Alton Tries to Silence its Citizens

[mcdude]

this time at the School Committee meeting....
(from the Baysider may 14th)

ALTON — The Alton Central School Board met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 11, in the school’s media center.
ACS Administrative assistant Janna Mellon spoke during public input regarding her concerns over cuts being made to support staff and the turnover of administrators.
Alton resident Jeffrey Clay also spoke during public input stating he was not fond of the five-minute limit imposed on the public during public input.
Clay touched on a few subjects including questioning how ethics violations are handled within the school board itself. He also stated the board should not have an ethics policy without a protocol for consequences related to violations.
Additionally, Clay requested the board update the community on the progress of hiring a new superintendent and a new principal.
School board Chairperson Krista Argiropolis* was poised to answer Clay’s questions when Vice-Chairperson Steve Miller called for a point of order.
Miller reminded Argiropolis and the rest of the board they were under no obligation to give information out in response to Clay’s questions at this time as it was public input.
Board member Terri Noyes agreed it was not appropriate to have a "back and forth" dialogue in public input, but she did not see a problem with giving out numbers.

*Argie's Wife on the forum

[Tired of Waiting]

See how it could go in the BOS meeting. Just let the fellow have his say and move on. Next.

Seems they handled it the right way. Maybe they learned from the BOS.


ToW

[tis]

ALTON, N.H. —Charges have been dismissed against an Alton man who refused to stop talking during a town board of selectmen meeting.

Jeffrey Clay said he was robbed of his right to free speech when the council cut him off, and a judge agreed.

The court called the board's actions censorship and said in the ruling that Clay did nothing wrong and arresting him violated his First Amendment rights.


There is more on the WMUR site if you want to read it all.

[Charlie T]

Originally Posted by tis

ALTON, N.H. —Charges have been dismissed against an Alton man who refused to stop talking during a town board of selectmen meeting.

Jeffrey Clay said he was robbed of his right to free speech when the council cut him off, and a judge agreed.

The court called the board's actions censorship and said in the ruling that Clay did nothing wrong and arresting him violated his First Amendment rights.


There is more on the WMUR site if you want to read it all.

I don't necessarily agree with what this guy had to say but I"m damn glad the court system worked and defended his right to say it. A small battle but a win for our country and the beliefs it was founded on!

[Tired of Waiting]

Stand up for your rights!! Now maybe the BOS will act like they should and the police state in Alton will relax a bit.

http://www.wmur.com/news/charges-dis...-case/33488002


ToW

[HellRaZoR004]

I guess this isn't done yet.

http://www.wmur.com/news/aclu-sues-a...eting/34179060

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

I guess this isn't done yet.

http://www.wmur.com/news/aclu-sues-a...eting/34179060

Of course the ACLU is suing the town... it is what is wrong with this country, there has to be a lawsuit with everything.... The BOS did what they did, the court decided that it was in appropriate, the charges where dropped... And Life should move on....Instead there is now a law suit by the ACLU, and soon to be we another I am sure by Mr. Clay Personally...

Did the BOS act rather hastily... Yep probably... the court thinks so
Did the BOS learn their lesson about the abuse of power??? who knows time will tell.....
Does Mr. Clay have a reputation that may have inspired the BOS to act the way they did.... Yep Probably, I know my research should he has an interesting past
Who will pay for the monetary gain of the ACLU lawsuit... The tax payers...

There was a mistake... let it go and move on.... PEOPLE ARENT PERFECT... lawsuits will not fix society!!!!!

[kawishiwi]

There is a lot to be said for moving on but, a court has found that first amendment rights were violated by the government. Enforcing accountability for that is not trivial. I would feel a greater injustice if nothing were done about it. Rock on ACLU!

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by kawishiwi

There is a lot to be said for moving on but, a court has found that first amendment rights were violated by the government. Enforcing accountability for that is not trivial. I would feel a greater injustice if nothing were done about it. Rock on ACLU!

Something was done about it. Clay is a semi-professional muckraker.

As noted, the taxpayers are "the government" who pays.

[kawishiwi]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

Something was done about it. Clay is a semi-professional muckraker.

As noted, the taxpayers are "the government" who pays.

Saving a few dollars per taxpayer are more important than the govt using police power to silence a citizens constitutional rights under the 1st amendment? Really? REALLY?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by kawishiwi

Saving a few dollars per taxpayer are more important than the govt using police power to silence a citizens constitutional rights under the 1st amendment? Really? REALLY?

I prefer to see our local town's limited dollars spent on educating students, repairing roads and policing the streets rather than paying the costs of defense and potential payout of a lawsuit. If that makes my priorities "weird" so be it!

[smith point boater]

Agree 110% with Vitabene. A mistake was made, challenged, judicated and resolved. We don't need the town (and ultimately the tax payers) wasting money on legal fees when there are other more important issues in the town.
Get over it and move on

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

I prefer to see our local town's limited dollars spent on educating students, repairing roads and policing the streets rather than paying the costs of defense and potential payout of a lawsuit. If that makes my priorities "weird" so be it!

I agree with you. I would not want my tax dollars used to defend a stupid lawsuit. That is why I want my towns elected officials to respect the rights of it's citizens, and not get the town in situations like this.

I can agree that there is to much litigation in our society. However if I am ever arrested in similar circumstances, and the judge later says I was being censored, I will file a lawsuit - guaranteed!

Perhaps the people posting that he should "just move on" have never been arrested, cuffed and booked when what they were doing was perfectly legal.

[Mr. V]

One can only hope the lawsuit will act to deter others from discharging their public duties in a ham-fisted, tyrannical manner.

I suspect the end-cost of litigation will be borne by the insurance carrier (assuming this is a covered risk) as opposed to the tax payers, but no doubt future insurance premiums will increase.

[Pineedles]

I used to believe that if there was no malice and no gross neglect, suing is not who I am. However, several years ago I fell on some ice at my sportsman's club that had not been cleared the day before and was now covered with a fine coat of snow. Ended up rupturing my quads. Insurance paid for the operation, short term disability paid my salary, and all I was out was the co-pay for rehab. I didn't sue even though it was negligent to not have removed the ice, particularly since the surface was directly behind the pistol ports and was on an incline. If I sued, I would only be "taxing" my own club and club members.

The next year I observed the same situation with ice not being removed. The officers of the club didn't learn their lesson. If I had sued, perhaps they would have. Who knows?