What I Meant To Say Was…
I had intended to address my concerns during the Public Comment time at the 4/22/24 Select Board meeting but that would have been at the earliest 9:30. I couldn’t stay past 9 becaue of severe pain in my bum knee.
New Board members and folks reading this, if you are not familiar with me, I tell folks that I’m not so much famous, rather I’m Infamous. I have been a Registered Voter and a Town Meeting member for the better part two decades. As an Agitator/ Activist I will keep your feet to the fire so expect to hear from me as often as I feel needed.
RIght now, I do have a few concerns that I need to address. My first concern is regarding the two rules of public comment given to a citizen at the April 8th meeting. The Select Board has set a precedent allowing the comment to last five minutees and 20 seconds, well beyond the two-minute limit, plus there was interaction between the citizen and the Board, thus breaking both rules.
And again with all due respect, if the Chair did not perform her duty I would expect the other board members to call it to your attention. I am not one to bitch and moan without providing a possible solution so I ask that the Board take into consideration extending the time to four minutes. I’m sure that many others who have stood at that podium feel that two minutes is not enough time to get one’s point across in a cohesive manner.
My second concern is that this meeting (4/22) is being held on the first night of Passover which will commence at sundown. That was at 7:33 p.m. For practicing Jews the first night of Passover is the most significant of the eight nights. Should a Jewish citizen wish to participate in a public meeting but also wishes to be home with their family, it’s simply impossible because I’ve never known a Select Board meeting to wrap up in 45 minurtes.
I am 100% positive that a public meeting of any board or committee would not be scheduled on Christmas Eve, the Eve of Thanksgiving, Good Friday or any Monday holiday.
I insist that this Board and others take into consideration the practicing of other religions and cultures. After all isn’t that one of the pillars of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)? So this is also an issue that our Belonging Committee should address as well.
And lastly, there is an IT issue preventing citizens to reach their elected and appointed officials by the e-mail links on our Town’s website. Over the past 15 years I’ve been told that it is not permissible for a citizen to e-mail a government official directly without including the entire board or committee as well as our Town Administrator.
I have the ability to write a docu-ment and print it out, then bring it to Town Hall, but many, many citizens do not. This is an issue that MUST be addressed immediately.
Diane Hahn, Fairhaven
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Click here to download the 05-02-24 issue: 05-02-24 JrTreeWardens
Click here to download Patrick Carr’s response letter: CarrResponseSeaspray
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