Disqus - Latest Comments for jpowers

Re: Letter: Compassionate gift of truck correct choice

jpowers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:11:57 -0000

And its not that helping others is a bad idea, but who makes the deicison what to support, what other charities were considered, etc. No one should be able to make a unilateral decision to pass on town property, no matter how worthy the destination. Its wrong. Well intentioned, but wrong.

Re: Letter: Town mismanaged beaver dams

jpowers — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:09:47 -0000

How the heck did beavers get protected so well in Massachusetts? They have killed tens of acres of trees in several Andover areas, are a pest, and now they require "management". I mean, really, do we need to manage beavers? I say we try managing our downtown businesses better, provide them with suport and regulations that they can prosper in, and leave the beavers alone.

Re: Letter: Town could be sued if shutting of streetlights causes loss

jpowers — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:18:42 -0000

And I assume you spend your day wondering why people profile you as a lawyer. The town made a fiscal decision to fund education and infrastructure mantenance and to reduce the lighting on your street. Live with it. Or sell and move (I can already see your listing: "Four bedroom house with well light street").

Re: Letter: Meals tax change will help town

jpowers — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:05:48 -0000

If the school department was run like a business, they'd just make cuts and quit using scare tactics. Do more with less. Its not fun, but that is what we are all dealing with.

Re: Letter: Main Line ice cream owner: Town enforcement forcing out shop

jpowers — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:03:58 -0000

Many will say this is just a needed culling of local businessed. Perhaps we should apply the same to town employees. Let's get rid of the town employee who brought us our new parking meter ticket system. Was the idea to cut down parking meter maid expenses? It certainly cut down on parking lot use. Duh.

Of how about the employee who has done nothing about take home vehicles. Or the one who has approved the all too expensive union contract. And how about our water treatment manager. if we use less water (its called conservation) we have to pay more per gallon. Huh? What's the incentive to cut back on usage.

Re: Letter: Main Line ice cream owner: Town enforcement forcing out shop

jpowers — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:11:57 -0000

You will be missed. Just another case of Andover's anti-business attitude. What's more important to our downtown area - having attractive curbs and sidewalks with bureaucratic rules strictily enforced, or having healthy thriving businesses? Seems like its the latter to me.

Yet Andover's leadership plays CYA in a case like this, where there hasn't been a single violation and where the business owner has been perfectly responsible. The way town leadership manages our town, pretty soon our downtown area will be comprised of banks, nail salons, and out-of-business restaurants.

Re: Dalton column: The Big influenza gamble: A look at 1918, 1976 and today's flu scare

jpowers — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:41:49 -0000

Wow, I just went online and researched Morgellons. The Wiki entry is pretty enlightening, and there are several radical sites that present a variety of conspiracy theories. Who am I to know the truth, but I'll accept that it seems to lack any conclusive scientific evidence (yet).

Re: H1N1, if you look at 2009 fatality statistics there is no evidence of anything exceptional. No alarming trends, no spikes. It is more fatal to the elderly and the young (atypical with any flu), and to those living in poor conditions and/or without access to decent medical care.

I believe the saying "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" comes into play here. Our medical community has spent a lot of money establishing rapid response capabilities and new tests and drugs, and this "scare" is an opportunity to put those to (good?) use. I believe calmer heads are prevailing, and we realize now that H1N1 is just another flu.

Re: Breach of beaver dam deluges charity golf tourney

jpowers — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:36:10 -0000

Sure the story is about a private golf course that was flooded by the incompetence of State employees. But what if your backyard or house was flooded by these same employees. Its a good story to me. And I too wonder why beavers are protected. How many acres in Andover alone have been flooded by these nasty little beasties?

Re: Letter: Trash plan fair: Larger families are larger consumers

jpowers — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:37:40 -0000

This will quickly become pandora's box. What if you have lots of kids, but they go to private school, are you due a refund (because you are saving the town big bucks)? How about a larger home, they pay more in taxes so can't they throw out more garbage? What if you live close to town, then you really don't put much wear and tear on the roads outside of downtown. Even more, what if my kids are too old for school, but I'm too young to use the senior center. And do I have to pay for fire department services if I live in a brick house?

Re: Selectmen hopefuls: Toss trash-fee idea

jpowers — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:28:12 -0000

I hate to say this, but I will. Those who have higher tax bills should be allowed to have more trash containers. The largest and most expensive homes would get six cans, down to smaller apartments that would be allowed just one. We could apply the same logic to parking. More expensive cars should pay more to park, and less expensive ones would pay reduced fees.

Taken further, residents with more than 1 child should be charged additional fees. Yep, not my idea. But I'm sure it appeals to those that live in town, don't have any kids, and don't have much trash.

Re: Leaders take 1% cut, look for union match

jpowers — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:20:10 -0000

Impressive. A demonstration of real leadership. The town has always treated its employees fairly, and this is the right kind of action to take in today's economy. While 1% will have limited benefits, its a heck of a lot better than no reduction. Thank you.

Re: Letter: No tips at the doughnut counter

jpowers — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:53:09 -0000

Not sure I get this one. Are you talking about hte kids behind the counter or someone standing outside the entrance with a tin cup and baseball bat?

Re: Fewer street lights on dead-ends could save town thousands

jpowers — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:45:17 -0000

Sounds like the first good idea I've heard from Public Works in a long time. Lets here more ways to save dollars by being smarter. By the way guys, you might start planning on taking on broader responsibitiies as they trim heads.

Re: Letter: Tickets punish parents, teachers for attending Back to School Night

jpowers — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:02:49 -0000

Why would you expect traffic/parking rules to change or not be enforced because there is greater traffic. They are there to allow for safe movement of pedestrians and safety vehicles. We all manage to go watch the fireworks at the high school, and this means walking from 5 or 10 minutes away. Next time park in a legal spot. Even if it means walking.

Re: Teen, found in Andover pond, dies

jpowers — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:37 -0000

Please allowl the Andover PD to do their job before making comment on how the situation is and will be handled. They are displaying their professionalism by not commenting until they have facts. That seems apporpriate, especially in light of this awful tragedy. My prayers are extended to the families of all those involved. Very sad indeed.