To the editor,
On Thursday February 14, 2013 you published a long letter written by former Meredith Selectman Peter Miller. He was extolling the virtues of Inter-Lakes School Board candidate Mark Billings. Mr. Miller feels that Mr. Billings would be a fantastic School Board member.
In his powerful and thought-provoking closing paragraph he stated: "During the nearly 20 years Dotty and I have lived in Meredith, we have witnessed how people of different political persuasions have worked together to achieve common goals."
Bravo Mr. Miller!
But moments before, in the same letter, Mr. Miller said: " ... I respect the Tea Party for the fiscal restraints it has been advocating. Nonetheless, I have the same request of it that I do of the Democrats. Confine your attention to Concord and Washington. Stay out of local affairs."
Well, Mr. Miller, you must love George Orwell's Animal Farm as you seem to feel that some political parties/members are more equal than others, and are better suited to achieve the 'common goals' you talk about. I've got a few questions for you so we can more closely examine your tolerance levels and data collection abilities.
What are these common goals? Are you sure a majority of people support them? Have you ever attended a Tea Party meeting to see what its members are really like, what they really believe in? Did you ever broach this Tea Party topic with Mr. Mark Billings who's qualifications you sing? Would your endorsement of Mark Billings change if I told you he's attended numerous Lakes Regions Tea Party meetings and signed up for our regular newsletter?
I cordially invite you to attend a Tea Party meeting. You'll discover that many of us are deeply caring about local politics, the schools, private property rights, the U.S. and N.H. Constitutions, and environmental issues. In fact, I can clearly remember Mr. Billings speaking up at some past meetings about such issues.
P.S. I suggest you do some additional homework before you decide to write a letter meant for public consumption. When you present all the facts, people might possibly believe what you say.
P.P.S. In the coming months you'll discover the local Tea Party will become deeply involved in local politics. Why? It's simple. We live here, and we care about the community as much, or possibly more, than you do.
Tim Carter, Co-Leader
www.LakesRegionTeaParty.org

To the editor,
Thievery, kidnapping, murder and rape. Bad behavior has been around, even before the first gun was made. The largest of these atrocities were always government sponsored. America... you are not exempt! I personally believe every child is born innocent and it's the chapters of our lives that create who we become. Some have chapters filled with riches and fame and some have journeys that portray the worst horror story ever written. All the rest fall somewhere in between. Discussion about guns, problems with Vets, along with the recent tragedy in Los Angeles struck a chord with me. So I needed to tell this story.
I lived up in the mountains of western Montana for five years during the late 1980s. One day I was following a small group of elk. The main bull was huge! With rifle in hand, I pursued most of the day, always taking the high ground on them. I expected a good shot soon. Dropping down through a thick stand of evergreens I entered a high basin unknown to me. When I emerged from the trees, the small cabin sat in front of me.
On the front porch, a gray bearded man, his rifle ready. A stout dog stood beside him. Both stared at me. Cradling my high powered rifle in my left arm, I steadily walked toward them. I was unsure of the man, but instinctively knew the dog was not to be trusted. When close, I stared to extend my hand and introduce myself.
"Don't move!" he shouted. The growl from the dog quieted when I dropped my hand down. After my explanation on why I was there, he invited in for coffee, interesting me to sit in his chair.
"Don't get up. Don't move and don't follow me in the kitchen." he demanded.
"Nam?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, then he disappeared beyond the wall.
For the next 15 minutes I sat like a prisoner. This stranger's dog stood guard not more than a quick lunge away. We locked eyes; not a hint of friendship between us. Finally, without a move and in a calm voice, I asked him, "You told him I was coming, didn't ya?" He then displayed the rest of his sharp teeth. For a second I though the dog was smiling. But no sane man in my predicament would want to find out by extending his hand.
John and I talked for a good length of time. He had had it a whole lot worse than I had during those years when were younger. He didn't give specifics, but I knew from his eyes that this soldier had gone through hell. Also, I understood he was still very troubled. I told him of a cousin who had come back a different man. This cousin has bragged for years of his kills, of the necklace strung with ears that he had taken as trophies and had worn in Nam. Unfortunately, he died before his thirtieth birthday of a heart attack. John didn't seem surprised. "I've seen them all", he said. Then looking up he said, "They didn't want us over there and they didn't want us back." With sadness I replied, "I know".
John shook my hand and when I left and "Wolf" allowed it. I took John's path downhill a ways from the cabin, but I knew I needed to turn west to familiar territory and to get back to my own cabin. Below, I stopped and looked back. Only "Wolf" remained on the porch. In front of me on the lodge pole pine tree the sign read "Trespassers Will Be Shot!"
Until we teach compassion and respect to our innocent children and until the powers of the government tend our own, nothing will change. Too many service men and women come home with irreparable damage. You leaders in Washington who bath in cash and power, you are wasting our time and money trying to ban guns. That endeavor would be as successful as the Middle East banning their stones. We need guns for food and protection. And, as the Constitution requires, we need them to protect you Leaders from yourselves. So Washington, do some good and earn your pay!
Sometimes I wonder if John and others are still up there in the mountains. "Wolf" has surely passed by now. Too bad, he was a good dog.
William H. Kendall
Bristol

To the editor,
As I read the pages of The Laconia Sun, I must admit, I find the recent animus from the County Commissioners toward the Republican delegation members troubling. All representatives to the Legislature, Republican and Democrats, have a duty to perform in the best interest of all the county taxpayers and not just those of the municipalities where they reside.
Additionally, the commissioners' recent admonishment in the press of the Republican members of the delegation, for structuring a public meeting in their pursuit to reduce the county debt, is counterproductive and unprofessional.
The failure of the commissioners to honestly distinguish between what is good public policy for both county services and its agencies and the county taxpayers is, in my opinion, blatantly deficient.
Furthermore, the commissioners clearly "misapprehend" the delegated duty the Republican members owe, not only to the county agencies, but equally to those citizens who pay the bills.
In summary: the facts show the commissioners "understand wrongly" the Constitutional duty the Republican delegation members owe to the county. The citizens and taxpayers of the county should be thankful they have those elected members of the delegation with an ever-present vigil of restraint on unnecessary county expenditures.
George Hurt
Gilford

To the editor,
New Hampshire law is clear, every other year the outgoing chair schedules the first meeting of the incoming county delegation. All further meetings are scheduled by the new chairperson. Also, the Executive Committee at its first meeting votes for its chair, vice-chair and clerk.
New Hampshire's AG Memorandum on Right-to-Know law, describes the law and the judicial decisions that further define and explain the peoples' right to know. "Subject to the provisions of RSA 91-A:3, all meetings, whether held in person, by means of telephone or electronic communication, or in any other manner, shall be open to the public. Except for town meetings, school district meetings, and elections, no vote while in open session may be taken by secret ballot." (Page 56)
On December 10, 2012, the first action by Belknap's delegation was to vote to use secret paper ballots. They voted for 2 of 3 officers by paper ballot and, after a "public hearing", using secret paper ballots again voted for four of the seven members of the Executive Committee.
Belknap County's Delegation consists of a 13 - 5 split, Republican to Democrat. The voted was 9 to 7. The public may not have the right to know the mindset of a representative but it does have the right to know how they voted. Clearly, some representative broke from party lines and the public has the right to observe and know who they are. Therefore, not only the official of the convention violated Right-to-Know, but the selection of the Executive Committee in its entirety was done in violation of Right-to-Know.
Accordingly, an unelected, unorganized Executive Committee voted to approve and transfer funds regarding the 2012 budget, and granted the authority to borrow $10 million for the 2013 Fiscal Year. Those actions are void. Clearly, the public hearing regarding the 2013 budget is invalid.
The public should take issue with the use of paper ballots because it erodes transparency in government. If the paper ballots are allowed to be perpetuated, it will open the floodgates for every appointed or elected public body to organize, in open session, using secret paper ballots.
In the matter before the Superior Court, the list of RSA 91-A violations are astronomical, commencing with December 10, 2012:
1. The delegation voted to conduct its organizational election by Secret Paper Ballots, citing no exception of law.
2. The delegation chose its chairperson by Secret Paper Ballots.
3. As the new presiding officer, the chairperson, once again invoked the Paper Ballot process for the selection of the vice-chair. The clerk was selected by casting one vote.
4. The next order of business should have been to select the four members of the convention, to complete the organizational meeting, to the seven member Executive Committee. However, no such action took place at this time.
5. Absent a motion to recess, the convention moved directly to an oral presentation by the Commission, followed by a public hearing on the proposed 2013 county budget.
6. The public hearing cannot be scheduled by the 2012 convention chair. The public hearing can only take place at further meetings, scheduled by the 2013 convention chair, which can only be accomplished after the organizational segment of the meeting has been completed.
7. In any event following the non-compliant "public hearing", the convention voted the four additional members to the seven member Executive Committee.
8. The first meeting of the Executive Committee did take place on December, 21 2012. However, it failed to comply with the law by not conducting its organizational meeting to determine who the chair, vice-chair and clerk would be. The unorganized quorum made decisions which will be void in the event a do-over is ordered, as all seven members were elected in open session by secret paper ballots.
9. At the second convention meeting, on February 4, 2013, the presiding officer conducted a do-over of the election of its Executive Committee. That resulted in three new officers.
10. No sub-committee meetings were NOTICED, and no sub-committee reports are listed on the agenda of February 4. However, with all the confusion of the TAN (Tax Anticipation Note) borrowing, the December 10, 2012 minutes, with a correction to the DRAFT version approved, notes the chair announced the convention's sub-committees minutes approvals would also be taking place. Keep in mind that only a sub-committee can amend or approve its minutes. No notice for any sub-committee meetings exist. The convention did not suspend its meeting for the purpose of convening the committee of the whole. The convention chair called on each of the members of the sub-committee to approve or amend its minutes, and by a show of hand approved or amended those minutes. The decision to approve the minutes of previous meetings by all eight sub-committees took place at these unnoticed meetings. Decisions were clearly made. Was the Right-to-Know RSA 91-A:2, II, violated again, again and AGAIN?.
On February 4, 2013, the Executive Committee voted to approve the Treasurer's request to borrow 10 million dollars. 1. The authority for the Treasurer to come before the Executive Committee, by the commissioners, had not been granted. Therefore, the approval to borrow the money is fatally flawed. Moreover, the Commission only noticed "The board may also be in attendance at the (Executive Committee Meeting of the Delegation)".
Where, in the AG Memorandum of Law does it condone such notices as "may or may not" attend another bodies meeting or excuse a quorum's attendance by invitation of another bodies meeting? The Right-to-Know law is clear; a meeting must be noticed 24 hours in advance. Clearly, intent to circumvent the Right-to-Know will not bode well with the court.
In any event, the Commission did not achieve a quorum at 4:30 p.m.. However, after the Executive Committee's action, a quorum of the commissioners did gather and, in an attempt to comply with borrowing requirements, the commissioners voted to authorize the Treasurer to approach the Executive Committee. However, the Executive Committee has not taken the required vote to allow the treasurer to borrow. (RSA 29:8)
Belknap County Convention has no rules of order for conducting business, the result of which are the multiple violation of RSA 91-A and causation for the fatal flaws regarding RSA-24. The blatant vote to hold its selection of officers by secret paper ballot, then voting its chairperson using secret paper ballot in open session, deprived the public of knowing who voted for whom erodes any resemblance of transparency.
David Gammon
Thomas A. Tardif
Laconia