Keeping the Covenant: Public Comment Comes First

It took almost no time for the first Republican majority in 16 years to begin delivering on their Covenant with Manchester Taxpayers.  Within the first few minutes of the first meeting of the Manchester Board of Directors since the Republicans took the majority, the Manchester Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve a provision moving public comment sessions to the beginning of every meeting.

During the course of the 2007 campaign, the Republican team campaigned on their “Covenant with Manchester Taxpayers”, an agenda for progress in Manchester based on three principles - accountability, fiscal responsibility, and quality of life.  With each principle, the Republicans added specific items for action by the Board of Directors.  Since the beginning of September, the Republicans campaigned on these principles.  The principle ‘Accountability’ called for a town referendum on budgets that include a property tax increase above 3%, support for direct election of a mayor, and a change to the rules of procedure to allow public comment at the beginning of every meeting.  Now Director Jeff Beckman was quoted back on September 12 thus: “I believe we need to treat all of Manchester’s citizens fairly,” candidate Jeff Beckman said. “And that means listening to them at the beginning of every meeting and not making people wait until 11 p.m. or later to talk about the issues that matter to them.”” 

Tonight, Director Beckman, along with his fellow Directors, voted unanimously to make that key change.