Well honeybunch, it’s April. Go figger. I jest seems like we were talkin’ about the New Year, and here we are startin’ the fourth month already. Remember Kitty Carlisle, the socialite who used to be on quiz shows like “I’ve Got a Secret” and “To Tell the Truth”? Well, she lived well into her 90s, and once said, “When you get my age, it seems like you’re having breakfast every 15 minutes.” That’s the way ole Cobina is feelin’ these days. We’ve been doin’ this colyume for a lllllooooonnnngggg time, and it seems like the “tempus” is really “fugit-ing.”
Here in the Asylum by the Sea, we are in the midst of what they now call “the budget cycle.” That means that herronner has proposed her budget – now two weeks ago – and the public hearin’ was scheduled for t’other night at Bailey.
At foist, I thought that this budget hearin’ will be different that the ones in the recent past, but now I ain’t so sure. Sammy Bluejay is supposed to be perched outside the conventicle that will house the confab – Bailey Middle School – but he ain’t expectin’ the fireworks that were once thought.
Y’see, hon, somehow or t’other herroner has cobbled together a budget that has no mill rate increase as far as the homeowners are concerned. The mille rate, which is now 36.26, is still that under the plan. Now, here is the rub. Sammy ain’t sure effen the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) has given its imprimatur on the budget. If it has, the mill rate is probably as secure as things can git. If it didn’t, herroner has a perfeck out. She can say, “I had a steady mill rate, and the MARB thought otherwise, and blame them for any tax increase that happens.” It’s perty cagey effen it’s true, but nobody is really sure.
I don’t think the budget would’ve got as far as it did without some input by person or persons thereon, but who knows?
So, getting back to my original pernt, with no mill increase on the horizon, we would be surprised effen the meeting turned into a shoutin’ match. Heck, that hasn’t happened in years. Those were the days….
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Whilst that is goin’ on, Nelly Nuthatch reminded Cobina that in the midst of all the folderol about the budget, she forgot to mention one major tidbit. Eddie O’Brien has thrown his chapeau into the ring, and will seek the office from which he was so unceremoniously ousted two years ago. O’Brien chose his the Off Shore Restaurant – a familiar haunt – to make his announcement about a week or so ago.
As expected he is gonna make a non-partisan run at the Actors Colony. Though a Demmie through and through, he seems to have had a fallin’ out with one or two of the honchos in the party, and they have tendered their support to Deborah Collins. Collins has announced her intent to primary Mrs. Rossi for the nomination in September, and whilst O’Brien might have a better-than-average chance of winnin’ that three-way race, he has opted to save his kopecks for the general election, letting the two other candidates spend themselves into oblivion. We shall see effen it works.
Like we’ve said before, he still has to explain how in blazes he let the city carry four deficit budgets in a row during his tenure. Nobody argues about his love for the city, but he will hafta explain the decisions he made and the people who helped him make said decision. It should be an interesting few months.
Of course, as Nelly pernted out, Collins and O’Brien wee allies durin’ his term in the Actors Colony, so it’ll be interestin’ how that portion of the campaign washes out. What are they gonna say about each other and how’re they gonna differentiate themselves during the fight.
Rossi is disliked by both Collins and O’Brien, and I don’t hafta tell yew the barbs and brickbats that were hurled betwixt O’Brien and Rossi in the last campaign. N ope. This is gonna be a mayoral run for the ages, methinks. The invective is gonna be heavy, and personal.
Effen the candidates can fashion a message that appeals to the voters – one that doesn’t say only – I’m not the other guy or gal – they could have a winnin’ strategy. Rossi was a vote against the old politics in many ways. It’ll be interestin’ to see effen she maintains that persona.
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Effen that ain’t enuff to keep yore interest, Iva Lootey was talkin’ about the town, and it seems that whilst a letter went out to local businesses concerning the Haven weeks ago, the topic bein’ demolition, there still seems to be a few snags.
Iva said that a couple o’ things were still to take place. The police commish just took up the important step of abandoning streets, which hadn’t been decided. A hearing hasta take place on that isshew. Water Street, Richards Place, Bayview Place and part o’ Main Street are all part o’ this equation. Water Street will hafta be closed as will some of the crossing streets that have been all but abandoned.
The bigger isshew, however, seems to be the state DOT givin’ its OK on puttin’ in turning lanes on Elm Street that would allow traffic into the Haven once it is constructed. Some are sayin’ that decision won’t be made until June. Effen that’s the case, we have about 12 weeks more before the houses come down over there – pending the approval of the powers in Hartford.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill that is this berg continues, with people wonderin’ effen the thing will ever be done. Iva noted that whilst people should take things at face value, there are many reasons – and many episodes – that lend themselves to a rather suspicious outlook.
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And whilst that is goin’ on, have yew seen Savin Rock? Honey, it looks really nice. I told yew last week that crews were out there cutting down trees and clearing brush. Well, it seems to be done, and there are only a few trees left, and Cobina wouldn’t be surprised effen they are Savin trees, the plants wherein the place gits its name. Now is the time to put in a staircase of sorts and allow people up there effen it could be arranged.
The new look up against the sky and water is really something to take in. It looks something like it did in those postcards that we’ve seen printed in history books and colyumes. Effen yew git a chance to look it up, I would recommend ti.
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Finally, I see that herroner is extending the beach stickers for yet another year for city residents. New ones will be isshewed to newcomers or lost ones will be replaced for a $10 charge, but the ones people got a couple years ago will stil be good as we head into the new beach season.
It’s a cost-cutting measure, of course, they cut down on the postage that is necessary. Though, didn’t they used to come with the tax bills.
Tennyrate, effen yew have one, it’s still good.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,