Surprise! No warning. No public input yet. Maybe y’all can fix that last part?
c/o Eric Catman on Facebook
Dear Dover area friends,
I am writing to ask that you take a quick action this evening to promote transparency and dialogue in Dover city government.
We learned today that the Dover Police Department has been awarded a grant by the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of an armored vehicle. The matter is now before the City Council whose members plan to vote on the matter tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. There has been no opportunity for public input to the question of who really benefits from Dover’s acquisition of this vehicle, commonly referred to as the Bearcat. Would you please send a message to the Dover Mayor and City Council asking that they delay this vote until members of the community have had an opportunity to be heard?
Send an email to the full Council using this address:
CityCouncil-All@dover.nh.gov
Below is the message I just sent which you can use as a template.
Also, if you are a Dover resident, please join me at the Citizens Forum tomorrow at 7 pm at Dover City Hall. You can offer your own insights on this important matter and repeat your request that the vote be delayed.
Thank you for responding to this last minute request,
Maggie Fogarty, Co-Director of the AFSC-NH Program
____________________
Dear Mayor Weston and members of the City Council,
I have just learned today that you plan to vote tomorrow on a resolution for the Dover Police Department to receive a DHS-funded armored vehicle. I am deeply dismayed that Dover is poised to make this step, and equally disappointed that there has been no opportunity for public input on the matter.
I realize that tomorrow’s Citizen Forum is a chance for some input, but given that this matter has received no publicity nor solicitation for input, it is hardly sufficient to the question at hand. I hope you will agree that this matter deserves greater transparency and a fuller consideration by the people of this community.
Please delay your vote to ensure a more democratic decision-making process.
I am eager to hear your response.
All the best, and many thanks for your service.
