'Why should they listen?'

To the Editor:

Ashburnham's Board of Selectmen have held two working sessions this summer. The first took place on July 19 and the second on Aug. 16. As I was not able to attend, I felt fortunate to be able to view the tapings of those meetings on our local cable channel.

After viewing the Aug. 16 meeting, two serious concerns flashed through my mind. Selectman Jonathan Dennehy and Selectman Mark Carlisle voted to prohibit the cable station from taping future working sessions. Given the fact that they elected to hold these meeting during normal work day hours, the general public has been deterred from attending. Why don't those selectmen want the public to have the opportunity to be kept informed on a first hand basis versus asking us to accept a rehearsed, second hand version?

Any issue slated to be addressed that meets the criteria which warrants discussion behind closed doors is dealt with in an executive session. Anything else is to be addressed in an open meeting. Unless the selectmen are going to schedule future working sessions in the evening, or on a Saturday (now that they will not be taped), they will be guilty of shutting the door on the face of the public.

Secondly, at the July 19 meeting, Selectman Mark Carlisle stated that if anyone were to approach Town Administrator Kevin Paicos requesting that he address an issue, they were to be told that his plate is too full per order of the Board of Selectmen. Given all the projects that remain ongoing in Ashburnham, one would agree. However, at the Aug. 16 working session, it was announced that the Board of Selectmen's meeting scheduled for Aug. 21 was canceled, as there was nothing to be brought to the table. I find it hard to fathom that a full plate cannot provide anything to bring to the table.

If Ashburnham's town officials truly believe that negativity impacts our community's well being in a manner that is not conducive to forward momentum, then I wish that they had chosen to heed the plea I made to them back in June versus perpetuating it via decisions like these. Then again, why should they listen to a concerned citizen such as myself? What do I know?

Respectfully,

Pixie Brennan,

Ashburnham