-april-4-2008.aspx#comment-948529
I dislike this comment made by Suzanne Lukas. I commend our (Town of Buxton) planning board for doing their JOB! Many questions have been raised regarding this project with no concrete answers given. Some of the answers given have been changed many times or are outright proven lies. The Buxton community needs to be active in the public hearing regarding this project or year after year we are going to be approached for funds to fix problems with a new school.]]>Kelly Weymouth2008-04-06T11:16:51Z