Of Teachers and Theater
January 23, 2007 on 10:16 pm | In Local, Main |A quick news flash: Tonight in Falls Village, both the teachers’ contract and the easement for the Falls Village Children’s Theater Company passed by unanimous or near-unanimous voice votes at a town meeting that lasted barely 20 minutes.
There were no calls for paper ballots and not much of a discussion about the theater company’s need for an easement on town-owned land to build a septic system for the 100-year-old R&D Emerson building.
There was grumbling in some quarters after the meeting that it was rigged to shut down debate and get the deal through. But I didn’t hear much grumbling during the meeting.
There will be a full story in Thursdays’s Lakeville Journal. Oh, and the new contract for teachers at Lee Kellogg School passed unanimously and with no discussion. Not much controversy there.
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Case closed.
The people of Falls Village had plenty of information and have made their choice at a democratic town meeting.
For those who did not show to make their voices heard, you have nothing to complain about.
Good luck to the town of Falls Village and to whatever group is buying this building.
Comment by Michael Flint — January 24, 2007 #
The title of my news story this morning on the meeting…..
“Much Ado About Nothing!!!”
Congrats to the Theatre Company!!!!
Comment by Marshall Miles — January 24, 2007 #
You guys need to get a better handle of what is going on in Falls village. Don’t stick your heads back in the sand with everyone else.
Political manipulating and posturing!
Why was Cyril Wismar allowed his “it’s for the children” comments when Lisa Fallon was shut down short of finishing her question? Her’s pertained to the easement; Wismar’s did not, yet we were clearly told only questions pertaining to the easement would be allowed.
Huh?!
Most telling were the comments and grumblings in the hall. One long time resident expressed her disbelief in the underhandedness of the whole thing.
“This was my first town meeting, and my last!” she said.
Wrong response!
Where have you been all these years and why are you going to allow a situation where oversight is clearly needed to continue?
I am also sick to death of this issue, but Mike and Marshall, it is seriously disappointing how you quickly you closed the book on this.
Many of us have asked numerous questions of everyone connected and in many ways - still no answers. No public hearing. No opportunity to publicly explore the issue, despite a town meeting.
Only the people who engineered this travesty are satisfied.
Comment by Karen — January 27, 2007 #
Karen, I wasn’t there, but I suspect that one reason that Bishop Wismar might have been allowed his commentary could have been based on his personal stature and accomplishments.
I do not know if you know the man, but I had the opportunity to get to talk to him several times, and to learn a bit about his bio, when he was acting as our interim clergy at Trinity Lime Rock after the Rev. Beth Long left and before the Rev. Dr. Rob Clements arrived.
Bishop Wismar’s accomplishments in getting major religious to not just talk to each other but even (in one case) to share Communion have been extraordinary. His life has been one of continuing learning, teaching and serving. I had the pleasure this summer of repeatedly leading the Trinity soccer kids into church while he was Celebrating Mass there, and you can see photos of him with his “Trinity Lime Rock Summer Soccer 2006″ tee-shirt on on the Trinity website.
I don’t know your religious preferences, but if you cannot cut this man some slack on the basis of his age, you might consider doing so on the basis of his accomplishments.
He’s definitely a man worth listening to. I don’t happen to know the person who was “cut off” but it would seem pretty remarkable to me if Falls Village had two residents of Bishop Wismar’s accomplishments, both interested in this issue, and on opposite sides of the matter.
Sincerely,
Geoff Brown
Comment by Geoff Brown — January 27, 2007 #
Geoff, why should one man, who has no children of age to participate in this theatre group be allowed to speak, when a woman with two children, both of age to participate, is shut down prematurely?
Fine, Bishop Wismar may have the credentials, but he really had no business commenting. He was not preaching from his pulpit. Like Karen said, the questions were to be only about the easement, which Mrs. Fallon’s question was about and Bishop Wismar’s was not.
Comment by Amy — January 27, 2007 #
To Those Concerned:
Let me introduce myself, I am Lisa A. Fallon. No, I haven’t saved the world or anything (yet!) I have achieved some wonderful accomplishments in my life of only (42 years). One of them giving birth to two wonderful children, and marrying the greatest supporter in my life, my wonderful husband Jim.
I have lived in Falls Village all my life, born & raised here, and I chose to buy a house here and raise my children in this town as well.
I don’t know too much about politics or the legal mumbo jumbo that is involved in town meetings, but I do know this:
Falls Village is a nice small town, one of the smallest in the State, and I always believed that in small numbers, come great accomplishments. So I was one of those small numbers trying to speak and maybe make a difference! (Maybe make one of those great accomplishments in my life) and was told to be quiet. I thought the people we elected to help run our town government were supposed to serve us, to hear us, to support us, to help us!
I deserve to speak, to be heard, it is my “GOD” Given American Constitutional Right. (See I do know a little about politics!) So what if the only thing on the agenda was to make two votes, and we could all be on our way! Doesn’t a town meeting mean just that - a meeting, to converse, to share ideas, to ask questions? I guess I was mistaken, I grew up in a town I believed in, now that I’m grown, it is awful hard to share that belief with my children!
Comment by Lisa Fallon — January 28, 2007 #
A precedent has been established. In legal and political circles, precedent equals mandate. Keep that in mind in the future.
First, Vance Cannon, was also allowed to comment about the sale, but not relating to the question under discussion.
Regarding Bishop Wismar, what does the lack of churches in Falls village have to do with the easement? Bishop Wismar was allowed to speak by Craig Toensing, the Parlimentarian. It appeared Mr. Wismar was about to be shut down, like Lisa, when Craig said something to change the mind of the Moderator.
After the meeting I spoke with Vance Cannon. There is NO BUSINESS PLAN. The FVCT has NO IDEA how much the renovations will cost. Vance quite blithely said it could be $500,000. When I asked how they expected to pay for this, I was told “Grants.” So, the number in question is now approaching perhaps $650,000 or more.
I asked Pat Mechare if the FVCT would have to have their books audited by the town, since they took town money. Pat said, “No, they are a private non-profit group..” The town gave the money to the FVCT. PRECEDENT has been set. As long as the future amount is less than $10,000, according to CT Statute, there is no need for a town meeting. The Board of Selectmen can vote, at their regular meetings to give money to FVCT, without a town meeting.
This is what I am angry about. This is a kitchen table deal, cut by the Board of Selectmen and FVCT. Why? I do not know, nor do I care. I do know that perhaps it is time for the eye of television to shine on the Board of Selectmen meetings, then be broadcast on CATV 6. If 2 or 3 people join me, we can do this.
Comment by Paul Bartomioli — January 29, 2007 #
Yes, CATV 6 will cover Falls Village Board of Selectmen Meetings…
Phylis Bernard covers Norfolk
Brian Bartram covers Salisbury
Both volunteer their time….
YOU CAN TOOO!!!
Not only Falls Village, how about North Canaan, and Sharon?
Any volunteers?
Contact me at CATV 6 860-824-4200 and I
will help set this up. THIS IS WHAT LOCAL ACCESS TELEVISION IS ALL ABOUT.
Marshall
Comment by Marshall Miles — January 29, 2007 #
BTW, I cover the FV BOS and don’t recall this matter being discussed prior to the December BOS meeting, which I reported at the time.
It’s also been my experience in town governments in the NWC that P&Z meetings are often more interesting and revealing than BOS meetings. But hey, the cameras can only be in so many places in a month.
Comment by Terry — January 29, 2007 #
Terry, the meetings in one town are almost never on the same day and same time. So, the cameras can be in so many places.
Maybe it is time to televise how our local government really runs, and perhaps more people will get involved because of it.
Comment by Amy — January 29, 2007 #
Amy,
Does that mean you’re volunteering to man the camera for the North Canaan or FV BOS? I’m sure Marshall would be happy to show you how the machine works!
Comment by Terry — January 29, 2007 #
Wow! First I’ve heard that the right to speak at a public meeting goes to the person with the most impressive credentials.
Geoff, I can only say I hope your comment was tongue-in-cheek. If not … You have sent quite a few jaws dropping to the floor.
And Lisa, thanks for trying…
Comment by Karen — January 29, 2007 #
It appears to me that the same group of people have been running Falls Village for years.
When do the people in Falls Village intend to make changes in their Town Hall so that they don’t have to keep putting up with these political theatrical presentations, otherwise known as Town Meetings?
2007 is a local election year and there is no time like the present to get the ball rolling.
Comment by Michael Flint — January 29, 2007 #