To the Editor:

On behalf of The Friends of the Weare Library I would like to thank all those donated their valuable time, exceptional baking skills and their used books to the annual Book and Bake Sale that was held on Aug. 26.

The proceeds from this successful sale will directly benefit the library and its patrons.

Thanks also to those who attended the sale and now happily have their noses in a good book.

Christine King
Weare

To the Editor:

I have watched with dismay how the controversy surrounding the Goffstown Fire Department is destroying it. However, last week’s article that the chief is “disgraced” by the department is the last straw.

I am not writing to comment on the chief’s agenda to have a 24/7 department but because I find his treatment of the personnel under his command and his respect and responsibility to the town lack both professionalism and sound judgment.

I find his sending of e-mails to other towns to be disingenuous at best. And it certainly was fortunate that someone happened to send an anonymous copy of them to the paper so that his disgrace could be known to all.

As background, my husband, his father and his grandfather all proudly served the town of Goffstown as firefighters. My late husband, Donald Paré, was a firefighter most of the adult years he lived in Goffstown beginning at age of 18 and rising through the ranks to that of lieutenant.

His father, Claude Paré, was actively involved in all aspects of the department for many years. His grandfather, Fred Hamilton, was an original member of the Pinardville Fire Association. None of them made their primary living from the Goffstown Fire Department, but each was professional to the core.

All were proud to serve the town and after Don’s death, I too served the department as an EMT to keep up the family tradition. If any of us were currently with the department, we would be the ones “embarrassed,” “disgraced” and “saddened” by its current state of affairs.

Unfortunately, the chief should have spent far more time working with all the employees of the department, not just those who worked there full time.

Had he done so, he would not have caused the situation in which the town finds itself. Selectman Campasano’s statement that “a person who mans a station is not an on-call person” and that they are not “part-time employees” just shows how they have determined they are to create the situation that the chief is now “embarrassed” by.

From personal experience, I would like to tell Selectman Campasano that “yes, call firefighters can and have manned stations.” It has been done on normal Monday through Friday workdays as well as weekends and holidays.

As the person leading the effort to put together a plan on 24/7 coverage, I’m surprised he is unaware of that fact. I would be happy to provide him with my husband’s schedule should he find it useful research material in his planning effort.

Whether they are labeled “on call,” “per diem,” or “part-time,” each individual works for the town, is required to follow the same standard operating procedures as other department employees and is required to receive training as are other department employees.

All employees, regardless of label, are also compensated for the service they provide. The definition of part-time does not mean only those who have a regularly scheduled shift, at least not to anyone besides the chief and Selectman Campasano. The town may invest more training dollars on full-time staff than it does part-time personnel, but that is true in any work environment.

I believe it is time to ask some tough questions of the chief relative to personnel. Has there been any internal review of the reason call firefighters are not signing up for shifts? Have there been any exit interviews done with these employees when they resign from the department? Have the selectmen required exit interviews?

If not, I strongly recommend that this be implemented as soon as possible. When done correctly, exit interviews can expose the good, the bad and the ugly about the environment in which people are expected to work.

It’s too bad the chief is disgraced by his department but as its leader, he has more than a little responsibility in causing the problems.

It’s unfortunate that Selectman Campasano believes adding a new job title will clarify that on-call firefighter aren’t part-time employees (please check the definition in any standard dictionary).

But what I’m sorry for is that the people of Goffstown are not being well served because of the issues and controversary that is continuing to swirl around the fire department.

Theresa Paré Curtis
Goffstown

To the Editor:

Commenting on Goffstown’s Economic Development Council and its authorship of the revised town Master Plan:

Conflict of interest(s) ­ defined by Barron’s Law Dictionary: “With reference to disqualification of a public officer to perform his sworn duty, the concept ‘refers to a clash between the public interest and the private pecuniary interest of the individual concerned.”

Goffstown’s economic development council’s chairman, Phil Tatro, appeared before town selectmen Aug. 14, proposing changes to the group’s responsibilities that can only mean direct “pecuniary interest” for him personally.

As with his protest of Irving Oil’s desire to complete a gas station in 2000 while simultaneously proceeding with the development of his own megastation, Mr. Tatro once again is seeking self enrichment in his proposal to expand the council’s charge to include developing warehousing and manufacturing opportunities.

As the owner and marketer of land surrounding his mega gas station, Mr. Tatro is seeking development of a 25,000-square-foot industrial “box” store and/or retail strip mall building of 5,000 square feet.

The chairman of the economic development council appears to be seeking authority that will result not in the town’s best interests, but more in lining his own pockets as a priority.

Recorded into the minutes of the economic development council and also of the discussions on the revised town Master Plan, Mr. Tatro has been cited as replying to objections to his decisions as stating that people of Goffstown “didn’t seem to understand” and “that there were some who you can’t tell anything to.”

In the June 27 meeting Mr. Tatro is recorded as stating “the Planning Board needs to be reminded that they spent a lot of money on this project (review and revision of the Master Plan document) and if they don’t want to approve the Master Plan then they need to have an explanation that they spent the money…” Is this a directive to the planning board?

Mr. Tatro also stated: “the contingency of those against the (revised Master) Plan continues to grow.”

At the same June 27 economic development council meeting, Mr. B. Wheeler is recorded as saying that the council needs to make the time schedule for the planning board to approve the revised master plan and the “council needs to explain to them that the council wants this to proceed.”

Mr. Wheeler was further recorded as saying “that the department heads and Planning Board have an attitude problem.”

Well, what is the problem then? Is it that the voters see things differently ­ the “contingency” that is against box store development in our town, the “contingency” against development of more cluster homes, the “contingency” that supports traditional residential housing? Does it seem strange to Mr. Tatro that this group against his version of the master plan is also against conflict of interests ?

Removing Mr. Tatro from all public office, elected and/or volunteered, which pose opportunities for conflict of interests would be definitely in Goffstown’s best interests. Can we construct a contingency of voters and residents to accomplish this democratic process? Hopefully so.

Linda A. Gelfand
Goffstown

To the Editor:

As a parent of a Mountain View Middle School student, I am unaware of any security issues and/or concerns that have arisen in previous years that would necessitate what appears to be a radical change.

The summer 2006 edition of the Hilltopper announces a facility change in which the main entrance to the school will be locked during school hours and requires the use of a call button to gain access to the school. This leads me to question what has transpired in previous years that necessitate such a drastic change.

I am not ignorant to the events that go on in our world today and do not believe our town is insulated against these threats. However, this change is not what one would expect in a town that prides itself on small-town charm, and that is why I am so startled by this security change.

If every action has a reaction, what was the action that brought this about? And what is the reaction that will result? Will students and parents feel safer?

I find myself questioning if my child was ever safe at MVMS to begin with.

J. Buckless
Goffstown

To the Editor:

I can understand that everything these days cost more. I’m sure that the Goffstown Sewer Department’s new sewer fees are justified according to what I’ve read in this newspaper.

However, I think the method that they are using in charging the folks living in this community is not fair to everyone. I believe the fairest way to raise the cost should be based upon how many residents are living in each house, not an across the board set price for everyone.

Some seniors do live alone that are widows or widowers. Several years ago when we had our two children living with us, the use of water was perhaps quadruple what my wife and I are now using.

I don’t think it’s fair for the senior citizens of this community to have to pay the same price as, let’s say, a family having two or three kids living at home. The demand is much greater.

I think that the sewer department should freeze the amount of $50 per quarter for seniors and spread the cost to those who uses the most water.

Robert P. Girard
Goffstown

To the Editor:

Lisa and Michael Gunski of 3 Paige Hill Road recently upgraded to a 95-gallon “Bigger Blue” recycle tote, and they are my next candidates for people “caught doing it right” with respect to recycling.

She says they are certainly using the “Bigger Blue” ­ they are filling it most of the time! Recyclables include rinsed cans, all paper goods, letter mail, cereal boxes and all kinds of cardboard, etc., etc.

She says that only two to three bags of trash go out in the the green tote and the rest is all recycling. She estimates that 80 percent of her waste stream is being recycled. She has a garbage canister for trash and a separate one for recyclables. It all winds up in clear plastic bags and then into “Bigger Blue.”

Thank you, Lisa and Michael Gunski, for actively participating in the single stream recycling program, keeping your and my taxes down and providing raw materials for new products that weren’t dug out of the ground or cut in a forest.

Fred Plett, Chairman
Goffstown Solid Waste Commission