The apparent mess at the Bristol/South Bristol Transfer Station, which we report in this issue, is a particularly unusual situation, because, generally speaking, things run pretty smoothly in those two towns.
In recent years, Bristol has benefited from town administrator Kristine Poland’s steady hand, and the South Bristol Board of Selectmen has been the model of consistency for longer than Bristol has even had an administrator.
Given their track records, we are confident that whatever the issues involved, the two boards of selectmen, acting collectively as the Transfer Station’s Board of Directors, will soon set them right.
However, the board’s combined failure to publicly announce an official meeting Dec. 12 is particularly ripe for criticism because they collectively know better than to convene an obviously illegal meeting.
Given the combined experience on both boards of selectmen – Chester Rice, Ken Lincoln and Chris Plummer in South Bristol; and Chad Hanna, Bill Benner and Paul Yates in Bristol; veteran public servants all – to say someone simply forgot to notify the media, as required by law, simply doesn’t pass the straight-face test.
We’ll point out the issue is not that we, “the media,” weren’t consulted before they held their meeting. The issue is you, the taxpayers of Bristol and South Bristol, weren’t consulted. The public notice requirement is in place specifically to require public officials to do the public’s business, your business, in public.
Their duty is to let you know they are doing your business.
It’s your duty, and ours, to show up.
