Lots happening at that Selectman’s meeting
By Shawn on Jun 23, 2009 in Dracut
3 Major topics tonite.. Lites at Veterans Park.. again, Convenience stores failing a sting, and DATV defends their honor.
Lights at Veterans Park
I think the people of this town are just about giving up on believing that this town can be trusted to keep its word.
We had a number of youth sports people speak to allowing additional lighting at Veterans park.
Its funny, in that May Paquette, Glen Edwards and others spoke to the time back when the park was built (after the land was already purchased).. that during the public hearings the football program had no need for lighting.. they mostly wanted the field for Sunday morning games.
Now they tell us they want it for just a few hours, 2 or 3 nights a week.
Well, what will the people five years from now say?
Nobody spoke on the side of the neighbors. The public hearing was continued to allow notice to be sent to some abutters who were forgotten. I assume we will then hear from some of the neighbors.. and the Selectmen will have to say something to the issue of keeping their word.
Nasson’s and Dracut Center Convenience
Both convenience stores were in for “show cause” hearings because of sales to minors (this time an undercover sting performed by the Dracut PD in May).
Each got a 30 day suspension which will probably go to the ABCC and be reduced to 10 minutes and time served.
Dracut Center also has to serve the remaining 12 days that were held in abeyance from their prior offense.
I agree with Zimini on this one that maybe its time for us to revoke some licenses. If the ABCC looks at the history of what the board has done, maybe we need a first. Billerica just did.
DATV comes in to defend their integrity.. and do it well.
From Bob Corey speaking out of turn, but very passionatly about the concept of open meeting (“Are you kidding?!”), to May Paquette’s reviewing the checks and balances that their finances are protected by, to Jack Lyons showing that no political motives were behind anything at the station.. to Dr McNamara’s devastating attack on O’loughlin.. it was probably the best show on TV tonite.
It all grew out of proportion, but it had to be done. O’Loughlin said that “if I offended anyone’s integrity, I apologize.” but then went right on challenging their ability to keep the organization non-political. I personally believe the DATV board have gone overboard keeping it non-political and commend them on that.
But when McNamara started asking the same questions to O’loughlin regarding the Dracut Food Pantry, you could hear a pin drop in that room.
“You think that I care what you have to say? You think this is over? Its not. You just wait.” May Paquette quoted a selectman as saying to her at Town Meeting.
She also made one statement that I think everyone heard. “We tape every Board of Selectmen’s meeting that we can be at. .. you can expect that we’ll be there at every meeting. If we can we will, if we dont have the resources we won’t,” she said, “so expect us.”
The point was made.
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Colleen | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
Please know that the neighborhood of Veterans park was well represented at the meeting last night. I was thrilled to see how many came out. As much as this has been talked about, there are still so many specific questions that need to be asked and definitive answers that need to be given. Once the meeting was going to be continued- it felt best to wait to speak until the next date. But we were there and will be again.
Shawn | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
Oh, I agree. I did see quite a few who obviously were just waiting to here the other side first.
This discussion could get spread across the summer the way things are going. We just need to bring it to a finish for the future.
Gene Dalton | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
I for one welcomed the Selectman’s interest in DATV, though not for the reason of alleged political motives. A microscope should be trained on the DATV board due to their hiring practices. I have been down to the studio on two separate occasions to give my volunteer contact info after the DATV board apparently “lost” it. I had to find out about the member fee by way of the website. I was contacted by email approximately 24 hours before the last annual meeting, hardly advanced notice. I received only one email from the volunteer coordinator during an entire year. They are not, as they profess interested in an open and transparent DATV
At no time during my volunteer time at the Comcast controlled Dracut local access channels did I ever see Mr. David Paquette. Suddenly when the DATV board members controlled the corporation David was hired for a paid position at DATV. This job he was given disappeared every fall when college started, but it reappeared every spring when school let out. No one was hired to fill his position when he was at school. In January 2009 Mr. Paquette took a job at Tyngsborough access television, but in March of the same year he tendered his resignation. No one was hired to fill his position when he went to Tyngsborough, but once again he was hired back at DATV as the senior Tech.
It is one thing to hire family or a friend out of a list of people that have responded to a want ad, when that individual has the qualifications. It is another thing entirely to hand said job without due competition.
Shawn | Jun 28, 2009 | Reply
I spoke to the members of the DATV board about this comment yesterday.
Mrs Paquette preferred not to respond at all, due to any response would be a conflict.
Jack Lyons reviewed the whole history of this situation, explaining that you are mixing up different employees and time frames, that you had been repeatedly contacted by both Executive Director’s to try to resolve your issues and you never replied to anyone.
I’ve worked with David over there, as well as George, Eric, and a whole host of employees and volunteers.
The qualifications of the employees are impeccable.
I do not know the actual hiring process, and prefer not to let this squabble between the BOS and DATV go further. Its not good for either side.
Again, Jack, Steve and all the others at the board would like to hear from you, and have tried to contact you.
Throwing dirty laundry and insinuations out into the ether, however, will do nothing to improve the situation.
The volunteers running that organization are some of the most respected and hard working in town.. as was demonstrated at last weeks BOS meeting.
Gene Dalton | Jul 2, 2009 | Reply
After sitting down with two members of the DATV Board I have to set the record straight…. Mr. Paquette’s graduation from college occurred in 2006, not as I had thought in 2007. My assertion that his job disappeared and reappeared was wrong. I stand corrected on that issue.