Recently in Betsey Patten Category

This little snippet is from the draft minutes of the Carroll County Delegation held December 14^th, 2009. Interesting to hear all the self back pats going on here, especially from Betsey Patten. The “process works when open.” Funny though that she was the Selectmen instrumental in limiting public input at their meetings and worked diligently behind the scenes in the Police Chief hiring fiasco.

 Henry Spencer: Process of Nursing home went wonderfully. Public knew what was going on. Compliment everyone, especially commissioners for putting themselves out there and all the plans out there for the public. Thank you for your yes vote.

Rep. Patten: Nice to know it was not done behind closed doors. Process works when open.

Rep. Knox: Because process was so open it did get the attention of “others” and widened the examination of plans.

Rep. Patten: Our constituents know that we listen

We're listening also Betsey, and we will remember come election day

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Finally! There was a disagreement on the Board of Selectmen! This is something we rarely see in this town where the common vote is 5-0! Betsey Patten voiced her concern that the Master Plan Implementation Committee should fall under the guidance of the Planning Board and not the Board of Selectmen as recommended by the Town Planner. She suggested that they meet with the Planning Board and the Town Planner to discuss the matter further Joel Mudgett agreed with Betsey.

The discussion was interrupted by “If I may,’ from Carter Terenzini. He began a lengthy and misleading dialogue of why the jurisdiction of the MPIC should fall under the BoS as town departments such as fire, police, are not under the direction of the planning board. Betsey argued that she did not feel comfortable going forward without meeting with the Planning Board. 

What is not clear is why did the Selectmen go forward with a vote? Why not table the issue to make sure that something as important as the implementation of the Master Plan is clear to all of the Selectmen? If there is disagreement, which in this case is a good thing, arrange for additional time and discussion. We have been waiting for quite some time to begin the process of implementing the Master Plan, but let’s do it right. Let’s do it without making more mistakes than we have in the past. We need for the town to go forward, not get stuck in the proverbial mud.

It wasn’t until the actual meeting minutes were published that the final vote was actually known, as they tend to speak rather softly up there at that table. We would once again, encourage the BoS to speak louder so that the audience in attendance could hear all that is said. Now that the Selectmen meetings are aired on Time Warner Cable, we will be able to control the volume by our remote controls.