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- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 6:51 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Kenny
With your way of thinking your going end up upsetting some people on this corkboard . Welcome aboard.
Mark2
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 4:31 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
"Greg, I have all my shots:) "
Whew! I for one will sleep better...
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 4:30 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Really, you guys. How hard is it to get down to the Town Hall to pick up a dog license? We all have to buy dog food, take them to the vet's etc. A once a year visit to the Town Hall is not a bad thing. The process is really fast; compared to a 40 pound bag of dog food, it's really cheap; and the people in the town clerk's office are friendly and efficient (they have dogs too). There are even dedicated parking spaces within 30 feet of the Town Hall front door. I got licenses for Trixie and Pudge in under ten minutes, though it did take a while for me to find their rabies certificates. Apparently my vet is not yet turning us in electronically or otherwise and I don't really think it's a piece of "privacy" that I'd sweat about maintaining anyway. Let's worry about the big stuff.............
Also, let's go a little lightly on the "gestapo" thing. I know some people who have real gestapo stories and they don't have anything to do with Montague police, dog officers, or town officers reminding people that it's a dog owner's responsibility to buy a license.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 4:11 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Kenny
I like your way of thinking. In this electronic world it would seem the vets could fax or email all documents to the town. And the town could tack on the fee to our property taxes, they have no problem taxing me for my business tools and
computers office equipment etc, all of which I already paid taxes on. But no that would be too hard to figure out. Greg, I have all my shots:)
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 3:31 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
$5 per dog for a town tax collector to simply look at a vaccine paper and file it. Multiply that times all dogs in town. Wow, that's a lot of cash. I know this official already collects a salary from us tax payers so why then does she still need more money to do her job that she is already paid for of checking rabies papers? If they wanted to take this seriously then they wouldn't have laid off the dog officer and spread his salary to other town officials. Besides the fact that the town threatens its tax payers with Gestapo tactics to collect they also offer no services for pet owners. No dog officer, no dog park, no rabies vaccines. It's simply another tax that funds their salaries more. It's a conflict of interest. Once again I want to make the point that I feel all pet owners should be responsible. My pups are like our children in the house. I have no problem in paying the vet (whom by the way now reports ownership of animals to your town) for my pups vaccines. I do have a problem with them reporting ownership without my consent and if they can do that then why can't they also show proof of vaccine? We could eliminate the need for the town official who briefly glances at the certificate. Just have our veterinarian do it when they report us to the town. I have a privacy issue with the vet too now in case you couldn't tell.
I've heard so many stories about the "non highlights" of police duty. However they are the ones choosing their careers. If I was apposed to protecting freedom then I wouldn't have joined and served in the military. If they don't agree with the town using their duty to "protect and serve" as a Gestapo tax collection agency I would choose another career. That's based on morals though.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 3:01 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
"After I changed my shorts I drove as fast as I could through red lights over side walks through people yards to get there before they closed for their big 4 day week, I'm still shaking just talking about it"
Mark2 your sarcasm is always enjoyable.
Kenny,
Why do you think the town charges $10 for a dog fee? To ensure that all dogs have been properly vaccinated for rabies. Towns have to take this responsibility seriously. If a dog owner was "too busy" to get the annual vaccination and their pet strays onto Mark2's property and bites him or some other rabid animal. The dog runs a real chance of contracting rabies and spreading it further.
The fee is one way of insuring that each pet is inoculated and that the cost of that monitoring gets paid for. As far as the police involvement I don't think its a real highlight of their job either.
Disregard the Mark2 reference...I'm sure he has had his shots ;)
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:47 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Scares the hell out of me too. That's why I want to get a discussion going about it. More people should utilize what could be a very powerful tool. This town blogging site. I always wonder what the silent majority really thinks. I know they don't vote. It would be nice to get everyone's opinion though. Who has the time though right?
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:37 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
I have a message on my answering machine of the town collector's office telling me that if she wasn't paid by the end of this week that the police would come collect the fee money plus the delinquent fine. However I don't know if it's only scare tactic or if the town would actually send the Gestapo to collect. It's wrong enough for me to take the time and try to reach out to other citizens to see how they would feel and time is in short supply. I know growing up in RI we were never threatened with police for not licensing our pets.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:31 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
I mean what if you take your dog out for some ice cream and the police come up to you and demand to see your papers, oh wait that's something else.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:27 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Greg I got the dreaded call last year About my 2 dogs. I was told to come in and pay the fine or the police would "deal" with it. After I changed my shorts I drove as fast as I could through red lights over side walks through people yards to get there before they closed for their big 4 day week, I'm still shaking just talking about it
Mark2
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:26 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.
I did have my girlfriend go in on her day off and pay the dog license fee and as stated, I have no problems with that. My problem is the threat of using the local police as a collection agency when the same money is what pays their salaries. It's a conflict of interest. Plus the money goes into a "General Fund" which does nothing for local pet owners.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:25 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
> Having the police come to your house for the above-named purposes (if they do indeed do that) doesn't support a good working relationship, in my opinion.
... and any town official that suggests they will sick the police on you for not paying a dog tag fee should be reprimanded somehow.
The Montague Police Department is not a collection agency. What is this, a Military State, or, er... Town?!?
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:23 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
"That said, having the police come to your residence to make inquiries and/or collect the money reminds me of Mark's line, "Show me your papers!"
Has this actually happened or has anyone verified the information confirming the supposed "gestapo" tactics?
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:22 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
I think using the police as scare tatic becUse someone did not license fluffy is a little much. I should hope the police have better things to do like rid downtown turners of gangs, drugs, illegal immigrants, etc etc.
Mark2
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:17 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
I totally agree that people should be responsible pet owners and file the paperwork with the town. That said, having the police come to your residence to make inquiries and/or collect the money reminds me of Mark's line, "Show me your papers!"
I like to think that residents of the town and the town officials are working as partners. Having the police come to your house for the above-named purposes (if they do indeed do that) doesn't support a good working relationship, in my opinion.
Best,
Jonathan
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:13 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
"Using Gestapo tactics to use the local police for collecting is another."
Please...
You have a dog...the town requires a fee for having a dog...your responsible...Pay the fee.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 1:05 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
"I don't like our town police officers being used to come to people's homes for the purpose of collecting pet license fees. Sounds super sketchy to me. " Where are you papers!!!!! The town needs money and they want yours. It's only going to get worse so hold on to your wallet
Mark2
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 12:54 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
Thank you for your response. Only threats so far. Has anyone in Montague actually had the police come collect delinquent dog fees or is this scare tactics? Either way it's not right.
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 12:52 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
I don't like our town police officers being used to come to people's homes for the purpose of collecting pet license fees. Sounds super sketchy to me.
Jonathan
- Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 12:38 P
Threats from our Tax Collector
To the Residence of Montague,
I am curious as to what other folks in the Town of Montague think about the Tax Collector's office cold-calling people's homes about licensing their pets??? I simply don't have the time to take off work so I can pay the "General Fund" at the town's convenience. I also received a message stating that the information would be turned over to the town police who will then come collecting. Don't get me wrong. I think people should register their pets and any fee they have to pay should also be used towards the town's people's pets. Not dumped into a "General Fund". See there is a conflict of interest in the way the town if trying to collect. If the Tax Collector and the Police's salaries are paid out of the General Fund then it's a conflict that the town forcefully tries to collect the dog license money with threats from the Tax Collector of the Police coming to collect delinquent fees. I annually donate to the Fire Dept and Police Dept. However, after being threatened by the Town to use the local police to come collect I will no longer be donating any money to any town affiliate. Collect $10 and lose $200. I think our government from the town's up need to rethink what "freedom" means. Not just their paychecks. Requesting to show that your dog is up to date and asking for a donation is one thing. Using Gestapo tactics to use the local police for collecting is another. Let me know your view points. I'm curious what the rest of the silent majority thinks???
Kenn
- Thu, Jul 22, 2010, 12:49 A
Email blocked
I've been in touch with a few people in town hall about this as well. Should be rectified soon. Appears to be a stringent "content filter", meaning certain words in you email will trigger the filter on the town's email server.
They should be relaxing the filter rules in the next few days.
- Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 8:39 A
Email blocked
The Town has officially acknowledged the email problem and are suggesting printing and faxing / mailing your emails.
This is why the town needs to have an IT person or elected official with an IT background handling technical matters.
I'm not sure how you'll know when an email is blocked, but if you've received a bounce back from any montague-ma.gov address, could you forward bounce back message to mhenry@montaguematters.com.
- Thu, Jun 3, 2010, 8:28 A
Precinct 2 Meeting
I've been informed that there will be an ambulance meeting at the library tonight.
I guess we'll have to reconsider using the library.
- Fri, May 28, 2010, 11:52 A
Precinct 2 Meeting
I'd like to get together with other meeting members and residents prior to the meeting next Saturday to go over the warrant and budget. The meeting would also serve as a meet & greet.
I was thinking about meeting at the Millers Library around 6pm on June 3rd. My contact information is on my profile here.
- Thu, May 27, 2010, 11:24 A
Selectboard Declares Montague State of Emergency
STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen have declared a State of Emergency. Town hall has been closed due to power outage. Contact the Montague Police Department for emergency assistance at 413-863-8911.
