I am sure everyone is waiting with bated breath to hear about last nights special town meeting.
First off, a special note of mention to the Town Clerk, Eileen Lowney, for stepping in to act as the temporary moderator on the turbine issue (Town Moderator Mark Sylvia was forced to step aside on the article due to a conflict of interest).
Let's first address the recall and term limit proposals. Neither were even close. Maybe after the election this might change, however, I would be extremely surprised if any town meeting is going to accept thesse articles as presented.
The turbirne contract revocation article was defeated. The vote was roughky 134 to 80. It was defeated for a whole bunch of reasons. And the proponents should know exactly why. If they don't than there is a bigger problem with their stratgey than they even recofgnize.
Analysising the three votes proposed, the outcomes and the margains exposes the flaws. Some may hold out hope for the April election of town meeting memebers, however the margain of victory, percentage wise, makes one question how you are going to get the same articles passed in May.
Candidates for Selectmen: Four of the five people who took out nomination papers turned them in. As of right now, assuming no one withdraws their papers the people who will be on the ballot are: Jaime DeSousa, Bob Espindola, Jeff Messier and Phil Washko (I will get the formal names on ballot; and, note alphabetical by surname).
Let's first address the recall and term limit proposals. Neither were even close. Maybe after the election this might change, however, I would be extremely surprised if any town meeting is going to accept thesse articles as presented.
The turbirne contract revocation article was defeated. The vote was roughky 134 to 80. It was defeated for a whole bunch of reasons. And the proponents should know exactly why. If they don't than there is a bigger problem with their stratgey than they even recofgnize.
Analysising the three votes proposed, the outcomes and the margains exposes the flaws. Some may hold out hope for the April election of town meeting memebers, however the margain of victory, percentage wise, makes one question how you are going to get the same articles passed in May.
Candidates for Selectmen: Four of the five people who took out nomination papers turned them in. As of right now, assuming no one withdraws their papers the people who will be on the ballot are: Jaime DeSousa, Bob Espindola, Jeff Messier and Phil Washko (I will get the formal names on ballot; and, note alphabetical by surname).
This is the marquee race people.
I can all ready imagine the questions each candidate is going to be asked. I really can't wait for some of the answers.
There will be more to come, but for now this is it.
There will be more to come, but for now this is it.
I was seated in the easternmost section of the auditorium last night in my capacity as a Town Meeting member. I believe it was Article 3 - the first one that required a hand count - when two gentlemen (one wearing the red anti-wind shirt) stood up to vote. I heard the guy wearing the shirt comment to the effect "She didn't ask if we were Town Meeting Members, so I guess I'll vote", and stood up to be counted among the rest of the folks voting on that article. I immediately asked if he was a Town Meeting member, to which he replied "No." To his credit, he seemed to not know the rules, and was apologetic, but that still did not stop him from trying to cast an illegal vote. Even people that were voting the same wayhe was were shocked to a degree. The two gentlemen did move to another area of the auditorium after the vote. It made me wonder however: How many others were out in the crowd last night that did the same thing?
ReplyDeleteIt's really a shame that I was banned from Mr. Anderson's "Fairaction Fairhaven" Facebook page - for defending myself after he tried to make it a personal issue. I assume you will be seeing that group ramp up their rhetoric prior to the Annual Town Meeting in May. I would have loved to continue my "debate" with them. I hope others will voice their opinions here on this blog, or on other friendly avenues where your opinion or information will not be deleted or hidden when you have something to bring to the table.
Again, great blog John. It's been a busy few weeks!
Correction: clearly it wasn't Article 3, if it was Ms. Lowney as the moderator. Sadly, with all the motions I am not sure which one it was. What I do know is that it was a vote by standing up, and they had been sitting there since the beginning of the meeting. I believe Jaime Desousa (pretty sure it was him) was sitting in the same vicinity and witnessed the whole thing, as did others.
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