The Selects newsletter is an over-view of “selected topics. The Squirrel publishes others offerings, with an occasional report by Alice. Minutes from meetings of many boards are sometimes months before they are approved and posted….sometimes never before a vote and/or TM. Not every board or committee is recorded, and recordings can be hard to hear. Not all boards are committee meetings are available on Zoom.
It can be a full-time job trying to keep up. And, this last Spc. TM was announced after almost all decisions were made and only a matter of weeks prior to the meeting. Hearings were perfunctory. So, there was little to no information flow, except from proponents of the major article…and that marketing was a deluge and truly impressive! Other towns either have a highly funding news entity with paid staff - https://thebedfordcitizen.org/ Or a set highly committed volunteers. https://concordbridge.org/ Both regulary report on meetings and debates. These are free and non-profits that depend on contributions. Brookline has a Select, Paul Warren who publishes weekly updates. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/December-1---Weekly-Update-from-Paul-Warren-.html?soid=1131420648524&aid=is1iOGW6V5g December 1 - Weekly Update from Paul Warren myemail.constantcontact.com This is also free. Each of these provide extensive and regular information about goings on in these communities. Lincoln may be too small to host the first tow mentioned. And, the Brookline model, while extremely detained, would require extra work for any of the Lincoln Selects. > On Jun 29, 2025, at 11:56 AM, RAandBOB <[email protected]> wrote: > > I am looking forward to your suggestions on how to improve the information > flow. > > Currently the selectmen publish information in their newsletter, which is > mailed to every household and has links to the information on the town > website. The town boards have open meetings where these issues are discussed; > in most cases, the boards in question allow public input. If it’s a formal > public hearing, it must be open for public comment. The meetings are > available on zoom and in most cases people can watch a recording of these > meetings later. Our only newspaper, the Lincoln Squirrel, also publishes, > informational letters. That newspaper has a circulation of about 900 but of > course it doesn’t reach everyone. > > People can go to the town website, the agenda center, and ask to have > notification of every meeting of certain boards. For example, I get > notifications of the planning board meetings, and of the Water Commission > meetings. > > Rick, you are correct that it’s very hard to get information out to people. I > am serious about soliciting creative suggestions for improving the situation. > > Ruth Ann > (She, her, hers) > >> On Jun 29, 2025, at 10:39 AM, Rick Sale <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> Much of the acrimony, the back-and-forth, the presentation of information >> being heard for the first time for many, and the unexpected, are all a >> function of information or lack of information that some have and many don’t. >> >> This theme plays out at every meeting. >> How many times have we heard the phrase, ‘I didn’t know that?’ >> >> What is required across the board is transparency and availability of >> information. That is the key term; availability of information. >> >> ‘So much for a diverse, equitable and inclusive community” >> >> …. That phrase, seemingly used for everything these days, is only >> achievable provided there is digestible information.. >> >> Want to change something? That’s where one starts. >> >> Rick >> >> On Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM Sara Mattes <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> The line up of support, and each and every town board and committee >>> seemingly weighing in…and this new comer, not experienced in the art of TM >>> is heckled and mocked instead of encouraged and thanked for joining us, >>> regardless of the 2 minute shot clock. >>> >>> There should have been another kind of public outcry - stand up to the >>> bullies. >>> A few did, but only a few. >>> >>> And now are stopping just short of saying she (the speaker) deserved it >>> because she went over 2 minutes, and those are the rules. >>> Really? >>> >>> We wonder why newcomers do not feel welcome, or a part of the town and are >>> not sure they want to be a part of Town Meeting. >>> We claim we want to increase attendance and argue that it is the day or the >>> amount of time that keeps people away. >>> Perhaps we need to look at ourselves - we are the reason. >>> Not only do we now heckle, but we stand at the mike and report our years of >>> tenure in the town, the various boards and committees on which we have >>> served, claiming extra weight to our question, comments, opinions and >>> implicitly dismissing those who do share that tenure or experience. >>> I have been guilty of all of the above (not heckling), as have many others >>> and many did so, proudly, the other night. >>> And we wonder why newcomers feel excluded. >>> >>> So much for a diverse, equitable and inclusive community. >>> >>> One small step was made at the meeting-the Moderator and the Town Meeting >>> Study Committee created a pilot to try an offer a more level playing field >>> to opponents of major articles. >>> They need to be commended for this.It was just a trial, but it happened and >>> I pray they continue to meet and refine these approaches. >>> And now, they have a bigger challenge-the bullying behavior of citizens. >>> >>> Change is not easy. >>> We have mastered clickers, now we need to master civility and tolerance. >>> >>> I’d love to say, we are better than that, but I can only talk about what I >>> observed and experienced. >>> As of today, we are not better than that. >>> That is who we are. >>> >>> We all need to take a long hard look at how we reacted to that event. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Jun 27, 2025, at 7:38 PM, RAandBOB <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I dispute your allegations. See comments below. >>>> >>>> Ruth Ann Hendrickson >>>> (She, her, hers) >>>> >>>>> On Jun 27, 2025, at 5:55 PM, Bijoy Misra <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Friends, >>>>> The Moderator could give an extra minute to the newcomer as a courtesy >>>>> from the town. >>>> She tried to. She told her to wrap it up and tell us how she wanted people >>>> to vote. >>>>> The Moderator appeared to be too nervous at the podium. >>>> Your personal assessment. >>>>> There was a line up of Committees that took arbitrary time. >>>> The committees were given strict time limits at the moderator’s meeting, >>>> which is now an open meeting >>>>> The whole scenario looked to me pre-cooked. It had no openness or >>>>> transparency. >>>> Pre-planning is not “pre-cooked”. All the boards had pre-posted public >>>> discussions at which they voted, as required by the open meeting law. >>>>> The alternate group tried to raise their voice, but they were easily cut >>>>> short!. >>>> They were given a chance to speak for a pre-agreed period of time. >>>>> The fincom coverup bothered me most! >>>> I am uninformed about this allegation. >>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> Bijoy Misra >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Jun 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM Leslie H <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>> To the Lincolnite in the black dress who spoke at the town meeting with >>>>>> concerns regarding LEAP’s resources post community center construction: >>>>>> >>>>>> I want you to know that most people in this community will NOT EVER >>>>>> treat you like many Lincoln residents did at the town meeting. I'm so >>>>>> sorry you were treated that way. It was horrid. Five speakers went over >>>>>> their allotted two minutes and four were treated with respect, you were >>>>>> not. Your gumption to speak up and note the value of accessible >>>>>> aftercare, particularly the absolute treasure that is LEAP, make you a >>>>>> wonderful addition to the community. I am glad you and your family are >>>>>> here. >>>>>> >>>>>> For those who think this newer Lincolnite deserved the very audible >>>>>> boos, “go away”, “oh shut up”, and worse … I hope someone gives you the >>>>>> grace or merely closed lips that you too deserve in a moment when you >>>>>> are bravely speaking in a new setting. If capping speaking at two >>>>>> minutes is more important than basic decency and respect, then please >>>>>> allow town meeting leaders to manage that. We are all behind efficiency >>>>>> at town meetings and poor behavior only further slows things down. >>>>>> >>>>>> If newcomers, nervous public speakers, or those scared of the Town >>>>>> Meeting Mob need a buddy to feel safe while speaking at a town meeting, >>>>>> then sign me up. >>>>>> >>>>>> With hope, >>>>>> Leslie Hill >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >> -- >> Rick > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
