“In our small town of approximately 350 homes, we have identified more than 140 people who have volunteered on at least one local committee. Many individuals serve on multiple committees. It simply astounds us that there is that much commitment to our small community! Please stop by our “Thank You Breakfast” Saturday at the Marlboro Town House to thank all those who work to make our community great! We’ll have coffee, tea, baked goods, a free raffle and a grateful hug or handshake! Please see our website at: www.marlboroalliance.com”
• Lynna, Marlboro Front Porch Forum
Category Archives: Good Government
Helping DPW crews identify potholes
Posted on Monday, April 9, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
“This has been a real tough winter for streets and sidewalks. The weather is soon to get warmer and DPW crews are already filling in the worst potholes. But… there are miles of street. They need the public to act as their eyes. DPW reads FPF and the hazards you identify will get filled in.
Lets start a thread that results in the top offenders identified and addressed ASAP. I reported the pothole that shakes shocks as well as the significant dip in front of the library that savvy drivers try to dodge. Please post the street and block of your nominee(s) so that DPW crews can get to it sooner than later. Help us all out.” • Richard in Montpelier
“The Duxbury Selectboard in partnership with our Highway Foreman, will be sharing updates about road work, conditions, equipment updates and crew news to help keep everyone informed about what’s happening on our town roads.” • Erin in Duxbury
Front Porch Forum members also share their thanks to town road crews:
“The road crews have had a crazy winter to deal with! Snow, ice, mud, repeat…Potholes, frozen culverts, flooding. They do what they have to do every day …Thanks to all for your determination everyday.” • Richard in Hyde Park
“Thank you for sending the plow truck this am – it was appreciated!!” • Sharon in Argyle
Vermonters gear up for lively discussion at Town Meeting day
Posted on Friday, March 2, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
Front Porch Forum members make good use of their local FPF for upcoming Town Meeting Day.
“Several years ago, at a Town Meeting, I remember a very lively discussion among folks who had had enough of the high vehicle repair bills. A decision was made to instruct the town to pay for better quality gravel, with the slimy silt washed out of it. The Road crew embarked on a multi-year project of rebuilding our roads and now we can travel in the spring without worry of sinking into the muck and mire.
I love Town Meeting for just this reason. We can get together as a group and make recommendations to the town. I know that not everyone can come every year, but it points out how important it can be to show up at least once in a while when there is an issue that is really important.
See you at Town Meeting next Tuesday. If you can’t come, make sure you read the Town Report and if you have comments or questions, go to the Selectboard meeting.” • Marie in Richmond
Post and look to your local FPF for info on articles for discussion at Town Meeting Day! And remember to vote!
FPF supports Net Neutrality
Posted on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
Please join us at Front Porch Forum in actively opposing the proposal to gut federal net neutrality rules. Act now before it’s too late: https://www.battleforthenet.com/
Today in the United States we have a free and open internet. Our current net neutrality rules support innovation and give all businesses the opportunity to compete equally for consumers. With strong net neutrality protections, the internet is an open marketplace where any business can compete, allowing individuals to start companies easily, market their products across the country, and connect with customers anywhere worldwide.
Because of the open internet, Michael and his wife were able to start Front Porch Forum out of their spare bedroom in 2006. VTDigger.org, MealTrain.com, Localvore.com, Dealer.com and other successful digital Vermont businesses have similar stories. Because of net neutrality, consumers and businesses have unfettered access to one another, increasing competition and consumer choice.
Disastrously, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a draft order that would end this open commerce by repealing the current net neutrality rules and eliminating the protections that keep the internet free and open for America’s businesses and consumers.
Without these rules, internet service providers (e.g., Comcast) will be able to favor certain websites and e-businesses over others by putting some in fast lanes and slowing down or even blocking others. Businesses may have to pay a toll just to reach customers. This would put small and medium-sized businesses at a disadvantage and prevent innovative new ones from even getting off the ground. An internet without net neutrality protections would be the opposite of the open market, with a few powerful cable and phone companies picking winners and losers, instead of consumers.
For these reasons, Front Porch Forum supports net neutrality. Please join us in defending free-economy in the digital space by learning more and speaking up this week. Please check out the action steps outlined here:https://www.battleforthenet.com/ and http://verizonprotests.com/
And spread the word. Please encourage people you know in other states to contact their Congressional delegation immediately.
Thank you!
P.S. Portions of this statement come from a letter to the current FCC Chair from hundreds of tech businesses:
https://www.burlingtontelecom.com/bt-signs-fcc-letter-to-support-small-biz/
Public officials reach out to hear from residents about zoning changes
Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
“I am the Town Planner and have recently been posting quite a bit about some zoning changes that the Planning Commission is working on adopting. The public has asked to be more informed about what is going on, so I have been posting information regarding planning issues, meetings, hearings, updates, etc. This has been working really well and I really appreciate having the opportunity to communicate via FPF. You all are a great asset to our community.” • Katherine in Jericho
Are your reaching out to your town officials through Front Porch Forum? They want to hear from you!
FPF shines as a great format to engage in public awareness / discussion for voters
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
Across the state, members expressed their appreciation for FPF as a tool to engage and inform neighbors on important issues being voted on in their towns.
“I appreciate this forum and the way this passionate discussion is making it clear that all of us, regardless of our positions, should be sure to vote yay or nay”
• Lydia from Charlotte
“Dear Neighbors, I want to propose a non-partisan FPF discussion thread. The subject is: “Why do so few people vote?” or maybe “Why don’t more people vote?” • Charles from Burlington
“I try to stay current on the goings-on in my community, largely by reading FPF posts, so I am aware that there were house parties, coffee meetings with candidates, and information available online.”
• Jacey from Burlington
“As usual – FPF shines as a great format to accomplish a public awareness / discussion.”
• John from Barre
Front Porch Forum encourages civil discussion about important topics. Be sure your voice is heard!
Effective online tools are the ones that keep people engaged
Posted on Monday, March 6, 2017 by Michael • No comments yet
“A successful first experience using Fix My Street is associated with a 57 percent increase in the probability of an individual submitting a second report, and the experience of bureaucratic responsiveness to the first report submitted has predictive power over all future report submissions.”
This jibes with what we observe with Front Porch Forum. People stick with it because, simply, it works. They post a request, question, call for support, etc., and they get results. So they keep participating.
Vermonter loves hearing from her State Senator. How does your Representative keep in touch with you?
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 by Front Porch Forum • No comments yet
“Recently our State Senator posted on FPF about a Public Hearing. I am so thankful to have an easy and bipartisan way to hear about local government issues.
“This posting was a perfect use of Front Porch Forum. No matter your political opinion, it is important to understand what is going on in our local government.
“I encourage all of our elected leaders to use FPF to announce opportunities to effect change! Remember that they are working for us and we deserve democracy. Think global, act local!”
—Chloe, Williston FPF
Ask your legislators to use FPF to keep you tuned in about what’s going on in the State house.
Squeaky wheel… Clearing junk from Winooski lots
Posted on Monday, December 19, 2016 by Michael • No comments yet
“Hey neighbors! I live in the flats down by River Street and there is enough furniture cast outside to furnish a two-bedroom apartment! Mallett’s Bay corner has like 3 couches… drive a little way past Chick’s on River and you’ve got the abandoned lot with mattresses and tires. Then a little further down is a television that’s been there for weeks. Anyone have any idea why our code enforcement allows our city to look like this? Let’s have a little more pride of place! It’s really quite embarrassing when hosting visitors. Anyone want to organize a clean up? I don’t have a truck, but I just got a tetanus shot so I’m up for it! Maybe the city will reimburse our dump payment? Please contact me and let’s get this crap out of our streets!”
• Allyson, Winooski FPF
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease and I’m happy to report the mattresses and tires have been removed from the lot on River Street! I’m not sure who is responsible for the clean-up but I’d wager my calls, e-mails and Front Porch Forum discussion was a help to expedite the process! I’m so glad to live in a community where action is taken once the problem is addressed. Let’s stay engaged and keep our streets clean! Thank you to everyone who reached out in solidarity on this issue.”
• Allyson, Winooski FPF, a few days later
Post about national politics on FPF: Yes or no?
Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 by Michael • No comments yet
“Thank you to the dozen or so neighbors who emailed personal notes of appreciation for my post on last week’s Really Big Thing that happened.
“I take Front Porch Forum literally for its ‘front porch-ness.’ So when a Really Big Thing happens — like a storm, crash, or national tragedy — the first place I want to go is the front porch. To look around the neighborhood and ask, ‘How’re you doing? Everybody in your house okay?’ And if possible, offer any solace or help.
“I understand why some folks wouldn’t want national politics on our local Front Porch Forum. But last Tuesday’s election left many in our community reeling.
“I think it’s important to recognize this and resist the urge to limit what can and cannot be said here. If for no other reason than to support our neighbors who might have been left feeling particularly vulnerable.”
• James, posted on a Burlington neighborhood FPF
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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