News That Matters

Good evening,

Yes, I know it’s late but this was important enough to write this up while it’s still fresh in my mind.

This evening’s meeting of the Physical Services Committee was quite the doozy! There was more than an hour of questions and discussion on the contract for the future management of the Tilly Foster Farm in Southeast.

While most of those in favor of the current contract were in favor for emotional reasons, and accused those who demanded accountability as being against The Farm, in the end, level heads prevailed and the committee failed to move the contract to the full Legislature in time for their February 3rd meeting. What this means is that we now have time to evaluate the contract more fully, send our recommendations to the County Executive and the Legislature so that, in the end, the contract for the management of the Farm will be a solid legal document.

It was quite a fight getting a copy of the latest proposed contract from the Law department. Jennifer Bumgarner didn’t even return my phone calls seeking a copy but upon complaints form the public the Legislature provided copies after the meeting began last night. Thanks go to Dan Birmingham for his fortitude on this one.

It’s the same damn contract.

According to Legislator Hay, the Legislative offices were flooded with emails, letters and phone calls expressing concerns over this or that but none of them, at least none of the important things made it in.

For example, in the last version of the contract the county was footing all the utility bills and to assuage the public, the proposed lessee has agreed to place meters on all the buildings at The Farm. But until they are in place we still pick up the tab. There’s no time frame mentioned for installation and no mention either of oil or gas or other utility bills so, as you can see, nothing of substance has changed.

The latest version of the contract is filled with the tiny tweaks designed to make you think the Legislature and the County Executive were listening but they weren’t, they’re too wrapped up in the dream and are blackmailing themselves into believing that if we proceed with due diligence and caution that the proposed lessee will walk and The Farm will turn into an arid wasteland of salted soils with the bones of extinct Tibetan Yaks strewn about.

While nothing could be further from the truth, it’s that emotional picture that is driving this thing not cool, calm, business acumen and that’s what my posts have all been about.

There’s a lot more to tell but it’s 11:30 PM now and I’m wiped out.

Special mention goes to Legislators Dan Birmingham, Tony Fusco, Sam Oliverio and Mary Conklin for their courage in the face of overt emotions and to freshman legislator Richie Othmer for understanding that our concerns were valid and that the contract needs more time, more thought, more tightening and a better business sense.

When it comes to contracts, especially ones that last for two generations, you have to get it right the first time. While most think that the proposed lessee can be trusted when it comes to these things the only thing that can be trusted for certain is an ironclad contract and this one is still made of tissue paper and dreams. If the proposed lessee will not wait until proper due diligence has been performed by the county there’s something seriously amiss.

More is coming.

J

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