Column by Jack Spillanes When does a Metropolis Council meet in public, and who ought to have the ability to see or hear it? it impressed readers to present their opinions as nicely.

Maybe one of these gathering is authorized, however it’s unwise and pointless nonetheless, wrote one reader.

The column, in addition to tales about proposed septic laws, GNB Voc-Tech admissions coverage, and The Chat attracted reader responses. Here’s a assortment:

Jack Spillanes column

Native politics is poisonous enterprise. Members getting collectively socially to get to know one another is not a foul concept. Nonetheless, members have to be principled and maintain one another accountable on the first point out of enterprise. Greatest to maintain these meals quick and go away shortly so you do not dangle round and be tempted to speak about only one factor. Am I capable of do it?

Davide Oliveira

Maybe one of these gathering is authorized, however it’s nonetheless unwise and pointless. After all some citizen subject would come up at these gatherings, and naturally it will be practically inconceivable for these attendees to not someway specific their views, thus frightening a dialogue, nonetheless transient. If metropolis councilors wish to present their assist for metropolis establishments, they will present it as people, not as {couples}, trios or teams. And in the event that they wish to know what their constituents take into consideration a difficulty, they will and may elevate that subject as a speaking level in neighborhood conferences. In reality, I encourage neighborhood assembly attendees to ask for that kind of trade to turn into an integral a part of these conferences.

Catherine Adamowicz

Who ought to bear the price of environmental cures?

The current try and mandate septic system upgrades by non-public property house owners calls to thoughts an analogous state of affairs the place underdeveloped nations are being drafted in to take part in environmental and local weather mitigation actions at their very own expense.

For low-income householders, the proposed laws are extraordinarily expensive and could be imposed on people who, by means of no fault of their very own, are topic to environmental laws that implement expensive enhancements or remediation.

In some methods, on a microscopic scale, that is just like the stress exerted on newly growing international locations to hitch local weather mitigation applications which can be past their monetary capabilities by the wealthier industrialized international locations that prompted the crises. environmental.

And so too are householders who may have to put in new, extra environment friendly septic programs to alleviate a water contamination they did not trigger have been enacted by lawmakers who, generally, can bear the expense if they’re affected by this regulation .

Contamination of Bliss Nook property is one other instance of the imposition of attainable legal responsibility, and huge bills, on property house owners whose soil could comprise harmful contaminants which have traditionally been discharged onto their property, previous to their possession, or with out their information or permission.

Common efforts to counter life-threatening environmental and local weather disasters unfolding with rising ferocity and lethal penalties are encouraging, however the expense can’t be borne equally by all nations or particular person property house owners.

It’s stupendously unfair to pressure underdeveloped, innocent and in lots of instances previously exploited international locations to take part by financing and giving up entry to the sources obligatory for improvement, with out larger assist from the key industrialized nations. And it’s equally unfair to victimize landlords to subsidize mitigating enhancements to their property.

Maybe it’s the nations, regional governing our bodies, non-public trade and polluters who may be recognized by causation, who ought to pay the price of enhancing and preserving the surroundings and eradicating harmful pollution from the ambiance and from water sources.

Betty Ussach, Darmouth

A compromise for voc-tech admissions

I’ve learn with curiosity the controversy over admissions requirements at New Bedford Vocational Technical Excessive Faculty. The implication that requirements are pointless for commerce faculties, as critics of present coverage declare, in response to the associated article by Colin Hogan, is, for my part, patronizing and offensive to all folks working in trades in all places .

That stated, I’ve a compromise to supply for dialogue. As one criticism has been that companies and trades in New Bedford are affected by a scarcity of worker purposes as a result of GNB Voc-Tech sends too many graduates to varsity, maybe the GPA requirement might be lowered, however nonetheless requires strict adherence to information attendance, demeanor and English, all expertise important to anybody’s success in any stroll of life. ESL college students shouldn’t be barred, however they need to be required to be fluent within the language earlier than commencement.

With out these habits and expertise, regardless of how excessive your IQ is, you’ll not achieve success in life. It’s important that we educate it to our younger folks, each in vocational faculties and in college-preparatory faculties. GNB Voc-tech has been a task mannequin on this regard and must be applauded and adopted, not destroyed by revivalist politics.

Former South Dartmouth resident Julie Rhind lives in Westwood.

The Chat

I watched Jack Spillane’s interview with Mark Fuller and was disillusioned. Why did not Jack ask the chancellor why the liberal arts are taking place the drain at UMD? Fuller famous that the most recent workplace and classroom constructing on campus is the brand new enterprise constructing. Enterprise is the essence of the place. In the meantime, they patched up the dilapidated Liberal Arts Constructing and took half the books from the library. UMD has turn into, at its core, a enterprise college, with ancillary skilled applications in engineering, nursing, legislation, and marine sciences. Oh, and possibly some (digital) artwork. The liberal arts, nonetheless, are virtually useless. Neither Spillane nor Fuller had something to say about literature, historical past, political science, and even physics. Nobody ever thinks about issues like that. The boys have been too busy speaking about sports activities.

I understand it is all about comfort, {dollars} and cents. Many college students, and positively lawmakers, suppose solely of cash, jobs, grants, funding, building, enlargement, and scores by US Information and World Reviews. Nonetheless, I can not assist however want somebody considered studying, folks getting a very good schooling. I suppose that reveals how old style and out of contact I’m. This is without doubt one of the causes I retired very early from UMD virtually 20 years in the past. I may see the route the college was heading in and I did not wish to go there.

Dartmouth resident Jim Hijiya taught at Southeastern Massachusetts College and the UMD historical past division from 1978 to 2003.

Thanks for our sponsors

Founding Benefactors: Joan and Irwin Jacobs fund of the Jewish Neighborhood Basis, Mary and Jim Ottaway