In this posting:
*S. Jackson's Rule 80B Complaint filed in Superior Court 7-22-09 (Note: viewing this and some other ".pdf" documents linked to this blog requires signing in with Google.)
*Town of Paris budget allowance for legal fees FY 2009-10
*Two letters re: the 1999 Paris Town Meeting Warrant article 7
*Were you able to get a seat?
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While the firing of Sharon Jackson 6-22-09 is the immediate focus of public interest in town, Paris voters need to take a very careful look at the bigger picture.
Consider the legal and ethical implications of the decisions continuing to be made by the current board of selectmen's 3-2 voting majority on financial and personnel issues, as well as, the off-the-cuff pronouncements by newly elected Chairman Ivey.
When asked to state his case for justifying the firing of Jackson, Selectman Young said, "I think she's done a good job. I just... I've been here for 2 years and I think we gotta go in a different direction....than the way we've been going."
Newly elected Selectman Ripley's response to a question posed by Jackson on 6-22-09 included, "I have my own gut feeling about what I think would be in the best interests of the taxpayers in the town of South Paris, and I'm going to make my vote based on that."
The selectboard is the governing body of this town. Look through the information available in this posting, and note the "different direction" in which our town is being taken. Where would you say all this is leading?
And Paris has how much money to pay lawyers?
The budgeted amount for Paris' FY 2009-10 legal expenses is $8000. This amount is for all expenses - for the entire year - not just one little fiasco. The town's attorney attended the 7-13-09 selectmen meeting, at an hourly rate of $250.00. Figure 2.5 hours travel, 1 hour meeting - conservatively, $875.00. Was this expenditure made for a cause that was in the best interests of the entire Town of Paris? And what about the bills that are coming?
Was the vote to fire Jackson valid?
The laws of the State of Maine are very clear: if a town does not specify the number of selectmen and their term in office, the state will. If a town's voters do so, then their decision stands until the voters change it. By approving Article 7 of the 1999 Town Meeting Warrant, Paris voters established the term of office for selectmen. Look at a 6-05 letter from former Selectman Bruce Hanson, and the 6-05 letter from Attorney Alan J. Perry. See 30-A M.R.S.A. Sec 2526 the Maine statute that governs this issue. Compare Atty. Perry's conclusion (paragraph 3, last sentence) with the statute's subsections (4)(A), "A town may determine...," and (4)(A)(1): what's your conclusion? Read further in the statute (Perry refers to "9.C"): isn't there a difference between taking the oath of office and beginning a term of office?
Were you able to get a seat?
Interim Town Manager Thorne has been asked and Chairman Ivey has been asked where the voters can expect to find the 7-27-09 selectboard meeting; both have answered that it would be at the Town Office. This next meeting is very likely to have more people who want to get in, plus some media from out of town. So, what part of Maine's Freedom of Access Act do they not get? Section 401? Section 403?
