Former charter commission member Ray Clark didn't learn much
On August 25, Ray Clark wrote an article entitled, "Council hurries to amend Charter on budget voting"
1. This is a false headline. The council cannot amend the charter. Only the people can, at the polls. See earlier post on why Ray Clark is lying here.
2. Ray Clark wrote: The proposal arose several months ago, at the suggestion of then-councilor John Welch. During his last few months in office, he repeatedly asked the Council to discuss it, but other members refused."
This also is a lie.
The issue arose specifically on January 23, 2006 as a workshop agenda item. Councilor Welch proposed it and his fellow councilors suggested that he put together language and bring it back to a subsequent workshop or meeting to discuss. It was Welch who took his time bringing back language, and the issue was discussed on March 7, 2006, as per Welch's request.
Meanwhile, the Manager quit, leaving the council to cope with a top vacancy, constructing a budget without that top leadership, and in the political realms, a recall effort of one of their own. The council told Welch they would bring the charter amendment issue up in a timely manner, but since the issue could not be resolved until the November elections, they triaged other more pressing issues that had earlier hard deadlines, like producing a budget by April and preparing warrants for June elections. The charter amendment issue was promised to Welch as one that would be dealt with. The promise made by the Chair is on video.
The issue was on agendas and discussed since then, when on May 9 it was placed on the Council's 'Bring-Up List" a list designed to bring attention to issues the council wants to deal with. The charter amendment issue was also on agendas including May 15, June 6, July 11, July 24, August 15, and Posted as a public notice on the Town's Home Page on August 23. The Gray News also published that the Council would discuss it at their August 7, 2006 workshop:
"Discuss Charter Amendment for budget referendum vote
Review August 15 Council agenda, August 21 workshop agenda
Other"
The council purposely made the charter amendment issue the only issue to be discussed for the entire evening, and they discussed it for over 3 hours. This meeting was open to the public and anyone could have participated...and several people did. Mr. Clark knows this. So when he writes "That doesn't leave much time for public input on the issue", he is not correct. The town did its diligence in posting notices and agendas for the last 8 months about the issue.
Mr. Clark's entire article can be refuted as lies by the facts that are contained on video and on the town's minutes, agendas, and in his own paper.
1. This is a false headline. The council cannot amend the charter. Only the people can, at the polls. See earlier post on why Ray Clark is lying here.
2. Ray Clark wrote: The proposal arose several months ago, at the suggestion of then-councilor John Welch. During his last few months in office, he repeatedly asked the Council to discuss it, but other members refused."
This also is a lie.
The issue arose specifically on January 23, 2006 as a workshop agenda item. Councilor Welch proposed it and his fellow councilors suggested that he put together language and bring it back to a subsequent workshop or meeting to discuss. It was Welch who took his time bringing back language, and the issue was discussed on March 7, 2006, as per Welch's request.
Meanwhile, the Manager quit, leaving the council to cope with a top vacancy, constructing a budget without that top leadership, and in the political realms, a recall effort of one of their own. The council told Welch they would bring the charter amendment issue up in a timely manner, but since the issue could not be resolved until the November elections, they triaged other more pressing issues that had earlier hard deadlines, like producing a budget by April and preparing warrants for June elections. The charter amendment issue was promised to Welch as one that would be dealt with. The promise made by the Chair is on video.
The issue was on agendas and discussed since then, when on May 9 it was placed on the Council's 'Bring-Up List" a list designed to bring attention to issues the council wants to deal with. The charter amendment issue was also on agendas including May 15, June 6, July 11, July 24, August 15, and Posted as a public notice on the Town's Home Page on August 23. The Gray News also published that the Council would discuss it at their August 7, 2006 workshop:
"Discuss Charter Amendment for budget referendum vote
Review August 15 Council agenda, August 21 workshop agenda
Other"
The council purposely made the charter amendment issue the only issue to be discussed for the entire evening, and they discussed it for over 3 hours. This meeting was open to the public and anyone could have participated...and several people did. Mr. Clark knows this. So when he writes "That doesn't leave much time for public input on the issue", he is not correct. The town did its diligence in posting notices and agendas for the last 8 months about the issue.
Mr. Clark's entire article can be refuted as lies by the facts that are contained on video and on the town's minutes, agendas, and in his own paper.
posted by Gray Maine at
10:18 AM
12 Comments:
He "can't handle the truth" so he tells his version which after he says it seems to take it as fact...regardless of the truth.
By
Anonymous, at 12:42 PM
Every Gray News board director during Clark's tenure will be held accountable.
By
Anonymous, at 6:20 PM
Is Clark a) lazy, b) ignorant of these facts, or c) pushing an agenda?
By
Anonymous, at 2:32 AM
My opinion is two out of three. Lazy, yes. He rarely goes to a meeting himself, he rarely goes out into the community and covers things, and displays zero creativity in the newspaper. Do you ever see an originally written feature by Clark? No. But he'll happily sign his name to things, like the 75 word blurb Nathan wrote, on page 2 of the Sept 1 issue, and Clark attached his name to. 75 words. Gimme a break.
Example of lazy: the bus schedules. Did you notice the blurb on page 7 of the 9-1-06 issue? "Why no bus schedules"? Clark wrote: "SAD 15 'did not provide' a schedule in time for publication this week." Lazy! And then blaming the SAD! The Monument published the schedules two weeks ago, because they asked a zillion times I bet. Clark waited for it to be 'provided' while sitting on his butt, and guess what? SAD 15 did not know they were supposed to hand deliver Clark's news to him... and so he missed out.
Ignorant of the facts? No. He is extremely clever and knows exzactly where facts end and innuendo begins. He knows exactly where the line is, that is why he can manipulate it so well.
Agenda? YES. He always has an agenda. It's 1. self (ego), 2. Gray News is the only paper in the world, and 3) power/voice/influence. And in recent history, trying to recapture it.
By
Gray Maine, at 4:37 AM
His circle of friends has become smaller and tighter. That group is imploding.
By
Anonymous, at 9:08 AM
Lynn Olson is his new buddy...gives a whole new image for a 'finger' pupet...
By
Anonymous, at 3:35 PM
LOL.
It certainly doesn't help the town heal when he does that.
I wish the people at the microphone had a time limit. They are supposed to be sharing an opinion, not berating and demanding instant answers. Give them a couple of minutes to make their point. Then give someone else a chance. Let them get to the end of the line and wait for their next two minutes.
It would be doing a service to Mr. Welch, who takes forever to make a point if he can ramble around to it.
Citizen comment - not citizen harrassment.
Councilors are available for meetings with people, you can send correspondence, you can write letters to the editor.
There are many avenues available to make your voice heard.
One succinct point would be better than miles of typing. See don't you wish I would just make my point and quit bothering everybody with this endless repeating of a theme?
By
Anonymous, at 8:22 PM
One blogger posted something like "since I don't know Judy Huff there's no way she'd know my name"
It got me thinking. The Gray News makes a lot of assumptions. Clark thinks that we all know Judy Huff. Not so. He assumes we want to know Judy HUff. Not so. My social calendar is full dahling.
He ASSUMES that everyone has a personal feeling about the councilors: not so. Issues yes, personalities, no.
He ASSUMES that everyone knows who he is. Not so.
He ASSUMES he's lived here long enough to be an insider. Not so. He ASSUMES that there are still insiders. Not so. They're passing on to a better place.
He assumes that everyone longs for the "good old days". Not so. Bring on the ipods granddaddy.
He assumes that Gray used to be a lot better. I doubt farming and canning corn and chopping wood for a living was better.
He assumes that we want to hear broad generalizations that don't impart any factual information. No thanks, I don't have time.
By
Anonymous, at 8:39 PM
Excellent, I agree completely.
By
Gray Maine, at 10:06 PM
Alex says .....
This weekly publication is a farce, a fraud and a fiasco.
contestant answers ... what is the Gray News?
By
Anonymous, at 12:47 AM
A 'Factless' attempt at journalism! Ray Clark's reasoning appears to be "If You Don't Have any Facts...Blow Lots of Smoke"!!
By
Anonymous, at 1:00 PM
Seems like he got scorched! Ray Clark is Retiring!
By
Anonymous, at 12:37 PM
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