At tonight's Board of Selectman's meeting, Mr. Towne approached the board during the public session and requested that under RSA 673:13, Section II the board exercise it's authority and remove Margaret Sharra as chairperson and member of the Planning Board. Citing her animosity, malice and outright rudeness to him at both the June 15th and August 3rd meetings, where she acted in bad faith, rudely interrupting and yelling at him as he attempted to speak to the board and for allowing her personal feelings of dislike for him to cloud her judgment and move her to act in a very detrimental way involving not only the other members of the board; but resulting in the town being involved in a very expensive lawsuit as a result of her conduct. He stated her treatment of him and others was very wrong and that her actions demanded this situation be dealt with immediately if the Selectmen and the Planning Board were to have any credibility. He also reminded them of Judge Tucker's recent ruling and that under RSA 673:14, she had been disqualified from participating in discussions and that the Planning Board's denial of Mr Towne's request for a reconsideration be vacated and that the matter be re-heard. However on October 5th, she did just that by orchestrating the nonpublic session the board entered into before the scheduled meeting to grant Mr. Towne his ordered hearing and that by her interference, the board once again denied him the opportunity to participate, though they knew he was recovering from surgery and had received a letter from him requesting a continuance. Mr. Towne also informed the board that if they did not act upon his request to do the right thing, he would once again be forced to seek relief through the court and file a motion for contempt, which unfortunately will implicate all of the members of the Planning Board, something he does not want to do. Before Mr. Towne could finish speaking to the board, member Tedford, made a motion to close the public hearing and stated they should not be discussing anything with him due to the ongoing litigation. As Mr. Towne was turning from the microphone to take his seat, Chairman Ruth spoke out that Mr. Towne would do anything to stop the proposed condominium project before the board. What this board and the Planning Board fail to see is that if Mr. Towne had been afforded the same courtesy as any other abutter, had been notified when this project was first proposed as required by law, allowing him to participate in due process , had been allowed to present testimony before the board without being censored by Margaret Sharra and if the board had just followed it's own rules and regulations when dealing with this contractor, requiring him to be accountable to both the board and abutters as they have done with other applicants in the past; then perhaps there would have been no lawsuit and wasted tax payer dollars. Unfortunately; because of the lack of any response to his request and what appears to be the failure of this board to take any responsibility and act upon his request, the town once again may find itself back in court for failure to do the right thing.
It's your money they will continue to spend to defend the actions of a chairperson who is so obviously out of control she'll stop at nothing to get her way. Don't blame Mr. Towne for attempting to exercise his rights to be heard. Put the blame where it belongs.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
30 comments:
Perhaps it would have been in the town's best interest if Mr. Towne had petitioned to remove not only Ms. Sharra but the BOS as well. It seems to me that the only relief that he will get is through the court system. It boggles my mind that the BOS is acting with such disrespect. However, all of us who participate in this blog must remember that we are bing treated like errant children. I hope that all of the participants on this blog get out and vote the select few out of office.
I am all for voting these arrogant, spend happy, self serving SOB's out of office.
I fully intend to cast my votes for the people I think will respect not only the wishes of the people, but the people themselves.
I don't mean the select few elite that seem to get catered to, but the voting majority - NO MEANS NO!
Enough is enough.
It's time to derail the Winchester gravy train.
So many people have lost their jobs or taken pay cuts to keep a job. Elderly or disabled citizens are losing their homes because they can't keep up with the steady increase of property taxes.
Here in Winchester, one of the poorest towns in the state, we pay some of the highest taxes. The BOS refuses to allow a tax break to disabled citizens and yet gives cost of living raises to the elite few again.
In these times of economic stress the common person has had to make do without and tighten their belts in order to best survive.
It is well past the time for the bloated tax payer supported departments of Winchester to trim the fat and tighten their belts.
We need people, other than those currently in office, to come forward and run against these pompous arses so that this town can turn itself around and prosper.
End rant, stepping off soapbox, at least for now!
Guess what Fishercat, these people don't care what you think and if history repetes itself the stupid voters will ether vote them back in or stay home and not vote. I hope Mr. Towne doesn't give up, but he cant fight all alone.
Until the people of Winchester stand up together nothing good will happen in this town.
That’s been made very clear by ALL of the BOS because THEY are allowing the town and the people who live in it to go further down into the ground.
It’s THEIR arrogance and disregard of people’s rights and the disrespect of the law that will eventually show just how evil these people really are. But, unfortunately for us they will have to spend a lot more of our money before that happens because the people in control show a total lack of concern for the taxpayers.
Proof that they have no respect for the people in town is their refusal to hold a town meeting with a question and answer forum that has transparency and allows the taxpayers and voters to ask questions about the town and what is or isn’t going on and why so that we can become better informed.
The BOS must be becoming imidated, running scared and have to hide behind their wall of silence because they know they can’t hold up to that kind of scrutiny because of all they have done wrong and continue to do wrong.
Every day they do nothing costs each and every one of us a little more, because every day more damages pile up in these lawsuits and there is more opportunity for another one to be filed.
The best that can be done right now to help this town and it’s residents is bring every bit of wrongdoing to light so that the people are as informed as possible when it comes time to vote.
The BOS’s inability to resolve the real issues shows the selfish, self centered, incompetent attitude they all possess and their inability to admit that not all decisions THEY make are good ones. REAL leaders of a community would never have let things get this far to begin with.
Thank god for this blog and the sharing of information, the black and white documentation to back it up and the willingness of those to post to it.
I can only imagine the look on their faces as this man stood his ground and demanded his right to be heard and their contempt for him that he demand that they act and remove their pet from her elected seat on the planning board, I wish I could have been there. Bravo to Mr. Towne for standing up for his rights, we need more people like him to help us right the wrongs of this town. maybe we can convince him to run for office, he would surely get my vote.
You people should thank your lucky stars that you have someone who is strong in spirit and not afraid of intimidation and willing to take a stand. I'd suggest strongly that you all support this man and those on this blog and then and only then will you have the chance to take back your town and root out your problems. Until you all unite in a common goal, nothing in your town of Winchester will change. It's obvious to see that your board of selectmen are your main problem, start at the top and cut off the head of the snake, the rest will die without support.
It would seem to me that if the BOS was interested in doing the right thing and had the intelligence to see the big picture, they would have handled things a bit differently last night. First, they allowed themselves to be intimidated by someone who considered himself above them all and then they treated Mr. Towne with indifference and contempt when he brought his legitimate concerns before them in regards to the treatment he has been receiving at the hands of Margaret Sharra and the Planning Board. Instead of acting foolish and indifferent; perhaps it would have been in their best interests and the town's as a whole to have had an intelligent, serious, open discussion of the facts and the reasons why he had petitioned them and treated him with some dignity as a human being instead of acting like they did. These people are suppose to be the leaders of our community and acting in good faith towards all of us and addressing the concerns and problems of individual citizens and the town itself; not creating more issues and turning a blind eye towards those who approach them with real concerns.
To: watching from close by said...absolutely right! The people in the Town of Winchester need to get behind those who have brought these problems to the forefront.
If you don’t openly get behind these people by demanding that the board of selectmen do something you will all just be waiting for the next victim to be attacked by the ineptness in this town.
None of you are protected from the wrath of those in charge.
None of you will be able to count on anyone to come to your aid because they have a track record and have become the no fairness, reasonableness and no desire to do the right thing for the people board.
Do you really think that people who have been affected by these bad decisions from the boards and police were just waiting for an opportunity to attack or were they really the victims who had no choice but to defend against the attackers?
Do you really think those with lawsuits really wanted to spend your money to defend themselves?
Of course not, they were forced into standing up for themselves instead of getting pushed around.
The bullies on the block needed to be shown their behavior in not going to be tolerated anymore by the only means available and that is through the courts.
Wake up Winchester – you don’t know who’s rights are going to be stomped on next. Make sure it’s not yours or your families or your neighbors or your friends by supporting this blog and the people willing to go out on the limb for you and your rights.
Support the people who have said enough is enough and are really trying to make sure that these things don’t keep happening.
Support the people who are really trying to bring Winchester into the next chapter and make it a better place to live for all of you not just for a selected few.
Support the people who want the laws to be for all.
Participate or you will lose your town.
Force the board to be accountable and transparent, voice your opinion here and at town hall. Ask that your letters get published on this blog, they seem to have the ability to that.
Good luck.
Mr. Ruth, Mr. Tedford, and Mrs. Sharra would do anything they could to stop the condos if there water well was down hill from a ledge where thousands of gallons of sewage was going to flow Daley.
I would like to let Mr. Towne know that if I had known he would be speaking at the BOS meeting last night, I would have gladly attended to offer support. Perhaps there could be a calendar of sorts on this website, to inform us of what is happening. The problem is, the BOS and Planning Board have the good citizens of Winchester keeping quiet....through intimidation. One of my favorites says, "Question with boldness; hold to the truth, and speak without fear. ..." Unfortunately, I am not able to do that yet....therefore I am another Anonymous poster
The treatment Mr. Towne has gotten and still continues to get is appalling. If the selectmen can’t figure out that a judge made a ruling and that the ruling needs to be honored, then they should all step down because they aren’t worthy of their positions. Their behavior proves what has been said on this blog and that is they do not care about the townspeople. They are contoling our freedom and our rights by their intimidation.
It would appear to me that our Mr. Towne knows quite abit about the law and his rights. Following his lead I did some checking and found this. Too bad our Ms. Sharra and her board did not bother to take the time to look things up too.
CHAPTER 674
LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING AND REGULATORY POWERS
Section 674:15
674:15 Appeals; Public Hearing. – Before taking any action authorized in RSA 674:13, 674:14, and 674:41, the zoning board of adjustment, the legislative body, or the boards of appeal, according to whichever of them is designated by ordinance as the body to which appeals may be made, shall give a hearing at which parties in interest and others shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice for a public hearing under this section shall be as provided in RSA 675:7.
Source. 1983, 447:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
The key factor here is:
" shall have an opportunity to be heard"
Isn't this exactly what this judge said?
At a recent selectmen's meeting Mr. Tedford stated that the budget comm. was voting to cut, and it was all personal. Mr. Gardner the selectman on the budget comm. stated that anything they cut would get put back at deliberative. So i would have to believe that according to some of the select board, that they think that the people the voters elected are unethical and stupid. We finely have a budget comm. with a back bone and they don't like it. Next week our town employees have another three day week, how many will you be working?
Next week, town employees 3 TD Bank7, where would like to work.
Doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results is crazy and pointless.
Organize a public protest on Main Street condemning the actions of your leadership. Have your citizens sign a petition to be presented to the Attorney Generals office for an official State probe to be opened up.
It seems "A Lot" of people feel they are being treated unfairly in Winchester, outside the boundaries of the law.
If this is true, let the state investigators get to the bottom of things. It is highly unlikely that they will cover up for the BOS or the P.D.
Problem is, the people of Winchester feel intimidated by retaliation it seems. Until you can get past that, nothing will change.
As the saying goes, "It takes a village"
There's been some very unflattering talk about Mr. Town at a downtown local business by a certain selectman and his supporters labeling him as someone with a grudge and a personal dislike for all of the planning board members. From what I have read about the goings on on this blog and from what I have gathered from other discussions I have had with several people in the know; Mr. Town has been wronged and is very sincere in his endeavor to right these wrongs and to bring to light problems with the board playing favorites and following Margaret Sharra's will. I have seen them do this firsthand before, there's no reason not to believe that they have done it again and that finally someone has taken a stand and said enough. My advice to all involved is to rethink what they have done and be very careful what you say about this man, slander and libel will get you sued as an individual.
Are you kidding the planning board playing favorites? Geez, who would have thought? Does the name Beamon come to mind?
You really have to wonder who the Town Employees and Boards are working for.
The latest news in town is that Tim Hill, Earl Beaman and Roger Joslin are building a sawmill on Old Hinsdale Road with NO building permit or Site Plan review.
They have it almost finished and no one has given them a CEASE & DESIST notice. Does Leroy NOT know what our Town regulations are? Apparently NOT.
Now here is another example of - IF YOU BUILD IT we will be forced to ACCEPT it.
This sawmill was discussed at length - twice at the Planning Board and it was NEVER officially on the agenda for discussion (meaning the neighbors were never notified). And Mr. Hill was told that it was NOT legal to build it in Rural Residential, but if he planned to build it in the Agricultural Zone they needed a Site Plan Review and building permit. The Chairperson, Margaret Sharra was suppose to send Tim Hill a letter stating such. Guess he didn't get it.
Butch Plifka had to shell out thousands of dollars for a sight plan review to build an addition on his shopping center. But because this is "out-of-sight-out-of-mind" they think they can snowball the town into allowing it? Not only that - look whose name is behind it. The "Royal" family....in their own minds.
Nobody should kid themselves - This WILL have a significant impact on the region. The road traffic alone will impact our town. With lumber trucks on a street not designed to handle it.
I for one am fed up with how our town keeps allowing construction projects without any authorization. Two significant projects being the "porch" on P Squares and the Victorian House that got moved. They didn't have subdivision approval or permission from the town.
BUILD IT, and we'll have to ACCEPT IT. BS!!!
If people truly want to stop this crap, now is the time to do it with all of the other suits up at Superior Court, file another one. The neighbors and abutters to this unlawful saw mill should first file a petition to have it torn down to the useless BOS and then when they ignore them, file a lawsuit with the court ( $180.) You don't need a lawyer to fight crap like this, there are plenty of places to ask for legal help and one of them is right here.
Every day I read the blog and become more concerned with the arrogance that I read about. Those of us that were taught to respect people and follow the rules get blindsided by the powers that "be" in this town. In fact even Mr. Plifka has to follow the rules. Interesting concept don't you think.
The more concerned I get the madder I get. Yes, I am a former teacher in your high school and do now understand the attitude that some students displayed-"I am from Winchester I can do whatever I want!" Obviously with Mr. Beaman and company building a bulding that has no permit and those of you in this town wondering why some of our students are having a hard time adjusting to the rules in Keene, I say to all of you read what we have written.
Now, it is time for us to take back our town and throw the bums out. We don't need any raises this year at the town office in fact they should be tahnkful to have a job! The state is laying off. Perhaps we could consolidate some departments like the accounting and deputy town clerk for example. Food for thought. Might get our 40 hours then.
Thank you blog. Think about this! The attitude lives on and we need to eliminate it.
I know this is getting far from the original blog title, however until we set up a budget committee blog here goes. As a budget committee member, I for one am sick and tired of our town budget going up and up, all while our citizens are falling further and further behind. Every town employee wants a raise, a bonuse, a car or equipment to drive around for their personal pleasure, new personal lap top computers and a free lunch. I have news for all of you, it will stop. This was told to me from a good source, that our tax rate could hit a record $32.00 a thousand ! No one is certain, but we can be certain of increases; because of all the warrant articles the misguided, blind as a bat voter, voted for. If we (the budget committee) do not go back and revisit some of the dept. budgets we have passed, we surely can look at even a greater increase next year too. I feel I have enough support to slash the land use budget to where Margaret Sharra will have to pay us to go to work there, and shrink the legal fund for land use so small they will have to use a magnifying glass to read the small print. The Highway dept. is next. I just need your support. Call your committee members by next Tuesday and tell them to support Bob Davis’ budget cuts.
Especially Colleen Duquette and Ken Gardner.
About the saw mill. I hear a Detroit diesel running about every day, which I thought was a large loader working in the gravel pit near by. Come to find out it is POP and Tom Hildreth's saw mill, 5 miles away! The same Detroit diesel the 4 amigos are going to use up on the hill.
To get back on track here, the select board better get together and do some real soul searching over the weekend and get their heard out of their collective posteriors or they will surely have shown us all exactly the type of board they are that many of us have know all along. This type of behavior and the circle the wagons attitude they are showing towards Margaret Sharra and her lackeys on the planning board can not continue and will not be tolerated. We have been shown exactly what we are all dealing with and have been given an opportunity to do something about it. Get with your neighbors, co-workers and family and educate everyone you can, it's time to put a stop to wasteful spending, special interests and horrendous conduct by our current elected officials. Stand up and be counted, stop hiding behind your curtains and quit whispering, it's time to shout " We won't take it anymore"
If the tax rate goes over $30 it might be the wake up call that gets the attention of the voters. Mrs. Sharra and the whole country club crew will have some explaining to do. Good thing the town hall is made of brick.And by the way is it true that that we spent money for a special town meeting for the cell tower that we can't legally have? Who dropped the ball on that? 3% performance bonus for whoever that was?
If the tax rate climbs that high we should all refuse to pay our tax bills in protest and use the money to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of the town and sue them all for misappropriation of funds and malfeasance and let them explain their actions in a court of law.
It’s getting “OLD” hearing the BOS, Panning Board and Police Dept continue to say it’s just a couple of people who have a grudge. I don’t think they know the meaning of the word grudge which is the total opposite of what I see going on.
Grudge: a strong, continued feeling of hostility or ill will against someone over a real or fancied grievance
That definition does not fit what is happening in Winchester.
All of these poor people have been forced to stand up for their rights and get legal assistance to stop the activity and actions going on in this town from continuing – for themselves and the rest of the people who eventually for one reason or another will benefit from their commitments to shed light on the problems.
The BOS need to understand we are talking amongst ourselves and what they tell us just isn’t adding up.
The BOS are the ones who are allowing our taxes to go up and are wasting our money unnecessarily because they just don’t seem to think the rules apply to them. They are ignoring what is going on for a reason.
To hear the BOS are trying to blame someone else is unconscionable and shows the lengths they will go to in an effort to cover their butts.
They do owe us explanations; they should be sending all of us newsletters with updates on these important issues going on in our town.
The BOS should be keeping us informed of where we are with all the lawsuits that have seemed to pop up like weeds:
Towne & Homan v. Winchester (Planning Board) 5/30/08
Kulick's v. Winchester (ZBA) 8/27/08
Winchester v. Pasquarelli (Code Enforcement) 8/17/09
Repucci v. Winchester 9/22/09
From May ’08 – Sep ’09 - 4 lawsuits? 4 lawsuits in 15 months?
This is our money they are spending and we should have an idea of why.
Why are they not being honest and upfront about what is going on in town?
They say the blog is full of nonsense?
Then I say send us the truth in a newsletter this way everyone gets the same version, unlike when you ask questions at town hall and the story changes like the wind?
Are they too afraid we might learn something?
Maybe if we stand up together we can get some cooperation from this board, who works for us and not the other way around.
I guarantee it will hit that amount. First of all we now have to pay for the NEW County Jail.
Second, the State needs more money.
Third - the Town voted for a NEW SEWER plant. Do you remember that? I kept telling people that if they voted for that it was going to add another $1.90 to the tax amount.
I say that we too FIRE/lay off some employees. TIMES ARE TOUGH! Start with John Gomarlo! Holy Cr---, can anyone tell us how much he makes and how many hours he works?
Again, let's consolidate the water & sewer dept, accounting dept, tax collectors and highway crew.
Would we look like the DEVIL coming to the budget committee meeting and asking for this, Bob? I have a feeling that they would not listen to us. What are your thoughts?
I know this is off topic to the original blog; but to comment on what's been said above: These spend mongers have to go, there will be many more on the rolls of unpaid taxes right along side of Roberta Frazer if we keep allowing this. Mr. Towne has shed light on not only his problem in regards to their failure to act in a responsible manner; but towards the town as a whole. Their indifference to the plight of everyone in town struggling to make ends meet, their favoritism to the employees in the town hall being rewarded with raises and bonuses behind our backs in nonpublic sessions and their condoning over spending by department heads and needless projects is so far out of touch with reality that it's unbelievable to think we voted this bunch into office to do what's best for all of us. These are a bunch of arrogant, self serving, hoodlums, stealing us blind and living off the people of Winchester. They need to go, now.
As someone who has dealt with the board and Sharra in the past, let me say that it's about time someone has put the onus on the selectmen and called them out to do the right thing. Sharra has basically turned this town into what it is now by rewriting regulations to help her friends and other developers get what they wanted, played favorites time and time again and has ruined the town in doing so. I have never in my life seen such a slanted, self serving individual, who thinks she wields the power to do whatever she pleases under the guise of her chairperson status. Together with several other board members who have other vested interests at heart, she is totally responsible for this town having to defend itself in court time and time again. Ask Butch Plifka what he was put through by Sharra and this board recently and why he sued them and ask yourselves why this Mr. Towne went before the selectman to ask for her removal.
From what I have read on this blog and from documents I have seen, it doesn't seem that anything being said from those involved downtown can be substantiated. This is clearly an abuse of power allowed to go on unfettered by a board so indifferent to the needs and wants of the citizens of Winchester that it borders on the criminal. Shame on those that allow this fiasco to continue, we voters will remember your non-actions and your lame excuses.
Post a Comment