Thanks Jim for the valuable info that our median age supposedly was 49.5 in
2011, 51.5 in 2012, 55.4 in 2013, as compared with 59.5 in 2015 and 64.___
in 2p016, all based upon the 2010 census. So our median age has grown 15
years in the last 5 years? At that rate our median age will reach 80in 2021
and 94 in 2026. I am inclined to question reliance on these figures, and if
we are going tomake decisions based on our median age, maybe we need to do
our own census. (-:
But you've given me "some confusion." You say, "I guess if I must attend
meetings to be a good citizen then
I'm not sure I'd have time for much of anything else " That's troubling, becauseSelectmen need to devote much more time to the taskoutsidde of meetings than in meetings For the last two years we were headed towards putting up $1.6 million in taxpayers' money to be paid back over 20 yearsfor fiber optics broadband for (then) 160 customers expected to pay that back at $10,000 each; we were being pushed by two gung-ho companies, a gung-hoTown Coordinator and a gung ho Broadband committee. But the Town Coordinator and Braodband Committee have come 'round and are now presenting the town with a proposal to put up 15% of the money for about an equal product, with a five-year payback period. David and the Committee should be given high marks for completely changing course in a few months, but we'd likely have signed up for an expensive bond issue the customers could never pay back if board members hadn't had "time for much of anything else" after the meetings. I've been beginning to feel that way, so needed toquit.
The median age, according to this website, for Warwick is 55.4 in 2014. It also showed that the median age in 2011 was estimated at 49.5, in 2012 at 51.5, in 2013 at 55.4 all based on the 2010 census figures. (http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml at the website type in the zip code then click on Age you may also click on Source: 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates) This does not seem to show an excessive change in the age of our residents. The population (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick,_Massachusetts) has been increasing since 1970 with slow growth rates from 1990. Nonetheless, a growth in population. My confusion lies in that I'm not sure from where a significant decline in population over the next 10 years would come or that we are somehow too old.
In response to Nick's comment that I do not regularly attend selectboard meetings I can only say that the reason that I choose to vote for folks with whom I place my trust (and for the most part it has proven to be fairly well placed) is so that I don't have to regularly attend these meetings. I absolutely read the minutes of each selectboard meeting which seems to keep me abreast of the machinations of our local government. I guess if I must attend meetings to be a good citizen then I'm not sure I'd have time for much of anything else given the trips to Boston and Washington, DC. But, I do vote and from time to time, attend selectboard meetings and write my congressmen and senators at the state and federal levels.
As far as the internet issue in this town goes, I don't think that the $240,000 that would be borrowed and paid back within 5 years is a large risk compared to other options. In terms of risk/benefit it seems the most viable solution. There is a significantly low risk to taxpayers and a significant improvement to the many residents who subscribe to Warwick Broadband. (I would presume that if the broadband were to be upgraded, there would be a new influx of customers.) The concept that a rural area would have an equal service of any sort to all of it's residents seems a little unrealistic although I suppose if you had come from a higher density population it would seem as though it should be so. I agree that Time Warner would be polite to us but, it is a large business where profit dictates policy and I cannot see that the company would outlay a fairly good chunk of change for an extremely low return on investment; there are plenty of other higher density population areas for them to service.
Jim Erviti
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