To the editor:
Imagine that, invisible ink. Good thing there was another camera at the April 27 Town Council meeting and it kept on running.
Have you wondered why the town of Houlton keeps no audio or video records of their meetings or why they are so interested in controlling public comment? The truth gets them every time.
We expect reporters to report fairly and equally. I’m still waiting. Four events come to mind. The road bond stories, not letters exhibited, no balance or interview expressed by those with another view. Tea Party coverage numbers were inflated and lacked the opposing view. The OUI arrest of a Town Councilor was four issues later. If this were you, would four issues have gone by? It’s clear, there was a biased interview and reporting of the Council events of April 27.
Let’s dispel the imagination of the Chief of Police. No police officer would dare turn and walk with their back toward an individual that they considered to be a problem as described in the article. Thank goodness my camera remained on. I went into the hall behind the chief, talked with him and I walked back into the chamber without any agreement or stipulation. Their camera was only off for 50 seconds.
The chief stated he is sworn to uphold the law. Why has he failed to uphold the law when a thief stole a political sign (all caught on video) lawfully placed, with admittance by the thief who disposed of the sign and his officer failed to uphold the law? A 1930s ordinance was voided or limited by newer laws, which prohibit denying speech of one kind over another. The newest edition of censoring speech recently enacted is unenforceable unless it applies to all signage placed in all public ways as they all equally propose to sell
something, examples are (real estate, yard sale, fair, church meal, and political) to name just a few.
Could it be the sign remover has done over $4,500 dollars of automotive repair work for the Police Department? When first asked as information was discovered about this relationship the town stated that it was only a hundred dollars or so. A freedom of information act request got the truth of the involvement between the Chief, Town and the sign remover.
While I was a director on Shiretown Development Corporation (SDC), I exposed many illegalities the SDC board allowed. The criminal one was the illegal granting of use of governmental property. The Town Office is and was at the time prohibited from entering into any agreement of use unless authorized by the SDC directors. None was given and the SDC Board swept this loss of revenue as well as illegal use under the carpet, as well as a deadly chemical in clear view of an office window. Two of the members filed trespass complaints, which the Police Department harassed me with for three weeks, which all started just before and during the elections in 2007. The trespass harassment stopped and then I filed a complaint of a false police report.
Now for the reported rant of un-substantiated charges. As the agenda item was put up for public comment, Tortello disseminated an amendment which did not make it to the people. I utilized this as an example of how this proposed public comment alteration would prohibit the public from speaking on the agenda item if it is presented after the comment period. I then stated this already was a problem and habit of the Mangers both present and past for Council and Budget Review members and denied officers and the public from being fully aware of actions prior to them happening. I also brought to the attention that one councilor Fitzpatrick on record did not like public comment and stated 5-6 years ago that people should just come to him privately. These are facts of records.
If you can not put names with the actions, how is the public to know what anyone is talking about? They are not entitled to any secrecy for any actions or statements they commit under cover of their office or authority. Remember it was Cleary who tried to have secret ballots until I put a stop to it with state law to enforce his adherence.
The Nazis, with the help of a biased press and public officials, lawyers and judges as well as a cowardly citizenry which felt that this could not happen, slowly and effectively shut down freedom. These people are acting in no less a manner. The tape speaks for it self and the story in the paper shows the bias. I will always fight for freedom and I told the chief to bring the bracelets and get ready to dance. The “Ja wohl mein Fuhrer” existed militarily at least 200 years before Hitler, Fuhrer is generally used for someone not qualified for a position they hold and don’t forget we used the raised arm for 40-plus years to salute our flag until WWII started and 30 years before Hitler.
Stan Ginish
Board of Budget
Review member
Houlton
