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Unfair to blame police
Friday, June 11, 2004
To
The Sentinel:
I recently read the
letter to the editor written by the Keene Police Officer's
Association president, Officer John Stewart, and at first
I did what everyone else probably did: read it, thought about
what was said and put the paper away. However after
thinking about what was said in the letter and then listening
to what I hear on the television and the radio about the increased
threats against this country, I feel compelled to write my
own letter.
Being a police officer
is a job not many people are willing to do. They are our first
line of protection. How would you like to go to work knowing
that, through the course of any given day, you will be lied
to, cursed at, screamed at, threatened, hurt or killed? It
takes people who are truly dedicated and are trying to make
a difference in this world so you can feel safe. People
in law enforcement work extremely hard for very little pay.
They have a tough job as it is, and saying that they are to
blame for the increased taxes in the city of Keene is extremely
harsh and very untrue.
This city would not
survive without our police. Imagine having to drive on the
same streets with drunken drivers and people who violate all
the traffic laws, and that's just the beginning. Unless you
have been in police officers' shoes, you have no right to
judge them. Very rarely do people express how much they
appreciate people in law enforcement. It's truly a shame because
these men and women put their lives on the line for us every
day.
I would encourage all
the citizens in Keene to get behind the members of the police
force and support them. Don't blame them for the increase
in taxes. Educate yourself about what has been happening at
City Hall and make a decision to let your city councilors
know how we want to treat our emergency service workers who
are putting their lives at risk, daily. Keene is a wonderful
place to live and raise a family. It would not be that way
if we did not have the professional men and women working
in our police department. We need to support officers
who are passionate and willing to do this work, as it is not
easy work; nor is it easy for their families, as it is a huge
sacrifice they all make. Our city needs people like this.
DOREEN WINSTANLEY
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Dear
Officer Stewart,
We read
your letter to the editor in the May 19 Keene Sentinel. As Keene
taxpayers we felt compelled to act on your letter; and so, we sent
a letter to the city clerk for distribution to the Mayor and City
Council. In the letter we asked them to be generous in the upcoming
contract with the Keene Police Officer's Association regardless
of what impact it may have on our taxes. Living here on Church Street
we are very aware of how the quality of life in Keene would suffer
if you and your fellow officers were not patrolling our streets
day and night. Considering how much we taxpayers pay for questionable
activities in this city, the few extra dollars required to treat
our police department fairly seems more like an investment than
a tax. We are writing to you to let you know that at least some
of Keene's taxpayers support you. It is not that we are unconcerned
about our taxes. We dislike paying high taxes as much as the next
family. It is just that we make the distinction between value and
waste. We read in the news everyday about the new dangers of terrorism
in our country and a lot of those attacks may very well be directed
at our law enforcement people especially as they carry out their
duties. Just because we live in Keene does not make us immune to
these attacks and should they occur it is the policemen, firemen,
and emergency responders who will be taking the most risks. If there
are men and women willing to take these risks it is our duty to
make sure we support them as much as we can all of the time. Robert
J. & Constance J. Bowblis
Dear Editor:
As President of the Keene Police Officer's Association, I feel an
obligation to set the record straight in regards to the Keene Taxpayer's
comments in the article entitled, Group Wants Say on Budget dated
05/04/2004.
The article does not distinguish between the four different unions
and therefore lumps the members of the Keene Police Officer's Association
into the generalized category of "city employee unions".
I would not be so presumptuous to speak for the other Unions, however
the members of the Keene Police Officer's Association do understand
that anything and everything we do comes down to interpretation
and perception. We deal with "perceptions" on a daily basis.
I can't help but to feel that the Keene Taxpayer's Association perception
of the city employee unions is that they consist of a bunch of arrogant
and selfish individuals that want want want and do not care if the
taxes in Keene go up as a result of pay raises. This is absolutely
not true. The KPOA members and all other city employees
are regular people just like everyone else. We have bills to pay
and families to support. Most members of the Keene Police
Officers Association live within the city and pay property taxes
as well.
The belief that the city employees do not get a summary of their
benefits , including sick days, vacation and medical insurance is
simply inaccurate. Our weekly pay check stubs list our year to date
sick day and vacation day usage and accural. Further, the
negotiations process the employees are made keenly aware of the
cost of each of the benefits they receive.
I also want to assure the readers we are very aware of our medical
benefits and negotiate our medical benefits into our contract along
with other things that deal with terms and conditions of employment.
Within the last four years of our current contract the KPOA members
have experienced an increase cost to our membership of over 60%
in medical costs.
We are currently entering into contract negotiations with the City
of Keene with full knowledge of the rising costs of medical insurance
and with a concern for the best interests of the community in which
we live. Once again, we ourselves are very concerned with the city's
taxes seeing that the majority of our membership lives within the
City of Keene.
Sincerely,
Officer John Stewart
President
Keene Police Officer's Association
Group Wants Say on Budget
by
Rebecca Waddingham - Sentinel Staff ( 05/04/04 )
Pay and benefit increases for Keene's school and city employees
have the Keene Taxpayers Association worried, and the group wants
a say
on the city government's proposed 2004-05 budget.
The taxpayers group, meeting Wednesday night, questioned City Councilor
Philip "Dale" Pregent about the budget process and how employees
are told about their pay and benefits.
Leonard E. Chaloux said he believes city and school employees should
get a summary of their benefits; including sick days, vacation and
medical insurance.
"It brings a reality check as to just how good a deal they've got
as a public-service employee, " Chaloux said.
Judith M. Bright, chairman of the taxpayers group, said she beleives
city and school employees don't have much information about or interest
in their benefits packages.
"Rarely is it raised by the City Council," she lamented.
Bright also blasted pay raises in the proposed city budget, calling
them "tantamount to lunacy."
She said Keene property taxes will have to increase because city
and school employee unions refuse to pay more for medical insurance.
Pregent in his first term as a city councilor, said he's learning
the ropes and will raise the group's questions with the city council.
Pregent also urged members of the taxpayers group to read the city
budget, or at least be familiar with City Manager John A. Maclean's
recommendations.
"It would behoove all of you to go to city hall and, even if you
don't take a budget, read the first four pages," he said.
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