I like the Citizen's Participation part of each Selectboard meeting. You never know what, if anything, will occur. I'm going to try to cover this part of the meeting, at least for a while, and see what happens.
I picked a good night to begin the project, too. Citizen Pat DeAngelo was on her feet ready to go before Chair Steve Steidle was able to complete his customary preamble.
"Let me finish," Steidle said to her. A chuckle from the crowd.
"He needs to do his speech," said another member of the board.
Steidle continued with the introduction, ending with "... Would anyone like to comment? Pat?"
More chuckles.
She stood and said that she had gone to a public hearing on health care at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and was sorry that no one from the Selectboard had been there because it was very informative. It was put on by Vermont Citizens Campaign for Health. They discussed what was going on in Massachusetts with health care reform and what lessons could be applied here.
Many state representatives and senators were there, she said, including Sen. James Leddy, Daryl Pillsbury, Gini Milkey, and Sarah Edwards. DeAngelo said that this plan is something the Vermont League of Cities and Towns supports, and that they haven't heard much from Selectboards - Brattleboro included - and Brattleboro is a big town.
Jerry Remillard, Town Manager, said that he'd look for that information.
Next up was Citizen Audrey Garfield. She had gone to a meeting in which people spoke about the Governor's affordable housing plan and wanted to let people know that the document is flawed. People should read it and make calls because it is going before the legislature in January, she said. The document, for example, takes land out of conservation areas, and says nothing about low income housing.
Garfield also wanted to remind people that Project Feed the Thousands is underway and that there are hungry people in our community right now. Kids are hungry. Adults are hungry. She said that we don't have a healthy community if people are hungry. It has an impact on our workplaces and schools when people aren't fed. She suggested that people take the time to buy some groceries or make a donation instead of spending money on a gift someone doesn't need this season.
That ended this week's Citizen Participation.