Avoid even the appearance of a conflict
To the editor:
"Windowgate" should remind all of us of the importance of conflict of interest. The detail that seems to elude most people is "appearance." If something "appears" to be a conflict then officials need to stay away from it. "Windowgate" is the perfect example of what not to do. I'm not saying that anything wrong was done but it certainly raises questions.
In this case, three bids were taken from Taylor Library by David Milz, supposedly to have Brad Benson look at them so that the library could get a lower price. Common sense prevailed and everyone stepped back saying it was all a misunderstanding. Good enough.
The bid process is used to get the best price while giving competitors the opportunity to do business on a level playing field. It's not always easy to get bids for the same product and services while going through this process and cheapest is not always the best. Still, vendors should expect the bid process to be above-board, without any inside influence from town officials.
To make matters worse, Council Chairman Brad Benson did not follow Section 7.4 of the town charter. This section gives the authority to the Town Council to investigate officials or employees. Benson asked the town manager to conduct the investigation, bypassing the council. Councilors Kevin Coyle and Janet Fairbanks correctly questioned Benson's actions which fell on the deaf ears of the remaining councilors. The appearance here is that of a cover up.
The fallout of all of this is that the public becomes more skeptical about what goes on in town business. I don't think Dave Milz took the quotes out of that meeting to have Brad Benson get the best price and the bid, at least I really hope that isn't the case. But the appearance is that there was conflict of interest. Most of us involved in the bid process know that this type of action is inappropriate.
Where all of this goes is anyone's guess. But it's pretty obvious that the council needs to clean up its act (once again).
Tom Cardon
Derry
Cub Scouts were outstanding
To the editor:
I'd like to thank Cub Scout Pack 240 for the great car wash! It warmed my heart to see these young boys jump up and down at the sight of "another customer," and boy, they went right to work cleaning and hosing off my car, even drying it with a chamois. They all thanked me as I left, too. Kudos to their parents and leaders for the fine example they are setting.
Eunie Guyre
Derry
Legalized hemp could be financial windfall
To the editor:
Hemp shaped America, saved America, and once again the U.S. must decree "HEMP for America."
The U.S. arrests 750,000 people for marijuana annually. Prison costs are approximately $42,000 annually. If all those arrests results in prison, it costs us $31.5 billion! The country also loses $24 billion in gross domestic product because those arrested can no longer work (assuming an average income of $32,000 per year).
The Justice Department claims the marijuana industry is about $40 billion. If marijuana was legal, I assume the value would drop by 50 percent, but that would still be $20 billion dollars, which we could tax at 10 percent, resulting in $2 billion in tax revenue.
And with marijuana legal, the hemp industry would finally be allowed to flourish. In 1938, "Popular Mechanics" called hemp the "billion dollar plant." Using an inflation calculator, that industry would be worth $15 billion dollars in 2009; and the industry has grown!
Summed up, $31.5 billion in savings plus $24 billion in recouped GDP plus $2 billion in tax revenue plus the $15 billion hemp industry equals $72.5 billion!
Many of the best minds, athletes and artists have smoked marijuana. It has never limited one's ability. Our laws, on the other hand, have cost us dearly. For humanity, for economics, and for the environment, legalize marijuna and hemp.
Nick Arancio
Derry
Thanks to businesses
To the editor:
We would like to extend a big thanks to the following businesses:
Coffeeberries, Wrap Shak, All Star Pizza, Correia's Dunkin Donuts on Nashua Rd., New Beginnings Salon, T.J.'s Bagels, Salon Bogar, Oneil Cinema , Cocolaire Salon, Michelle's Salon and Nix Wix Candles.
Your generous donations helped to make our Staff Appreciation Week a big success!
The North School PTA
Derry
Come clean about small-town politics
To the editor:
The Londonderry Times newspaper continues its full-court press of claiming victim status in its battle with the town of Londonderry over its building on Litchfield Road. I am glad to see that there is indeed a lawsuit against the town. Now we will get an opportunity for all parties to answer questions under oath.
There is more here than just the enforcement of town building standards and the false claims of violation of state RSAs. Those are a smoke screen for the true story of shady small-town politics and Town Council members saying one thing in public and doing the opposite in private.
If I was an attorney these are the questions I would ask of each current and former town council member. Did you at any time have a conversation with the Pauls concerning their building on Litchfield Road? When, and what was discussed? The same set of questions also need to be asked concerning council members and conversations with the town manager and with any town employee.
These are questions many former council members do not want to answer, despite their public pronouncements asking for full investigations.
The town manager also needs to be placed under oath and asked a similar set of questions concerning his actions related to town employees, council members and questions specific to any town employees that may have been removed for "interfering." While we are at it, let's ask the same set of questions of town employees involved in the process.
The Pauls (owners of the Londonderry Times) themselves also need to "come clean" as to any discussions they may have had with council members concerning their property.
Will we discover that council members, despite doing what they thought was best, had violated the town charter? What will town employees say under oath concerning interference from the town manager or council members in their work efforts? And from the Pauls themselves, will we find out exactly what the dirty underworld of town politics, favoritism, and the good-old-boy network did for them?
Jim Loiselle
Londonderry
