Below is one of the questions I recently sent to the Select Board. The following is a transcript from a recording made at the Work Session on Wednesday morning.
Question: "Please have the members of the board provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for banning public comments at the Select board meetings. Please have them present the facts upon which they based their decision.
Jeanette Stewart: "There weren't any facts that we based our decisions. It was just that Paul had recommended that we discontinue public comments at the meeting, and after careful consideration, we decided that that is what we were going to do."
This response from the board a good example of why we need public discussion. The board avoided answering my question. First, the board members did not answer the question. Jeanette Stewart did not provide any facts because as Stewart said, "There weren't any facts." Nor did board members explain their reasons for making the decision other than it was a recommendation made by the Town Administrator. Stewart indicated that the board made the decision after "careful consideration," but she did not explain what the considerations were or how one considers making a key decision without facts.
I read the article in today's Laconia Daily Sun which seemed a bit slanted in favor of the selectmen. Then I got to the end and found that an Ashland Selectmen works for the paper.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting that one of the Selectmen works for the newspaper that wrote an article in their favor. They really do have a great power and control over everything. Thanks for pointing that out Moultonboro Blogger
DeleteThere never are any facts from them. The Board does just what they want to do with no regard to the public or the future of the town. They don't want public comment because they can't explain anything because they don't have a clue as to what's going on and they don't want the public to know that. Careful consideration, just like facts, not from these three.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in talking with members of the Ashland Coalition for Action. I have attempted a similar effort in Bridgewater.
ReplyDeleteOpen and transparent government is a goal for many small towns in New Hampshire. I have made some headway through RSA 91-A Right to Know Law and have met some folks around the State who are in the Courts and hope to bring our shared goal to a higher level. Look at Marlborough for precedents. And connect with me if you're interested in social change on the State level.
I found this blog via an article in the Union Leader recently. Interesting that our stories are very similar. Legally, your board CAN restrict public comment. I sat before a Judge in the Superior court recently with my petition brought against Board accused for several violations of the Right to Know law. The Judge seemed shocked by restriction of public commentary. INTERESTING FACT: our towns share the same attorney; walter mitchell.
I'm working with a couple of other people who have been before the Court with Right to Know cases and would love to connect with someone from Ashland. email aimeeinbridgewater@yahoo.com When does your group meet?