Disqus - Latest Comments for leoldem

Re: Restaurant issued written warning

L.E. Oldem — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:05:04 -0000

Did you mean you COULDN'T care less, or could you care even less?

Re: Tragedy slows local commuters' trip

L.E. Oldem — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:02:55 -0000

I find this news heading to be a very uncaring title. The bigger tragedy is that a man was struck dead by a train only days after a young teenager was and NOT the fact that commuters experienced a delay.

Re: Soles of the city

L.E. Oldem — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:12:07 -0000

Does anyone have an estimate of what one would sell for at auction?

Re: Haverhill council to borrow $138K to fix firetruck

L.E. Oldem — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:47:06 -0000

Paying for repairs of the additional, albeit older, ladder truck makes financial sense. With the low interest rates currently available, the "Time Value of Money" (TMV) evaluation of this decision made perfect, and provable, sense.

As for the age of the truck? Well, it's not the primary ladder truck and if I were on the eight floor of a burning building, I'm certainly *NOT* going to be discerning as to what model year the truck is that is my path to surviving.

Besides, if this move allows the Bradford Fire Station to remain open, then I feel the correct choice was made.

Re: Michitson kicks off campaign with themes of community, culture change

L.E. Oldem — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:06:48 -0000

I agree that City Councilors collectively have the ability and power to evoke change, develop a better sense of community, and can foster the establishment of new businesses. However, I’ll acknowledge that there are realistic limits to that ability, but I can’t see Michitson doing much more than he’s done already, as part of a group, if he were elected to the position of Mayor. It’s my opinion that to build a better sense of community, pride, and cooperative government, that one way NOT to have that to occur is to solicit “globally”. At least not until you’ve achieved harmony in your own City (as much as that is possible) and have espoused the existing City businesses in their growth. Basically, take care of your own first before bringing in new blood. That’s a sign of loyalty.

Re: Mayor: Cuts to overtime, sick pay will keep Bradford fire station open

L.E. Oldem — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:29:00 -0000

I ask 3SidedStories if he/she knows what attempts WERE or WERE NOT made with the Fire Chief's "ability or inability to manage his department" - What do you know and/or what have you heard? Otherwise it's just a hypothetical question posed in a moot court. Seriously though, $13K hardly deserves the monicker of "videogate". That'd make all of the thousands of employers and insurance companies who have successfully used video recordings to curb costs "crooks" (insert your Nixon voice and hand gesture here). I'm interested in the outcome, but more so what the people know that are not being quoted in print. So, citizens of Haverhill, what do you know about this series of events?

Re: Fundraising complete, police activate tracking system

L.E. Oldem — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:12:16 -0000

What an excellent program to have rolled out in Haverhill for those persons prone to becoming missing. I hope that there is more business and individual contributions to this program in the near future.

Re: Mayor: Cuts to overtime, sick pay will keep Bradford fire station open

L.E. Oldem — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:19:35 -0000

Because Budgets encompass many different line items of expenses, in a sweeping array of categories, money can be "found" - rather reallocated from one expense class to another - over time as Actual Expenses, Budgeted Expenses, and Forecasted Expenses change. While a Budget is not truly fluid, the underlying financial data does dynamically change.

Concessions to keep jobs, and a property and life saving City Unit, seems to be the right way to go. It also appears that the Budget originally factored overtime and sick Paid Time Off to go as they historically have - creating the need to close a Station to reduce costs. However, if O/T and PTO costs are reduced, additional funds may be freed up to allow a Station slated to be closed to remain open. There's no "crying wolf" when it comes to finances. The numbers are defining, it's the driving cost data that can dictate the direction into the future.

Re: Our view: Mayor playing into fire union's hands

L.E. Oldem — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:16:36 -0000

Concessions to keep jobs, and a property and life saving City Unit, seems to be the right way to go. It also appears that the Budget originally factored overtime and sick Paid Time Off to go as they historically have - creating the need to close a Station to reduce costs. However, if O/T and PTO costs are reduced, additional funds can become freed up to allow a Station slated to be closed to remain open. There's no "crying wolf" when it comes to finances. The numbers are defining, it's the driving cost data that can dictate the direction into the future.