Hollis Select Board Transparency Archive

Roger -

As you likely heard, I am opposed to your having a key to the Town Hall side of this building. The Select Board does not work here and access should be limited to the hours that employees are here and it is open for business. There is no logical or legal reason for an alternative.

More than two years ago the voters in Hollis approved the transition from a 3 person Select Board to the current 5-person with a Town Manager. That change brought many other changes - one of which is a significant change in the roles, duties and business of the Select Board.

For example - using you own words to me when Mary stepped down and Mike was voted in - "The Chair is only responsible for running the meetings and that is it."

You all very clearly take offense when I "compare" with surrounding Towns how they handle their business - including Town Hall access. Towns that have adopted the TM form of government do not have "Select Board Office" space, do not give access to anyone other than employees to the Town Hall, and insist that the statutory rules are followed closely. Your reply that "we are not every other Town" is inappropriate, incorrect and insulting.

Roger - you may not be aware of this, but, there is a meaningful group of residents who are sick of the shenanigans of the past and prepared to take some action if they don't stop. They have the body, influence and drive to do so. I believe such an action would be very damaging to the Town and the Select Board.

There are and were a few items that I handed to the Board upon my arrival. The completion of the Town Hall, well, and those details. The logic was and is that you-al started them - and may as well finish them.

Beyond that there are very specific rules of the road. The Board acts as a body - not individually. The Board interacts with the employees through the Town Manager. The Town Manager form of government separates the political policy-making from the daily administrative operations of the municipality. I am sending this individually in hopes that you will heed the advice. If you prefer, we can make this a public discussion and suffer the consequences.

I would appreciate the return of the key and an end to the disregard for law and proper order.

Regards,

Dick

Richard Morin

Town Manager

Town of Hollis, Maine