The Select Board Walks Out of Its Own Meeting

Another chaotic Select Board meeting ended several minutes after it started, when Pat Mercer and George White hastily adjourned and walked out of the room. You can hear a recording of it here.

The meeting got out of control almost as soon as it began, when Sandi Pierson tried to object to minutes from the previous meeting. She said the minutes inaccurately blamed her for the failure of the Board to provide files of minutes, including to this website. "There is no discussion tonight," Pat said. 

Sandi pointed out that the no-discussion rule was the next agenda item, which the Board hadn't voted on yet (I've copied the agenda item exactly as written):

Motion to revise Select board rules of procedure. Rule #1 to state that RSA #91-A states the right to attend a selectman's meeting, but not to speak. Due to the abhorrent and disrespectful conduct of a faction of the Town, there will be NO ; comments ,questions or discussions during the meeting. Written submissions, left in the outside box or emailed, or by postal mail, will be read and addressed, as the board decides, at subsequent meetings. It is unfortunate, but when such conduct escalates to the point of a threat of bodily harm, it becomes necessary to control the problem. This is a business meeting and not a free-for-all.

Pat referred to a photocopy attached to the agenda. The photocopy did not contain the actual law; the text apparently comes from a handbook provided by the state to town officials. Voices were raised, and Pat and George walked out. 

"I've never seen this in the 42 years I've lived in town," Bob Proulx said.

I (Jay) recorded the session. 

Update on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 11:34AM by OrangeNH

I (Jay) asked Pat Mercer several questions about last night's meeting:

What was the "threat of bodily harm" referred to in the agenda?  She replied, "There is no comment, at this time."

Was the Board planning to hold a makeup meeting before the next scheduled one? "Meeting to be announced."

And I asked her once again to provide electronic minutes of the last three meetings. "Decisions being made about service of sending minutes."