Paris Town Office, 7-27-09
75 or so people tried to attend a 7 PM selectmen's meeting at the Paris town office last night, to hear the business of the town. In a meeting room that only accommodates 50 people, however, about 25 were left outside in the parking lot at the start of the meeting.
Angry citizens, including selectmen Glover and Herrick, noted folks outside, some standing on tip toes, peeking in the open windows, and tried in vain to convince Chairman Ivey to move the meeting to a larger space. What was in it for Ivey or the others to keep people out? To limit an audience? Why didn't they anticipate the larger crowds - like those of the last 2 meetings - and pick a larger room?
What about inferences toward Fire Chief Brad Frost? A citizen in the audience zinged, "[Brad] needs to be convinced" that it is necessary to have the meeting in a bigger area; he should offer the fire station. No one mentioned that Chief Frost, already recognizing the need, had already offered the fire station, more than once.
When asked directly by Bob Jewell if he talked with Chief Frost on Friday, Interim Town Manager Thorne admitted, "Yes, I did speak to Brad Frost about using the fire station."
Jewell - "And did you speak to a member of this [select] board about that?"
Thorne - "Yes."
Jewell -"Can you say which person?"
Thorne - "No."
Jewell - "You don't remember who you spoke with?...which of these 5 people you spoke with?"
Thorne - "No."
Chief Frost, himself unable to find a place to sit in the meeting room, was in the parking lot, among folks looking on and listening at the open windows, at one point waving his hand in vain to be recognized to speak. Ivey's response - "I'm not listening to anyone else."
The evening produced more questions than answers. The audience was, for the most part, raucous and outraged.
Ivey took great pains to try to look calm and controlled - though he did have to call for the police chief to quell an insistent questioner with the threat of removal if she insisted once more in getting a straight answer. Ivey reveled in, and used liberally, his now commonplace, "You're done." Certain topics were forbidden: "We will not have topics about Sharon Jackson," Ivey announced.
A great part of the meeting was taken up with discussion about the recall ordinance drafted by Town of Paris Policy and Procedures Committee; a recall ordinance is the only tool available for voters to "un-elect" an elected official (See below, at 7-19,"Guess Who Has the Power?"). The draft ordinance was presented to the selectmen on 7-13, but was promptly tabled.
In response to the tabling, 354 Paris voters signed a citizens' petition, demanding selectmen place the Policy and Procedure Committee's draft on the next ballot written.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on 8-24.
