Why the opposition to Public Access in Moultonboro?

Why the opposition?

Editor, The Citizen September 15^th, 2008

 While we wait for full compliance of the Right to Know Law in seeing public meetings broadcast on cable's Public Access Channel the selectmen of Moultonborough have attempted to develop policy. In June the Moultonboro Citizens Alliance (MCA) started working with Time Warner Cable (TWC) to air the selectmen's meetings (as well as other public meetings) on the PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL as a public service. The selectmen had no policy regulating the Public Access Channel. The FCC offers a fact sheet that says public access channels are "usually administered by the cable operator or a third party designated by the franchising authority." Since there was no third party designee when we approached Time Warner Cable both they (TWC) and MCA assumed we were not violating the sanctity of the selectmen's authority. After all, THEY HAD NO POLICY IN PLACE AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

I will state here that MCA was willing to do this at no expense to the taxpaying public, where other towns are wrestling with a budget of $14,000 to $20,000 or more for this right. Unedited broadcast of public meetings at no expense to the taxpayer ... how sinister is that? Other broadcasts have been and continue to be aired without the accusations of abuse, misrepresentation and "lack of respect for the selectmen". And they are aired without any policy in place. But this bitter opposition towards the MCA is not new.

• The selectmen were quick to combat SB2, a voting initiative that allows ALL voters to vote on ALL town issues. They lobbied hard and duplicitously against this measure that allows voters who are out of town or otherwise unable to get to town meetings to have a say as to how their tax dollars are spent. "Anyone spending months in the winter away doesn't care what goes on in Moultonborough" was the statement from the chair. Why wouldn't they want all citizens to have a vote on the town warrant if the law is available to do that? Don't know.

• Why would they not want the average citizen to see the selectmen's meetings on TV in the comfort of their home? Don't know.

• When a citizen stands and asks to read a letter into the minutes of the meeting (because they won't) the comment coming from the chair was "If you must". Why? Don't know.

• Why would the selectmen say they were unwilling to support the building of a multimillion dollar recreation facility one day, and then 4 of the 5 flip flop to support it being on the warrant? Don't know.

• Why would a selectman accuse a citizen of spreading lies and misinformation in arguing against the multimillion dollar recreation center when he was using information directly from the Master Plan Survey? Don't know.

It has been the exercise of some selectmen to practice personal politics rather than objectively sticking with the issues that the town needs to address. Perhaps this is the reason they hesitate to allow these broadcasts to be aired.

MCA's goal of full compliance to the Right to Know Law leads to open and transparent government. We want all citizens to be able to vote on all issues (SB2). Another goal is to inform and educate the voter and property owner. We advocate sensible spending and community involvement. However, because we are not always in lock step with the selectmen, we are labelled as negative and purveyors of misinformation.

Until the selectmen allow the airing of the public meetings on the public access channel, they may be viewed on the MCA website, www.moultonborcitzensalliance.org .

Rick Heath

Moultonborough

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