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| December 8, 2006 Barnstable Patriot |  |
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By Paul Gauwin
pgauvin@barnstablepatriot.com
Klimm gossip debunked
Airport cash helps town
If
you hear rumors that Town Manager
John Klimm is leaving the job don't be-
lieve them. One story has it that Klimm
was tapped for a state post by Gov.-elect
Deval Patrick. Not true.
Another fish story is that Klimm will be
gone when his contract is up in three years.
Well, that will be for the town council -the
hiring authority -to decide, at least in the
absence of a new mayor-council govern-
ment. Even at that, Klimm's work has
been broad enough and effective enough
to make him the top mayoral contender so
far.
We asked Klimm about these reports: "I
have a contract until June 30, 2010, and I
enjoy my job as much today as I did when I
started ," he replied.
"I have had no communications with
Gov.-elect Patrick or his representatives
regarding employment.
I am enthusiastically working on a wide
variety of issues, which I will highlight in
my state ofthe town address , certainly to
include items such as working with Police
Chief (Paul) MacDonald on a much more
focused and comprehensive public safety
strategy that is much more results-orient-
ed and targeted. "
Who is spreading the faux buzz like jelly
on a cracker, and why, is of no consequence
in the face of Klimm's denial. Unlike some
of those who revel in that type of rumor
mongering, Klimm is not a wash ashore.
He, and his wife, are Hyannis natives and
given their druthers , he says, that's where
they intend to remain.
That leaves us with a grapevine nour-
ishment problem. How about , "The sky is
falling..."
* * *
Beware who you invite into your home,
or, be careful what you wish for because
you might get it.
The Barnstable Municipal Airport has
been growth minded for some time to the
chagrin of residents under the various
flight paths in the towns of Barnstable and
Yarmouth.
To that end, airport administration and
commissioners several years ago welcomed
Rectri x Aerodrome Center Inc., to share
the airport house, so to speak. Rectrix ser-
vices private jets , their owners, pilots and
passengers from a $6.5 million terminal on
airport property.
The company offers the gamut of ground
support services that include flight plan-
ning, weather information , crew lounges,
oar and hotel reservations - but no jet fuel
sales, profit from which the airport has
reserved for itself.
Rectrix , in a suit field in July, alleges
the airport's monopoly on jet fuel is illegal
and that the airport diverts funds to the
town for services not related to the airport ,
which Rectrix claims is also illegal.
The proper place to present evidence
and argue the allegations and the town's
answers to them is in a court of law, not in
the media.
That being said, it is noteworthy, how-
ever, to explain that the airport operation
is what the town calls an "enterprise ac-
count ," a service intended to pay for itself
from user fees. It is not the only enterprise
account in the town and it is not the only
one from which the municipal government
derives receipts for services rendered.
For the record , town finance director
Mark Milne provided , by request , the
amounts the town culled from enterprise
accounts from 2003 through 2006: Airport
- from $615,483 in 2003 to $744,189 in 2006;
wastewater treatment, from $421,769 to
$553,727; solid waste, from $235,234 to
$280,057; golf, from $125,000 to $175,000;
from marinas (2006 only) $110,463 and
Sandy Neck, $62,043.
While the Rectrix suit will settle itself at
the altar of jurisprudence , the residents of
Barnstable are aware that less than one-
tenth of one percent ofthe local popula-
tion uses the airport. Many, more residents
are made to suffer the noise and traffic.
Whatever the town extracts from enter-
prise accounts - roughly about $2 million
in 2006 - is that much less to raise from the
property tax.
Enterprise accounts are a fair way of
raising receipts for services rendered by
the municipal government , such as tax col-
lection , to the accounts, under an unknown
formula. Those who do not use the services
do not pay for them.
Many residents say they would prefer the
airport disappear, not just because of the
noise, pollution and potential crash danger,
but because it generates vehicular traffic
on already gridlocked roads. The town is
right to extract payment.
Don't jet-ison the income. I
CJ-3
IS
¦ ¦
CORNER
The Barnstable Patriot welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep them brief and
either type or print them neatly, Include name,address and telephone number. Anony-
mous letters willnot be published, but names willbe withheld upon request. We reserve
the right to edit all submissions.
THE BARNSTABLE PATRIOT, P.O. BOX 1208, HYANNIS, MA 02601
OR E-MAILTO
letters@barnstablepatriot.com
Letters to the editor
Republicans respect rights
Anumber ofrecent lettersto the editor are
neglecting the underlying Constitutional
principle that citizens have the right to
redress their government whenthey do not
agree with it.
Those who want to ignore the vote on the
income tax rollback and ignore the Consti-
tutional amendment proposals on same-
sex marriage and universal health care are
denying the rights to citizens to know how
their elected officials stand on these issues
and to be heard at the ballot box. From
my point of view and as declared by our
Supreme Judicial Court, not casting a vote
on a proposed constitutional amendment
is not consistent with the intent and plain
meaning of Article 48 ofthe Massachusetts
Constitution.
One can "spin" the issues all they want,
but the undisputed fact is that the Consti-
tutional rights of those who wishto redress
their government are being denied. While
thisisnot solely aDemocrat or Republican
issue, I am proud to state that 100 percent
ofthe House Republicans voted against the
recess ofthe ConstitutionalConvention and
have been fighting since 2000 to reduce the
income tax level back down to 5 percent.
Rep. Jeffrey Davis Perry
5th Barnstable District
The people expect a vote
In reference to the ongoing debate rela-
tive same-sex marriage,Iwouldliketo state
that the issue of same-sex marriage is not
one that is important to me; however, I
do expect my elected Representative and
Senator to at the very least take a vote
on the issue and not violate the Constitu-
tion.
Unfortunately, the last time our elected
officialsmet,the Representatives and Sena-
tors chose not to vote on the question and
used procedural moves to avoid a contro-
versial vote. They have a chance again on
Jan. 2 to obey their oath of office.
I want to thank Representatives Perry,
Gomes and Gifford and Senator O'Leary
for voting against recessing the Conven-
tion. I guess the others Representative s
and Senators think that protecting their
own points of view is more important than
followingthe Constitution and allowingthe
people to vote for themselves.
Gerry Nye
Sandwich
They appreciated Lynch's
appreciation
The article entitled , "Retired teacher's
philanthropy kept Cape arts alive," is a
delight. Brad Lynch must have done exten-
sive research including attending Mary's
funeral to have such an accurate depiction
of her life.
Both of us exclaimed, "What a great ar-
ticle,"when we read 77ieBarnstable Patriot.
All the reporting is excellent, but we just
had to comment on this beautifully writ-
ten "obituary" of a wonderful woman. West
Barnstable and, indeed, the whole town
have lost a great lady.
Audrey and John Loughnane
West Barnstable
Don't muzzle the public
Re: public comment at Barnstable Town
Council sessions.
I am one of the repeat speakers. As an
American taxpayer, I have the right to ex-
press my views concerning issues such as
overcrowded housing, homeless Americans
and out of control crimesuch asFresh Holes
and Sea Street in Hyannis.
This country was started by religious and
political dissidents. Democracy is govern-
ment ofthe people and for the people.
A town this size (approximately 50,000)
needs to hear from as many citizens as
possible.
John D. Alden
Hyannis
What to do about public
comment
I think that public comment at the
Barnstable Town
Council Meetings needs to remain as it has
been. The Town Council isour local govern-
ment and it must uphold the Constitution,
"freedom of speech."The idea to move it to
another time, outside the council meeting,
is OK if all ofthe councilors are expected to
attend. Otherwise, the voice of the people
has been made less important.
The people have a right to be heard by all
the councilors. This is the People's Town
and thejob ofthe Councilors isto hear what
they haveto say.
In terms of some community members call-
ing in to say that the words of some have
intimidated them and stopped them from
choosing to come to the council to speak
out on issues, I say,All the more reason for
them to come. We need more involvement
from the community,and there are no valid
reasons,in my view,for citizens to not come
to the town council meetings.
"Speak and you shall be heard" are the
words said in the Barnstable District and
Superior Courthouses each day.In my opin-
ion, these words apply to the town council
meetings as well.
Although I feel public comment needs
to remain as it is, I also feel what our Town
Councilors feel at times. I agree with them
that there are some who repeatedly come
to these meetings to just complain and at-
tack. As an involved citizen who comes to
these meetings to participate in our local
government, I feel embarrassed to be in
their company. And I do agree that they are
grandstanding and that they are anegative
and unproductive voice. In particular, I'm
resentful of their rude remarks to our town
councilors, who are all honorable men and
women and all, deserving of our respect.
However, this is a democracy, and all have
a right to speak out.
Icommendthe opinionofTownCouncilors
Leah Curtis and Janet JoaWmthat the coun-
cilors themselves need to be more mindful
of the way they speak to one another and
to the public at times as there is room for
improvements in this area as well.When we
look at local, state and national politics, we
see such shameful displays of accusations
and attacks from one public figure to an-
other. It is one thing to disagree and quite
another to be rude. Curtis and Joakim and
I believe most of our councilors will work
towards a more meaningful and responsive
way of responding from withinthe council
and with the public.
So, I'm glad this issue has come forth,
and I believe our Noble Councilors will
discuss and act accordingly on what needs
to happen here.
Alan Burt
Centerville
A bright light
I want to thank you for placing the 1964
photo ofthe MeetingHouse on the 12/1 Op-ed
page. Our collaborative Tree Lighting was a
huge success and we appreciate your efforts
in helping us to bring attention to our 1717
architectural treasure.
For West Parish,
Dianna Henson
Former coach salutes
cheerleaders
Congratulations to the BarnstableVarsity
Cheerleaders for their recent second place
finishat the High School State Cheerlead-
ing Championships.Ihave had the pleasure
of coaching most of the members of the
squad and am ecstatic over their win.
When I took over the program 14 years
ago, there was no tumbling or stunting
within the squad and they were nowhere
near a competition level. Through years of
skill building and technique training, the
team started to build to a level of competi-
tiveness that garnered three Old Colony
League titles. I never viewed the program
as struggling,but building, to where the bar
was raised and I knew that it was only a
matter of time before they would reach the
State level. The cheerleaders are athletes
and always put 100 percent into achieving
the goals that were necessary to bond as a
team and create success.
Congratulations to Heather Crosby for
taking over a talented team and leading
them to victory.
Ellen Botello
Varsity Cheerleading Coach
Sandwich High School
I FTfFBC
BY ELLEN C. CHAHEY
S
omething wasn't working right on
the bank officer's computer as she
attempted to help me, so she made
a phone call and entered immediately into
"voice-mail jail."
We sat on opposite sides of her desk, her
with the phone to her ear, and me sorting
through the candy dish on her desk. I don't
even like candy, but if I had found some-
thing chocolate I might have chewed on it
just to relieve my boredom.
"There's more over there," she offered,
but I didn't care enough to get up and look
Ijust wanted this errand to be over.
As we sat like that near the front door
ofthe bank, neither one of us free to move
until someone answered at the other end
of the phone, a man walked in past the
ATM and stopped at the desk where we
were waiting for a live voice to move things
ahead.
"I have to interrupt you for a moment,"
he said. "I've been checking up in the woods
on some homeless people. There's a man
lying on the ground and I can't find a pulse.
I think he's dead. Can someone please call
911?"
At moments like that, you don't always
do rational things. On Sept. 11, 2001, at our
church, first we tried unsuccessfully to go
on with a staff meeting. Then we all went
home. Then we decided that it was neces-
sary to offer a worship service for the com-
munity, and we came back.
The point is that you're not sure what to
do when something's wrong. Youjust try to
do what's best.
The bank officer held on to her phone
and called over to other staff members to
please call 911. She explained briefly what
to tell the emergency responders. Someone
got on the phone, and within a few minutes
we heard sirens. Some bank personnel ran
outside.
I stayed at the desk and considered what
I should do. My first aid training was no
match for the professional EMT education
of the people from the fire department.
Would I be of help as a pastor? If so, how?
Just then, the phone call that was on hold
went through. We resolved the minor prob-
lem, and then I decided that I had at least
to go outside and see if anything was going
on that I could help to address pastorally.
Were there friends out there? Might the
man still be alive? Was there any pastoral
need? I only knew that I couldn't live with
myself if I didn't at least try to find out.
I could see the EMTs deep in the woods.
My best guess was that he needed them
more than he needed me, so I returned to
the bank and finished my business.
The man who had taken it upon himself to
look out for homeless people in the woods
had done one job. The bank staffer who had
called 911 had done another. The respond-
ers had done theirs.
The man had died alone on the ground.
This was not the gentle and loving end that
we would wish for ourselves or for anyone
else; yet many people had done what they
could for him. I did not identify anything I
could do, so I returned to my business. Was
I right?
Later, I learned that at the same time my
colleague, Rev. John Terry, was sitting next
to Alan Burt, our town's great advocate for
the homeless, when Alan got the call about
this man. John immediately offered our
church for the memorial service - and we
were blessed to host it and learn about the
man from his many friends.
This month, our church will host two
events on our small lawn, both to call atten
tion to people who have become strangers
in a once-familiar landscape.
On Dec. 12 at 3 p.m., Hospice and Pallia-
tive Care of Cape Cod will invite people to
gather around a tree on our lawn to remem
ber loved ones who have died. Whether it's
illness, old age, a chronic condition that
gets worse and worse, Hospice nurses and
chaplains and social workers and home
health aides and volunteers will help. And
after the death occurs, Hospice people will
offer spiritual moments such as the one
around the evergreen with the loved one's
name on a scallop shell on the front lawn of
our church.
Later on in the month, on Dec. 21, some
advocates for homeless people in Hyannis
willset up tents on our lawn and spend the
night in order to witness to the suffering of
people like the man who died the day I was
transacting business at the bank.
These people want us to think about how
it must be not to have a home where you
can turn a key and go through a door and
close that door and be at home, in a reason-
ably warm and dry room on a cold and wet
night.
Later still this month, we'll gather at 11
p.m. for our Christmas Eve worship, a ser-
vice that some find the most meaningfulof
all.Worship seems suspicious to some, hyp-
ocritical to others, and literally unbelievable
to many. But pair worship with the Hospice
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INOTHER
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