Moultonborough transparency needs XRAY vision

The Laconia Daily Sun   May 20th, 2008

Letter to the Editor

Many of us in Moultonborough are aware that the “minutes” posted by the Selectmen are  not always an accurate reflection of what actually occurred at the meeting. When I read the “draft” minutes of the May 1st meeting there was no explanation of the reason for closing the town non-essential services on Town Meeting day other than “to allow everyone to participate”. As I stated in my letter, town employees are hardly "everyone", just a very small minority of the voters. I will say that I have no issue with any town employee, only compliments for the fine work they do. I merely disgree with the Selectmen's decision. As such, I wrote a letter for inclusion at the May 15th meeting and requested to have it read into the record. It was not. It was instead dismissed with the comment from Chair Karel Crawford that” I’m not going to take the time to read this”.

Knowing how past “summaries” have been mangled and skewed by Ms. Crawford ( the meetings after all are being taped by a citizen) the public at the very least has a right to hear letters in their entirety and the letter posted with the minutes on the town web site. This is 2008 with most everyone having internet access. The excuse that the information is available at the Town Offices is (to use a very old cliché), a cop out. A 10 year old could scan the correspondence and post it so everyone can read it. That would be real transparency.

Our Moultonborough Selectmen have proven that they don’t represent all the citizens of Moultonborough equally, only those that agree with them. Actions speak louder than words.

For the record my letter to the selectmen (all 130 words) follows:

This is a brief letter and I would ask that it be read not summarized.
As I read the meeting minutes from May 1st it seems the Selectmen voted to approve the following:
"it is recommended that all Town services, except for public safety, be closed for the day (Town Meeting) to allow everyone to participate".
I am not in favor of this. Many people only have Saturday to go to the recycling center or library. It hardly allows everyone to participate as you claim. The vast majority of voters are not municipal employees and many including myself, have to take a personal day off from work to attend. Many cannot.  Can the board explain the rationale behind this decision? I would like a written response please.

Paul Punturieri

Moultonborough

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