Ferris Bueller's Day Off… he must be at Town Meeting.

Editor, The Citizen: The selectmen just don't get it. At the May 15th selectmen's meeting they refused to read into the minutes a letter to them that was asked to be "read not summarized" in their usual manner. It was then barely summarized, after some rather condescending comments by the chair. It is a sad note when a taxpayer cannot have a note read into the minutes of a selectmen's meeting because it is in disagreement with them.

The letter that caused her disdain was one that challenged the issue of closing all town facilities for Town Meeting Day. On the surface, closing these facilities to allow all town employees to go to Town Meeting would seem a noble effort, at the very least. However, let's take a deeper look at this inane endeavor. If the town proceeds with this false nobility, as they have firmly stated, they will close all facilities "except emergency services". Well where does that leave those that would use the waste management facility? "Go another day" was their firm take. What if the working stiff only has that one day to go? Those non-citizen taxpayers that are forking over the lion's share of our taxes may have something to say when they are refused access to that facility before they want to return to their residences south of here.

How will they manage the "fairness to all employees" issues? Those that will be working are being paid… are those that are taking the forced day off being paid? If not is this to replace their regular day off; or do they just lose that day's pay? If they are getting the day off to go to Town Meeting, will there be a roll call of those employees to assure that this farce is successful? If they are getting paid and they are expected to go to the meeting could this be perceived as collusion for a supportive vote?

Let's jump to the private sector. How do we handle those would-be voters that work on Saturdays for businesses in the area? In this Orwellian World would we expect to see those employees get that day off by edict of the Moultonborough Fiefdom town fathers? Or should all businesses in town be ordered closed for that day? Rather strong you may say. Well the comment was made, seconded and reaffirmed (in a letter answering the protesting citizen) that "town meeting is a part of this town and everyone should be in attendance". We know what they think of those retirees that are enjoying the warmer climes in the south when Town Meeting is being called to order. "Those people that spend months away in the winter don't care what happens in Moultonborough". (Note to Moultonborough retirees: be sure to get your "permission slip" from the selectmen before you head south)

This is not about the good town employees who I think should be able to vote on all town issues. No, this is about all registered voters that should be allowed the same right. The selectmen can't have it both ways. Maintaining the "functionally obsolete" town meeting form of voting but disenfranchising all except town employees (and not all of them… remember "emergency services") is duplicitous, disingenuous and discriminatory. This "noble" effort is no more than a ploy to sidestep the real issue. SB2 is the only fair way to serve all voters and be nonprejudiced to those that are otherwise unable to comply with the demand of the selectmen that we "be in attendance".

Rick Heath

Moultonborough