“The fatal attraction of government is that it allows busybodies to impose decisions on others without paying any price themselves. That enables them to act as if there were no price, even when there are ruinous prices – paid by others.” Thomas Sowell, American economist

As we turn our attention to the new year, I can thank only one entity for causing me to continue this column into 2017. Those people are, of course, the Windham town councilors and town manager. The town council workshop – well almost a workshop – of 20 December was another hybrid concoction of both a formal  council meeting – because they did vote on some things – and discussions during the workshop portion of the meeting. Unfortunate for all of Windham residents is the fact that this type of hybrid meeting fits the needs of the town councilors and town manager. but leaves out things like public input at the beginning of the meeting. But then again, why would they want that in the first place?

I hope that all of you who are on Social Security are impressed with our 0.3 percent cost-of-living increase, which was eaten up by the increase in Medicare Plan B if one has it. In other words, in reality there was no actual increase in what we receive. I read as many newspapers that I can get my hands on, and I have come to the conclusion that elected morons run our nation at every level. Recently there have been stories about the salary increases in the city of Portland, some of which were around 12 percent. Now that the Windham town manager’s salary has been increased to something like $120,000 with another $16,000 thrown into his retirement account, are you happy as a taxpayer to receive nothing in regards to your social security stipend?

I find it appalling how municipal salaries are increasing in relation to what local taxpayers make, especially those who depend on Social Security. It makes no sense at all, but then again when have elected officials ever made any sense in the first place? I know, for example, that some increases in municipal salaries in Portland were tied to something called market increases, whatever in hell that means. I find that to mean something totally obscene to every taxpayer because to me it really means bloated salaries for absolutely no reason. It is also means really bad news for taxpayers in the end, which is where … well, you know what I mean.

It is my understanding that the problems with code enforcement in Windham continue, and for the life of me I can’t comprehend why. With the recent history of that office in Windham, the town manager should have received a pay cut along with decreased benefits. Windham should be following the same standards that the rest of the municipalities of Maine do, so I have no idea whether this is a power struggle or a total lack of leadership. What I do know is that some builders should be reimbursed by the town for costs associated with bogus code enforcement requirements.

And it that isn’t stink enough, the sewer project for North Windham continues to have that smell of something the taxpayers of Windham might have to suffer through. It’s time to see some real action on obtaining grants to assist with the cost of improving the North Windham business district and if the Windham Economic Development Committee hasn’t a clue as to how to do that, then let’s start the change there. If there is a problem with groundwater contamination in the North Windham business district, it is obvious that the one causing the problem should be the one paying to fix the problem. I don’t believe that there is anyone on that sewer committee supporting the backs, and wallets, of the taxpayers of Windham.

Then again, it makes me wonder if the town councilors know what constitutes an illegal meeting, like if three or more town councilors hang around after a formal meeting when that meeting has been adjourned.

Lane Hiltunen of Windham wishes all a Happy New Year.