What happened today? - Part 3
As they filed out to go downstairs to the kitchen, I ended up talking with Hollis Caswell, a computer and management consultant that was on the MSC. He generally asked a few questions. A specific that I honed in on was when the BudComm put money back into the budget (that the Selectmen had removed) to allow the DPW "reconstruct" a truck for the Fire Dept. I also was upfront with the "divisive" issues with the School Board this past year of football and health insurance.
He got called downstairs and I asked if I could join him; he answer was "sure'. So I followed him into the kitchen and plunked down into a chair away from the table that runs down the middle of the room. One of the MSC folks asked Doug (with his camera running) and I if we were on the BudComm and we answered in the positive, and then were asked to join them at the table. Questions ensued.
Although I kept wondering when the School Board reps were going show, I kept answering questions about the mechanics of what we do and why. Again, I reviewed what can be strongly debated issues, using football and insurance as the flashpoints (petition warrant vs budget inclusion, fairness of SAU support staff not assisting with the cost of their health insurance vs the taxpayers). The biggest item that I tried to stress is that the BudComm is the watchdog for taxpayers - not bound to either the Town or School Board budgets, policies, or people, we are supposed to watch the dollars for the taxpayers. I hope that any and all questions got answered and let them know that I'd be willing to travel if they wanted more info. I also suggested that they speak to Dick Hickok (Gilford BudComm Chair) as well. I also suggested that since not all people are going to agree with my stances that they talk to others that disagree with me so that they would get a more balanced opinion.
And why not? I have nothing to hide. Whil being called "divisive" is supposed to be as bad as "mean spirited", all that it really means is "you're bad because you don't agree with me". Frankly, that can be said in either direction, can't it? Speaking of which....
Well, at some point, it turned out that Sue Allen and Derek Thomlinson of the Gilford School Board decided that they did not want to meet in public session. From the Citizen's report:
This was something that Allen and Tomlinson apparently were not comfortable with as they refused to have a discussion about Gilford's Budget Committee in open public session.
"As soon as Sue Allen saw me in the corner with my video camera there was a commotion," said Lambert.
Some time later, whispering went on between the MSC Chair, Mr. Hopkins, and another person. Then it was announced that he was going off to a private meeting with Sue and Derek and that he would return later.
Instead of canceling the meeting outright, Allen and Tomlinson elected to meet with Moultonborough Study Committee Chairman Jerry Hopkins behind closed doors to continue the discussion.
Well, this is a bit of a problem...as he is the head of a publicly appointed, official committee of Moultonboro. As a former Selectman, he should know well the Right To Know law and its ramifications of doing the public's business in private.
My take on this was since it was a publicly noticed meeting and since there were two citizens from Moultonboro present, he was depriving them of that open meeting. Frankly, his response when challenged was obvious that he did not like being challenged at all. I won't go into the details as my memory would not do it justice (and I did not take any notes at the time), but am quite sure that Doug will post the video. I'll also note that when he returned, Hollis Austin wanted to make sure that any notes that were taken would be made available.
BTW, Mr. Hopkins also made it quite clear that he was not in favor of being videoed during meetings ("it is intimidating"). Maybe, maybe not - I believe that if things are conducted totally in the open, there should be no fear at all. The public's business should be as open as possible with no backroom secrets and no handshakes in the dark. Discussions should be made available by any means necessary so as to ensure the information gets out to the most number of people. In this vein, I CANNOT wait for Gilford to start broadcasting over the "Gilford Channel".
Thus, there was a bit of a tense time. I too, wondered why neither Sue or Derek would be willing to speak in public. Certainly I have a sufficiently thick skin to listen, even if asked to not respond at that time. But given the "spirited debate" of last year's session, I am probably not on Derek's A list. But that is personal, and I'm stopping there.
What DOES concern me is that this was a publicly noticed meeting for the Moultonboro folks and yet it does concern me that some Gilford officials opted to not keep discussion public....
Anyways, the summary is that that the MSC did get some information from the Administration, the Selectmen, two members of the BudComm, and I believe two members of the School Board. I know that the first two gave an endorsement to having a budget committee. Certainly, both Doug and I believe in it, but also realistically gave notice that not everything is cookies and cream.
The School Board? Not so sure. I hope we find out. Will Sue and Derek present what they said to Mr. Hopkins? Or will we have to wait for notes to arrive from Moultonboro?
