NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Board chairman gets a grilling over employee bbq plans

Comment Print
Related Articles

LEBANON - Selectmen on Tuesday went over the menu for their upcoming town employee appreciation barbecue later this summer.

The settled on the usual favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad.

But it was what they excluded from the celebration, namely town volunteers, that irked resident and longtime budget committee member Bettie Harris-Howard, who chastised the board, and in particular, Selectmen Chair Chip Harlow for not being "inclusive" in their invites.

Selectmen Chair Chip Harlow

In a full 10-minute exchange that often grew testy, Harris-Howard pointed to vacancies on several town boards like the budget committee, appeals board and comprehensive plan and asked how selectmen expected to recruit new members when they don't even treat them like they're part of the town.

"You're being exclusive," she said.

"We're pocketing this out of our own money," Harlow said, noting that he and the other two selectboard members are footing the bill.

"But did you invite them (volunteer board members)," questioned Harris-Howard. "Did you ever think of asking anybody from a board if they wanted to chip in? You didn't even call them. You excluded them.

"Did you (tell them) this is what I'm gonna do? How it's gonna go? What do you think?"

"No, I didn't" Harlow said.

Harris-Howard alluded to others in town who had come to her angered by the board's decision to exclude town volunteers, who spend hours and hours without pay to the betterment of the town.

At the end of the discussion, the board informally agreed to continue plans for the barbecue as already discussed.

Read more from:
Top Stories
Tags:
None
Share:
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: