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BACKGROUND:
On December 4, 2006,
Goffstown selectmen Nick Campasano made a motion on behalf of
GRA chairman Guy Caron to augment official minutes taken during
the board of selectmen meetings to record votes by board member
name. That motion, seconded by selectman John Caprio,
failed 2-3, as board members Philip D'Avanza, Barbara Griffin
and Bruce Hunter all voted against.
The ensuing reaction by residents throughout Goffstown has been
swift and direct. The result of the vote has caused
widespread reaction not only by residents, but throughout the
entire state. As can be seen below, numerous articles and
editorials in both the Goffstown News and the Manchester Union
Leader, along with numerous letters by local residents have been
published since, and continue at this writing.
As a result, Guy Caron, chairman of our organization,
submitted the above petition warrant article for inclusion on
the March 2007 Town ballot.
The board finally reversed itself on January 8, 2007 (see
article).
Please support
Right-To-Know Petition Warrant Article 27
The result of the
board's January 8 vote can be reversed at a later date as easily
as it was passed that night. As such, we urge all
Goffstown voters to support Article 28 on March 13th, and help
promote accountability and openness in Goffstown's government. |
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RESIDENTS REACT:
From
Charlie Carr, Goffstown:
Wow! So much ado about almost nothing. Three
of our selectmen do not want their votes recorded in the
minutes of meetings. One selectman says that, come
election time, voters can find a record of his voting for a guide to voting
for or against him. They are.... more
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From
Bill Wynne, Goffstown:
To all of the People in Goffstown: The will of an elected public official to deny the public
the Right to Know is absurd and outrageous. I am completely unsatisfied with the response of those in Goffstown who we have elected, to deny the public of a
right.... more
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From
Herbert Edwards, Goffstown:
It seems that no one in public office, from the Oval Office to the board of selectmen, wants
to be held accountable to their constituents. Perhaps they are the wrong people for the
position. I, for one, will remember how our selectmen voted on
Guy Caron’s... more
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From
Scott Gross, Goffstown:
Over the last couple of weeks there has been considerable discussion about whether or
not elected officials should record votes by name. As a member of the school board, I support full disclosure of the public's right to know- and that includes... more
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From
Linda A. Gelfand, Goffstown:
The votes of all members of our federal Congress are recorded each and every time a vote is taken; Congress knows it is responsible and answerable to the voters who put them in office. Why are our local officials so special and secretive? What do they fear...
more
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From
Pat Rueppel, Hooksett Town Councilor:
"Dark in
Goffstown" (was an editorial that) appeared in The Union Leader, Friday,
Dec. 15, 2006. The article looks like the handy work of Andrew Cline.
D’Avanza, Griffin and Hunter ought to be ashamed of themselves. The public should... more
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