Make it democratic

This letter was submitted via www.citizen.com.

Printed 2/7/2008

Editor, The Citizen:

I am writing to express my concern about the recent petitioned warrant article to appropriate funds for a "proposed" community center. The appropriation as I understand it is for $375,000 for architectural, engineering, and other related fees for the construction of a community/senior center with fields and other outdoor improvements on the Lion's Club property. This represents ( per the petition I assume) 8% of the construction costs anticipated for this ( non) project.

Maybe I missed something, but I thought that the issue of even having a community center in Moultonborough was not yet decided. Are we now saying that it's okay to spend another $375,000 (on top of the $400,000 or so already spent to purchase the Lions Club property) on a project that doesn't yet exist and hasn't yet been voted on by the public?

I appreciate that 300 people put forth this petition as is their right, I just don't agree with it. I also don't agree with Lisa St. Amand, asking "why that doesn't supersede a small number that says they don't want it when that's what the larger body wants?" That is precisely why many of us in Moultonborough support SB2. 300 people signing a petition might be a majority at a town meeting, but it does not make a majority in terms of a ballot box. This is a perfect example of why SB2 is needed here. Despite the opposition of the Selectmen, the petitioners' still want to spend our money on a project that has not been put forth to the public to vote on up or down. And they want to spend still more money by setting up a capital reserve fund. The public at large has the right to know how and why we ( Moultonborough) came to own the Lions Club property and how it came to be that this is the only site that is being considered for a community center or for that matter, how it was decided we even need a community/senior center.

What I would like to see happen is SB2 implemented in Moultonborough, the Master Plan completed, then further study regarding the needs and scope for a community center which will then dictate the best site for this project. Then a proposed community center project could be voted on by the public in the privacy of a ballot box. That is logical, fair and truly representative of all of Moultonborough and of a democracy.

Paul Punturieri

Moultonborough