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Post by gatekeeper on Sept 26, 2005 20:32:39 GMT -5
To just advise everyone that the athletic Department has lost one of their busses for athletic activities because a fast decision was made by a DEPT.Head with no research. Now they are running a bus and a half.They have their new bus.The one running now is a gas powered bus that gets about 5 miles to the gallon. The one that needs repair is a Diesel bus which needs a new motor at a cost of approx.$5000.00 The Board of Ed can`t afford this???Come on. I would ask for all to support this.GO TO A BOARD OF ED MEETING,CALL THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR,DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. This bus was a good bus and did alot of traveling just like the new one. NOW THEY ARE USING DOUBLE A IN IT`S PLACE AND PAYING A TON OF MONEY...Let`s fight for a motor,It will prolong it`s life for a while and can resume traveling and will cut out 90% of Double A.. THIS ISN`T MUCH TO ASK FOR...PLEASE HELP!!!!!
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Post by SyZyGy on Sept 27, 2005 15:44:10 GMT -5
Please provide us with more information about this:
1. Please describe the nature of this "fast decision"? (Are you implying that the decision was unfounded or only inconvenient?)
2. Who was the "DEPT.HEAD"? (I presume that it is a matter of public record, or, is it some secret?)
3. What kind of mileage should a fully loaded diesel bus get?
4. What about getting a CNG/LP engine for the dead bus? It would be FAR more environmentally friendly than the particulate-spewing, polluting diesel engine.
5. Is the quoted $5K for the diesel engine just for the parts or does that include installation? Who would be installing it?
6. Have you determined, for sure, that there are no plans for the repair of the "old" bus? Or, are you just a little impatient?
7. Would you prefer not to have Double-A (or some other livery service) filling in for the time being and forfeit games instead? Do you have some kind of grudge against Double-A?
8. Have you considered packing the BOE meeting TONIGHT (9/27) AND Oct. 11 with kindred spirits to plead your case before the BOE and Dr.Proctor?
9. Have you considered packing the Town Council meeting on MONDAY, OCT. 3 with kindred spirits to plead your case before Mayor Russ, et al.? Ask the Town Council members (current) to tack the (circa) $5K onto their planned "turn-back' to the WPS from the recently discovered $400K "left over" from the last fiscal year of the BOE? (Of course they will have to shave a corresponding amount from the planned $199,99.99 for the eagerly awaited new text books, so as to avoid a COSTLY referendum - 3-4 times the purported cost of the new engine.)
Please keep us all informed.
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Post by gatekeeper on Sept 28, 2005 10:51:23 GMT -5
Information As Provided: 1]''fast decision'' implies that no research was done with the AD at the time to inquire how current programs would be affected by this.Also there was no research to how the Athletic Dept.Would be affected. 2]The Dir.of Maintence and operations, I think his name is Mr.McCarthy 3]fully loaded on an estimation should get about 10 or 12 mpg,better on highways and long trips. 4]CNG/LP engine would be good but the town does not have the filling facilities for it. 5]$5K to the best of my knowledge is for the replacement motor It could be for both??The installation would be done by the town maintence garage. 6]There was a memo written that I DO NOT have stating that it had been removed from service. 7]Double A in the past has left teams at varoius locations.Not all of their busses come out of the Rocky Hill Yard.Some come out of other yards.I belive the Weth.Drivers stay with the activity,Double A drops off and comes back.No Grudge at all just a reliability issue. 8]Packing the meeting is a great idea, it is just finding the people to do it. 9]I`am not sure if a townsperson can ask council for the money???I think it needs to come from the BOE.I don`t know,it would be interesting to find out. Informed you are:Hope the questions were answered.Thank you for posting them,At least hopefully somebody is interested in this to get this vehicle back on the road.
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Post by SyZyGy on Sept 28, 2005 15:51:27 GMT -5
gatekeeper wrote: GK, Thanks for taking the time to provide this information and impressions in what appears to be an honest attempt to convey to the people here what is going on and what they may be able to do about it.
Before we start to assume that this is a nearly impossible request (for $5K, etc.), why not talk to the people who CAN solve the problem - Dr. Proctor, Ms. Therrien and the individuals serving on the BOE and the T/C and also J/C (no, not THAT J/C, but "Jay" Cottone). Meeting with Proctor and Therrien, individually or together (less likely) you will get a quick impression of just how much you will have to "politic" to solve the problem. I get the feeling that in this "season of giving" - the days leading up to the 11/8/2005 election - problems are more likely to be solved than not.
Then if you need to, call and write each one of them - individually, even if each message is more or less the same. Have others do the same - this can include ALL of the sports related organizations in town, of which there are many. Their email addresses and home addresses are all public - as well as their phone numbers (though I am not sure I would want to be so intrusive as to telephone the volunteers of this board and council - with the exception of our two highest paid town employees - Proctor and Therrien.)
I have got to believe that many squeaky hinges, especially those on the same door, will get the lube job. Good luck. I have a really good feeling that you will prevail. Time to put the pedal to the metal!
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Post by gatekeeper on Sept 29, 2005 11:23:23 GMT -5
SYZ, Thank You for your reply. One key problem, The B.O.E. Currently has an ''INTERN" Business manager who feels this whole thing is not ''COST EFFECTIVE''.***INTERM***.This statement was made publicly at a BOE meeting when this topic was asked by an elected BOE member. What need to happens is the parents need to go and voice their opinion at a meeting and call whoever they know. These people don`t realize there is in fact cost savings. As far as ''JC'' I don`t think he wants to push this issue because he want`s to keep peace with the ''Higher ups''. What no one on the BOE understands is this: Just because this bus was taken out of service,Doesn't`t mean that it is going to be replaced.It can be submitted in the budget,it doesn't`t mean it is going to stay there. [i][/i]This is why it is key to get this one fixed and the athletic dept.will be back to 2 primary busses and one secondary.THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!![/b]
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Post by gatekeeper on Oct 3, 2005 21:03:08 GMT -5
OKAY,!!! October has started.Can we get some people to go to the next B.O.E.meeting and talk these issues.This bus NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED!!!! Your help can make this happen. 2 more interesting facts!! -The two current drivers should not have to plan their trips by the topography of the land.To send the old bus on all flats so it can make it there.... -The two current drivers shouldn`t have to contact each other to see if the other one has made it to and from his assigned destination.... PLEASE HELP !!!!!!! -This is so not fair to them...
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Post by JudgeSmaels on Oct 3, 2005 21:42:04 GMT -5
gatekeeper, this would be a good issue to ask the candidates where they stand on this.
Weth. Live is planning to have the candidates on, perfect time to pin them down.
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RGarrey
Gold Member
WCTV "Wethersfield Live" Channel 14
Posts: 84
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Post by RGarrey on Oct 3, 2005 21:56:55 GMT -5
A couple of points. The Administration says they have no money, didn't they just announce a $400,000+ surplus. Also they are now spending money to hire Double A to drive the kids, doesn't this cost money that wasn't budgeted. Another question. Did anyone ask the two bus drivers how they feel about the bus? They spend alot of time in the bus and I would think their opinion of whether it should be fixed or not would be helpful. From the surface it sure sounds like spending the $5000 would be a wise investment.
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Post by gatekeeper on Oct 5, 2005 18:31:07 GMT -5
RG, EXCELLENT POINT!!! Both bus drivers have been asked this question in some investigating.They both feel it is safer than the other old one and because it is a diesel it is made to travel. One of the drivers brought up an excellent to me,He stated that before the B.O.E. vehicle maintenance was given back to the town,Outside contractors were doing the work.There were alot of things done to this bus by the outside contractors that the BOE is unaware of. Everybody is so afraid to ask someone lower than them what is going on?They just make their own decisions...
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