Can't attend town meeting

Library closing for town meeting

Editor, The Citizen: March 12^th, 2009

Gentlemen, I see that the selectmen have closed the library this Saturday so the employees may attend town meeting. I had intended to go to meeting too but must work and so my right to vote on matters that affect me is denied. I have been disenfranchised. I went to the town office to talk to someone from the selectmen's office, no one was in. I did talk with the town administrator, he suggested I take a "personal" day off from my job at Aubuchon Hardware. He must not have worked in the private sector for some time as one does not just do that. I tried to find someone to trade days with, no luck. There are only four of us working that day so if I just didn't go to work they would be put in a bad bind and I wouldn't get paid.

I find it insulting that you would give the good folks at the library a chance to vote when the working stiffs in town don't get that opportunity (those of us not working for the town make on average $200 a week less than public employees by the way, I got that from the Moultonboro.gov site). A cynical person might surmise that town workers are free to over represent themselves at meeting while those working to pay their salaries lose our chance to have our voices counted.

Finally I would like to know if the person or persons who mounted a phone campaign telling residents that out of state property owners would have voting privileges should SB2 pass when that is not the case can be investigated for knowingly lying to affect the outcome of Tuesday's election. At least one of the callers might have an official connection to the town. I feel that that person or persons did a dishonorable thing and should at least issue a public apology.

Would like to say "see you Saturday" but I am not allowed to vote.

Michael Brooker
Moultonborough