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Did the minutes for the last meeting which were approved without discussion or amendment include the now infamous, "I kill you!" quote?
from: Wondering	on: 04-27-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The Proposition 2 and 1/2 Overrides were voted on by the Selectmen as their previous meeting. They are the only ones that can place an override on the ballot by voting to do so. See: http://www.mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/publ/misc/prop2.pdf Once an override issue is on the ballot, it is ILLEGAL for a local official (read Selectman) to use public resources such as facilities (where the meeting was held) to promote or oppose the question. The law was clearly broken last night at the Selectmen's meeting. Speaking favorably of the overrides last evening in the Selectmen's Room in the Town Hall was ILLEGAL! No one cares? read pages 7 and 8 of the printed guide. Editor: The guide specifically refers to conduct, not speech, but does note: "Thus, while local officials can take a position on an override or exclusion question and speak in favor of or in opposition to it, they cannot spend public funds or use public resources, such as personnel, supplies and facilities, to promote or oppose the question." Are you saying re-iterating a previously stated position at a duly held Selectmen's meeting would be considered "spending" public resources?
from: Ethics 101	on: 04-27-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

i have a way too save the tax payers of williamstown,,let start with D.P.W.and CEMENTARY workers,,i see D.P.W. worker over in pownal at stewarts,and winchesters dont you think thats costing the town a lot of fuel,,i know there do a break,,but too go to pownal,vt. for a pack of cigarettes,(little blue truck)or riding around or sitting in a truck on a raining day,the cementary worker start at 730am to 4pm i see them down in the old part at taking a break till they go home,,,,,and what about these guy taking town trucks home,,to north adams,and cheshire that a lot of wear and tear and fuel
from: sam	on: 04-27-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

We are talking about the ballot or election which precedes Town meeting. Once it is on the ballot - vote is made to put it on the ballot, all these ethics rules kick in. A Selectmen cannot use Town Hall as a staging ground and bully pulpit to promote a yes or no vote on the ballot issue. The chair even promised to do this again next week! iBerkshires: why not call the State offices and get their opinion? 1-617-727-8352 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingÃ‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚ Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â 1-617-727-8352Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Ã‚Â end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Could be a good story! 1-617-727-2828. Editor: Why didn't you call? OK, I did. Preliminary call to DOR, Division of Local Services says no violation - unless they're sending home fliers with kids. The Selectmen have the right to an opinion and to discuss whatever they want at their meetings. That's it so far. Second call to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance also says no violation. The Selectmen can state their opinion at their own meetings; the public can also state their opinions at the Selectmen's during citizen comments. So equal access is allowed. If officials use resources such as computers and copiers, that's a no-no. But anyone can stand on town property with a sign for anything.
from: Ethics 101	on: 04-27-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Thanks for making the calls. I called yesterday, but no answer. I had always believed one could not use Town property to promote one's beliefs. Unless there was some misunderstanding at the state level, I stand corrected. Editor: You absolutely can use town property to state your beliefs - although government entities may impose certain restrictions. People hold protests and vigils all the time in public spaces like Field Park and Park Square.
from: Ethics 101	on: 04-28-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Williamstown Board Hears Concerns About 'Hometown Heroes' Banners

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Wednesday, September 16, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Kurt Durocher told the Williamstown Select Board that he had received nothing but positive feedback from the North County communities where he proposed participation in the Hometown Heroes banner program.

Then Williamstown residents started to weigh in.

Durocher was before the board Monday evening to seek its blessing to put banners recognizing living and deceased military veterans on utility poles in Williamstown, an initiative that has been embraced in all but one of the other municipalities in the district where he serves as Veterans' Service Officer.

"The only negative I've had right now, and it's not really negative, [the Town of ] Florida doesn't want banners to go on Route 2, the Mohawk Trail, for safety reasons, understandably," Durocher said. "So we're trying to figure out an alternate way to make that work in Florida."

By and large, though, the reception to the program has been encouraging, Durocher said.

"I'll use Adams as an example," he said. "They've had a program for many, many years, but it's only for [military personnel] killed in action. Now that I've been allowed to take over that program … there's been a huge outpouring of support, because now we get living veterans on the poles as well.

"The only negative I've had is certain people want their banners in certain locations. So what we did in North Adams is we just did a random draw. I can't please everybody. I've got people who want a banner in a certain location, but three other people want that same location.It was a straight random draw for them."

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