By Muriel Bristol | March 14, 2020
The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, March 16.
The BOS meeting is scheduled to begin with a lengthy Non-Public session beginning at 4:00 PM. That agenda has one Non-Public item classed as 91-A3 II (a).
(a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
This likely has to do with compensation, rather than the other possibilities, as the various additions and increases with which the BOS was “just fine” were not approved by the voters. A roll-call vote, presumably a secret one, on something or other is noted in the agenda.
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.
Under New Business are scheduled six agenda items: 1) Re-Organization of Board of Selectmen, 2) Swearing in of Newly-Elected Board & Committee Members, 3) Board of Selectmen Committee/Board Assignments, 4) Board of Selectmen By-Law Discussion, 5) 2020 Election and Warrant Article Results, and 6) Multi-Board Meeting (presently scheduled for April 6th).
Re-Organization of Board of Selectmen. In which the BOS determines who will be Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Swearing in of Newly-Elected Board & Committee Members. In which the newly-elected board and committee members swear to be agreeable.
Board of Selectmen Committee/Board Assignments: a) Budget Committee, b) Planning Board, c) Zoning Board of Adjustment, d) Economic Development, e) Recreation Commission, and f) School Board. In which the BOS members determine who will sit ex-officio (by virtue of their office) on the various boards and committees.
Board of Selectmen By-Law Discussion. In which the BOS determines whether or not to continue to run their meetings using the Chairman Thibeault™ method.
2020 Election and Warrant Article Results. Well, the BOS just got “told,” in the clearest possible manner. But they got told last year too. Perhaps this latest instructional experience may engender in them a desire to implement necessary reductions and reforms. Tune in to see.
Multi-Board Meeting (presently scheduled for April 6th). Likely a collective “What just happened?” spread across multiple boards and committees.
Old Business had no scheduled items.
Other Business That May Come Before the Board has no scheduled items.
There will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS Meeting of March 2, 2020), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
The BOS meeting is scheduled to end with another Non-Public session. That agenda has another Non-Public item classed as 91-A3 II (a): investigation, discipline, dismissal, promotion or compensation of employees.
(a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
Likely a continuation of the 91-A3 II (a) session with which they began the meeting. There is a lot to discuss. One might ask why it needs to be in secret.
Mr. S.D. Plissken contributed to this article.
References:
State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm
Town of Milton. (2020, March 13). BOS Meeting Agenda, March 16, 2020. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/sites/miltonnh/files/agendas/3.16.20_bos_agenda_0.pdf
Youtube. (1965). Cone of Silence. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1eUIK9CihA&feature=youtu.be&t=19
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