Selectmen Issues: December 2008 Archives
Editor, The Citizen
December 10, 2008
Moultonborough recently completed their policy for how they want to deal with both the Public Access Chanel (PEG) and the folks who would want to broadcast programming, after over two decades of no policy. While no blame is being pointed at the present selectmen for not having policy for the most of those years, I would note that a policy only came about when the Moultonboro Citizens Alliance (MCA) began working with Time Warner Cable (TWC) to air taped, unedited video of the selectmen's meetings AT NO COST TO THE TOWN. To date PEG (for Public, Educational and Government) has had little use by the public, the school or the town. However, as area towns have been utilizing their PEG channels to air meetings, MCA felt they could do something similar AT NO EXPENSE TO THE TOWN. An FCC fact sheet says when there is no policy public access channels are "usually administered by the cable operator or a third party designated by the franchising authority." Since there was no policy or designee when we approached TWC we assumed we were not violating the sanctity of the selectmen's authority.
While the selectmen were right in finally acknowledging the need for a policy, the vitriol that was laid on the MCA was gratuitous and less than professional from those who we look to for leadership. Unedited broadcasting 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 have been aired with no 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 day-long town meetings to have a say as to how their tax dollars are spent. "You can't tell me a person who spends six months away really cares what goes on here" (Selectmen's hearing on SB2) was the statement from the chair.
- Why wouldn't they want all voters to vote on all town issues? Don't know.
- Why wouldn't they 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 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 are the selectmen so opposed to a group of citizens that are the eyes, ears and voice of voters and property owners (resident or non-resident)? Don't know.
MCA's goal of full compliance of the Right to Know Law leads to open and transparent government. We (MCA) 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. While MCA is not interested in signing the potentially litigious contract to air the video on PEG, the meetings may be viewed on the MCA website, www.moultonborcitzensalliance.org .
Rick Heath, MCA
