Posted on 12/14/2005 11:44:20 AM PST by frankjr
BELLINGHAM [MA] -- For too many years to recall, churches in town have been able to count on a kindness when the snow flies: Bellingham DPW plows would clear the church parking lots.
But this winter season, just in time for the holidays, the town has been forced to make a decidedly Grinch-like decision to end its charitable deeds when it comes to clearing the church lots during snowstorms.
"We will be curtailing that practice on the advice of (legal) counsel," Town Administrator Denis Fraine announced at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting last night.
A complaint letter from Lake Street resident Ernest Godbout was received by Fraine recently, objecting to the use of town equipment and personnel to clear the property of two churches in town, St. Bernard’s on Hartford Avenue and St. Blaise on South Main St.
...
Theof the complaint letter was not immediately available and Godbout could not be reached for comment, but Fraine said it had been shared with the American Civil Liberties Union.
(Excerpt) Read more at milforddailynews.com ...
No it was done because someone sees that a religion is being established by the towns plowing the Church lots for free. And though Church's do not pay property taxes, they do pay electric bills, heating bills and water bills/ Which if the services are provided by the municipality go into the City's coffers. The church most likely also provides charity to residents when approached by the municipality.
This is just someone being petty. I don't see why it should be a problem. Provided the town does the same for other similar places and restricts how often the plowing is done.
The ACLU is the Grinch, there is no doubt about it.
I don't care if a Church is a private organization and does not pay taxes. Public schools pay no taxes and only suck money out of the taxpayers wallet without much return yet their parking lots are plowed first.
Churches and other houses of worship are essential parts of every town in the United States.
I agree 100%. I have to budget to have the lot scraped at my sales center. It comes straight out of profit, as do the taxes we are assessed. If anything, the city has more business scraping my lot as I am part of a "for profit" company that generates a good chunk of tax revenue.
What, no snowplows in Miami? Then why did FEMA pay for all that ice removal down that way??? Just joking I live in Florida too. My children have never even seen a snow plow.
"Just because" has gone the way of "common sense" - both are in critical condition and aren't expected to last much longer.
No good deed goes unpunished.
If one person is offended...
God Be Out. This isn't Scrappleface, is it?
Yeah? Well so are small businesses. So are big businesses for that matter. I can get along fine with out churches, but I rely on gas stations, supermarkets, etc.
Whine , " They dont plow my driveway" Whine, sniff ,sniff.
What ever happened to courtesy, to good will,to doing the neighborly thing.
I am sure during the snow emergency they clear streets they salt they get the roads decent, on about the second or third day after they have everything in good shape they are in the neighborhood and make a couple of passes across the church lot or the American Legion lot, or for that matter the Volunteer Fire Dept. lot. Its kinda nice for the Fire Trucks to get out, but they dont pay taxes either. They usually use these lots to take their breaks in anyway.The parishioners at these churches pay taxes , the Legionnaires pay taxes. but no always somebody whining . They dont plow my driveway.
Yes the world is getting that way, If it doesnt benefit the whiners of the world it has to stop.
In exchange for a tax hike casting 10X more than paying a kid with a shovel, the town will be glad to do it. Just keep whining how you want it, and it'll happen.
TRANSLATION: "GOD HATING, JEALOUS ATHEIST WANTS TO BE ON O'REILLY"
Did they do all the churches in town, or just some? Did they plow the restaurant parking lots? The grocery stores?
I suspect not. I'd guess that they plowed the church parking lots where they were members.
Like I said, if they plow my driveway, I won't have a problem, even if the churches pay no taxes.
FEMA had to have the ice trucked in first, silly. THEN they paid to have it removed.
Yeah, you only think you can get along fine with out churches. Without churches, you become FRANCE when the muslims come.
Like I said, if they plow my driveway, I won't have a problem
Of course. “Don’t do anything nice for anybody if you ain’t doing it for me.”
Such is the way of the world these days. It's cold, impersonal, and nitpicky, but at least ain't nobody getting nothing you ain't getting.
GOD: "Sure you can..."
"What ever happened to courtesy, to good will,to doing the neighborly thing.
"
That's easy. I woke up this morning to about 6" of snow. So, after I had breakfast, I went out, fired up the snowblower and plowed my driveway. I plowed my neighbor's driveway, too, because he and I fish a lot together and he had to head out to work early.
When I finished with those two driveways, I went up the street to the home of an old lady of 80 and plowed her driveway, since she doesn't have much money and nobody in the area to plow it for her.
When I was done with the snowblower, I grabbed my snow shovels and shoveled the walks for all three houses.
That's what happened to all that stuff.
Just one guy sent a complaint letter? Man, I wish I had that kind of power! The appeasement of one for the good of many, I guess.
how long until no fire and police service either, I wonder?
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