So we have at least one selectmen stating on this blog they did not know how town meeting was going to go. Selectmen solving issues? Sounds like they are just creating more.
Question: Is there a rogue selectmen making calls by themselves and or with the town administrator?
Seems like the rest of the board went along with it rather than question it, that is one of the
things town meeting is for, to discuss and ask questions.
Question: Is that democracy in action? Is that how this board of selectmen is "functioning"? One selectmen making the rules without input from other board members in a public meeting?
Question: Are other selectmen allowing this to happen without calling for discussion or do they know
about it and are fine with it, privately, then have a public opinion on it to make themselves look better?
Failure to explain all the warrant articles to the legislative body is an affront to democracy, it is an insult to the people who take the time to show up and wish to discuss something. Too bad a majority if not all of the selectmen did not want article 8 to be discussed, which means they put their personal agenda in front of the people that elected them. We are not suppose to agree on everything, as this board of selectmen seem to want, agree in public to paint an all is good picture, when we all know it is not. Seems like that has been tried the past few years, so how is that working out for you?
What we really do not need now is another policy to just use as a puppet to hold up as a statement of "onward and upward." Once again, this is not a pep rally, it is business! Should have honored the three no votes and found another way to deal with it.
So now, what are the real powers of selectmen at town meeting? After the warrant is voted, posted and town meeting is called, what really do the selectmen have to do that we must allow them to do? What are the rights of the legislative body/ They do have and they demonstrated that they have the power to challenge the moderator so they must have the power to challenge the selectmen and they should, in my opinion.
The above is basically my opinion as a registered voter and participant.
posted by Jeff Bennett
If you are a Selectman and you don't know what you are doing, then you follow the person that acts like he does. I do not think this is my imagination, but it does seem that Mr. Columbus has a axe to grind, or maybe more than one. I believe our junior selectman look to him for knowledge. I am fine with that if this man would act in a more responsible manner and for the good of the Town, in my opinion. How does borrowing from stabilization time after time solve anything at all ? After sixteen years of doing this where has it got us ? How does beating up the AB do anything but create more problems ? Why would he approve raises that our "past TA" put into a budget that did not have the funds to cover them ? He surely knew the money was not there, so why not rescind them ? Why fly out of his chair at the suggestion that the Selectmen ask the "State" come in to help the town resolve/clear up, any problems or wrong doing that has kept the Town in a hole for the past twenty years ? All of these are questions everyone should ask themselves, or ask him. I am on the top of his "list" as you can imagine, but I do not care. I am sick of having a Town that has nothing, nothing in the bank, nothing in stabilization, roads you can not ride down, no businesses that will come here, because we can not offer them anything. A Fire Department that cannot afford a Chief, and a Police Department that runs on a wing and a prayer. What little we have will be less because we continue to spend more than we take in. Still think our Town is doing fine, right on line !! Keep drinking that kool aid.
ReplyDeleteOur police does not run on a wing and a prayer and that's ridiculous to say. We need another full time officer and we should take that seriously. They should not be working alone. Too many things happen and we cannot continue to think it won't happen here.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot afford to hire our most positions when there is a vacant slot. Look at the salaries of other towns with comparable positions. I am not sure how we will find a TA, but that's my opinion.
We have nothing because for years and years we used free cash and the funds from light and water to keep our tax rate low. Each time an article came up for a capital expense or to the ballot box it was voted down. And now we have to fix the overwhelming mess and all we are is criticized. Arm chair quarterbacking isn't a great sport and hindsight is 20/20.
I hate the blame game. It's just that. A game. Let's work together for the benefit of our community. But hey. What do I know?! Nothing according to how you all write here.