There will be a Paris Selectboard meeting tomorrow, Monday 4-12-10 at 7 pm. A fairly long agenda, many items merely perfunctory, one or two somewhat more lengthy.
A puzzling item, however. Since March 11, there has been an addition at - or after - the end of the agendas, "Selectmen Requests." Not clear why this needs to be noted separately. Our elected officials need separate space on the agenda? Different attention comes thereby?
There is, no doubt, a logical explanation.
But one cannot help but wonder why there would be a request for a workshop, following the adjournment of the meeting. Surely our selectboard - or whoever puts together this agenda - knows that all meetings and transactions are public - unless there is a legal issue to be discussed, in private, with our town attorney present.
Goals and objectives are listed as the topic for the workshop. It is a good and reasonable thing for our new selectboard to figure out how they should function and what some upcoming issues might be. And an equally good thing for Paris citizens to be aware of such deliberations. Also legally accurate.
There have been smatterings of thoughts mentioned in various places about a time of visioning and planning ahead on a wide canvas for Paris.
If this workshop session turns out to be more than just a look at how the selectboard works, and goes on to consider how the town itself could work, this might be a good thing... but would it be a good thing now?
Now, when this town is still waiting to see if the selectboard is trustworthy this time around? Now, when we are waiting to see if this management is capable? Now, when we are waiting to see if we have all the betrayed, broken, thrown away pieces retrieved and repaired?
Surely our elected officials know the time is not right for this kind of action...for any looking way down the road before we get ourselves squared away? Of course. Of course they do. They would be in touch with what people are thinking. Of course they would.
This particular workshop appears to be scheduled right after the adjournment of Monday night's meeting. But, if he or she chooses, any citizen can stay and watch? Right?
