Last week we reported on this week’s special meeting at which the Nashua Board of Alderman would review a Board of Health-proposed city-wide mask mandate. They had it, and they did it, and passed it, without any public comment.
Grok writer Beth Scaer of Nashua reports that the Board met to consider and then vote on the recommendation but that no one was allowed to provide input.
Sorry, there was input from the Nashua Board of Health, which advanced the matter to the Board of Alderman for approval.
No comment required. They just made it happen for your own good. And fear not intrepid warriors, they’ll say what they always do because they are in love with a particular interpretation of Article 3 of the NH State Constitution.
[Art.] 3. [Society, its Organization and Purposes.] When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to ensure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void.
These elected leaders think they can make us surrender some of our natural rights as long as we’re all forced to give them up. Or, more accurately, any and all rights (eventually), voiding the rest of the document entirely.
A solution that the COVID test has demonstrated they are ready to embrace.
Posessed of the perception that action is evidence of value and more worthwhile than the protection of natural rights these “representatives” not only abandon liberty, they deny the people an opportunity to at least explain why they might not.
But wait, Steve, you say, in your last post on this topic, you noted that it was new business and no public comment would be permitted. This is true. I was told that was the case. And as I understand it, new business is new no vote is taken. New business is read into the record so that the public is aware of it (or can choose to be aware), after which another meeting is held where public comment is permitted.
The Board treated the mask mandate ordinance like “new business” to void public comment then voted on it anyway, absent any input from the people. And it passed.
Effective immediately, the city has said you must wear a mask indoors and sometimes out, until February 1, 2022 – but there is no enforcement provision or process outlined in the actual ordinance**. Warning, citation, fine.
Perhaps you can take that as your opportunity to make a statement. Ignore their mask mandate, and if anyone speaks up, just tell them you are not accepting public comment at this time.
Hey, the Board set the terms. You are just playing by their rules.
Note: Every ordinance passed in the city has (I believe) a default enforcement provision and you are responsible for knowing what that might be before you willfully violate the whims of your so-called betters.
**[Update: According to the City Attorney, the fine for non-compliance is up to $1000.00]
WMUR report added:
