Alton Tries to Silence its Citizens

[lagoon]

From the Union Leader, gotta think this will backfire on Alton Selectmen for sure.

THE UNION LEADER

Arrested in Alton: Selectmen silence a critic
On Feb. 3, Alton’s Board of Selectmen had a town resident arrested for criticizing them. This is not going to end well for the town.

At the board meeting that evening, resident Jeffrey T. Clay sat down to speak during the time allotted for public comments. The board allows each speaker five minutes, and Clay brought a timer to make sure he got his — and the selectmen got theirs.

Clay, a longtime critic of the board, according to the Laconia Daily Sun, which first reported the story, immediately asked all members to resign for their “poor actions as selectmen,” “poor decisions” and “continued violations of the citizens’ rights here in Alton.”

At that last phrase, Selectman David Hussey raised his hand, said “This is character assassination,” and walked out of the room to fetch the chief of police, the town video (www.alton.nh.gov/Videos.asp) shows. Exactly 38 seconds had elapsed between the time Clay stated his name for the record and Hussey moved to shut him up.

The board voted to end the public comment section, claiming that Clay had uttered “defamatory” and “libelous” statements. (Good luck proving that in court.) Clay kept talking, and Chief Ryan Heath came to escort him out, the Daily Sun reported. When Clay refused to stop speaking, Heath arrested him.

Elected officials present themselves for criticism, much of it unjustified, the moment they file to run for office.

They may choose to ignore it, respond to it, even mock it. But they may not have their critics arrested.

We suspect that Alton taxpayers are about to spend a good deal of money in legal fees for that civics lesson.

- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/2....UHmUR3IS.dpuf