The following letter to the editor was submitted by Andover resident Steve Walther (photo). The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Andover News. You can learn more about our policy on opinion and commentary on our Mission and Policies page.
Imagine if people attending an Andover public meeting actually wanted to understand what was going on. Imagine that public records available to say, members of the Conservation Commission, were denied to the public? Welcome to how Town Government is run in Andover.
At the upcoming October 10 Conservation Commission meeting, Commissioners will review the recent submissions from the developer BSC to pave asphalt over the trail at Haggett’s Pond, our drinking water source. The public is welcome to attend, but they are not welcome to educate themselves on the issues. BSC’s submissions to the Town are public records, but are being withheld from the public for this meeting. Back at the January meeting (1/4/24) of the Conservation Commission, in response to concerns about informing the public, Chairman Donald Cooper stated:
“As a parenthetical comment, that means you’ll have 2 weeks to read it [Haggetts Pond Rail Trail materials] just like we and react to it before we have our next hearing. So a minimum of 2 weeks”.
It seems the Town didn’t mean it and is taking great pains to make sure the public stays ignorant for this meeting. Besides withholding public records, the next meeting was posted with less than the two weeks notice previously promised by Chairman Cooper. Why is that? Perhaps because it means a legal Public Records Request will be too late to make these records available for the meeting. Requests for these public records have been denied, and even in person visits: “can I look at the file?” result in stonewalling and people leaving empty-handed.
Why is it important for the public to be ignorant? Maybe because the Town is expected to ask the Commissioners for a lot of special favors, called ‘waivers’ because the paving isn’t legal unless you exempt yourself from the law. Yes, it is ‘legal’ for a Town Commission to exempt the Town from the law in some cases. That’s why an ignorant public is so important. If you can’t ask educated questions, maybe the ugly sausage will slide right through approval.
Massachusetts Open Meeting laws exist for a reason, as informed and involved citizens make accountability happen. Deliberately denying the public access to relevant public records is not in keeping with the Open Meeting law. Hold Andover Town Government accountable – please plan to attend the Oct. 10 meeting. Demand that essential public records be made available to the public and that the Commissioners defer any decision-making until after the public has the opportunity to educate themselves.
Steve Walther
Andover
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