Below is an email chain between myself and the town administration regarding email alerts for Select Board meeting. As you will see our town seems to be going back to the dark ages. When the town fathers (and mothers) start hiding behind legal requirements and not continuing the free flow of information one has to wonder if there are not ulterior motives at work.
From: Vito & Susan
[mailto:Marla@Vermontel.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 9:19 AM
To: Richard Horner; Chris Bianchi; Ken Lee; Patty McGrath
Subject: Selectboard Meeting Email Alerts
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 9:19 AM
To: Richard Horner; Chris Bianchi; Ken Lee; Patty McGrath
Subject: Selectboard Meeting Email Alerts
I know we are in
transition in the Town Manager’s office and that the suspension of email alerts
for Select Board meeting is due to it. I know I and at least one other person
has contacted the town office about reinstating these alerts. Additionally I
have spoken to many people who are concerned regarding this lack and some are
wondering why and not necessarily accepting that its just because of the
transition.
Could we please get
this taken care of before it becomes a problem?
Vito
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From: Richard Horner
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 9:43 AM
Subject: RE: Selectboard Meeting Email Alerts
Thanks
for your concern. The best way to keep current is to check Killingtontown.com. All minutes and agendas
and other relevant information are posted on the website in a timely manner.
The
new Town Manager will start on April 18. At that time she can decide how to
distribute information.
Richard
L. Horner
Killington
Town Planner
Zoning
Administrator
Interim
Town Manager
2706
River Road
802-422-3242
On Apr 6, 2016, at 10:42 AM, Vito & Susan <Marla@Vermontel.com> wrote:
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Dick,
I’m not sure you understood my request. Before Seth Webb left email alerts
with the agenda were always sent out for Select Board meetings and they have
since been suspended. I and many others would like them to be reinstated. I
truly don’t understand why they were suspended in the first place, it can’t be
that much of a burden to type a few lines with a meeting time and date and send
out a mass email. Seth must have had a group list who requested these alerts. Or
are the rumors that he deleted stuff off his computer true?
In this day and age where digital communication is ubiquitous don’t you
think we need to keep up with the times. It is after all the twenty first
century. I’m sure it is a lot more efficient to email people than having to post
physical notices in public places.
The town website calendar is not always timely or accurate. There have been
many times when I’ve looked at it for info on meeting and it wasn’t there.
Vito
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Hi Vito,
Again, thank you for your concern in this matter of email
alerts. I do understand it is very a convenient way for many to be reminded of
what is transpiring in town and with the board. Unfortunately, this email thread
has taken on an unnecessary negative tone. Please keep in mind that the interim
period between managers was likely to have a few changes of style in the way
things occurred, and Seth went the extra mile with alerts. As Dick replied, the
agendas and information was publicly posted as required. The email alert,
despite being convenient for many, doesn't meet the legal requirements of a
public posting. I have no doubt that our new town Manager will certainly be
amenable to either restarting alerts or suggesting new way of keeping up the
information flow. In the mean time I ask that you, and all in our community,
have patience with this soon ending transition period and allow her the
opportunity to serve us all in a positive and welcoming atmosphere.
Best regards,
Patty McGrath
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Patty,
Thanks for your response.
The solution to this
matter was like falling off a log. The town’s software platform, Constant
Contact, was used by Seth for email alerts to people on the town’s email list.
It is currently being used to email alerts by Amy Morrison for the KPAA. I spoke
to her and she told me it was simply a matter of Dick or whoever prepares the
agenda to forward it to her and she can simply input that into the software and
push a button to generate the email. So I hardly think it’s a mile – it’s more
like a walk in the park.
If I can get this squared away with a phone call
anyone in the town office can too. Unless of course the idea is to limit
distribution of information, which I hope isn’t the case.
If there was any negative tone to the email chain
it is because this simple solution, which I, not even an administrative employee
of the town could get done in less than a minute with a phone call while town
personnel either didn’t want to or didn’t know how to and couldn’t be bothered
to find out.
Vito
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Comment: So there you have it. Apparently based upon Ms. McGrath's response, "The email alert,
despite being convenient for many, doesn't meet the legal requirements of a
public posting.", the administration is hiding behind legal requirements so as to eliminate a convenience, as well as limiting distribution of information, to the taxpaying citizens of the town. For the amount of taxes we pay and the amount of tax dollars that are diverted to the KPAA and other so-called economic development expenditures which make it convenient for the businesses in town to make a profit, you would think that this "convenience" would not be a hardship on town personnel.
I'm sure it is a convenience for the KPAA to use the town's Constant Contact software to keep people apprised of their activities.
As my wife stated to me regarding this, "Just because you don't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't".
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Further response:
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Vito
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Further response:
From:
Patty McGrath
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 5:10 PM
To: Vito & Susan
Subject: Re: Selectboard Meeting Email Alerts
Hi
Vito, Appreciate the dialog. I understand you feel it was a simple thing that
could be done, I’m not arguing that point. It is the automatic assumption that
any small change is viewed as some conspiracy to “limit information or that
information was deleted” perpetuating false rumors and a seeming public attempt
to disparage town office staff. The reality is, Seth did go the extra mile in
the electronic passage of information, Dick’s strong points lie in other areas
than computer networking. He has done a fine job in keeping the town running
smoothly. With the new manager starting soon it seems like a needless fight to
pick. As I said, we are moving forward, and that request will be taken care of.
Best,
Patty
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Patty,
Thanks for your further response.
This isn’t the first or the only request that these alerts be resumed. When
there is lack of response or action, as was the case until today, one has to
wonder. I tried going through the chain of command multiple times and got
nowhere. So you can say what you want but based on results my and others
requests were not taken seriously.
Seth was smart enough to see that providing these alerts was one of the
building blocks of trust between the town administration and the townspeople.
And again I must stress it is a very simple task and reaps increased trust as a
reward.
As far as Dick goes, I respect him, in fact if you recall I supported him
back when Bernie Rome was trying to deep six him on the premise that Dick didn’t
have enough to do. The thing about Dick is he can be dismissive at times. I
tried not belittle him, I didn’t refer to him directly. I know he has plenty of
skills as I am witness to his knowledge and abilities at every planning
commission meeting, though apparently he is limited in his computer
skills.
You are the one who brought up the “negative tone” and I gave you an
explanation.
If you recall in my initial email I stated that I did not want this to
become a problem. This was an issue that took a minute to take care of.
Anyway, I want to put this to bed and I hope to see an alert before the
next SB meeitng.
Vito
Vito
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