Selectmen Meetings - Minutes: May 2008 Archives
The Meredith News May 29th, 2008
SARAH SCHMIDT
correspondence. “At the May15 selectmen's meeting they (selectmen) refused to read into the minutes a letter to them that was asked to be "read not summarized" in their usual manner,” wrote Heath. “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 board’s decision last week means that all letters from citizens will be accepted, but not read aloud in either entirety or summary. If a citizen wants the letter to become part of the minutes, the letter must be read at the meeting by the citizen, or by their representative. TownAdministrator Carter Terenzini said that selectmen were concerned about “being taken to task” for how the letters were read or summarized. Terenzini said that letters will still be put in public record, alongside the meeting minutes. “If we keep doing it, we may put the wrong inflection on it, or the wrong summarization,” said Selectman Ed Charest. “It also takes a lot of time to read them all aloud, and Hope (Kokas) has to transcribe the entire letter into the minutes.” Charest said that selectmen were concerned that one summary might be considered to have been read more favorably than another. Punturieri expressed disappointment in the selectmen’s decision, calling it a less transparent method of operating. He said that people might not know what is being asked when selectmen summarize it. “To not read every letter equally seems prejudicial,” said Punturieri. “There can be many missed points when summaries are made. In my opinion, they’re only reading letters they want to read”
6 HOLLAND STREET
PO BOX 139
MOULTONBOROUGH, NH 03254
Selectmen’s Meeting May 22, 2008
DRAFT
MINUTES
Present: Selectmen: Karel A. Crawford, Edward J. Charest, James F. Gray, Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Carol A. Fucarile, Executive Secretary.
I. CALL TO ORDER: Karel called the meeting to Order at 6:30 P.M.
6:30 Non-Public, Personnel Matter: Jim Made the Motion for the Selectmen to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 (a). Betsey Seconded the Motion. Karel called for a roll call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Ed – Aye; Joel – Aye; Karel – Aye. The Selectmen went into Non-Public Session at 6:36 p.m.
Betsey Made the Motion for the Selectmen to come out of Non-Public Session. Joel Seconded the Motion. Karel called for a roll call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Ed – Aye; Joel – Aye; Karel – Aye. The Selectmen came out of Non-Public Session at 6:50.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES: Ed Made the Motion to approve the Minutes of May 15, 2008 as written. Betsey Seconded. The Motion carried unanimously.
IV. NEW RESIDENTS: Jarvis M. Jayne, Donald A. McDonnell, Alexis Iriana and Joseph T. McGonagle.
V. PUBLIC MEETING: Karel announced that, in Non-Public Session, the Town hired a new patrolman, Jared Beaulieu, who will start with the Town of Moultonborough on June 9, 2008.
VI. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Presentation Re: Fox Hollow Task 3 Direction: Carter read his Memorandum to the Board of Selectmen which explained the three basic issues...
The Laconia Daily Sun May 23rd, 2008
Letter to the Editor:
The Moultonboro Selectmen recently decided to hold their meetings on the second and fourth Thursday’s during the month of June rather than weekly. Selectman Ed Charest was quoted as saying that the agendas are usually lighter in the summer months, so it makes sense to have fewer meetings.
He further stated that, ‘It could be a good thing. My reading folder is so thick each week. I hate coming here and making decisions with material I haven’t even had time to think about’, as quoted in the Meredith News.
I have to wonder just what he is implying buy such a statement. Is he saying that he is not fully informed when he is voting on how the town spends it's tax dollars? One might conclude that he may be following the votes of his fellow selectmen and not voting being fully informed himself of this issues set before the committee.
This is not unlike the tendency to follow the flow as it may be for many folks at Town Meeting. The idea of not voting along with the majority is intimidating to people at Town Meetings, that’s why SB2 is so important.
Linda Punturieri
Moultonboro, NH
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
6 HOLLAND STREET
PO BOX 139
MOULTONBOROUGH, NH 03254
Selectmen’s Meeting May 15, 2008
DRAFT
MINUTES
Present: Selectmen: Karel A. Crawford, Edward J. Charest, James F. Gray, Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Hope K. Kokas, Office Secretary.
I. CALL TO ORDER: Karel called the meeting to Order at 6:30 P.M.
6:30 Non-Public, Personnel Matter: Joel Made the Motion for the Selectmen to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91-A:3 (a). Jim Seconded the Motion. Karel called for a roll call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Ed – Aye; Joel – Aye; Karel – Aye. The Selectmen went into Non-Public Session at 6:35 p.m.
Joel Made the Motion for the Selectmen to come out of Non-Public Session. Jim Seconded the Motion. Karel called for a roll call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Ed – Aye; Joel – Aye; Karel – Aye. The Selectmen came out of Non-Public Session at 6:55.
Joel Made the Motion to Seal the Minutes....
6 HOLLAND STREET
PO BOX 139
MOULTONBOROUGH, NH 03254
Selectmen’s Meeting May 8, 2008
DRAFT
MINUTES
Present: Selectmen: Edward J. Charest, James F. Gray, Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Hope K. Kokas, Office Secretary.
I. CALL TO ORDER: Ed called the meeting to Order at 6:30 P.M.
6:30 Carla Taylor, Non-Public, Personnel Matter: Joel Made the Motion for the Selectmen to go into Non-Public Session per RSA 91:A-3 II (a). Jim Seconded the Motion. Ed called for a Roll Call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Joel – Aye; Ed – Aye. The Selectmen went into Non-Public Session at 6:32 p.m.
Betsey Made the Motion for the Selectmen to come out of Non-Public Session. Joel Seconded. Ed called for a Roll Call: Jim – Aye; Betsey – Aye; Joel – Aye; Ed – Aye. The Selectmen came out of Non-Public Session at 7:01 p.m.
Joel Made a Motion....
6 HOLLAND STREET
PO BOX 139
MOULTONBOROUGH, NH 03254
Selectmen’s Meeting May 1, 2008
DRAFT
MINUTES
Present: Selectmen: Karel A. Crawford, Edward J. Charest, James F. Gray, Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Hope K. Kokas, Office Secretary.
I. CALL TO ORDER: Karel called the meeting to Order at 7:00 P.M.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES: Ed Made the Motion to approve the Minutes of April 24, 2008 as written. Betsey Seconded and asked to amend the Minutes to strike Joel’s name as he was not in attendance last week, and replace it with, Jim Seconded the Motion to approve the Minutes of April 17, 2008. The Motion carried Unanimously.
IV. NEW RESIDENTS: Kathryn R. Blanchuk, Pamela J. Urda, Keith A. Walker.
V. PUBLIC MEETING:
1. Hollis Austin commended the Selectmen for their Letter to the Editor that appeared in the Laconia Citizen regarding the educational funding crisis and the need for a constitutional amendment to provide aid to needy towns versus bringing back donor towns as proposed by SB 539. He added that their argument was well presented and appreciated by the Town’s people. Mr. Austin asked Betsey what can be done to change the Legislators thinking. Betsey replied that this will only occur with upcoming elections.
VI. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Action Re: Local Government Health Trust LLC Participation: Karel explained that this is the Town’s annual agreement with LGC for the provision of health and other benefits. Betsey requested that they table this until Carter’s return in order to receive more information. Approved. Tabled.
2. Action Re: Recommendation on Town/SAU Common Annual Meeting Day (03/14/09): Ed reported that based on the meeting of the Common Annual Meeting Day Ad Hoc Committee held on April 24, 2008, they recommend to hold the 2009 Town and School District Annual Meetings on the same day, Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Moultonborough Community Auditorium, to start promptly at 9:00 a.m. Voter registration would begin at 8:00 a.m. in the auditorium lobby, which should allow the meeting to start on time. In addition, it is recommended that all Town services, except for public safety, be closed for the day....
