Citizens for Open Government

Auf wiedersehen COG?

From the Editors of CapeCodToday.com to Our Site Visitors:

As of December 19, 2005, the Citizens for Open Government blog, COG, has moved to a new spot:  www.capecog.com .    The past postings and comments on the COG blog on this site will remain on the web but will no longer show up on our blog list.   

We at CapeCodToday.com invite all manner of lively discussion, debate,  and vigorous dissent on local issues by offering free blogs to any group or individual.   With the exception of COG, all our blogs remain valuable tools for community discussion.  

However, the level of discourse on the COG blog devolved to tasteless bantering, which we felt was of no redeeming value to our readers. 

Part of the problem, we felt, was directly due to people who disagree with COG sometimes posting vulgar comments.    In addition, Gary Lopez' response to those who disagree was sometimes overheated, and he continued to use profanity, which violates our editorial policy, after several warnings.  

It is clear that significant numbers of people still think that Barnstable's town government has many problems which need to be addressed, and we hope that the new incarnation of COG will serve as an effective platform to address these issues.  

Good luck COG. 

23 comments »

Score: Barnstable Fat Cats, 14, Hyannis Plain Folk, 1.

Private appraisals last year had the 125-acre links at $8.7 million, and the 109-acre BARLACO water company property at $9.2 million. Evidently councilors weren’t listening last July when the golf club's attorney orated it was they who approached the town to see if it had an interest in buying the property, because John Klimm’s story to state investigators was the deal was a “taking”.

His NO-BID lease/purchase and sale contract, executed one month prior to Council action, would violate the state’s Uniform Procurement Act, had it been characterized anything other than eminent domain.

The fat-cat golf club owners got $9.75 million in cash, and will retain all golf revenues until January 1, 2007, prospectively banking a $4 million profit by not incurring debt, property tax, liability, major maintenance, etc. costs.

Hyannis water users got $1 million to offset $40 million principal, interest, and capital improvement debt for their Cummaquid parcel.

Box score, Barnstable Fat Cats, 14, Hyannis Plain Folk, 1.

Dickens novel of societal resurrection and transformation better chronicles events in 21st Century Barnstable, than Victorian France, and John Klimm's malfeasance may have eluded the Inspector General, but not the electorate.

As to the Anonymous comment the links was one of the best things ever done, he is probably one of the 600 members of the town's other golf course, who get to play unlimited golf each year at the bargain rate of $600, and is now a simultaneous member of TWO GOLF CLUBS at the single price.

Only in Barnstable are the best interests of 34,000 registered voters be deemed a minority to 600 others. Come join our fight for Open Government.

14 comments »