Snuffer becomes latest official to come on the radio

Walpole Selectman Cliff Snuffer came on to The Sam Obar Show on Jan. 23 to do an interview with me.  We predominantly discussed the police station proposal he is pushing for, but we also discussed issues like zoning and Allied Recycling.  The interview reinforced my belief that Mr. Snuffer really is a selectman for the people who looks out for the best interests of the community and its residents.  After the interview, Mr. Snuffer showed me a list of what his priorities are as selectman and what he promised he would do when he ran.  He keeps the list with him, and uses it to remind himself he really is the people's selectman.  This is reflected in the way that he voted on zoning and on Allied Recycling.  While the rest of the Board was looking the other way on Allied, he and Nancy Mackenzie were the only ones who voted not to renew their business license this year.

While I learned a lot during the interview, and found Snuffer to be extremely insightful, I have not yet decided whether I will support the new police station.

The interview is available here.

Here are some quotes from Mr. Snuffer about the police station:

Regarding saving money by not hiring a designer and using existing plans from other police stations: "I see no reason in the world why on a 55-acre site of which we will be taking some 3-5 acres of utilization we could not as on a plain piece of white 8.5 by 11 piece of paper do a simple drop-in design."

Regarding the concerns neighbors have about the proposed station and the impact on Johnson Middle School: "I think it's very important that it's known that from the very beginning, we have indicated that this process would involve as the first group of citizens, the Robbins Road residents."

One particular quote continues to disturb me: "Right now, the plan is for a solid 50-year life expectancy."  I did not bother asking: Then does this mean in another 50 years Walpole will be facing yet another frantic search for a new police station and a new override?  I would hope not.

Other highlights of the Snuffer interview:

"It is my opinion that Chris Timson, the chairman of the board of selectmen, is on to something when he talks about affordable housing, perhaps of the senior variety [in the old library building]".

"From what I understand, the senior center into that type of a building (the old library), while it is a good thought, as are other spaces, doesn't seem to fit whatever their seemed criteria is."

"I actually agree a little with you (Sam) [on the town website].  I believe there are a half dozen areas [on the website] that could be spruced up.  [...]  But I think it could use some improvement.  I think we could do a lot of online licensing."

"I believe that my opinion should have prevailed [on not renewing the license for Allied Recycling]"

"You could probably sell seats to the fireworks for $100 apiece on the roof [of the new library]"

"People don't realize that the parking that you see behind the buildings on Main Street we don't own that - the town does not own that."

"What have we had a result of our zoning?  Power plants, we've had recycling areas, we've had regional trash transfer facilities, we've had sludge.  I mean I can give you the litany of why Walpole is a cursed community relative to that.  Let's make it a better one by having a little more common sense as we approach the fall town meeting which is where the zoning will come back."