Right-to-Know law? "I'll send it in a letter, baby..."
.
"So I'll
Send it in a letter baby
Write it on the wall
That's the way I like it
Losing all control
Send it in a letter baby
Then you'll understand"
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Those are the words in the refrain of Aussie boy-band Human Nature's song "Send it in a Letter" on their 1999 album "Counting Down." Unfortunately for the citizens of Gilford, that was what one of its elected "leaders" wanted to do in response to a request a committee comply with the Right-to-Know law and cite the specific reason for going into a nonpublic session. Writes Cutter Mitchell in today's Citizen,
Prior to commencing the meeting in the Town Hall conference room, School Board Chair and Meadows committee member Sue Allen took committee chair Tim Drew aside and informed him that the group had the option of entering into nonpublic session for the interviews, though she informed him he might consider keeping the proceedings open..Allen maintained that the Meadows committee had the right to enter into nonpublic session if it chose to do so, adding that the decision would require a roll-call vote..When The Citizen pointed out to Allen that the committee would have to cite what provision under RSA 91-A would allow the group to enter into nonpublic session, she responded by saying, "I'll give you a letter."
A LETTER? The only "letter" they can give is which letter of the paragragh of the law that allows for closed-door meetings. Click here to read to whole report. My favorite part is the opening line in the piece:
The Meadows subcommittee of the Gilford School Board drew back from plans to conduct interviews for two open positions in nonpublic session, potentially avoiding another very real encounter with New Hampshire's Right-To-Know law.
Heh. Seems we're seeing a lot of these "close encounters" lately!
Comments
All the hoopla regarding Moultonborough's, or any other town for that matter, research of adopting a budget committee is really about the need to put additional checks and balances on elected bodies. When your town's elected officials have suspect patterns of bevaior such as witnessed in Gilford, there is a clear understanding why things like a statutory Budget Committee and SB2 are needed!
Terry S.
Posted by: Terry Stewart | August 10, 2007 11:37 AM