The Amherst Select Board sponsoring an ‘Open Meeting Law’ forum is kind of like allowing the fox to teach hens how to lay eggs. At her reelection victory speech on ACTV in 2006 Anne Awad bragged that her regime is into open government as evidenced by the Select Board sponsorship of the Open Meeting Law seminar. Of course she neglected to mention her violation of that very law less than a year after that seminar.
Let’s hope the Regional School Committee takes notes (the 8 of 9 who voted in favor) concerning a “retreat” where presumably they will go off in the woods somewhere --out of the public eye--and perform a giant joint treehug while singing Kumbaya.
Unfortunately I have an Amherst Redevelopment Meeting (although it does not show up on the town website) tonight at 7:15 so I’m pretty tied up.
I would also love to start attending more Select Board meetings, as my name seems to keep popping up during Question Period and in the middle of public discussions. And what the heck is this untimed item presented by Chairman Weiss: Agents of the Select Board???
Do they get a badge and uniform?
Agent of the selectboard is a very real thing. Think in terms of "agent of the police" and the search and seizure law.
ReplyDeleteWhat it could be about is if you have the spouses of the selects all meeting downtown to discuss something -- that would NOT be a legal end run around the open meeting law. Often done in smaller towns with all-male selectmen and not legal.
There is one other thing in this that the town is flirting with and that is the Federal Anti-Klan statutes. Violation of civil rights under color of law. Conspiring to violate civil rights under color of law.
And remember that a "civil right" is any right under law - not just the traditional racism stuff. Any right including any Constitutional right, any legal privlege, anything....
Amherst has been doing this to the UMass students for more than a decade, and now they are doing it to others (yes, you, Larry). And the issue should be considered in the context of whatever the Town can do to anyone it can do to you tommorow...
Ed
I used to post comments here but that was before Ed did.
ReplyDeleteI wish you would. Maybe then I'd understand them...
ReplyDelete"giant joint treehug"...
ReplyDeletei think just a giant joint is what they need.
Yeah, I offered to bring beer, back when I thought bloggers might be allowed (especially the pushy ones)
ReplyDeleteBut at tonight's Open Meeting Law presentation by Assistant DA Cynthia Pepeyne I was told they could get away with it and keep the media out as long as they are only discussing touchy-feeling things and do not stray into town business.
But if there are no reporters or intrepid bloggers present, then how is the general public going to know if they strayed?
They are claiming attorney-client privlege against you, Larry.
ReplyDeleteI would make a fuss of this.
It isn't town business as much as you being defamed. Taxpayer dollars involved and all.
Think also in terms of "under color of law" and FEDERAL statutes....
ed
This town is going to do it, and continue to do it, as long as they can get away with it. They are the Kangaroo SB of the State of MA, and, are allowed to railroad town citizens in their civil rights struggles. Look what they are doing to the 4th of July Parade committee. Not very fair and just, if you ask me, but who am I? Just a poor citizen of Amherst, struggling to pay taxes, to keep their asses able to dictate the direction that Larry and other organizations and private citizens,can proceed with their business, in what they think is, "Their Town". Wrong, this is "Our Town", and we need to take it back. Hello, SB, wake up and smell the roses, for WE are the people of Amherst and we want our equal rights back.
ReplyDeletearhs76, do not let Ed chase you out. He likes to ramble on. Reminds me of Weiss. Lots of mouth, with nothing to say.
Until later.....................
thanks for your encouraging words.
ReplyDelete