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admin 8:20 am on July 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Stimulus Money at Work?

120 solar panels were installed on the roof of the main Department of Public Works building on Ponderosa Road!

According to the town it cost $210,000 and the “24.6-kilowatt system at the DPW building is expected to save the town about $90,000 over the course of its 30-year life expectancy, based on current rates.”

Know if I did the math correctly… It will pay for itself in 70 YEARS, but… it only has a life expectancy of 30 YEARS!

Though this was paid for with STIMULUS money according to the article on Wickedlocal.com, in my opinion it doesn’t seem to be stimulating anything! To me, as a tax payer, I would think that the STIMULUS money would have been used to help the people of the TOWN with their needs. For example:

Solar panels installed at the High School to save money and possibly:
- Defray the cost of sports activities!
- Defray the cost of busing!
- Hire teachers
- ESL (English as a second language) classes
- Special needs activities
- Daycare
This is only a few ideas, but maybe it should have been looked at more closely? How does paying $210,000.00 for solar panels at the town barn really help the community? Shouldn’t the town DPW employees be on our streets repairing things and making things safe anyway?
Charla Jurado is discussing. Toggle Comments
- Charla Jurado 6:57 pm on October 5, 2010 Permalink
  
  You are making a lot of great arguments during this blog post however its almost impossible in my situation to concentrate on this content considering the complicated layout!
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admin 12:18 pm on June 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Under Estimating Water Bills!

I’ve heard of this from a friend of mine that said the town under estimated his water use since 1993. He was charged over $5000.00 including penalties.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x1602636200/Ashland-resident-resents-5-000-water-bill

Then I heard of another cases in Brockton who was billed over $100,000.00 for under estimating her water use for the past 12 years.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/24038887/detail.html

Another women in Brockton received a retroactive bill for over $2000.00.

All 3 households have 1 thing in common… The water departments in both towns have any idea what they are doing!!!

Think about this… If the water department billed everyone correctly over the past 12 years:
- Would the water and sewer rates have spiked the way they have?
- Would the towns have better water treatment facilities?
- Would the MWRA cut rates?
Listen, we are in a recession, people are out of work, businesses are failing and family incomes have dropped, in some cases, over 50%. If I got a bill for over $100,000.00 because of someone else’s mistake I would be furious!

I think it’s about time to clean house in our Town Halls and hire qualified and educated people to run our major facilities!

If our teachers have to prove they are competent to teach our children, why not have our Town Employees prove they are competent to can run our Town!

Concerned Citizen
Michelete, and Towny1 are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Towny1 5:40 pm on June 28, 2010 Permalink
  
  How can a business estimate a bill for 17 years?
  
  Clearly this town is not run like a business. When you run a business you work with your customers or they will go elsewhere. We do not have that option with out uprooting our life.
  
  How many bills are being estimated and how does this affect our enterprise water system?
  
  There is one user in town that just stopped getting billed foe 8 Months till they complained and owed $138,000 in water usage.
  
  Would the town do this so they could raise all of our water rates or are they just screwed up? Could be either! or both your guess is as good as mine.
- Michelete 6:54 am on June 30, 2010 Permalink
  
  HAS ANYONE GOT MONEY BACK FOR OVER ESTIMATING?
admin 9:07 am on June 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply

BP Boycott

Consumers are boycotting BP gas stations after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The boycott of BP because of the oil spill disaster is costing small business owners in America millions -if not billions – of dollars.

Because of the Boycott businesses affected by the action are actually small business owners in the US who purchase their gasoline from BP. In all actuality, BP is hurt very little by the boycott. They own only 5% of their 11,100 retail locations in the US, and only get a relatively small amount of payments from the remaining 95% of the locations.

Gas stations earn higher margins on items such as chips, sodas, and candy. Margins on gasoline is very slim, and the amount of money that BP actually gets from retail locations for their retail products is minimal, as is their receipts from gas sales.

Shares of British Petroleum dropped to $29.68 during in yesterday’s trading.

See story on a local business man who is effected by this Boycott!

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news
admin 12:46 pm on June 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply

Welcome to Ashland Talks

Recession… How has it affected you?

Billy is discussing. Toggle Comments
- Billy 12:52 pm on June 18, 2010 Permalink
  
  In more ways then I could count. It has been a tough ride but things are looking up. I have a new job in Boston, my health is good and I am enjoying my family. Hope all is well with everyone!
  
  Have a safe summer!