T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|
3637.1 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Wed Jan 15 1997 13:59 | 11 |
3637.2 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Wed Jan 15 1997 19:13 | 29 |
3637.3 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Thu Jan 16 1997 14:01 | 25 |
3637.4 | | HYLNDR::BADGER | Can DO! | Thu Jan 16 1997 15:08 | 11 |
3637.5 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Thu Jan 16 1997 15:36 | 31 |
3637.6 | ya, but | HYLNDR::BADGER | Can DO! | Thu Jan 16 1997 16:14 | 34 |
3637.7 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Thu Jan 16 1997 16:28 | 9 |
3637.8 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Thu Jan 16 1997 16:57 | 6 |
3637.9 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Thu Jan 16 1997 16:57 | 15 |
3637.10 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Thu Jan 16 1997 16:59 | 5 |
3637.11 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Thu Jan 16 1997 18:30 | 5 |
3637.12 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Thu Jan 16 1997 19:50 | 7 |
3637.13 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Fri Jan 17 1997 11:52 | 3 |
3637.14 | | HYLNDR::BADGER | Can DO! | Fri Jan 17 1997 14:51 | 20 |
3637.15 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Fri Jan 17 1997 15:26 | 22 |
3637.16 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Fri Jan 17 1997 15:40 | 9 |
3637.17 | OK you want to land your plane | 2975::MACHON | | Fri Jan 17 1997 17:30 | 3 |
3637.18 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Fri Jan 17 1997 17:36 | 8 |
3637.19 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Jan 17 1997 17:55 | 18 |
3637.20 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Fri Jan 17 1997 18:22 | 12 |
3637.21 | Are you the ones that just got the new Video store? | VAXCPU::michaud | Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker | Fri Jan 17 1997 18:48 | 20 |
3637.22 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Fri Jan 17 1997 19:26 | 11 |
3637.23 | | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Sat Jan 18 1997 22:14 | 12 |
3637.24 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Mon Jan 20 1997 14:26 | 13 |
3637.25 | | PCBUOA::MEDRICK | | Mon Jan 20 1997 14:46 | 12 |
3637.26 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Mon Jan 20 1997 15:07 | 22 |
3637.27 | What is the real issue here? | TUXEDO::BAKER | | Mon Jan 20 1997 20:59 | 47 |
3637.28 | foreign aircraft maybe? | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Tue Jan 21 1997 09:29 | 21 |
3637.29 | | HYLNDR::BADGER | Can DO! | Tue Jan 21 1997 11:07 | 25 |
3637.30 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Mon Jan 27 1997 15:20 | 5 |
| I see posters in MK0 about going to the PB meeting and expressing you
(negative) view of this...
Steve
|
3637.31 | | USCD::mko-ras-port-20.mko.dec.com::Heuss | Forward into the past.... | Mon Jan 27 1997 15:26 | 160 |
3637.32 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Mon Jan 27 1997 15:56 | 11 |
| Thanks...
I brought the article in today and hadn't had a chance to type it..
BTW - I got notice on Saturday that the board is now scheduling a
3rd public hearing on Feb 18, so that they can incorporate comments
received at tomorrow nights hearing...
Cheers,
jeff
|
3637.33 | | NETCAD::MORRISON | Bob M. LKG2-A/R5 226-7570 | Mon Jan 27 1997 20:15 | 11 |
| What I'm most concerned about re the Globe article is that the proponents
were able to get this bill thru the Legislature with almost no publicity.
People should not have to call their legislators every week to ask if there
are any bills coming up that could affect them. It is the press's responsibil-
ity to keep people informed about issues like this, and it is the legislature's
responsibility to notify the press (and, indirectly, the public). It's clear
to me the Weyler wanted this bill to go thru with as little fanfare as
possible. And that is wrong.
I feel compassion for the people in Brentwood who feel the only way they
can regain a sense of security is to sell their house and move. Whether their
fears are well-founded or not, they are obviously living in fear.
|
3637.34 | so what is the best way to inform the public? | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Tue Jan 28 1997 08:34 | 7 |
| >>People should not have to call their legislators every week to ask if there
>>are any bills coming up that could affect them. It is the press's responsibil-
Amen.
bjm
|
3637.35 | | HYLNDR::BADGER | Can DO! | Tue Jan 28 1997 10:55 | 8 |
| the article also demonstrates the need to immediately get something in
place least a grandfather could occur. It appears as though
the planning board is acting very responsibly for town residents.
the story also demonstrates that perhaps you can't work it out with the
pilot as was previously mentioned.
ed
|
3637.36 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Tue Jan 28 1997 12:58 | 2 |
| But, in New Hampshire, you have to understand who and what is passing
these lofty laws.....
|
3637.37 | Watching Gov't In Action Takes A Strong Stomach | SMURF::LIU | My Beer? Scudrunner Dark... | Tue Jan 28 1997 13:49 | 54 |
|
Well thought out public policy clearly states what the true
goal is and then lays out fair means to get to that goal.
If the town of Merrimack desires to ban any of its residents
from operating any kind of flying machine from any surface
within town limits, then they should say that. Then that
goal can be debated and voted up or down.
What it looks like Merrimack is doing, is trying to regulate
an activity that they do not understand. The proposed
ordinance asks individuals to get a state agency to grant an
approval, but that state agency says that they have never
been in the business of approving what the town is asking.
The town has chosen to try and codify some noise values for
this one activity, and to assign some minimum land-use size,
and structure requirements. But when you look at the
list of requirements, its obvious that the drafters need to
do more homework. Haste makes bad law that is easily
challenged in the courts. Better to take more time and
make rules that will stand up to scrutiny and can be
applied fairly.
Current use, such as aircraft operation on Baboosic Lake,
and the individual(s) who already fly from their property,
are grandfathered. So this will activity will continue.
If the town rushes to enact a poor ordinance to head off
one individual from doing something, that individual has
an excellent chance of getting a court to knock down the
ordinance. Its a catch-22. If the town does a bad job,
they will wind up losing. If they go slow, then existing
users are grandfathered. BUT! if the enact a hasty, and
badly formed, ordinance and later have it struck down,
they risk having to allow more folks to get established
before they can come up with a better ordnance. Bad law
is always a bad idea.
Another perspective is the real risk vs. the perceived risk.
Seems like everyone these days lives in fear. But when you
look at the real numbers, many more folks have trees fall on
them, fall off ladders, slip in the bathtub, and get hit
by drunk drivers, than get any kind of injury from any
aviation activity. So you have to balance how you respond
to folks fears, with those individual's responsibility to
own and deal with those fears themselves. Some folks are
afraid of trains. Do we ban railroad crossings and force
all tracks to tunnel under roads? Anyway, if you start
banning anything that makes one person fearful, then our
society will grind to a halt.
But small town politics is not about common sense or making
good ordinaces. And Merrimack politics has managed to get
itself nationally known for trying to push the clock back
much farther than the Wright brothers. Glad I don't live
there.
|
3637.38 | | DRAGN::BOURQUARD | This is not here | Tue Jan 28 1997 14:03 | 11 |
| >> RE .33
>> It is the press's responsibil-
>> ity to keep people informed about issues like this,
No, the press is part of the entertainment industry and the only real
responsibility they have is to sell newspapers and make a profit for their
shareholders. That's pretty much where their responsibility ends. I don't
want a newspaper taking the responsibility for the information I receive.
That's MY responsibility and mine alone!
Dan
|
3637.39 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Tue Jan 28 1997 14:04 | 2 |
| Wow! What are they going to do with them helli pads in MKO?:) Should be
really funny....
|
3637.40 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Tue Jan 28 1997 16:21 | 17 |
| re: the bigger problem of "quiet legislation"...
I learned something the other day that was quite interesting (I don't
know if this is how this particular law was passed though).
NH recently passed a bill that now makes it OK to add any admendment to
any pending bill, whether it is related to the issues in that bill or
not! As a result, the public needs to be more vigilant in reading all
of the bills and amendments, not just bills that sound like they
affect you. So, for example, an amendment to allow toxic waste dumps
can be added to a highway safety bill.
Good or bad, right or wrong, this is the way it is in NH.
Cheers,
jeff (who is learning a lot about politics!)
|
3637.41 | want to be informed? let your fingers do the walking... | R2ME2::DEVRIES | downsized: your footage may vary | Tue Jan 28 1997 17:28 | 38 |
| re: the press's responsibility
.38 is dead on. It's the press's responsibility to sell papers or broadcast
time. If they happen to find that that end is served by dispensing some
information, swell. Otherwise, it's all features or music or talk or some
other fluff.
re: quietly becoming a law
How poetic. Almost *every* law "quietly becomes a law" unless you care
enough to dig out the facts.
For starters, look at Webster, the NH state government's online service at
http://www.state.nh.us/. You can drill down and find the airport law from
last year. Not that it looks all that dangerous in this form.
re: the state let's the locals decide what they want to do about it
How very new Hampshire. How did that all of a sudden become sinister.
re: the danger
That's a fine comparison of relative dangers a few back. We take the
automotive carnage for granted (nationally, the equivalent of the total
Viet Nam death toll *every year*). How logical is it to carp about this
private plane thing? Eight people a year? More people than that die falling
down stairs. Do we legislate ranch-style houses for everyone? And who
volunteers to have his or her house be razed as the first demonstration
of compliance?
What the 90's needs is a little more perspective. Not everything is equally
grave, even though it's written in the same point size.
-Mark
|
3637.42 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Tue Jan 28 1997 18:08 | 6 |
| RE: .40
Exactly how it works in Washington or doesn't work depending
on your point of view... :-(
-John
|
3637.43 | | NETCAD::MORRISON | Bob M. LKG2-A/R5 226-7570 | Tue Jan 28 1997 18:59 | 20 |
| >No, the press is part of the entertainment industry and the only real
>responsibility they have is to sell newspapers and make a profit for their
>shareholders.
This is true of the broadcast press, because there is a limited number of
channels available and the startup and operating costs are so high that only
those stations that have a large audience can survive. However, for the print
press it is fairly easy for someone to organize a small company and publish
a newspaper on their own. So if the big papers don't cover the important
stuff properly, and a large segment of the public knows this, it should be
possible for someone to start a new paper that DOES provide this coverage.
I know this is not always possible. For example, about 20 years someone
tried to start a less conservative alternative to the Union Leader and it
folded after a short time.
I still feel that the press has a moral responsibility to cover that which
is important, even if they think it is less profitable to do so.
If it is indeed the case the people must call their legislators every week
to find out if there is are any "hidden" bills on the floor that affect them,
then the phone company had better put in a lot more phone lines, or else we
will be getting a lot of busy signals.
|
3637.44 | | NETCAD::MORRISON | Bob M. LKG2-A/R5 226-7570 | Tue Jan 28 1997 19:03 | 10 |
| > That's a fine comparison of relative dangers a few back. We take the
> automotive carnage for granted (nationally, the equivalent of the total
> Viet Nam death toll *every year*).
I am one of the few people who do NOT take this for granted. And there are
some things we can do about it that we are not doing, but I won't go
further down this rathole here.
I personally would not live in fear if someone were landing and taking off
a small plane in the field next to my house, as long as my house was not
directly under the flight path. I would, however, be disturbed by the noise.
|
3637.45 | | MKOTS3::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Wed Jan 29 1997 12:14 | 4 |
| Whelp. Then if they can attach a nuke waste dump to highway
improvement. I wanna add a quite muffler to the dam bikies, and want to
have all motorcycle owners have 10 acres of land to land their bikes
on.:)
|
3637.46 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Wed Jan 29 1997 12:38 | 22 |
| Interesting meeting last night...
Out of about 75 people, I was the only pro aviation speaker. I pointed
out the errors and absurdities in their proposal. A large number of
people felt that the restrictions were not enough, and that the
proposal should ban them.
I expect that the next revision will propose a ban on powered aircraft
in Merrimack. And, if last night was an indication, the ban will
likely be passed.
While I will lobby and vote against the ban, at least the wording and
intent of the change will be clearer so that the voters can get what
they ask for... If voted for, I will be happy to live with the voters
wishes. I just hope that if this change is voted down, that the
proponents will accept the community's wishes as well.
Anyone else reading this at the meeting last night? Comments?
Cheers,
jeff
|
3637.47 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Wed Jan 29 1997 12:49 | 7 |
| > If voted for, I will be happy to live with the voters wishes.
Keep on fighting them. Just because the "majority" votes for it,
it doesn't mean its legal. The constitution is there to prevent
the "majority" from trampling the rights of the "minority".
-John
|
3637.48 | | VAXCPU::michaud | Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker | Wed Jan 29 1997 14:23 | 5 |
| > Keep on fighting them. Just because the "majority" votes for it,
> it doesn't mean its legal. The constitution is there to prevent
> the "majority" from trampling the rights of the "minority".
Someone should tell the RR that ...
|
3637.49 | | BIRDIE::POWIS | | Wed Jan 29 1997 14:46 | 4 |
| Just curious -- if you fly from your own land in
Merrimack, or for that matter, any town in close proximity
to an airport, are you required to contact the air traffic
control folks? Or, does one "just wing it" :-)
|
3637.50 | | MSBCS::BROCK | Son of a Beech | Wed Jan 29 1997 15:23 | 14 |
| The term 'just wing it' unfortunately does not do justice to the detail and
preparation which should go into EVERY flight - from a 747 to something
much smaller. There is a reason that becoming a private pilot takes a
whole lot of hours of study, a whole lot of hours of flying with an
instructor, and, unfortunately, a whole lot of money associated with
both of the above. I think that no one flying 'just wings it'.
Having said all that, the answer to 'contact traffic control' is 'It
depends'.
Unless an aircraft is flying in certain designated airspaces, and/or is
flying when certain weather conditions prevail, there is not a need,
requirement, or value in conversing with 'traffic control'. In fact,
the value that 'traffic control' brings to aviation is often
misunderstood and often over-rated.
|
3637.51 | | NETCAD::MORRISON | Bob M. LKG2-A/R5 226-7570 | Wed Jan 29 1997 19:37 | 7 |
| >> it doesn't mean its legal. The constitution is there to prevent
>> the "majority" from trampling the rights of the "minority".
> Someone should tell the RR that ...
In what way is the railroad trampling the rights of the minority? Or does
"RR" means something else in this context?
|
3637.52 | | QUARRY::neth | Craig Neth | Thu Jan 30 1997 17:09 | 1 |
| I think RR meant 'Religious Right'
|
3637.53 | They even spelt your last name correctly :-) | VAXCPU::michaud | Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker | Fri Jan 31 1997 04:20 | 11 |
| > Out of about 75 people, I was the only pro aviation speaker.
BTW, in case you didn't know yet, you got mentioned in
the article in Thursdays paper:
"Resident Jeff Friedrichs spoke in favor of allowing the
use of aircraft in residential zones, but till criticized
the prposed amendment because he felt in its current form
it places undue restrictions on aircraft owners."
... "Residents will vote April 8 on all proposed amendments."
|
3637.54 | unexpected support | R2ME2::DEVRIES | downsized: your footage may vary | Fri Jan 31 1997 16:41 | 12 |
| re: .48
>> Keep on fighting them. Just because the "majority" votes for it,
>> it doesn't mean its legal. The constitution is there to prevent
>> the "majority" from trampling the rights of the "minority".
>
> Someone should tell the RR that ...
Assuming that the RR is a minority itself, I think you've just given us
great encouragement. Thanks! :-)
-Mark
|
3637.55 | Democracy isn't majority rule | FOUNDR::DODIER | Double Income, Clan'o Kids | Mon Feb 03 1997 13:20 | 18 |
| Re: last few
Unless there are *valid* concerns, I don't see where it's fair to
just ban something like this. Obviously, you'll never have a majority
of people at a town meeting that want to have their own landing strip.
The safety issue has already been shown to be insignificant. So if
it's a noise issue, there should already be laws on the books that
anyone should have to conform to. If neighbor A can't fly his plane
because it's too loud, but neighbor B can run his chainsaw all day
that's just as loud, then this is an unfair law.
Some people think that democracy is a "majority rule" situation,
but it's not. Sounds like a call to some of the major network news
stations might be worth while.
Ray
|
3637.56 | things are different now | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Mon Feb 03 1997 16:52 | 7 |
| >> of people at a town meeting that want to have their own landing strip.
It does not matter if they all show up at town meeting. They have to show
up a month later at the TOWN VOTE.
Brian J. - who does not expect 2/3 of the town to vote for a rebuild of my
road.
|
3637.57 | What I meant, but... | FOUNDR::DODIER | Double Income, Clan'o Kids | Mon Feb 03 1997 19:49 | 6 |
| Re: last
So does 2/3's of the town have to vote for this bill for this ban
to take affect ?
Ray
|
3637.58 | big ticket items require 2/3 of all votes | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Tue Feb 04 1997 09:15 | 21 |
| >> So does 2/3's of the town have to vote for this bill for this ban
>> to take affect ?
I doubt it. The 2/3's vote is for BONDed warrant items, which the 613K price
tag of Seaverns Bridge Road qualifies for.
My guess is its a "simple majority" has to vote for it.
Since I have not seen the question, I guess it could be worded like:
* We are going to ban private air strips. Check NO if you don't want
this to happen.
Or
* Check YES if you would you like to ban private air strips.
So either a 50% yes or no, depending on the wording :-)
bjm
|
3637.59 | Local politics | FOUNDR::DODIER | Double Income, Clan'o Kids | Wed Feb 05 1997 16:25 | 7 |
| re:last
Great, so the one person with the plane shows up to vote against 2
or 3 emotional neighbors, who have not proven they have any *valid*
concern, and it's a done deal ? That sucks.
Ray
|
3637.60 | | TLE::REAGAN | All of this chaos makes perfect sense | Wed Feb 05 1997 16:50 | 10 |
| It isn't just "local politics", its just poor turnout in all elections.
It is hard to make statistical claims about the concerns of the
electorate when only a handful show up to vote.
It makes me laugh when a politician claims a "mandate" when they
win an election by a large margin (of those voting) when only
15-20% of all registered voters even voted! In those races, I
say apathy won...
-John
|
3637.61 | | NUBOAT::HEBERT | Captain Bligh | Thu Feb 06 1997 13:51 | 8 |
| In the 1996 Presidential election, less than 1/2 of the voters turned out
to vote. Of those who did, less than 1/2 voted for Clinton.
He was elected by less than 1/4 of the elegible voters.
Nobody cares about apathy any more B^)
Art
|
3637.62 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Mon Feb 10 1997 13:38 | 33 |
| (reposted with Item 8 info added)
Well, over the weekend I received the final wording of the articles...
The following will all be added if Item 1 is approved by the voters.
Permitted residential uses:
"Aircraft takeoffs and landings on private land by the owner of such
land or by a person who resides on such land are not valid and
permitted accessory uses"
Definitions:
"Airport/Heliport/aircraft: An area of land or water providing certain
specified facilities and services for use in connection with air
transportation which could be used as a site for landing and taking off
of aircraft. Aircraft means any engine power contrivance for air
transportation"
Permitted Use:
"The use or operation of equipment, vehicles or aircraft, including
aircraft takeoffs and landings, for the purpose of emergency response,
medical necessity, public safety, emergency landing, media coverage,
building construction, equipment installation or political
campaigning."
Item 8 also addresses airport/heliports in the "Aquifer Conservation
District" and sets heliports and airports - including aircraft
refueling, deicing and maintainance as "regulated uses" in all Aquifer
Conservation Districts.
|
3637.63 | Vote No on Item 1! | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Mon Feb 10 1997 13:46 | 54 |
| BTW - The public hearing on these changes will be on Feb 18, 7:30pm.
It is my understanding that the result of this hearing will be simply
whether or not to include each item on the ballot in April. If there
is opposition to the proposed wording, there is not enough time to
rewrite it and still get it in front of the voters this year.
My comments:
- I am happy that it is now much clearer to the voters what they are
voting for or against.
_ I am happy that they included my change in the definition of
aircraft. That appears to protect my radio control airplane use.
- I am surprised that they left "political campaigning" in as there
was a fair amount of opposition voiced about this loophole in the
2nd public hearing. The way I see it, as long as I am filed as running
for any public office, I can paint "vote for me" on the side and then
fly out of my private property. But since the item refers to
"equipment, vehicles or aircraft", they had to leave it in. Otherwise,
cars with "vote for me" could not be parked in residential areas
either.
- Under the new wording, I can't fly off my land, but my neighbor can
fly off my land. Or I can fly off his!
- This still doesn't address Baboosic Lake and the Merrimack River..
Actually, perhaps it can't because I suspect that the lake itself can
not be (is not) zoned residential.
- For whatever reason, they decided not to ban flights in the
commercial district. That is interesting. (FWIW -
Digital/Sanders/Fidelity are all in the Industrial zone, and there was
never any attempt to restrict flights into those zones).
- With the changes in Item 8, I wonder what I need to do if I want to
work on my airplane that is sitting in my garage. The current wording
would imply that I need approval. Yet my neighbor can restore his
car and not be regulated... Hmmm..
I am still against the ban (Item 1). If there are noise or safety
concerns, then address and apply those equally to all residents, no
matter what they are doing. To paraphrase the helicopter pilot, "My
neighbors want to enjoy the peace and quiet of my land, without paying
for it." There is a lot of truth to that statement..
Item 8 clarifies overall is needed though. I will question the board,
and perhaps I will have to get approval, but I can't imagine why they
would turn me down.
Cheers,
jeff
|
3637.64 | | VAXCPU::michaud | Jeff Michaud - ObjectBroker | Wed Feb 26 1997 22:46 | 10 |
| > In the 1996 Presidential election, less than 1/2 of the voters turned out
> to vote. Of those who did, less than 1/2 voted for Clinton.
Just keep in mind however it's hard to compare his popular vote
in the 1996 or 1992 elections with the popular votes received by
most if not all the Presidents in recent times. That's because
the last two elections were as close to being 3-way races as any
Presidential election that I can recall. With a 2-way race, baring
a tie, or a substantial "anybody but those 2" vote, receiving at
least a simple majority of the popular vote is not hard to do.
|
3637.65 | | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | Ask me about Young Eagles | Fri Apr 04 1997 14:10 | 8 |
|
Merrimack voters, don't forget to vote on Tuesday, April 8.
Oh, and btw - I encourage you to vote NO to Article 2.
Cheers,
jeff
|