Taghkanic Press

The minutes will become history, Don't let it be false. I must say I was elated to read in the that the new Town Board in Taghkanic is finally putting a stop to the censorship of the Board minutes. As the former Deputy town clerk I can testify to the fact that the minutes of the meetings are cleansed to the Supervisors approval and to what is considered "press acceptable". I have witness first hand a councilmen statement being omitted from the minutes because it questioned the deterioration of the Town Hall. But Young is not alone with this hiding of the truth. Almost every Republican Supervisor does the same thing. The objective is to keep controversy out of the public view, it simple, keep the public in the dark and look good. Another way to do discourage public involvement is to not release the minutes for thirty or sixty days, by the end of that time period people who have raised controversial issues with the Supervisor will have become disgusted and give up. Some news agency should be condemned here as well, many times I have not seen reporters at the meeting because they are relying on the Town to fax them the "Approved Minutes". Of course when the press does try to print what the business was at the meeting the Republican attorney is hot on the phone to the editors to them tell them what their printing is not official. Why is Young and her Republican party so afraid of controversy? Why would the Town Clerk, Rogers, who is a Democrat, help Young censor public comment that should be made part of the record but in fact are omitted? Could it be this is the way Supervisor Young and other Republican Supervisor lay claim to fame? Could it be Rogers doesn't want to bit the hand that feeds her. The time as come for all of us, as residents, to support the Boards efforts to print uncensored minutes on the internet and to include statements made by concerned citizen to the board, corrections and omissions could still be made at the next meeting after an open discussion.. We can no longer afford this sneaking around corners and hiding under rocks that Young and Rogers do so well. Taghkanic needs open government to ensure a free flowing democracy and the only way we can do this is to set the record straight and stop the censorship of the minutes. The whole Town should get behind Councilwomen Edwards and give her your support to have these minutes released within the proper legal time frame and uncensored. As I stated before I was the former Deputy Town Clerk and I can assured all of you that the "Approved Minutes" only contains what the Supervisor wants the public to read and if you attend meetings you would know this to so. Make public comment on town issues part of the minutes and part of record. We can not afford to distort history by making a crook and a liar like Supervisor Young look good in the historical record. Richard C Graham, 1879 county route 10,Taghkanic NY 12502