Fair is fair, right?

On a selectmen meeting om February 26, 2018, the initial fiscal year budget/spending plan was presented and the spending plan books were handed out. The seven member Advisory Committee was invited and all members were emailed informing them of this meeting.

Of the seven, only two members showed, Robert May and Jeff Bennett. There can be many reasons for not showing, but you cannot question or critique without expecting some in return, even from within.

On the flip side, selectmen scheduled a few budget meetings on days of already, ahead of time scheduled regular meetings of the Advisory Committee. This equals less time for the Advisory Committee to meet and discuss and plan for a pre-town meeting and annual town meeting. Yes, the committee could choose alternative dates to meet, but some volunteers plan ahead by using the regular schedule of meetings. One solution would to begin earlier in the year, have these meetings on Mondays when selectmen do not have their regular meetings and then Advisory could hold regular meetings and have more time for discussion, questions etc., Be that as it may, the advisory committee will probably do what they usually do, spend more time, as in longer meetings to get done what needs to get done. In my opinion, this scenario puts Advisory at a disadvantage which also puts the residents/taxpayers at a disadvantage, less time to gather information and ask questions of Advisory Committee. There has to be a better way.