An Anonymous Submission

We received this anonymous submission.

I understood that you were not going to have negative things on your BLOG or targeting of individuals, you definitely are. This does not help Ashland at all with all the negativity. Not only that, half of the information is lies. I have known all three of the Selectmen for many years and they are the most honest people you could know. They do not hide anything and everything that is done at the work sessions is brought up at their next regular meeting. I hope these complainers never want to be on the select board as they will never get voted in with all the bad things they do. Please make this website more positive so people will enjoy going on it. Thanks, a concerned citizen of Ashland.

Please check your facts before accusing people of lying. It is clear you do not attend Select Board Meetings. If you did, you would know that the board rarely mentions what they did during the work sessions. I remind you that Jeanette Stewart promised residents that the board would review what was discussed at all work sessions and that no votes would be taken on important issues. A prime example of violating this promise this is the fact that the board decided to suspend public comments during a work session. Jeanette Stewart has not kept either of these promises. I do not call that honest. Furthermore, the board does not discuss important issues at the Monday night meetings. These meetings tend to last no more than 20 to 30 minutes, and much of the time is spent signing the manifest. They have also cut out department head reports at these meetings. To his credit, the Town Administrator mentions decisions made during the work session in the Town Bulletin but detailed information is lacking. There is also a difference between complaining, and pointing out actions taken by our local officials that are not in the interest of the public.

Select Board Cancels Evening Meeting

Shortly after his election by just 50 votes against a candidate who wasn't running, Phil Preston proposed that the Select Board cancel one evening meeting a month and cut out Department Head reports. Dan Golden, to his credit, voted against this measure, but Jeanette Stewart supported Preston's motion. This is just another step in the Select Board's on-going program to exclude the public from town government. Stewart and Preston have been very effective in stopping public input and limiting pubic access. Even at their night time meetings, no meaningful business is ever discussed. Most meetings last about 20 minutes, but work sessions can go on for several hours. Even though Stewart promised that no votes on important issues would be taken during the work sessions, this is when all of the important decisions are made and voted on, including canceling the evening meeting. The few people who were able to attend the meeting were not allowed to express their response.