Juris's Missive
You know, this election period at the national level has become rather whiney from the Democratic side at the Presidential level. With all due respect to those of the Democratic persuasion, it is kind of typified by Michelle Obama's recent outbursts that have seemed to be really "out there" in complaining about American life in general. Meanwhile the main candidates, Obama and Hillary, seem to want us all to believe that everyone in America is a victim of their circumstances, the corporations are all out to get us, nobody can rise to wealth and fame on their own (excepting, the two candidates, I guess - all of whom will out-earn just about 99% of us after starting poor or middle class themselves), yadda, yadda, yadda. Face it, America seemingly is just is a horrible place to them (and yes, I really disagree with all that, can't you tell).
In my opinion, seems like Mr. Juris wants to join in that whine fest here in Gilford. Sorry, but "Big Burly Guy claiming victimhood" doesn't cut it.
Especially a few days before an election. Anyone remember the dirt that came out just before the last election when Debbie Eastman was running for re-election for Town Clerk / Tax Collector? Anyone remember who her opponent was?
I certainly was surprised when Doug posted Town Administrator's Evan Juris's memo to the Selectmen and then saw it in the Sun and the Citizen. I've read it, and reread it, and have thoughts on it on several levels. My thoughts just on the angle of the upcoming election.
Note: I'm not a lawyer (so far be it for me to speak to the legal ramifications), not a professional politician (ha!), and I wasn't present at any of these "events" he describes. But, I certainly have opinions and will exercise my First Amendment rights in commenting on the letter and what was printed in the paper!
Some quick thoughts:
- Going ballastic on the guy that approves YOUR performance review is neither smart or serves to promote longevity in your current position.
- The Law of Thermodynamics says that for each action there is a equal and opposite reaction. Works a lot like that in politics too. Unlike the real world, however, sometimes, the opposite reaction is multiplied far beyond what is expected.
- Mr. Law of Unintended Consequences, meet Mr. Juris. Shake hands (we all know who will win).
- Going back to point #1 - it doesn't help, either, to slag the NEXT guy who may be doing your performance evaluation. Especially after he already apologized (does that mean ANYONE who opposed you should be apologizing? Heck, I wasn't all that thrilled with the Saltmarch Pond thing either - should I be getting an apology from someone too?)
Note: You know Mr. Juris...
You remember, the one, that I found to be a screen scrape of a city in California (and it only took about 15 minutes to find it, too)? Trying to repurpose that in this case?
In June of 2007, I filed an official complaint with the Board of Selectmen concerning the Chairman of the Gilford Conservation Commission, John Goodhue, relative to his conduct at the June 19, 2007 conservation commission meeting, clearly stating that if Mr. Goodhue, at the time, were a Town employee, he would have been charged under Town Policy with conduct unbecoming a Town employee.
Making rather silly and inane remarks like "if here were a Town employee" - guess what, dude, he ain't. Frankly, this probably ain't helping your chances of remaining one either.
Serious note: Town employees, work for the taxpayers and voters of the Town. Not the other way around. This shows a total lack of respect of that relationship in trying to influence a political campaign.
Given this too, where Ms. Boucher started this all, would I be far off the mark in thinking that there is a convoluted effort to stop Mr. John Goodhue in his bid to become a Selectman? Or should "convoluted" be swapped out for "bungled"?
Hey Evans, guess what - we at the 'Grok want him to win!
Given this seemingly inane stunt, even more so, now.
But I digress.
Also, during the September 26, 2007 meeting, in front of all Board of Selectman members, the Assistant Town Administrator and Administrative Secretary, he [Gus] stated that when he took office that it was the perception that the “Town Administrator” ran the Town and he was going to make sure now that the Board of Selectmen “runs the Town”, not the Town Administrator.
Trust me, Gus is not the only one. You kinda made his point well at my first meeting of the BudComm LAST year when at the end, you hammered us all for being "adversarial". Heck, all I remember is the BudComm folks asking a whole lot of questions (frankly, that's what I thought the BudComm was supposed to do!). I thought that you were going to sweep the table of all the books (including my laptop) at the time you were so angry. Everyone else was saying "where the heck did that come from"? Or even "why?", as all of us thought that the meeting to that point had been exceedingly polite.
I want the Board of Selectmen to clearly understand that I do not expect any type of retaliation because of my freedom of speech. I am concerned about discriminatory practices, threatening behavior by Selectman Benavides and the hostile work environment created by the members of the Board of Selectmen.
I think Mr. Juris needs to go back and read the First Amendment and then read some legal opinions of it. Unless he has a contract, he is an "employee at will" - the will of the Selectmen.
There may not be a legal or employement action as a result of slamming your bosses. However, the word "ridicule" comes to mind as a consequence coming from the general public.
Should I have done the same, declared a hostile work environment as a BudComm member when you attacked us (in my opinion) at the end of that meeting? After all, pretty much everyone else was getting along.....until you started in. It does work both ways.....but we accepted his apology and moved on.
First Amendment rights.....strange, the Code of Ethics you were pushing would have taken that away from us....and now you are depending upon it? I hear strains of "Fine for me but not for thee" waft along the breezes.....
Big Burly Man trying to assume the mantle of victimhood? Again?
More opinions later.
Elections - ya gotta love'em......
