Anonymous said...
Publius: Article Submission
Deliberative Session Rules: Show up or lose.
I feel badly for people who have significant commitments and can't participate at deliberative session. I also appreciate the effort put forth by those to create a citizen petition. It is a LOT of work.
The reality is this: the moderator controls deliberative session. Period. End of story. Thats the fact Jack. Accept it, get over it and quit whining. There are no selectmen at deliberative session. Only the legislative body is there and selectmen are reduced to citizen level. Frank is running the show because WE elected him to do it. If you don't like the moderator, find a new candidate that can do a better job.
If you don't show up to deliberative session with enough people to be there for as long as it takes to defend your pet warrant article, guess what? You lose. That is the law. Get over it and get recruiting. If you want to play the game, you have to play by the rules. Endlessly whining about the rules is a waste of time and energy. Your time would be far better spent recruiting the 50 people you need to SHOW UP and make sure your warrant article does not get changed or watered down. And no individual selectman can change this.
That's the way it is. The sooner you accept reality, the better off you will be. Sorry, I didn't write the rules so don't shoot the messenger. Your option is to keep whining or start recruiting. You make the call.
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
5 comments:
To the author....you're absolutely right, and I agree wholeheartedly.
I also agreed with this premise before there was ever a Senate Bill 2. Two complaints brought us to SB2 - one was that "not everyone was allowed to vote", and the other was that articles were changed during Town Meeting.
Same philosphy applies. If you weren't there, you don't have a right to complain. You certainly had/have the right to attend the meeting (or not) but don't complain about the results if you weren't there. Same thing goes for voting, by the way. Of our 5000 plus registered voters, maybe 2000 "bother" to take the time to cast a ballot.
In fact, that even goes for all elections. If you don't vote, and the candidate you wanted doesn't get in, you shouldn't complain, because you weren't there to help.
To the author....you're absolutely right, and I agree wholeheartedly.
I also agreed with this premise before there was ever a Senate Bill 2. Two complaints brought us to SB2 - one was that "not everyone was allowed to vote", and the other was that articles were changed during Town Meeting.
Same philosphy applies. If you weren't there, you don't have a right to complain. You certainly had/have the right to attend the meeting (or not) but don't complain about the results if you weren't there. Same thing goes for voting, by the way. Of our 5000 plus registered voters, maybe 2000 "bother" to take the time to cast a ballot.
In fact, that even goes for all elections. If you don't vote, and the candidate you wanted doesn't get in, you shouldn't complain, because you weren't there to help.
Part of the problem lies in the fact that this form of government doesn't fit into today's way of living. Most people are not working close to town where they can come and go the way they used to. When it was a bunch of local farmers who needed to stop by thown hall and vote it was easier. To get two parents to the session on a saturday is very hard to do.
Sometimes I have trouble getting home from Boston to vote in time. It's part of our changing world. Our town is suffering for the fact that we are not willing to help accommodate people who live here. We end up having to live with the same old lousy choices for officials and laws that haven't worked in the past.
I can say this, I attend the sessions.
I posted this in a later thread but I think it is more appropriate here.
After witnessing the Deliberative Session and reading all the comments regarding the petition warrants I threw together a number of suggestions that future petitioners might want to consider when presenting. This is based on years of sitting through many, many presentations.
1)Cut the presentation down to 5 minutes, 8 minutes max, and understand when to stop talking. Make your point, but don't belabor it. 2) One presentation included a PowerPoint from a laptop. Many agonizing minutes went by while they tried to figure it out. If you're going to use a laptop, learn how to use it with an external projector first. 3) Keep the petitions as simple as possible. Use the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Less words and less talk works. Use only as many as you need to make your point.
4) Have your presentation written down or have notes on 3x5's. Don't wing it. That is the worst thing you can do. If it written down, don't just look at the paper and recite from it. Know the presentation so that you can look up and make eye contact with the audience. Very important.
5) Said it before, know when to stop talking. Watch the crowd. If their eyes are starting to cloud over, you've talked too long.
6)If you know someone who would be a better presenter, get them.
7)This has been said many times before, but get enough supporters there to prevent the watering down process.
8)When you have the floor, you have the floor. Do not tolerate interruptions except from the moderator. Friel should have been shut down as soon as he opened his mouth, and don't expect the moderator to do it. Do not yield the floor until you're done.
9)If you hear the peanut gallery, ask the moderator to shut them down too. 10)If money is going to be required to implement, make sure to include it, and make sure everything is included, not just stamps for instance. 11)The chiefs behavior was out of line and a point should have been made to the audience of this and a apology requested. His reaction would have been fun to watch.
12)If you have handouts, have them ready before the session starts. I was a little peeved when the tower handouts were given out just before the presentation. Make sure they are clear, easy to understand, and look professionally done. Copies of copies loses points. If you can do color, all the better. Bound copies are worth extra points.
13)Try to anticipate questions you might be asked and be ready with good answers. It is good to get other people involved in this so you get other's input. Try and keep the answers clear and short as possible. Do not wander. When done ask the questioner if they got their answer.
Remember, you are trying to convince people your petition has merit. You are trying to sell an idea. Quickest way to lose a sale is to be unprepared and boring.
The last post is the first bit of constructive advice I've read. At last, somebody has a clue that whining about the rules gets you nowhere.
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