Corinna Cole recently sent me copies of the newsletters published by Citizens for Better Government back in 2002-2003. These time capsules are remarkable in that looking at the topic details they are all mostly relevant and topical today. Town Charter, Road Conditions, Local Police Coverage, Selectmen Accountability, and more… They are available via PDF below…take a look and reminisce.
November 2002 – December 2002 – January 2003
I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone who participated in the Citizens for Better Government. I applaud your dedication. But, if nothing has changed since 2003, and we are still dealing with the same government corruption, lack of accountibility, no police coverage, what do we hope to achieve with the Round Table? What will be done differently today than was done with Miss Corinna in 2003?
The Citizen’s group has been inactive for many years. When they were active they DID make a difference and very nearly succeeded in getting a Town Charter implemented.
You ask what will be different?
We have YOU and I and the hundreds of others residents who know we deserve better by our Towns administration. We have the knowledge of those who have been there before in the case of Mrs. Cole and others, and we have this website along with all that technology can do in the case of video, audio and information delivery.
We can make a difference!
Each of us needs to take a little action but together we are a force, a powerful voice that CAN inact much needed improvement.
Some of our accomplishments have helped even several years later. We hired a lawyer to obtain time submitted by our selectmen . Proving that they collected a salary and not the voted on $10.00 per hour as voted on . (Mr. Patch was one selectman involved in this practice). The following referendum the selectmen put their salary in with the government budget. The town voted the referendum down ,closing the town hall because of their greed and our hiring a lawyer . All committees were full of volunteers in part by our news letters to get residents involved . The ambulance service was pushed by our group , helping to get the word out and informing residents of how it would work . This group did a monthly news letter to keep residents informed of issues . Residents now have this site and a town website to get most of their info . More people want change and seem to want to get involved . Together people do make a difference .
To Pat Allard;
If we don’t try, then we get what we deserve!
After all, initiative has the result of answers, even if faulty, they are an effort!
Don