At Guilford Town Meeting someone referred to Mr. DeGray having commented on the Guilford Middle School issue “on the radio.” Since I wanted to speak on the school issue I decided not to rise and ask the person for more info, because that would have counted as my “turn” to speak. But I was wondering if anyone can tell me about that radio program (WTSA or WKVT I presume?)
Do the stations have an archive of programs? I’d like to review whatever comments Brattleboro’s Selectboard Chair made on that occasion. I would guess it was an elaboration on his amenndment to the BUHS budget that passed at the district annual meeing on Feb. 12.
Request for information does not preempt your right to speak
Robert’s rules protects your right to request information. Such a request should not be counted as your having had your chance to speak to the issue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request_for_information_%28parliamentary_procedure%29
Don’t kick yourself for not having known this, but next time prepare in advance by reviewing the rules, and by finding out who is the parliamentarian at the Guilford meeting (perhaps that would be the town attorney).
It could happen that the chair would rule incorrectly, making the mistake that your request for information preempted your right to speak. The best way to prepare for that possibility would be to have discussed in advance with the moderator and the parliamentarian the proper way to appeal (to the parliamentarian) a ruling from the chair.
(Personally, I tend to get flustered at unfair procedure, but advance preparation — knowing the rules and understanding the proper way to appeal an improper action by the chair — is your best protection.)
Parliamentary
I’m sorry my query was misunderstood. This wasn’t about parliamentary procedure. I m quite familiar with that. And this wasn’t a procedural question, it was a question about content in a previous speaker’s comment. I had already spoken several times during the day at that point, & in fact Neil Quinn, a friend & longtime colleague, our Town Moderator, made amused reference when I spoke to the fact that I had had the floor several times already during the day. Guilford has no “parliamentarian” and our Town Agent (officially the town’s attorney) doesn’t tend to attend Town Mtg.
This was a very serious, historically important decision for Guilford that was being discussed, and I was known to be in opposition to the article, and had several items I wanted to cover when, as I did, I eventually spoke. So my head was full of that stuff & I wasn’t really thinking about the DeGray reference. It was really only later that I began to wonder about it, & I no longer remember which voter had referenced it to begin with.
What I’m REALLY trying to find out, & it seems it’s going to be tough to find out, as my posting is aging now without any responder giving this info, is what radio station that was, as I’d like to see if I can find a transcript of whatever the interview or comment was.
I’m thinking it may refer back to BUHS District No. 6 annual meeting on Feb 12, where Mr. DeGray made an interesting amendment to the budget article. I’ve had numerous conversations about that since, including with some on ibrattleboro. I’m still puzzling over it yes a month later, and was wondering if there might be new or amplified info available.
When the chair of another town’s Selectboard makes public comment about school business in my town, naturally I think the exact commentary should be available to our townspeople.
It may be that the opportunity has been lost. I lost on the issue itself at Guilford meeting, so probably should move off the topic.
First Person
Hey Don, why not call Dick and ask what he said? I bet he’d be fine with that, and if he doesn’t remember exactly at the very least could tell you what program it was on and when.
Dick
Hmm, hadn’t thought of anything that obvious. Have never actually met this person.
Straight from the horses mouth!
I encourage you to call him. I have called Dick a couple of times, when I felt the need! He has always been open and forthcoming. You will probably find out a lot more than was said on the radio. Tim