Tonight, Selectwoman Gilman broke the tie by voting to keep public comment as the fourth item on the agenda following bid openings. The vote followed discussion by Board members and then those of the public present. Selectman Chartrand commented that they had voted Gilman to chair the Board and he would follow her wishes. Selectman Clement and Selectwoman Surman commented in favor of having public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Gilman read from a paper a prepared statement that, in summary, showed her position to be to have public comment at the end of the meeting. She, in the space of two weeks, changed her reasoning to be that of Chartrand's that having comment at the beginning of the meeting often set a bad tone for the entire meeting. Surman asked Gilman for an example of such a disrupted meeting and Gilman could produce none.
Public comment from more than a half dozen in attendance spoke unanimously to keeping public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Even Bill Campbell, a former Selectman, felt strongly that it should remain at the beginning.
A motion was made by Clement to leave public comment fourth on the agenda and Surman seconded the motion. Again Chartrand said he would go along with whatever Gilman wished. But catch this. When Gilman asked for a vote, Chartrand and Bellanger (no surprise) voted against the motion and Gilman had not yet voted. So much for Chartrand voting to support Gilman as she voted to approve the motion, breaking the tie.
Thanks to Ann Surman for continuing to pursue her line of questioning of the Chair and the Board to uncover the true nature of the Chartrand led movement to displace Public Comment to the end of the meeting. That pursuit allowed Julie to compose her thoughts and digest the comments of the unanimous public opinion. It was indeed very telling that the emotional Chartrand could not compose himself after an ~30minutes of debate, truly listen to the public, refocus on the correct decision and support the motion.
ReplyDeleteAnother major aspect of this BOS meeting is the topic of accuracy of recorded and approved minutes. The "Minutes" are the history of the Exeter. Let's not fall victim to selective memory.
It is interesting that there has been a change in the treatment of the Chairman of the Board. Selectman Chartrand now displays great respect for the opinions and actions of the person in that position. Quite a change!
ReplyDeleteE.W.
Public comment didn't prevail. Gilman, now an establishment Town Ruler, simply knew which way the wind was blowing that night. Crony Chartrand will now seek revenge--he will push his own wealth-extracting machinations even harder.
ReplyDelete