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August 12. 2012 7:20PM
Moultonborough leaders, with public’s help, will define political use of town buildings
MOULTONBOROUGH — The town’s department heads are planning meetings to establish a policy for the political use of town property, such as meeting rooms at the public library, public safety building and town hall.
Town leaders, with public input, will work on defining “political campaigning” relative to the use of town space, create a policy for use of the public safety building training room, and to review policies for the Ernest Davis Meeting Room at the town hall on Holland Street.
Town Administrator Carter Terenzini said that some years back the Board of Selectmen voted to disallow political campaigning on town property, but never defined the term.
“We’ll try to come up with something that is defined and written; we expect it to take several meetings,” said Terenzini on Wednesday.
Similar questions arose recently at the Moultonborough Public Library.
“The library has the community room available for many things, and a set of rules for use,” he said.
The rules prohibit utilizing the library space for political use.
Police Chief Leonard Wetherbee said the public safety training room is used by various groups, including nonprofits, a quilting club, and by the state for boating safety courses.
Department heads, including those from the library and Police Department, will attend the Aug. 16 meeting to provide an overview of their space use policies to date.
While staff meetings are usually not publicized, Terenzini said the meetings will be open to the public given the subject matter. Public comment will be accepted at appropriate periods as the department officials proceed with their work at the session. Tentative follow-up meeting dates include Aug. 28 for draft review; Sept. 11 to agree to the second draft and send to town counsel; and Sept. 25 to review town counsel’s comments, adjust the draft, and transmit to the selectmen and library trustees.
Questions such as what constitutes ‘political campaigning’ will be discussed.
WHAT’S NEXT: Town department heads hold public meetings to create a policy for political use of public spaces. Meeting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 16 at town hall.
lmulkern@newstote.com
Town leaders, with public input, will work on defining “political campaigning” relative to the use of town space, create a policy for use of the public safety building training room, and to review policies for the Ernest Davis Meeting Room at the town hall on Holland Street.
Town Administrator Carter Terenzini said that some years back the Board of Selectmen voted to disallow political campaigning on town property, but never defined the term.
“We’ll try to come up with something that is defined and written; we expect it to take several meetings,” said Terenzini on Wednesday.
Similar questions arose recently at the Moultonborough Public Library.
“The library has the community room available for many things, and a set of rules for use,” he said.
The rules prohibit utilizing the library space for political use.
Police Chief Leonard Wetherbee said the public safety training room is used by various groups, including nonprofits, a quilting club, and by the state for boating safety courses.
Department heads, including those from the library and Police Department, will attend the Aug. 16 meeting to provide an overview of their space use policies to date.
While staff meetings are usually not publicized, Terenzini said the meetings will be open to the public given the subject matter. Public comment will be accepted at appropriate periods as the department officials proceed with their work at the session. Tentative follow-up meeting dates include Aug. 28 for draft review; Sept. 11 to agree to the second draft and send to town counsel; and Sept. 25 to review town counsel’s comments, adjust the draft, and transmit to the selectmen and library trustees.
Questions such as what constitutes ‘political campaigning’ will be discussed.
WHAT’S NEXT: Town department heads hold public meetings to create a policy for political use of public spaces. Meeting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 16 at town hall.
lmulkern@newstote.com
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