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Chaos at Griswold budget meeting

Joel Francoeur Griswold

Publication: The Day

Published 05/16/2012 12:00 AM
Updated 05/15/2012 05:51 PM

I went to my first annual budget meeting on May 7 in Griswold. My plan was to distribute handouts about illegal meetings, ethics; then ask questions, thinking the selectmen, school board, and finance board would be available for information.

Here's what happened: The agenda was set by the three selectmen for 7 p.m. and none were there, so a motion was made at 7:05 by the finance board chairman to open the meeting, seconded by an attorney. Then the people made a motion to nominate Steve Merchant as mediator, but he declined. Then a motion to nominate as mediator the chairman of board of ethics. Motion made and seconded; you would think that two attorneys and the chairman of the board of ethics had to know the meeting is illegal.

The first selectman walked in at 7:20 p.m. after I was interrupted while asking questions by a person with no guts to speak up when asked his name. Then I tried to ask questions to the first selectman, but point of order was yelled again. The next day I went to get a copy of the tape and I was told the recorder didn't work.

I'm shocked this is how the governing officials work. I know I've lost my trust in them!

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