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.