From: Kenneth Rocke <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 3:49 PM To: Heath Connects <[email protected]> Cc: Kenneth Rocke <[email protected]> Subject: Re: I Need Your Help with Communication I have great respect for all of the work that our current members of the Select Board do on behalf of the Town of Heath. I think that they strike a very effective balance between the sometimes conflicting ‘goods’ that they must consider: i.e., what is good for the town as a whole, now and in the future, and what is good for a particular group of people within our town. This balancing act – if done well – can only be achieved through countless hours of work mastering the details (and broad implications) of many situations; endless hours of careful discussion and consideration with board members, members of other boards, the general public, outside agencies and vendors, and so on; and finally the willingness to come down on one side or another of an issue, and then stand strong for what they have come to believe is in the best interests of the town as a whole. All of this takes energy, intelligence, and a kind of moral courage that can only be found within. I appreciate their service to our town. Ken Kenneth Rocke P.O. Box 16, Heath, MA 01346 413-337-5753 (home) 781-771-7083 (cell) [email protected] From: Heath Connects <[email protected]> Date: Monday, March 7, 2022 at 5:36 PM To: Heath Connection <[email protected]> Subject: I Need Your Help with Communication Dear Fellow Heathans, I am writing to you because I have been dismayed by what I have recently witnessed in Select Board meetings during the public comment period and read in the recorder. I am not talking about whether people agree or disagree about hot topics such as the possible library move or the AT&T tower. Expressing disagreement, differing opinions, different ideas are all part of living in a democratic society. But what has been extremely troubling is the rude and accusatory treatment of the Select Board. I had created a page on Heath Connects so that people could express thoughts about the AT&T tower, but had to replace the content. Along with abusive public comments and Recorder articles, are emails with more of the same. As one Select Board member said, “I feel beaten up.” We need to send the Select Board a different message. Below is an excerpt of the content that replaced what had been written about the Select Board in regards to the tower. It seems that we have lost the ability to have disagreement in Heath without attributing nefarious motives to dedicated public servants. I have been attending Select Board meetings for over two years. I know how hard these folks work outside the Select Board meetings putting in their time to meet with engineers, electricians, plumbers, FRCOG members, attending several meetings both with town bodies and outside committees. They do this public service, which is sometimes thankless, for a love of Heath. I am grateful to a Board that has a strong desire to do what is best for all the Heath community, are dedicated, and willing to sacrifice personal and family time on our behalf. I also know from my experience attending Select Board meetings how much thought and personal angst goes into decision making to do what’s right and best for the town. . . . From my personal experience our board members are dedicated, trustworthy, respectful of all Heathans, and I am grateful they are guiding us. I am asking that you write a comment in support of the Select Board as public servants that deserve respect and appreciation for the work they do. All you need to do is reply to this email with a short comment of appreciation and I will post yours along with others on Heath Connects under a newly titled page, Communication. Please take the time to give these folks some positive feedback, Thanks, Pat McGahan PS Email to [email protected] only goes to me.
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