Wednesday, July 26, 2017

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.




Reading an article in today's Gardner News causes me to ponder a question; If a member of the Gardner City Council were to write a letter to the editor on a subject that is or has been before them, would that constitute an open meeting law violation? I mean it is possible and plausible that other city council members could read the article which may contain the writers opinion. According to that article, "the expression of an opinion on matters within the body's jurisdiction to a quorum of a public body is a deliberation, even if no other public body member responds." That could be read to mean, if a councilor writes a letter to the editor, no other councilor may read the newspaper. Even if they have a yearly subscription. I suppose the same could be said for face book as well. Blogs, or any online medium. What if a councilor does a radio show and expresses an opinion on a matter before the council or has been before the council? Would the above mean that anyone who serves by appointment, election or volunteer may not read face book, read a blog, read a newspaper or listen to a local radio station for fear they might violate the law. I have to wonder if this was the intent of the Open Meeting Law to begin with? I thought I read somewhere the "new" law was to promote open governance and stop back room deals. It was suppose to be about transparency, but I wonder if the article may really center around those who were elected and now do not wish to be questioned or challenged or heaven forbid, be called names.  I would offer up an opinion, but someone may find that offensive and report me to the thought police. I mean, I know they read this. To bad Templeton does not have a full time Town Administrator, of course the selectmen would actually have to spend time on that one, you know at their meetings.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.




posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.



Shame on them selectmen:

• 48 hours ahead. Meetings cannot be “continued” in order to avoid additional posting. OML 2011-34

I wonder if that includes recess the meeting?


Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.
posted by Jeff Bennett


all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.





I think the selectmen are cooking spaghetti, they keep throwing it against the wall until it sticks and then they will believe it is done! A message for the chair, as in the big cheese, center city; this ain't the army, I am not going anywhere and neither is this blog.

I am wondering when the selectmen will listen to the people, they voted for a town administrator. The DOR/DLS has said the town needs a full time professional, the auditors said the same thing. Something about transient management and how it creates problems. Hopefully the people in Winchendon will give their selectmen the message, keep our town manager in town full time. Then perhaps the selectmen will put their time to something constructive and do what the people told them to do,what the auditors said needed to happen, what the DOR/DLS has said the town needs to do, hire a full time professional to manage the town.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.