[RP TownTalk] Chapter 3 matter

[johnferg27 at aol.com]

The information Jack Jones sent to TownTalk as a reason for the enactment of 
a Code chapter to oversee the publication of the TownCrier is not accurate.

The passage of Chapter 3 was not connected with Mr. Jones effort to insert 
Land Value Tax material into the TownCrier.  Chapter 3 was politically motivated 
and had nothing to do with Mr. Jones' request.  In fact, I cannot find 
anything in his material that would be an advantage or a disadvantage to anyone in 
office at that time.  Therefore, refusing to insert it into the Town's official 
newsletter was done for another reason.

As the elected Mayor of the Town, I made that decision and my reasoning 
follows:  In reviewing Mr. Jones' request I recognized that this was not a good 
idea and would set a precedent that could create future problems.  Any 
information sent out with the TownCrier has an implied endorsement by the Mayor and 
Council and we were not considering adoption of the Land Value Tax concept.  
Therefore, it would be wrong to confuse residents by including a promotion of the 
concept in the official publication of the Town.  To carry this a step further, 
consider if a request were made to insert material from a religious or 
political organization hoping to gain supporters to its cause-certainly it would be 
determined that such inserts did not belong in the Town's newsletter.

The TownCrier has a single purpose, that is to inform residents of matters 
that affect their daily lives - Public Works schedules, Police Department 
activities, Town Office services and hours.  Beyond that purpose, it is appropriate 
to cover matters that have happened or will be happening in the Town.  
Personality profiles and achievements of town staff and residents along with Town 
history and local recreational events are other topics appropriate for inclusion 
in the Town's newsletter.

That's the point - it is a newsletter, not a newspaper such as the Post which 
prints all sorts of paid advertising to cover its costs.  Mr. Jones had every 
right to publish his information in an independent newsletter that he could 
have prepared, printed and hand delivered or mailed as was done in the 1970s 
and '80s with the publication of PostScript and The Voice.  It would be wrong 
for Mr. Jones to rely on the taxpayer supported Town newsletter to deliver his 
material along with the implied endorsement such delivery would carry with it.
                                                                              
                    
                                                                              
                       Ann Ferguson
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