Ask Moultonboro officials why...
 

Laconia Daily Sun, Monday, Feb 4, 2008
letter to the editor
.....

Ask Moultonborough officials why they're so afraid of SB-2

To the editor,

SB-2 is good for Moultonborough, and yes, for Meredith, too.

Why is it that the general consensus among the "Powers-To-Be, (the Board of Selectmen, the School Board, the town Moderator, the Superintendent of Schools, etc.) in Moultonboro that SB-2 is a fiscal threat to the town and the school system? Why when given the opportunity to weigh-in they have condemned SB-2 by voice, signage, or action by standing silent. This condemnation of silence has by no means gone unnoticed by the electorate. But, the question remains...WHY?

If one were to listen to their scare tactics, comments and acerbic bombs, their cries have been loud but artificial. So for the sake of clarity and fairness and at the larger risk chastisement I will explain SB-2. First, you should understand there is no "smoke and mirrors". SB-2 IS A VOTING INITIATIVE...it is that simple.

Over a decade ago the State of New Hampshire recognized that not all eligible voters in the Town Meeting process were able to physically be there to voice their opinion and exercise their right to vote. In fact for various reasons, attendance at town and school district meetings around the state was periously low. This left the door open for very small but powerfully connected groups to overwhelm the process and control signifigant spending issues. The purpose of SB-2 is to allow all of the electorate to vote, by ballot and still have an opportunity to discuss and amend any of the warrant articles if they so chose. I will repeat that...IT ALLOWS ALL THE ELECTORATE TO VOTE.

Here is how it works. About a month before the second Tuesday in March (traditional Town Meeting Day) there is a "Deliberative Session" when those that can (and want to) be physically present, have the opportunity to discuss each article of he warrant. At this time, the various parts of a proposed budget item, wording and costs, may be amended. But the actual acceptance or rejection is done by ballot on Election Day...that second Tuesday in March. Since the expenditures of the warrant articles determine the budget for the ensuing year, if they are not passed, the previous year's budget plus any committed financial obligations becomes the default budget so that "life as we know it" may continue without damaging the town's rating or reputation. Simple, huh?

Before we hear the repeated clamor from those that say "SB-2 is dangerous" or worse "it is dangerous to allow all those uninformd voters to vote" (and sadly I have heard that very statement tossed around by our public officials) let me say that the news media is "on board" with SB-2. The local newspaper in nearby Wolfeboro (an SB-2 Town) prints out the entire warrant with check-off- boxes so that before Election Day you, the (uninformed) voter can take the time to become informed as to what are the issues and decide how you want to vote. Take the checklist with you in the booth.

The next time you have the opportunity to speak to one of the above mentioned "power brokers" in Moultonborough, ask them specifically what is so "dangerous" about SB-2. Ask them why they would promote and support the disenfranchisement of all the good folks that are out of state on retirement, away at college, out of state/country serving in the military, elderly, a working parent on second shift or those that are intimidated by voting against the crowd or speaking up in front of 200-300 people. Wouldn't you like to have more say in town?

As we approach the spring voting rituals, I urge you to learn about SB-2 and support it at the polls. For more information contact the Moultonborough Citizen's Alliance, www.moultonborocitizensalliance@yahoo.com or call me.

Rick Heath
Moultonborough
........
Laconia Daily Sun, Monday, February 4, 2008
letter to the editor




......

Here is the link, for ease in clickability:

http://www.moultonborocitizensalliance.com/


Yes, Moultonboro and other towns need to rein in spending.

Meredith public hearing
 

Monday, February 11, 5:30

Meredith Community Center

SB-2 public hearing
................

What happens at an SB-2 public hearing? That's a good question and I do not know. I assume there will be public officials such as selectmen, maybe the town manager, and others who will present information and respond to questions from the audience. But, I do not really know.
Probably, the Laconia Citizen, Laconia Daily Sun & The Meredith News will be there and have some good news articles in the next day's newspaper.

I've never voted absentee before and I don't want to miss this one....where do you pick up the ballots? town hall?

The town clerk's counter in Meredith Town Hall should know about absentee voting. Probably, there is no absentee voting now, and that is one change that passing SB-2 would create. Voting day is on either Tuesday March 11, or Wednesday March 12 (not sure which day), from 7am-7pm, in the Community Center, by paper ballot.

SB-2 is not the only issue on this year's March paper ballot vote......a zoning issue....a fire station rebuild....(& ?)...

Thanks...I'll check it out

You are right, FLL. There is a deliberative session which is held before the vote in March. At these, all the town officials attend and everyone discusses the articles that will be voted on. Sometimes they will try to amend them, or maybe even delete them by putting a zero dollar amount on them. Unfortunately not a lot of people usually attend these. But the old way with town meeting, a lot of people didn't usually attend either and they not only discussed the articles but voted on them the same night, so a very small minority of people are voting. At least this way, with the people voting in March, there is usually a bigger turnout. This is an all day affair and not at night, so enables more people to vote. Even still, I think it is still sad that more people don't vote. I think things would certainly change in the Lakes Region if more people voted.

Yes Sam, you can get your absentee ballot at the town halls. Voting is always on Tuesdays.

According to the Meredith News editorial above, this will be Meredith's first try at passing a SB-2 style of voting. It has come up in Moultonboro and Sanbornton a number of times and always lost. It was passed first attempt in Gilford in 2004.

Probably a lot depends on the weather for the voting day, and in letting Meredith voters know that the polls are open 7am-7pm.

There was a huge turnout of Meredith voters on presidential primary day, January 8. There was people with various walkers, canes, & assistance of others and some who looked like they was gonna vote even if it was the last thing they ever did. That primary pried people out of the woodwork like they was handing out Ulysses S. Grant's, or something. That was an historical NH voting day for the numbers of people who showed up to vote.

In about ten hours, I got about 200 to sign both the school and town petitions, and then maybe some got rejected for not having their address correct or something, It came out to 174.

The weather was unusually warm & sunny and that was a big help.

Rick - Your letter makes some excellent points about SB-2.

The issue with those who are worried about the uninformed voting is really an insult to the voters. Warrant articles are posted well in advance to the deliberative session. Copies (handouts) are available at the Town Hall and at the day of the meeting. Some towns place a copy of the Warrant articles on the town's website. The Warrant articles are printed in the newspaper, too.

Something I would like to suggest to help "sell" your point - Consider videotaping the deliberative sessions to broadcast on the local cable access channel. If townspeople are concerned that there's low turnout and that the uninformed are voting, then you can counter that argument easily. Meeting minutes are also taken during those meetings and would be on the town website or at the Town Clerk's office. You could also offer to have a copy of the video available at the local library.

Finally, suggest that this will offer more "transparency" for the local government - they will like that (and they'd better embrace that concept - the voters do NOT like it when officials don't want public information readily available.

While I wasn't at last night's SB2 public hearing at the Community Center, today's www.citizen.com has a good article about it. Apparently SB2 supporter, Richard Juve, and SB2 opponent, Selectman, big-bad, Bob Flanders, had opposing opinions.

That's interesting because in the last selectman's race that had two open seats, if I remember correctly, it was Miller Lovett 750 votes, Bob Flanders 650 votes, and Richard Juve 625 votes. If Juve had won, the 3-2 voting dynamics of the five member selectboard would be the flip-flopped the other way.

My cheap $15.00 msn-tv2 box never can make a working link so could someone please post a good direct link to today's Feb 12 Citizen story.

Apparently, I was all wrong about the SB2 vote being held on a paper ballot from 7-7am on Tuesday. This article in the newspaper says it is decided at the town meeting, late at night, and needs a 60% vote to get passed.

That will be almost impossible what with the local 'Meredith voting machine' being steered by 'Big Bad Bob' and his followers all going to town meeting. It looks like SB2 in Meredith is definately doomed.....rest in peace....SB2-Meredith!.....60%....wow....ho- buoy!

Get rid of that MSN tv thing ;)
 

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...132/-1/CITIZEN

I need SB-2 style voting as well. Typically I am out of town all week and home weekends. I can't usually attend meetings, vote, etc... :confused:

Time for the good-ole-boys club to be dethroned. :D and for us to take back our town from the select few. Isn't that why we lost our last town manager?

Haha old Rick is not even a Meredith resident yet he knows what’s good for the residents of our great Town. Rick, screw up your own Town and leave ours alone please.

If there is a single family in the Moultonborough/Meredith area that has contributed more to the well being and economy than the Heath family,I'd like to know who it is.They were all born ,raised, and schooled here (not that it makes them any better) but certainly shows that they have their roots here in the lakes region.
Summersux......how many jobs have you created over the years? the Heaths have literally employed thousands.What do you pay for taxes?...maybe you'd prefer the Heath's bill. How many town boards have you served on? The Heaths have served in some capacity their entire lives.
"Old Rick? wish we had more like him.

Let's be honest about this; ...
 

A letter to the editor, Laconia Daily Sun,
Wednesday, February 20, 2008, from Peter Miller who is a former Meredith Selectman and was chairman as recently as 2006.
..........

Let's be honest about this; SB-2 is just meant to curb town and school spending

To the editor,

Shame on Mr. Juve for playing the "service" card in his attempt to peddle Senate Bill 2 to the voters of Meredith. Though it has always been true that residents unable to attend the annual town meeting have been disenfranchised from that vote, this criticism of the town meeting form of government is signifigantly less relevant today than it was at other times in American history. Until ADA, annual meeting places were not required to have handicap access, precluding attendance by the disabled. Regarding military servce, far greater numbers of draft-age men served on the front lines - and died - during the Civil War, World War II, and "Nam than is true today. Yet town meetings were not abolished in New Hampshire during those wars. My $20 bill says there has never been a hue and cry in Meredith to abolish town meeting during wartime because draftees were unable to attend and vote.

The town meeting form of government is the democracy that was envisioned by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and the other enlightened architects of our glorious nation. They believed that free discussion and debate, followed by a vote, produced the best decisions. Our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution were forged in town meeting type deliberations. By practicing the democracy that they preached, these individuals, the greatest political minds in the history of mankind, put heir very lives on the line. If 1776 had failed, they surely would have been executed. hence Paine's famous words, "Give me liberty, or give me death." Town meetig democracy is their lagacy to us, and it is our direct and unbroken connection with them.

Meredith's town meeting has been a lively event all the many years I have attended. Voters have not been afraid to speak their minds. The debates pro and con ther major warrant articles have been excellent, and I for one have benefited from them. Though some votes are far from unanimous, ultimately we respect each other for airing enough to attend, to speak, and to vote. The annual town meeting is an extremely important part of he social fabric of our town.

"But you can still have your deliberative session," say the proponents of SB-2. That's a joke. In every town that has adopted Senate Bill 2, attendance at deliberative sessions has been minimal. It is the vote that brings people out. SB-2 towns suffer from a disconnect between discussion/debate and voting.

Let's be honest about SB-2. The issue is town and school spending, and SB-2 is meant to be a club with which every capital project, no matter how necessary, and every budget increase, no matter how modest and justified can be bludgeoned to death. So please don't insult voters' intelligence with the other rhetoric.

The SB-2 folks say the sky has not fallen in SB-2 towns. But what has been the fate of capital projects in those towns? In which of those towns have employees unionized, and which of those towns will see unionization in the years to come? What is the state of employee moral, employee retention, and other factors with huge cost ramifications in SB-2 towns? What has happened to the quality of services, and the quality of education? What is the state of civic pride? The string of defeated capital projects and imposed default budgets will cost taxpayers more in the long run, but the SB-2ers can't see it because of their tunnel vision. Or maybe they just don't plan to be around when the economic consequences hit.

Here in Meredih, we have escaped the divisiveness found in so many other Lakes Region towns. We have rallied behind capital projects that have failed repeatedly in neighboring communities. We are perceived to be a cut above, and that has attracted many fine new residents and many talented new town employees. We have a very good thing going here, as witnessed by the extraordinary increase in the value of our property. Why tamper with success?

There are many, many reasons why Meredith voters should deep six SB-2. I will say more about them in the days and weeks to come. I have only begun to speak.

Peter Miller
Meredith

Laconia Daily Sun, Feb 20, 2008
Letter to the Editor
.......


As I understand it, the voting on Meredith SB-2 will be held at the Tuesday night, March 11, town meeting, and a 60% majority is needed for SB-2 to be approved.

Hmmmmm....is this letter the start of the 2009 selectman's race between Peter Miller and Richard Juve, when Peter Brothers' three year term is over? What did Miller say...."Shame on Richard Juve...."...what's up with that...why's he targeting Juve in his opening sentence? Let's not forget that Richard Juve, a newcomer, came close to beating Flanders, and lost a close race by 650-625. And, Miller Lovett was on top with 750 votes as the three candidates vied for two open seats in the November 2006 Meredith selectman's election.


....

I absolute agree, SB2 allows more working people to vote, because they have all day to vote, not just a few hours on an evening or on a Saturday when they are tired or have plans with their family. As Rick Heath's letter said, "the powers (that) be" don't like SBs because they can pack the meeting and get their pet projects voted on. Instead of a few hundred voting, thousands vote and that is a much better representation. I agree not quite as many attend the deliberative sessions, but still, I think there is a pretty fair turnout. I think the proof is in these two letters.

Wow... I don't like change for the sake of change, but from the letter here it seems the main reasons to shoot down SB-2 in Meredith are:

1) Meetings are the way its always been done

2) SB-2 would impede town spending, because voters wouldn't approve the spending article

Ummmm... tell me there is something I am missing?

Are Meredith town meetings represented by a quorum of voters? If its like Moultonboro, for sure not. If the voters shoot down something because they are misinformed, its the town Selectpersons fault, not the fault of 'letting' all the voters vote. Lets find ways to balance the budget rather than reasons to increase it.

With that kind of attitude, I wish you success, FLL

If SB-2 was so bad NH towns would be voting it right out at the next election.....that's not happening. It enjoys overwhelming success all over NH.

Your NH property tax bill...
 

Our New Hampshire property tax bill has four different items; town, school, state school, and county.

All four items are on the increase and all four items are being litigated, petitioned, warranted, and cost-shifted in an effort to lower the tax bill, and at the same time the next Meredith property tax bill should be about 4%, or more, larger than the last one due December 2007.

Governor Lynch wants a constitutional amendment to control the state school costs. A number of towns including Meredith are pooling town money to pay the lawyers to sue the state to keep the state from shifting its' county expenses onto the towns. SB-2, which requires a 60% majority vote at a town meeting, has been passed by about 60 different NH towns since SB-2 was created in 1996.

SB-2 will not do all that much to control the town and school costs as most expenses are contractual and do not come up for a warrant vote. Typically, warrant votes are for big capital items like community centers, police stations, fire stations, and football fields.

What SB-2 really is, is an expression of anger by property tax payers who have seen their taxes go up, big-time.

People grow old, pay off their mortgages, and get annoyed and frustrated as their six month, semi-annual property tax bill grows and grows. You can pay off a mortgage, but that property tax bill, it never gets paid off, and it just keeps on a-grow'n, and a-grow'n, and a-grow'n!


:eek::banana::eek::banana::eek:

I have a dream.
 

I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could bring my whole crew to a town meeting and wait until later in the evening to vote for a big addition to my building,a nice cost of living increase for everyone,a couple of paid holidays and ,hmmm,let's see....oh yes,maybe some nice retirement packages for everyone. All to be paid for by the taxpayers.

And why do you think that is Less, why it's because they keep a-spendin' a-spendin' a-spendin', hopefully if SB2 goes thru people will start votin' down those a-spendin' articles. :coolsm:

...how town leaders feel about SB-2
 

Quotes taken from the February 14, 2008, Laconia Daily Sun, 'SB-2 debate begins in Meredith,' by Michael Kitch
............................

Town Manager Carol Granfield set the scene with a staff report which concluded "the SB-2 form of government is not recommended as a positive improvement for the Town of Meredith." She explained that SB-2 was primarily intended to provide voters unable to attend Town Meeting an opportunity to vote on the warrant and to enable voters to cast their ballots in private.

However, Granfield expressed a number of reservations about the process. "Many people voting," she said. "do not understand the articles. (And) Those who don't understand the articles typically vote no." She noted that when voters reject the budget, the default budget taking its place includes contractual agreements with collective bargaining units, which must be honored, sometimes at the expense of positions and services. Granfield suggested that SB-2, by increasing the likelihood of voters rejecting budgets while ensuring that union contracts must be fulfilled, could encourage municipal employees to form collective bargaining units. "SB-2 communities." Granfield suggested "may better assist towns that do not have a professional manager and department heads on staff."
........................

Fire Chief Chuck Palm, who is running to replace chairman Frank Michel on the Selectboard, suggested that expectations that voters could control the tax rate by adopting SB-2 are misplaced. He recalled that last year the tax rate rose 17 cents, from $10.74 to $10.91, but that the town portion of the rate dropped 9-cents, from $3.79 to $3.70. On the other hand, the school portion climbed 6-cents, the state property tax 13-cents and county tax 7-cents, he said, adding that the largest share of the increase, the state and county taxes, is beyond the control of the town.

"We can control the tax rate with what we have right here." Palm declared.
...........................

Selectman Bob Flanders said that 'my biggest concern is that when the people go to the polls they have the full story," referring to the "warts and pimples" of the SB-2 process. "I've just heard an awfull lot of negatives," he said, recalling that in one town voters endorsed contradictory articles and in another reduced an appropriation for a fire station to $1. Noting that participation in the deliberative meeting is an important part of the SB-2 process, Flanders said that those people wintering in Florida and unable to attend are "disenfranchised," even if they cast absentee ballots. "Is that a more representative form of government? It doesn't seem like that to me," he said.
...........................

The proposal to adopt SB-2 will appear on both the town and school district warrant in March, where it will require a super-majority of 60-percent to succeed. Town Moderator Lou Kahn said that he will invite Bob Ambrose, Senior Deputy Secretary of State, who is well versed in the design and operation of SB-2, to explain the official ballot form of town government at Candidates Night, which is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 28, at the Community Center.
..........................

excerpts all from The Laconia Daily Sun, Feb 14, 2008, "SB-2 debate begins in Meredith' by Michael Kitch






.........................
Hey there, Is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper, or is that Laconia Daily Sun a good newspaper? :coolsm:

Here's a Thursday, February 21, in-depth and play-by-play analysis on what your Meredith and Moultonboro town leaders really and truly think about SB-2 from your good buddies over at www.granitegrok.com (in the good neighbor town of Gilford).

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2008/02/...llot_html:):):)

What a bummer...the link on the edit is looking good but it doesn't survive the save button. Is this a conspiracy? Someone....out there...please repost....so's the planet can easily & quickly examine the powerfull insight of GraniteGrok!

The first link works; the second is the link you posted – note the small differences in the URL.

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2008/02/...al_ballot.html

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2008/02/...llot_html:):):

For your viewing pleasure and general enhancement of taxation knowledge:

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2008/02/...goal_is_y.html

"...but democracy isn't easy."
 

From page B6 of today's Saturday, February 23, 2008, Laconia Citizen, By Erin Plummer

SB2 gets opposition in Center Harbor

By Erin Plummer

A small, yet vocal group of Center Harbor residents voiced opposition to the implementation of Senate Bill 2 in the Inter-Lakes School District.

The second of three scheduled hearings was held in Center Harbor on Thursday on the petitioned warrant article to implement the Official Ballot Act, commonly known as SB2, that would replace the traditional school district meeting with a deliberative session and ballot voting on warrant articles at Inter-Lakes.

Members of the School Board with Superintendent Phil McCormack and attorney Barbara Loman explained the law and how it would effect voting and budgeting in the school district.

Around three Center Harbor residents were present at the meeting, all voicing fervent opposition to SB2.

"I think it's a more detached way of participating in your local government," said Center Harbor Selectman Charley Hanson, who spoke of his experiences with SB2 in Weare. " It creates a bit of an uneven playing field."

Resident Bess Hanson said a deliberative session cannot compare to a traditional school meeting. "people who go to those are the ones who are truly interested."

Resident Kay Peranelli noted how few people typically attend the deliberative session in SB2 towns. "I think you miss an awfull lot by not showing up," she said.

With the discussion that goes on at a regular town meeting, "I think you get far better decisions when you get that discussion, that debate," Peranelli said.

"Yes, it takes time and no, it's not convenient for a lot of people, but democracy isn't easy."

Laconia Citizen Feb 23, 2008
By Erin Plummer
......




......

I have news for these people. In Wolfeboro, the same interested people show up for the deliberative session that used to show up for town meeting. I don't know what makes them think that people will go to town meeting any more than they would go to the deliberative session. Personally I think it is just the only thing they could think of to say bad about SB2. In Wolfeboro in the old days maybe three hundred showed up for town meeting. Depending on what is going on, it it not much different. But the big think is instead of two or three hundred voting, it is in the thousands. Still, not enough vote, usually not a third. It is too bad more don't.

The residents in the Town which he resides should be proud. Plenty of home owners in both Towns that have contributed to the economy not just Rick.

Is this a chest thumping thread?





Did anyone see the deliberative session for Alton on channel 26? HaHa.


Wait, you can't ever pay off taxes? No way.

Is this a chest thumping thread?

Not at all Summersux......just that I've known the family for many years and know them all to be give time unselfishly to their community.Didn't mean to rant.

"There's no challenge behind a curtain when voting all no."
 

SB2 takes precedence over school budget increase

The Meredith News, Thursday, Feb 21, 2008

By Sarah Schmidt


MOULTONBORO - At the presentation of the Moultonboro School District budget, the focus wasn't the 3.97 percent increase in the budget, but rather the hotly debated SB2 hearing.

With little input from the attending public about the budget, School Board Chair Laurie Whitley opened the public hearing for the SB2 petition warrant article. Several Moultonboro town officials stepped forward to speak as citizens, by and large speaking against the passage of the SB2 warrant article.

"I don't see the petitioners (of SB2) running for committees or the school board," said Town Moderator Mel Borrin. "This is just a method of getting you to cut the budget, a 'getcha' deal."

Borrin said that if the town voted to change to the SB2 form of government, it would endanger the school budget, since such a large portion of it encompasses the salaries for teachers negotiated by their union. He also spoke against the practice in SB2 of allowing residents to vote on the Town Warrant in a polling booth.

"If they say you're spending too much, let them challenge you," said Borrin."There's no challenge behind a curtain when voting all no. It can cripple something begun years ago."

Borrin also took issue with the deliberative session of the SB2 process, where residents can amend articles a month before voting on them, and said that just as many people who couldn't attend Town Meeting would not be able to attend a deliberative session. School Superintendent Mike Lancor also expresses concern about the deliberative session's average attendance and called SB2 ballots themselves a form of "multiple choice."

"My concern is that SB2 does not give voters a full choice," said Selectman Ed Charest. "When the ballot is mailed out, you're getting a choice that other people have made for you. It's taking away the right to vote."

Chair Karel Crawford also spoke against the petition warrant article, encouraging people to vote for people who represented their interests.

Speaking in support of SB2, Al Hume took issue with the defnition of the purest form of government, saying that rather than the exact method, the best method is to maximize the amount of people who could vote.

"If Moultonboro had SB2, there would be a lot more people voting," said Hume. "About 360 people voted on the whole budget, and 107 at the school. The purest form of government is maximizing the number of people voting."

Hume said that SB2 would not change the government in Moultonboro, just the time and manner in which warrant articles are approved in. It would also, he said, allow people who could not make it to Town Meeting, who could not stay the whole time, or who felt more comfortable casting their vote in a private booth, the ability to vote.

"I don't think people are hiding behind a closed booth." said Hume, in response to Borrin's earlier comment on voting on the Town Warrant in polling booths.

Crawford noted that both the school and town budgets and warrant articles will come before voters at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 15. Childcare will be provided and a lunch will be available for purchase.

As far as the school budget, the majority of the $518,465 increase is in the $475,781 increase in the personnel budget, much of it in salary increase for teachers and other school employees. The Moultonboro School District will enter the second year of its collective bargaining agreement in the next school year, with an average salary increase of 5.12 percent, and an average step increase of 1.8 percent. Other increases include salaries for 10 and 12 month employees, administrative and conract employees, paraeducator's salaries, retirement, FICA, and dental insuirance. The personnel budget accounts for about 70.1 percent of the total budget, and the increases within the personnel budget accounts for 91.8 percent of the budget.

Amoung the warrant articles up for a vote this year is an article that would appropriate up to $50,000 from the unreserved fund balance at the end of the school year, to be placed in an expendable trust fund for buildings and grounds.

The Meredith News,Thursday, February 21, 2008

By Sarah Schmidt

.....





.....

...letters to the editor; re: Moultonboro
 

The Meredith News, Thursday, Feb 21, 2008

Letters to the Editor

.........

School Board opposes SB2

To the Editor:

As many folks in Moultonboro may or may not know, an article was placed on the Moultonboro School District ballot (warrant) by a citizens' petition asking voters to adopt provision RSA 40:13 (known as SB2). After holding a Public Hearing on the SB2 article on Feb.12, the School Board members voted 5 - 0 to oppose this article. All residents of Moultonboro will have an opportunity to vote on this article on Election day, which is March 11.

Please give our position on this article serious consideration before you make your final decision. A no vote on this petitioned warrant article will maintain our current form of government which allows all residents to discuss and vote on warrant articles during our annual meeting. Thankyou very much.

Also I want to remind you that the School District Annual Meeting is March 15 at 9 a.m. in the Community Auditorium at Moultonboro Academy. The Annual Town Meeting will follow.

Laurie Whitley
Chair
Moultonboro School Board

.........


Why does the School Board oppose SB2?

To the Editor,

I am writing in support of SB2 for Moultonboro. The Moultonboro School Board prefers a "no" vote on SB2, evidenced by a 5 - 0 vote at the recent public hearing, thereby opposing full participation in government. My question to the school board (and all others that oppose SB2) is why?

The only thing SB2 will change is when and how you vote. Everything else remains the same. All warrant articles are discussed and amended during the Deliberative Session in early February. Voting on these articles takes place 30 days later during Election Day, on the second Tuesday in March in the privacy of a ballot box. No more disenfranchisement and no more fear of hostile and vocal special interests.

Vote yes to SB2 on March 11 and allow all citizens to participate in our town's future.

Paul Punturieri
Moultonboro
........



........

I guess the town officals fear the citizens will use the "privacy of the voting booth" to get away from the the gaze of the police & fire personal that often sit-in at town meeting and stare down the voters.

I have a friend in Gilford who was a public supporter of S-B2 & he use to get phone calls a three in the morning at his unlisted number every night threatening his business & family.
________
YAMAHA PSR-185

Gilford....hmmmm....that's really something. talking about Gilford....Gilford approved SB-2 in their first petitioned warrant in 2004, and as everyone knows, it takes a 60% super majority. I wonder how organized Gilford was in their 'get out the vote' effort?

I'll be very surprised if it passes in Meredith because the SB-2 supporters do not seem to be all that organized. I just do not know nuth'n! But, I think I can safely assume that the opposition will be better organized and vote on Tuesday night, March 11, at Town Meeting.

Heck, a bundle of kindling wood is better organized than us supporters! Hopefully, there will be enough SB-2 supporters who show up at town meeting and vote to be able to overcome the high hurdle of 60%. It wil not be easy! It will be a huge challenge! In order for SB-2 to meet the 60%, there needs to be some type of get-out-the-vote!

Something I did not know and just learned today by reading the Meredith News is that the Inter-Lakes SAU School District, SB-2 petition, that I submitted to the town clerk, puts SB-2 warrants (ballots) in the town meetings for Center Harbor, Sandwich, and Meredith, as these three towns comprise the Inter-Lakes SAU. How many people across the three towns have an interest in the SAU which I believe includes the Junior and Senior High School ? How big is this?

Back in December, I read Richard Juve's letter to the editor, Laconia Daily Sun, while eating breakfast at McDonald's, and then pursued my own two petitions at primary day, January 8. Like I said, it was the perfect spot!

"People let us know..."
 

An excerpted quote by Moultonboro Selectman Ed Charest from the Feb 21, 2008, Meredith News front page article entitled 'SB2 takes precedence over school budget increase,' by Sarah Schmidt
.....

As for seasonal residents, Charest said that it was the residents' choice to live elsewhere during the winter.

"If someone wants to do something badly enough, they can do it," said Charest. "Couples find babysitters, make arrangements. My father-in-law could park out front, and someone would take it in. If it's a hot item, people show up. If not, they're making the assumption that the government is making good choices. We're doing our job. People let us know when we don't."

The Meredith News, 2/21/08, by Sarah Schmidt
.........


As Selectman Ed Charest says, "if it's a hot item, people show up," and hopefully enough SB-2 supporters will show up to the town meetings. Time will tell, it always does.:)

I will admit there are flaws in the town meeting style, but there are more in SB2. The uninformed voter assumes that you just go to the polls to vote once SB is in place. Not true, what the supporters of SB2 aren't telling you is that it is more prone to corruption. There is a 2 part system, there is a deliberative session, and then a voting session. What happens in most of these towns that are new to SB2 is that the special interest groups that everyone so nicely points to at town meeting, now can go to the deliberative session, that the uninformed don't know exists. The facts show the turnout at these sessions is dramatically low. Then by the end of the session they have turned an article to restore the fire station into an article to improve the fire station by $1.00 !!! You want to see crooked politics at their best vote for SB2!

I'll say it again: If SB-2 is so bad how come every town that has voted it in almost never votes it out ? It's very, very popular where ever it has been tried with the voting public.

Because 90% of the voters are uninformed!

I see.....90% of the voters in NH are idiots becaue they don't agree with you. My, my, how do we all take care of ourselves out here without the likes of you to do it for us.

Now you are twisting... you must have spent some time in the speed limit forum.
Let me rephrase, many voters believe what they are told, many pro sb2 people are painting a pretty picture of sb2. Now I am saying that there is a low percentage of the voters who will dig further to educate themselves. If you want you can compare this to town meeting, most voters know when it is, but what percentage (of able bodied residents who are in town that night) go! SB2 has some upside, but also has some downside!!! I wish the proponents would tell the whole story, thats all.

That is nonsense.

In general my experience with NH voters is that by & large most of them are intelligent, thoughtful, and care about their communities. SB-2 has been voted in small towns & large towns all over NH with very positive results. The citizens like it. They almost never vote it out. That's the reality of the situation. The SB-2 movement is thriving & expanding in NH because the citizens think it works better than town meeting in some cases.

You can see the same thing happening with the tax-cap movement that the city of Laconia just put in. Citizens want government to keep spending under control. There is no doubt that SB-2 will help control some of the spending issues that face our towns.