From the Eagle Tribune;
New vote taken on Timberlane budget chairman
By Doug Ireland
direland@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — The Timberlane Budget Committee took a new vote on the selection of its chairman after being accused of violating the state's open meeting law when making its decision by secret ballot.
The committee met Thursday night and decided once again — this time by open vote — that Michelle O'Neil will lead the group. Two weeks ago, the Timberlane Regional School Board took a similar action after the district was notified it may have violated the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law because its vice chairman was chosen by secret ballot.
"It was a mistake and it was corrected," O'Neil said.
She said the district erred by electing some of its officers by closed ballot in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order — widely used guidelines on parliamentary procedure for conducting public meetings — instead of the state law. O'Neil added that once the committee learned it may have made a mistake, it decided to rectify the situation.
Richard La Salle, superintendent of Timberlane schools, said the district's board officials have been elected by secret ballot for years.
Officials contacted the district's attorney once told the votes may have been taken in violation of state law.
The attorney confirmed state statute takes precedence over Robert's Rules of Order.
"It was an oversight," La Salle said Friday. "We are sorry about that and are glad it was brought to our attention."
Danville resident Curt Springer, who told the Budget Committee it was obligated to take a new vote, said he was happy the panel "did the right thing."
"I am pleased to hear that," he said Friday when informed of the committee's action.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Great, Now if they can hold a LEGAL budget public hearing this year, that will be an improvement too. Too bad they don't prepare the budget, but I guess that would be asking too much.
Mark, fyi and fwiw after challenging others to do it, I followed up with Don Borror of the state DRA. I sent him the link to the ET article about the school district deliberative session where you and others discussed it. He said he was going to request the minutes of the hearing for the budget.
Thank you, and Good Luck, Hopefully your stand doesn't result in two jackasses from Danville, visiting your wife's house to see if you really live there, or filing a complaint about your residency to the Attorney General, as it did for me.
Curt, I am impressed by your effective action.
You stepped out of vacillation and took action where it counts.
Thanks but sounds like a backhanded compliment. I don't believe I vacillate.
My sincere thanks to you both.
MAcciard and Curt Springer.
From an old Atkinsonian who can't
take the heat, but wishes I could.
Right on !
Post a Comment