Transparency: September 2009 Archives
This is the weekly update sent out to subscribers from the Town of Meredith. Granted, it is from the desk of the Town Manager, but let’s face it folks, we have a de facto Town Manager in our very own Town Administrator. Or so it would seem, as he acts on his on accord for many different issues, agendas and even ordinances. Why, then, would it be asking too much for an informative weekly update that highlights the many goings on in our town, without forcing citizens to search the town webpage? The town calendar is not all inclusive, nor is it enough to decipher any real information. How ‘bout it folks? Let’s ask our town for more!
Town Manager’s Weekly Message
Keeping you informed about what’s happening in the Town of Meredith
This message is updated each Friday to keep residents informed about town issues and activities.
September 23, 2009
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MEREDITH:
Infrastructure Improvements Project Construction Notice
Sewer repair and road improvement work on Main Street between Waukewan St. and Lake St. began on August 31st. Trench paving is now taking place. Weather permitting, work may be completed by October 2nd however, that date is subject to change.
The roadway will be open to local traffic only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; however access to sidewalks will be maintained. Traffic coming from the center of town will be diverted to Lake St. onto Route 3. Traffic coming toward the center of town from the intersection of Waukewan and Main St. will be diverted onto Mill St. then to Route 3. Although every effort will be made to maintain water and sewer service, temporary interruption of service could occur. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING WILL BE PERMITTED ON MAIN ST. FROM THE HUMISTON SCHOOL BUILDING TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
For more information contact Jerry Cedrone, Resident Engineer, KV Partners, LLC at 496-1282 or the Town of Meredith Water & Sewer Department at 279-3046. You can also click the links below to view the full construction notice and work detour map.
- H1N1 SWINE FLU INFORMATION –
The MCA is pleased to publish this article, not to bemoan our selectmen, but rather to point out serious violations involving the Right to Know Law. This is an oft misunderstood and easily ignored law. However, when repeated articles are posted on our and other websites regarding the selectmen’s history of conducting business outside of the public’s presence, it is hard to tolerate continued defiance of the public’s right to know. We hate to see things go so far as a lawsuit, but unfortunately, change comes about when and only someone is willing to file such a suit.
It is our sincere hope that the selectmen will understand the error of their ways, and frankly those of our town manager, and conduct their business in public sessions. According to RSA 91, non public sessions are very specific about what can and cannot be discussed. We also suggest that our town officials learn and truly understand this law thoroughly. It is complex, but worth knowing.
www.citizen.com September 14, 2009
A Moultonborough resident's right-to-know lawsuit against the town, claiming selectmen met illegally in a nonpublic session on an unannounced date to discuss, plan and coordinate the process it would use to hire a new police chief, may have been stalled because of a failure to deliver copies of the legal documents to town officials.
Petitioner Paul Punterieri of 22 Nelson Road said last Wednesday that he called the Carroll County Sheriff's Office and discovered that the petition had never been delivered — or served — on the town. He was told the paperwork would be served in the next several days, most likely resulting in a new date for the hearing being set.
A scheduling notice in the court file notes that Punterieri "shall serve the petition upon the town" and that failure to do so may result in the action being discontinued without further notice.
Punterieri filed his petition in Carroll County Superior Court in Ossipee on Aug. 27 and a court hearing was scheduled for this Tuesday.
The suit names Selectmen Karel Crawford, chair, Ed Charest, Jim Gray, Joel Mudgett and Betsey Patten as respondents. It also names Town Administrator Carter Terenzini.
Terenzini said last Wednesday he has not been served with the suit and could not comment on anything regarding pending litigation.
Terenzini also declined to comment on whether the suit has stalled efforts to hire a new chief or the status of the search process.
Punterieri argues that any and all discussion of how Police Chief Scott Kinmond's successor would be named, if and how a search/screening committee would be formed, and who would be appointed should have occurred in public session.
Kinmond, the town's current chief who has served for 24 years, is retiring from that post and will become the town's road agent.
"The plaintiff is contesting that the decision to appoint a committee (or accept volunteers), the membership of that committee and the process leading up to the interviews violates RSA 91-A as they were never held in public session," the suit states.
In the suit, Punterieri argues that the town set precedent when it filled two key positions — the first-ever town planner and a town engineer — by hiring them in full public session. He maintains that a similar process should have been following for naming a new police chief.
Volunteers who have agreed to serve on a committee looking for a new chief, according to minutes of the committee's work, are Belknap County High Sheriff Craig Wiggin, Merrimack County High Sheriff Scott Hilliard, Auburn Chief of Police Ed Picard, Moultonborough citizen Peter Whelley, and Peterborough Town Administrator Pam Brenner.
