Are these really the people you want to represent our town? Not only are they totally unsympathetic; but are absolutely clueless about their duties and the law. No wonder our town is always ending up in court. Disgusting !!
The Board of Selectman were either asleep at the wheel Wednesday night or as usual none of them have a clue what they are doing.
A family in mourning came before the board with complaints and suggestions for the Evergreen (Musterfield) Cemetery. The family had some dealings with Mr. Clifford Struthers this week that has left them in disbelief and frustrated.
They had been informed that they would not be allowed to bury their loved one until the Spring, despite the fact that it was plausible to dig a hole at this time. He told them that he couldn’t be bothered and it would only set a precedent for everyone, to be buried when the cemetery is closed in the winter. They were discouraged by this news and sought out the Trustees for help, only to discover that the Trustees are the caretaker himself, his assistant and Henry Parkhurst
( another example of illegal boards in our town ).
Not one of the Selectman publicly gave their sympathy to this family for their loss. The Chairman & Berthiame never said a word throughout the proceedings, Gardner pointed out that he had been on the board only a year and had no clue what the rules were and Sherman spent most of the time telling them that they couldn’t do anything about it for a year. Roberta was the only one to mention that they would do something about it as a board, but not in a timely manner that would help them in their situation. Sherman informed them that the board would have to reappoint someone in place of Cliff, since they had researched the rules and regulations to discover that it is illegal for the caretaker/Sexton to be a Trustee. But it was too late to place someone else on the ballot in March and they were not responsible for the cemetery. Too late? The election isn't for another 6 weeks for Godsake and the application process doesn't end until Friday afternoon at 5:00pm. plenty of time for them to appoint another insider.
It would have been so nice to hear one of them say. “This is unacceptable! We understand your concerns and will deal with it immediately. Please accept our apologies and sincere sympathy. Our town has lost a very good man and police officer.”
The Board then went on to go over three financial items in which Roberta made the motion to pay out on all of them, before adjourning into a private session.
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Proof of what has been being said all along by many people who have had to come in contact with the people running this town.
Proof they have no idea what is going on under their noses, proof they don't care about what is going on under their noses, proof they themseleves don't mind breaking rules and laws that are right under their noses and proof they will protect those that break the rules and laws right under their noses.
What more does anyone need to see the big picture?
There are people that visit the cemetery every day, mostly older ladies, it seems like we could plow at least one loop to help keep them safe. What do the cemetery employee do in the winter?
They are a shameful bunch of hippocrates and a very poor representation of the people of Winchester. Is there anyone in charge in our town that will take responsibility, act and do the right thing? Seems not!
Unthinkable behavior. They could have at least stepped in and made the cemetery hold a ceremony at the crypt for them. If they don't run this town, who does? And if not, why have them in office. If they can't reach logical decisions then we need people who can.
Here are a few thoughts to ponder folks.
If an employee, nurse, firefighter, police officer, grounds keeper, or any other worker could not figure out their responsibilities within one year they would be let go. Yet, Selectman Ken Gardner a retired US Government Railroad employee uses the lame excuse I've been her a year and I don't know anything. Mr. Gardner should be asked if the Railroad would employ a train engineer after one year who did not know anything. Gardner had 20+ years with the railroad system,
did he learn to read during that time? How diffucult is is for the BOS to read their manuals, rules and procedures,bylaws,laws and ordinances? Can you say DUH?
Although I never met or knew Herman Winters I extend my condolences to him and his family.
It is my understanding that one of the very persons responsible for forcing Sgt. Winters to leave the police department because of his age was Gary Phillips who had the gall to attend Sgt. Winter's funeral.Just ask Sherm Tedford.
Correction folks: Phillips attended Sgt.Winter's wake not his funeral. It is slso understood that Sherm Tedford was upset that none of the Winchester Police Officer were in attendance.
Talk about cold hearted, what a disgrace to the townspeople and poor Herman's family, the should really be ashamed of themselves.
None of them will ever get my vote again, or will I ever see them in the same light as before. What disgraceful conduct towards a man that gave us all so much over the years. Shame on all of you.
Ken Gardner knows what is going on around town he isn’t stupid, being elected to school boards and budget committee for years. Ken and his family are well liked and a person who does not deserve this kind of name calling. The selectmen position is not easy plus a thankless job.
That said, after the selectmen dedicated the Annual report to Hermon Winter in 2009 for his dedication and meritorious service to the town deserved better from our selectmen the sole administrators of the employees and committees actions. The selectmen missed a golden opportunity to take control over the Clifford Struthers and the Musterfield Cemetery Committee by back up their words in their “dedication in the town report” with actions and not hot air to the fact they truly meant and believed what they wrote “in the tribute to Hermon Winter“, truly honoring this great gentleman’s service to the town. The selectmen should have demanded having a complete show of respect from the police dept in honoring Mr. Winter a fellow policeman regardless of what they felt about him. We all shall miss Hermon Winter, he touched us all.
We have a town sign on the corner of 119 and Main St. I would like to know why the Deliberative Session this
Saturday January 30 9:00 AM at the Town Hall is not posted there. I notice the town website is posted and the BOS Wednesday 7 PM gets posted. Also, throughout the year other town happenings have been posted in a timely manner. Why isn't our Deliberative Session posted? Curious don't ya think?
Just wanted to clarify some information...Chief Phillips did attend both the calling hours and funeral, as did a member of the department, Eric Ammann, as Honor Guards.
re: the funeral service for Herm in Swanzey which was a very fine tribute to him I would also verify the presence of Chief Phillips and Officer Ammann as honor guards. Also there were members of the Selectboard, retired Winchester police officers, and former officers. Herm was a very special person and his presence among us will be very missed.
The town sign is owned by the Kiwanis club, if you want this information up, contact them.
Appreciate the info pertaining to Phillips and Officer Ammann.Kudos to Ammannn for his part and a reluctant Kodos to Phillips. did any other WPD officers attend?
Just an observation and sorry it has to be said but - had it been a paid detail the police department would have shown up for the services for Herm Winters. Shame on them and for the Chief for allowing his department to show such disrepsect to a fellow officer, with many years of selfless dedication to this town ....but then again after reading this blog, it seems to be his pattern of behavior. I think to add some respect back to this town he should step down.
re: the sign on the common downtown;
Why should the citizens of Winchester be responsible for getting the Kiwanis Club to put up a notice about the Deliberative Session, why didn't the town do it? Don't they want people to know about and attend this important meeting, or is it because they wish to once again stack the deck and control the outcome as they have done in years past?
Yes, why isn't the cemetery roadway plowed and made accessible to those of us wishing to visit our loved ones over the holidays and whenever we feel like it? What are we paying this cemetery crew to do all winter long? I for one am sick and tired of having to trudge through snow to get to my husband's resting place all because we have lazy people working at the cemetery and no one taking responsibility for doing things they should be doing for us. It is time we start making whatever changes are needed to insure we all get treated with respect, both the living and the dead.
Response to "I'M FED UP" and others re: the cemetary. You know what your driveways and roads look like with the dirt and lawn displaced after plowing of snow and the frozen mounds of precip everywhere. Just imagine what the cemetary would be like after plowing of deep snow on those narrow lanes and the potential for destruction of markers and gravestones in the process. The lane sizes cannot be changed. Think also of the ice that would form from some melting on the paths of that mostly flat land. Very hazardous. I too have loved ones there, and pray or speak to them as I drive by or pause by the gate in Winter. Why say the cemetary employees are "lazy"? I think they do a super job of tending those grounds in the accessible months. Kudos to them.
Guess the cemetery employees have never heard of snowblowers or thought of using the tractor they have to clear those paths with right? That just takes a little common sense and a bit of caution as to not cause any damage. As for ice forming after snow melt, well gee whiz, there's a great big pile of sand right across the street to solve that issue, mix in some rock salt and voila', a nice clear safe walkway for those of us who just aren't satisfied with driving by and waving.
Your attempt to defend people who get paid for doing nothing several months a year is priceless, shows me and probably everyone else with a lick of sense just how clueless and to what extremes some will go to defend the actions of their friends and relatives working ( oops excuse me ) err, on the town's payroll. They are suppose to work for those checks.
At 7:45 this morning the Warwick mass. hwy truck was going up main st., a short time later the state hwy truck went by. All i can think of is Warwick and the state don't have a TV and Green Mt Coffee, so they can get a jump on the days work.
Reply to "I'M FED UP": I am sorry for your loss, and sad for your bitterness. For you to "assume" that I am defending "the actions of friends and relatives" in the employ of the town is rediculous.
There are some of us in this town with NO RELATIVES, or particular friends in the town employ - hard as that may be to believe.
I spoke from the heart and what I thought was a bit of common sense, nothing more. Just another perspective.
You must know the old saying of when you assume something? If not, spell it out, figure it out, or ask someone. Be careful what you ASS U ME.....
Why not make the cemetery a 3/4 position instead of fulltime?
Some interesting and serious question have arisen about the conflict of interest in which the manner some town dept are being overseen. How is it that Clifford Struthers and Charlie Gregory are cemetery trustees, Clifford Struthers is Sexton Officer for the Cemeteries and a cemetery workers at the same time. How is it Margaret Sharra is chairperson of planning board, planning board secretary (takes the minutes) and works 32 hours plus in land use dept. How it is Gus Ruth is chairperson of the conservation commission and selectman at the same time. How is it John Gomarlo is health officer, transfer station superintendent, highway dept superintendent assistant, town administrator assistant, and southwestern regional board? No wonder the selectmen can not write his job description or put his title on John’s office door.
Are the foxes guarding the hen house in Winchester. We are being taken here folks.
Please show up at deliberative session Saturday at 9:00 AM and support Article 22 submitted by petition, “Town of Winchester Conflict of Interest Ordinance to make sure the “circle of influence” at the town hall do not get a chance to rewrite it.
Town of Winchester
Cemetery Board of Trustees
Vacancy
Due to the resignation of one of the Cemetery Trustees, the Winchester Board of Selectmen is seeking anyone interested in filling this vacancy. Pursuant to RSA 289:6 I, the Board of Selectmen shall fill this vacancy for the remainder of the term. Therefore, the Selectmen request that anyone interested in filling the remainder of this term, provide a letter of intent to the Selectmen at 1 Richmond Road, Winchester, NH 03470, before 5:30PM on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The Board will render a decision on the matter at the Selectmen’s meeting to be held at 7:00PM on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.
RE: From the Town Hall
It is wonderful to see the Town Hall has recognized this forum as a legitimate source of information and that it now uses it to post very important town information that needs to reach the masses.
What a wonderful testament to the Winchester Informer and all the hard work of those behind the scenes we don’t know, who have fought and finally gotten the legitimacy they deserve.
Thank you and thank you and thank you again for all your commitment and hard work.
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