A response to Gilford Selectman Kevin Hayes concerning Town Administrator Scott Dunn

by
Skip

So, from the last exchange, we see that the Selectmen, a la Occupy Wall Street philosophy, have no problem in targeting a citizen just because they can classify that citizen as “part of the 1%).  Certainly, we see this emanating from the Oval Office and from the Progressive Caucus in Congress – how DARE the successful not pay their fair share and how cold hearted they must be to want smaller government (which would be less expensive and cost them less in taxes).  My response to that:

Kevin,

I purposefully have taken a few days to respond to your email – which I dryly note, hardly dealt with my question of “ is this an action that YOU three deem permissible“?  In fact, you spent the majority of the time defending government and what it does.  THAT was not the topic under consideration – frankly, I viewed it as a poor attempt to deflect that your Town Administrator exhibited a sniffy attitude, in his official capacity, towards a private citizen as someone to be dismissed simply because she outweighs him financially.  We all understand that the public sector has different purposes than the private sector – and we especially understand that the public sector has no limiting factor akin to the private sector (even as the former is dependent upon the latter for funding).

In reading your “We just don’t make it public every time we say NO” and in your recounting of what needs to be provided, it may well be that you are not saying “No” enough, a more disciplined prioritization process must considered be to more adequately fund what is a need,  and cease funding that which is merely “wanted” or that simply is a “quality of life”.  But the main question to be asked, which Barbara is relentless on, that remains unanswered is – at what cost?  In response to your ” let’s continue to be frugal “, how is it “frugal” that Gilford taxpayers always seems to have to pay the highest labor costs compared to other towns our size?  I started my stint on the BudComm proving that to be true and the Select Board has done nothing about that structural problem; that’s not a definition that I consider valid for “frugal”.

But I digress.  That Town Administrator Dunn uttered those words once could be construed as a “gaffe”; a second time, in a public newspaper using his official title, is “intent to harm”.  There is no other ways to describe it and no amount of spin will work – he used the Class Card.

There is no other explanation for use the $2.6 million figure for any other purpose!  With that , I just find it very difficult to believe that you and the other Selectmen have done or said nothing publicly.

Mr. Dunn used the weight and prestige of his office to go after a private citizen not once but twice.  In the land of equality before the law, of free expression, and the ability to seek redress from their government, it is not your place, nor mine, nor the Town Administrator’s role or function to do what he did; we listen, or offer suggestions or explanations, but we are never to turn public opinion against a citizen as officials (elected or appointed) simply because of where they live and what they own, or say that which we do not like to hear.

In closing, I agree with your closing sentiment of “continued frugal government…We can only control the latter.”; it is well past time that we posses such an entity.  A number of important structural changes have already occurred but now you are faced with the hardest political decision of all – how to lower the actual wage costs on a per job title basis?  Do you, the Select Board, have the political courage and will to do so?  Defending the Class Card statement by Town Administrator Dunn, as you have, leaves me anxious about that outcome.

HNY

– Skip
GraniteGrok.com

Author

  • Skip

    Co-founder of GraniteGrok, my concern is around Individual Liberty and Freedom and how the Government is taking that away. As an evangelical Christian and Conservative with small "L" libertarian leanings, my fight is with Progressives forcing a collectivized, secular humanistic future upon us. As a TEA Party activist, citizen journalist, and pundit!, my goal is to use the New Media to advance the radical notions of America's Founders back into our culture.

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