Animosity Towards Hubbard Park Lights??

[freefalling]

There has been some recent complaints towards the Hubbard Park lights about how they are being left on all night. I understand that the paper reported that there were timers on the lights, to eliminate that problem and save the city money. However, there are no timers and the lights have to be manually turned on and off everyday. This is not a bad thing though, because even if there were timers, some one would (or should) make a round to all the lights to make sure that they all turned on. If the ground faults for the lights get wet, they will automatically shut off and it takes about a day for them to dry off. Sometimes, people walk through the park and unplug the lights as a prank. The timers cannot plug a light back in, nor can they detect if one of the ground faults has been tripped or not. As it is now, there is a city employee who goes around and turns all of the lights on by hand. In doing this, he ensures that each of the lights is turned on and reports and problems that he sees. You cannot get that kind of service from a timer. The timers may save the city money, but they would have to pay some one to go out to fix the lights if they were to not work. So either way, a city employee has to go around to make sure the lights all work and if he goes around to do that, he might as well turn the lights on and off. The city does not pay the bill as CL+P usually covers the tab (according to our very own Record-Journal).

So please, instead of criticizing every move the city does, enjoy it for what we do have. Take a walk through the park and enjoy the marvelous display of the lights the city does every year.

[collie]

Being the person who posted the topic in the first place, I can assure you I have no animosity towards the lights at Hubbard Park. I am however, irritated to see them on IN THE DAYTIME! Just because CL&P pays for it, doesn't mean the lights should be on in the daytime. You refer to "recent complaints towards the Hubbard Park lights about how they are being left on all night." Try rereading my original post. I never said I had a gripe with the lights being on at night! The marvelous display you speak of was something I used to enjoy seeing at night when my children were smaller. Now I am at the age I am more likely to enjoy a walk in the park in the daytime instead. And, having gone back to the park again yesterday and found three quarters of the lights on at two o'clock in the afternoon, I think your explanation is absolutely ridiculous. Are you saying those wide open fuse boxes with all the plugs sticking out of them, are unsafe to touch when the ground it wet? And that's the reason I see the lights on in the day - the park workers are afraid of getting electrocuted? Yet those boxes and plugs are wide open and you admit park visitors mess with them? That is crazy but if true, I would hope the park workers union could call the fire department's union and we bring that whole production up to code somehow. Whether by hand or timer, the XMas lights at Hubbard Park should not be on in the daytime. And park workers who shut the lights off at dawn and turn them on at dusk should not have concerns about being electrocuted when they do so!

[collie]

For those interested in this topic, please read freefalling's post under "Just Vent." He or she stated: "When it rains and the GFI's get wet, we cannot shut them off because it's slightly dangerous and they need to dry out before we can do anything else." Therefore, I'm assuming freefalling is a park worker and the reason XMas lights are on in Hubbard Park in the daytime is that it is unsafe to shut them off! I wish freefalling had just written in one spot, rather than starting a new post and spinning or making my original post sound as if it were written by someone who is "criticizing every move the city does" and should instead "take a walk through the park and enjoy."

[freefalling]

Being the person who posted the topic in the first place, I can assure you I have no animosity towards the lights at Hubbard Park. I am however, irritated to see them on IN THE DAYTIME! Just because CL&P pays for it, doesn't mean the lights should be on in the daytime. You refer to "recent complaints towards the Hubbard Park lights about how they are being left on all night." Try rereading my original post. I never said I had a gripe with the lights being on at night! The marvelous display you speak of was something I used to enjoy seeing at night when my children were smaller. Now I am at the age I am more likely to enjoy a walk in the park in the daytime instead. And, having gone back to the park again yesterday and found three quarters of the lights on at two o'clock in the afternoon, I think your explanation is absolutely ridiculous. Are you saying those wide open fuse boxes with all the plugs sticking out of them, are unsafe to touch when the ground it wet? And that's the reason I see the lights on in the day - the park workers are afraid of getting electrocuted? Yet those boxes and plugs are wide open and you admit park visitors mess with them? That is crazy but if true, I would hope the park workers union could call the fire department's union and we bring that whole production up to code somehow. Whether by hand or timer, the XMas lights at Hubbard Park should not be on in the daytime. And park workers who shut the lights off at dawn and turn them on at dusk should not have concerns about being electrocuted when they do so!

When it rains, the lights are not to be turned on or off. I assumed for safety reasons, but as I am not an electrician, I have no true idea. The GFI's, if wet, will turn off the lights and need to be dry before flipping the switch again. But under normal conditions, the lights are not on during the day. Unless the complete circumstances are known, complaints are not valid.

[collie]

I have been to Hubbard Park twice all winter. Both times in the early afternoon and both times the XMas lights were ON. That tells me it's more than likely they're always on. And to hear that it's unsafe to shut the lights on and off when it's wet, which is most of the time in the winter, only solidifies my original suspicion. That being these lights are being left on in the daytime. What makes you think citizens don't have the right to criticize such things? It either wastefulness or an unsafe electrical system the fire marshall needs to check out.

[eds]

You know freefalling,collie has a right to complain about wasting taxpayer money. As a taxpayer she has that right. Other taxpayers may not see it as a waste, but when a majority do see it that way, something needs to be done.

To me the effort you describe seems to cost more than just leaving them on 24x7 but I might be wrong. To me the cost of the lights seems insignificant, however to collie it is significant because of the waste involved. I tend to agree with her in that even wasting a dollar is bad. But our definition of waste is different.

In any case, as I have said before, let's just get rid of the lights and forget the whole thing. Then we'll save real money.

[collie]

Maybe we should if workers run the risk of being electrocuted and vandals have easy access to the same unsafe electrical switches. We are, in general, as ordinary people, thinking more of saving energy these days. Keep the CL&P costs down and that's money they could donate to perhaps some other community endeavor. What better place than to think green, rather than a public park?

[eds]

Now that's sounds like a great idea.

I've never even realized the issue with vandals, electrocution, and from the sounds of it unsafe wiring. Think of the lawsuit if someone were to step on a wet surface and get electrocuted or something along those lines.

Now I am really worried about these lights...

[freefalling]

In any case, as I have said before, let's just get rid of the lights and forget the whole thing. Then we'll save real money.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Besides saving money, we can save all this arguing.

[freefalling]

Now that's sounds like a great idea.

I've never even realized the issue with vandals, electrocution, and from the sounds of it unsafe wiring. Think of the lawsuit if someone were to step on a wet surface and get electrocuted or something along those lines.

Now I am really worried about these lights...

You guys are hellbent on electrocution. I only assumed that was the reason, but I'm no electrician. What should happen is all of the wires should be redirected into the Bandshell, the Skatehouse, the Middle Room of the Restrooms, the Pool House, and the Caretakers House. Those are the safest places for the boxes.

And there is a major issue with vandals unplugging wireless for the hell of it. But what can we do about it? If we are going to have these lights, there is really no way to stop them. The faithful city workers will just have to go plug them back in.:eek:

People like you are determined to take something good ths city has to offer and exploit every hole in it to the point that its gone. Soon, this city will have nothing to offer because of the complaints. Admission is free to the park. If there was admission, people would complain about that. If we took the lights down, people would complain about that. If we left them up (like we are now), people complain about that. People will always complain about nonsense ****.

If you keep it up, you can thank yourselves for turning Meriden into a useless dump. So you don't like the lights. Whats next, the Daffodil Festival? Our city tries to provide its citizens and citizens of the state with free services (:eek: ) and all that happens is the citizens complain about that.

[freefalling]

I know I contradicted myself in the second post because in the first post I said take the lights down and in the second post I was arguing for keeping them up.

:mad:

[eds]

I am all for downtown beautification projects, neighborhood improvement projects, dredging Hanover Pond so I can use it again without environmental impact. I think we should take pride in our neighborhood.

I believe in these things for the revenue they generate. Having a nice downtown, nice looking properties that are not blighted, and recreational areas are a wonderful way to increase property value in the city. Entertainment venues such as festivals do not attract residents and new business to the town. Having a park people can enjoy does that just fine without the extra static of festivals. The traffic issues created by the Daffodil Festival alone outweigh its benefit. They attract users who use up resources without a ROI. If a private organization wants to pay for the festivals without taxpayer money than that would be fine. Making it easier and more cost effective to do business in the city on a day-to-day basis attracts new business and an ROI. Things like parking, security, restaurants and dining establishments. These businesses create a lifestyle. They create the feel and personality of the city. Not these festivals. They are nice additions to that end, but they are not direct contributors.

It is a luxury, though mitigated by CLP, to have lights on and if that is causing such issues, then get rid of the lights. It will not end Meriden as we know it and as you make it out to be, freefalling. Like I said, the electric bill, I think, is trivial for the lights, but many Meredinites do not agree with my opinion. Its the taxpayer's money and the majority will of the people must be applied.

[freefalling]

I am all for downtown beautification projects, neighborhood improvement projects, dredging Hanover Pond so I can use it again without environmental impact. I think we should take pride in our neighborhood.

I believe in these things for the revenue they generate. Having a nice downtown, nice looking properties that are not blighted, and recreational areas are a wonderful way to increase property value in the city. Entertainment venues such as festivals do not attract residents and new business to the town. Having a park people can enjoy does that just fine without the extra static of festivals. The traffic issues created by the Daffodil Festival alone outweigh its benefit. They attract users who use up resources without a ROI. If a private organization wants to pay for the festivals without taxpayer money than that would be fine. Making it easier and more cost effective to do business in the city on a day-to-day basis attracts new business and an ROI. Things like parking, security, restaurants and dining establishments. These businesses create a lifestyle. They create the feel and personality of the city. Not these festivals. They are nice additions to that end, but they are not direct contributors.

It is a luxury, though mitigated by CLP, to have lights on and if that is causing such issues, then get rid of the lights. It will not end Meriden as we know it and as you make it out to be, freefalling. Like I said, the electric bill, I think, is trivial for the lights, but many Meredinites do not agree with my opinion. Its the taxpayer's money and the majority will of the people must be applied.

I understand that the Daffodil Festival creates traffic problems that are pretty much unbearable. but the revenue from it is TREMENDOUS! In ticket sales alone, over $500,000. And many many private contributors do help pay for the festival. Each organization who has a booth, must pay a fee for it, they are not free...

But anyway, back to the real topic, as Collie and I have agreed upon, the real issue should not be leaving the lights on during the day, but getting a new system. I think we should spend the $100,000 or whatever it is to get a timer system and get it over with. Over time, the savings would be great. You are right, many people do not understand that the electric bill of the lights is paid for.

[eds]

Ok a half million dollars in revenue is generated? How much of that ends up in the city's pockets? Isn't it more a fund raiser event for non-profits?

You're right the issue is how to correct the waste. But that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. Probably easier to just pay the electric bill.

[freefalling]

I dont know how much ends up in the cities pocket, but they have a decent bill to pay, with all of the performers and stuff like that. And to my knowledge, it isn't a fundraiser.


Ok a half million dollars in revenue is generated? How much of that ends up in the city's pockets? Isn't it more a fund raiser event for non-profits?

You're right the issue is how to correct the waste. But that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. Probably easier to just pay the electric bill.

[eds]

According to the website of a founding sponsor, Suzio York Hill,

"The company is a founding sponsor of the annual Daffodil Festival, a fundraiser for local Meriden nonprofits now in its 27th year."

http://www.suzioyorkhill.com/news/news.asp?RGoto=1

If its totally self funded and they pay for the traffic nightmare back to the city then that's acceptable. I don't go near that park when the festival is in town.

I just think if more private ventures put on these festivals without taxpayer money we would be in a better shape. At least that's how I see it from what the majority of taxpayers have said about high taxes in Meriden.

The city should be handling beautification projects, blight issues, infrastructure and safety. Not festivals or lights. The city needs to be handling foundational issues.