Brookfield selectmen limit public speaking time

By Taryn Plumb
Turley Publications Reporter

BROOKFIELD – Selectmen have temporarily implemented a process that will allow residents to speak only during designated periods at the board’s bi-weekly meetings.
“This is a meeting of the board of selectmen,” said Selectman Rudy Heller last week, who proposed the measure two weeks ago. “By allowing others to speak, we are, in essence, making them selectmen.”
Under the new process, the meeting would incorporate “public access” periods at the start of business and again before adjournment. These would be the only times audience members could participate, unless they appear on the agenda or are asked to speak by the board. Those who raise their hands without being asked would be allowed to speak only if the board takes a vote in favor. Comments in either case would be limited to three minutes.
Heller and Selectman Chairman James Allen voted in favor of the change; Ronald Dackson voted against. With the board’s vote, the new process will be in effect through the end of the fiscal year – July 1.
Dackson said he objected to the three-minute time period and the “limitations” put on residents.
“You might lock individuals from speaking entirely,” he said.
“We are the selectmen,” Allen disagreed. “It behooves us to decide who speaks and who doesn’t.”
He added that he isn’t comfortable making decisions when people are “in the mix” with their own agenda.
“There are people among us who are more interested in their own agenda than ours,” he said.
In other news:
– Selectmen put off a discussion about a controversial sign on Route 9 operated by John David Holdcraft. Two weeks ago, the board began an investigation of the permitting process – as well as the town’s legal options – for the large yellow billboard, which is located across from the elementary school and broadcasts Holdcraft’s thoughts about the town and its government. Selectmen also plan to study the sign’s content and explore options for mitigating it, such as speaking with town counsel and even possibly striking an agreement with Holdcraft. Heller suggested the board create a timeline and itemize all issues brought up through research. “At this point I don’t think we’re ready to address it because the amount of information we’re gathering is significant,” he said. The board plans to discuss the issue at its next meeting Tuesday, March 24.
– Selectmen authorized Bill Scanlon, formerly of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, to look into a Brownsfield grant for the former mill site on Mill Street. Scanlon explained that the site has undergone testing and analysis, and it is not heavily contaminated. Brownsfield grants require 20 percent matches from the town, whatever the amount. Scanlon said the town could probably do about half of that match in in-kind contributions, or physical labor completed by the highway department. Scanlon would charge the town $2,000 to do the grant application. Selectmen are still determining uses for the site. “How much it’s cleaned up is related to what we do with it,” Allen said. “If people have suggestions, they might as well bring them up to us.”
– Cliff Fontaine has been temporarily appointed to the Planning Board. Because he will be filling a seat vacated mid-term by Kermit Eaton, his appointment required approval of both the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. Fontaine will serve until May; then he will be on the town ballot to fill out Eaton’s term until 2012.