Goffstown selectmen finally faced the angry mob at the Town Meeting – or, meetings, we should say of the two-night marathon. If there’s one message that should come through loud and clear, it’s that their constituents are not happy with their performance in several areas, most notably the move to merge the police and fire departments, as well as how the Factory Street condo plan is being handled.

Voters made it very clear they want no part of the selectmen’s plan to merge the departments or even to hear the selectmen out on the plan. They amended the warrant article so the move could not happen – or, at least, if the selectmen pay attention it won’t happen. Selectmen have already told voters the amended warrant articles may not be legally binding.

There are two problems here – selectmen may not have to abide by the Town Meeting’s directive, and the public at large will not get to have its say on whether the fire-police merger is a good idea.

We must once again reiterate that changing warrant articles to flip their intent to the opposite meaning is morally wrong. We feel confident the people of Goffstown would have voted the merger plan down, but now a vote on the article will never tell us for sure.

But there was one clear message: Those at the Town Meeting are against the merger. Selectmen had better listen.

— Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board. The board is composed of Publisher and President Amy J. Vellucci, Executive Editor Ginger Kozlowski, Managing Editor Christine Heiser and News Editor Susan Clark.

To the Editor:
To the voters of Weare:
I have to say how sorry and ashamed I felt Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Town Meeting. Sitting and listening to you who spoke and said what goes on in other states is none of our concern.

That we shouldn’t worry about the people losing their homes, etc.; to let them worry about themselves.

My grandson, as well as many of your daughters, sons, grandchildren, etc., are at this very moment risking their lives in Iraq and other places to protect you and your freedoms.

I can only say shame on you all.

Virginia Whitten
Weare

To the Editor:
I had to shake my head in disbelief after reading Collis Adam’s letter last week. I agree with the school district’s statement that delays caused by litigation and land use appeals over a two-year period caused the cost of the kindergarten school to increase.

Perhaps Mr. Adams forgets that he was not the only one who sued the town. Let’s remember that the litigation on Tibbetts Hill Road location created a year-long delay. The lawsuit and the appeals made by Mr. Adams were certainly lawful and he was within his rights as a citizen. Unfortunately, the abutters’ legal right to sue the town on both kindergarten locations led to large legal bills and hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction cost increases.

Everyone knows that construction costs increase every year. We saw the same thing happen during the various high school renovation proposals — each year that went by we received less bang for our buck as prices increased.

I urge Mr. Adams to stop placing blame and accusing others of mismanagement. We taxpayers voted to build the school.

Let’s finish the job and teach the children.

Lissa Winrow
Goffstown

To the Editor:
I strongly disagree with the group that supported the taking of Justice Souter’s home to make a point. Revenge never settles a battle; it only prolongs it.

While it is true that only 150 or so people voted in the deliberative session, it still was a representative sampling of the town. The session was open to all registered voters, not a select few.

The folks who did come out showed an extra measure of community spirit and concern.

I tip my hat to them. The unanimous vote on the final amendment to the warrant article says a lot. Even local supporters of the Freestar media group failed to vote against it.

Weare has a number of important issues to deal with. There was no upside to Weare being a part of battle being pushed from outside Weare. Weare officials have wasted enough time on this issue.

You have to question the honesty and intent of a group that, in spite, published my name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and a link to a photo of me with a description of who I was in the photo.

They sent out this in an e-mailed newsletter and published it on their Web site right after the deliberative session. I ask you, for what purpose, other than to incite others to harass, threaten and possibly harm? Ask yourself – if someone did this to you, would you fear for yourself and your family? Free speech does not entitle you to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater.

It’s easy to say that constitutional rights were violated, but not so easy to back them up. A sampling of the hate e-mail and calls that I received indicate to me that many of these supporters have been duped into thinking that A: I am an elected official and conspired to deny the voters a chance to vote (wrong!), B: The Weare voters did not participate (wrong!), and C: There is no compensation paid when government takes property by eminent domain (wrong again).

I certainly oppose the abuse of eminent domain, but we are lucky enough to live in a country where we have the right of redress. The Kelo case has prompted 40 states to revisit eminent domain law to correct shortcomings in their present law. This is the appropriate way to take a stand.

Walter Bohlin
Weare

To the Editor:
Unveiled at the Goffstown deliberative session (part 2) on Thursday, Feb. 9, was an understandable and acceptable plan to staff the fire department.

A Goffstown firefighter, Maurice Mailhot, very carefully explained the work that Goffstown Fire Department (GFD) members, had done to estimate the cost of hiring 18 new firefighters for 24/7 station coverage in Goffstown.

More impressive was Mailhot’s explanation of line item costs moved or deleted to create a lower bottom line to the taxpayers.

In fact, estimated 2007 costs started at $879,691.68, but savings were realized by not having to hire personnel for weekend station coverage with a 24/7 crew in place. The wage package for new firefighters and 24/7 station coverage for 2007 would be reduced from $879,691.68 to $269,184.07. Mailhot was harassed by a belligerent Selectman Robert Wheeler trying to pick apart the GFD plan, but level-headed Mailhot prevailed in part due to the integrity of a well-thought-out 24/7 GFD plan. Wheeler finally retreated to his seat to pout while the audience was heard quietly giving their approval to the GFD plan versus the board of selectmen’s (BOS) scandalous Public Safety Department concept!

We all need to remember that fire departments are proactive not reactive, similar to our military. They both need the manpower and training prior to responding to a crisis! Ask the GFD about recent calls, response times, and manpower to get the true story. Don’t believe what the BOS tells you!

I am only a fire buff, but I have experience arriving at the scene of a house totally involved with fire including all of the many trees that lined both sides of the house front to back. As I stood there looking at this “hell” waiting for the FD, it was amazing how two or three minutes helped magnify the already volatile condition. A quick response to a fire or medical call can save property and lives and only happens if firefighters are on duty 24/7.

Our BOS have micromanaged the GFD to death, are trying to dismantle it, lied to the taxpayers, and displayed total disrespect to the people that we trust with our safety and lives.

GFD firefighters are EMTs and serve as public servants for one reason, to help people in need! Send a message to the GFD that we support and trust the real heroes in our society by voting for the 24/7 plan.

Bruce Lemire
Editor – Amoskeag Reserve Engine Company (NH Chapter of SPAAMFAA)
Goffstown

To the Editor:
As one who was concerned enough to be present at the deliberative session in Weare on Feb. 4, the issue does not appear to be one of “Thwarting the Process” at the Town Meeting. The process ran very much along its expected course, considering the circumstances.

Rarely can we claim in our great democracy the real claim that we are governed by the will of the majority. Even in major elections we don’t see high enough turnouts to indicate the winner actually receiving the vote of 50 percent of the electorate (remember, 50 percent of those who vote is all it takes). The fact is: we are ruled by the majority of those interested enough and willing to take part. This includes taking part in a deliberative session where issues of concern are to be presented to those present for consideration and possible amendment.

The rally that took place the week before might have been quite an event for all I know. The high media coverage of the speakers from the other side of the country come to fan the flames of the rioting mob can raise the passions indeed. On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t that impressive at all. I don’t know; I wasn’t there, because that was not the forum that counts.

The meeting that did matter was the one I did go to, the deliberative session. If the 200+ voters who signed the petition were concerned enough for the fate of their petition to show up and get counted they could have easily kept their 94 opponents from altering their precious plea for redress.

What did get proven once again is that we are not ruled by the majority, but by the majority of those who are concerned enough to take part.

Roger J. Martin
Weare

To the Editor:
In January 2005, I conducted an eight-hour training seminar on Class A Instant Fire Behavior; Flashover-Backdraft – two of the most dangerous aspects of interior firefighting – to members of the Goffstown Fire Department and members of the Bedford and Hudson fire departments.

The caliber of personnel attending the seminar impressed me very much. I found them to be intelligent, competent and open-minded, with a thirst for knowledge to enable them to do their work in a more safe and efficient manner.

The leadership of Goffstown Fire Chief Frank Carpentino is to be complimented. The super initiative and progressive thinking of Chief Carpentino to schedule the seminar is highly commendable. The detail and hard work of Capt. Steve Tower was outstanding. Excellent facilities for presentation of the seminar were provided.

I would like to thank everyone I met for the hospitality, friendship and kindness shown me. It was a pleasure to work with everyone involved.

Joseph M. Wescott
Deputy Fire Chief (retired)
Fire Suppression and Training, Concord Fire Dept.