Why is it that so many public officials forget that they are in office as public servants? They are there to run the government on behalf of us all, and are not lords of the realm there to jealously guard their castle, shutting doors to any who question their decisions.

Goffstown Community Television does a wonderful service for the people of Goffstown by making video recordings of public meetings. There could be no better record of such meetings, where you can see and hear all that is said – and not said. Facial expressions, tone of voice – it’s all there. Written minutes may be the accepted standard for records of meetings, but they never capture the full essence of a meeting.

Dick Gagnon’s comment that they don’t want to make it “too easy” for the public to buy DVDs just stuns us. It’s beyond belief that GTV would be bombarded with requests for these DVDS, and, since they can be easily copied in just a few minutes, shouldn’t be a problem to provide. His comment reeks of the attitude so common to government officials – that the public is a nuisance to be brushed off, not the people they are there to serve.

The state’s Right to Know Law does not set policy on what can be charged for public records, other than that the costs should be reasonable. Therein lies the problem – who defines “reasonable?” In our view, GTV may not be violating the letter of the Right to Know Law, but is certainly violating the spirit of that law.

All public records should be easily available to the public and as promptly as possible and at the lowest possible cost. If video recordings are made, then DVDs should be available at cost. Minutes should be posted online just as quickly as they are at town hall. And no person should ever be made to feel that they are asking for something that doesn’t belong to them when they ask for the public record on any meeting.

— Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board. The board is composed of Publisher and President Amy J. Vellucci, Executive Editor Ginger Kozlowski, Managing Editor Christine Heiser and News Editor Susan Clark.

To the Editor:
How much should you get paid to lay your life on the line for another? Should it be more if you work in Nashua or if you work in New Boston? You demand an outcry for Sergeant Kochanek’s raise? Well I, as a New Boston taxpayer, demand an outcry for your ignorance.

Isn’t it true that the New Boston Police Department is highly understaffed? Isn’t it true that while an interim police chief oversaw the New Boston Police Department it was Sgt. Kochanek who ran the day-to-day operations for over eight months?

Finally, isn’t it true that in comparison to towns the size of New Boston, the New Boston officers are highly underpaid and understaffed? I’d have to say it is.

I know this because my daughter, my husband and my son-in-law all work as police officers for departments in the surrounding areas. Sgt. Kochanek received a lump pay raise because he had been promoted and never received compensation over the various stages of his responsibilities. Why wasn’t that information contained in your editorial?

Do you really think an officer plays a different role in a different community? Do you think Nashua, Manchester and Londonderry officers should be paid more than an officer in this town – they don’t do a different job?

Let me ask you to study statistics on officer safety of an officer working in a smaller town versus that of an officer who has back up two blocks away. Just because the quantity of calls are less doesn’t mean that the danger of the calls is not the same, if not more so. Do you not think his/her life is worth the same?

I would like to thank Sgt. Kochanek and the other New Boston officers for the work they do. It is invaluable in a community that is growing as fast as New Boston is. They do their jobs on the budget and limitations of a small town when the population is growing at a rate faster than most cities, with a mileage coverage larger than the city of Nashua and handicapped by people who obviously possess no knowledge of what they do, such as yourself, Mr. Editor.

I would also like to thank Chief Krajenka for the insight to see that the New Boston Police Department needs to move forward to protect and serve the citizens of this town. We are glad you are here.

L. Bergeron
New Boston

To the Editor:
It was December of 1949 when my parents, my sister Janis and I moved from Manchester, New Hampshire, to a large Victorian barn complete with cupola and a turkey run out back.

I entered the Goffstown school system just before Christmas. Our first-grade classroom was located on the bottom floor of the brick school building.

That first Christmas brought us a male boxer puppy. My sister and I named him Toby after a dog in our school reader. Toby quickly became the town dog. Every morning he would stroll down to the Red and White, where the butcher would give him a bone.

When he wasn’t stealing roast turkey from back porches or passing wind during services at St. Lawrence Church, he could be found hanging out in the woods behind my house with me and my gang.

In those days, evenings were spent in the living room lying on the floor listening to radio shows like “The Shadow,” The Lone Ranger” or “The Green Hornet.” The first kid in our gang to get a television was Bill Nickerson.

At that time, he and his family were living above his father’s grocery story, next to the covered bridge. After the dreadful “Kate Starr Show” was over, it was tie for the only kids show: “Howdy Doody” (I was secretly in love with Princess Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring).

By the time my parents got a TV in 1952, there were three Boston stations and a new Manchester station, Channel 9. “Uncle Gus” was giving “Big Brother Bob Emery” a run for his money.

In 1954, I was 11 years old and was allowed to leave Cub Scouts and join Boy Scouts Troop 99. Mr. Eaton was the Scoutmaster and Kenny Read was my patrol leader. At the time, I had no idea what a huge impact this would have on my life.

I would later become the Scoutmaster in Bedford and to this day, at the ripe old age of 63, still remain an avid winter mountain climber.

Before 1955, teenagers didn’t have their own music. “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” was the big hit that year, and although it is still one of my favorite songs. It was produced for the general public’s ears.

Boy, did songs like “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley, “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lyman change all that!

I’m always telling my children and grandchildren what an unbelievable experience it was to be a 13-year-old teenage during those culture-changing times. To this day, I have a small fortune in 45s from the ’50s. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t listen to good old rock ‘n’ roll.

Exactly 50 years ago this month, in the spring of 1956, my dad decided to move closer to work and we moved to Bedford, where I stayed for over 40 years until my retirement.

I often talk about my childhood days in Goffstown. I say I would give up all the advances we have today to be able to go back to those simple, innocent days, living in a true community, where the doors weren’t locked and everyone watched out for each other.

Jon P. Dulude
York, Maine

To the Editor:
I am a taxpayer of Hillsborough County and a former employee of the nursing home HCNH (Hillsborough County Nursing Home). As a resident of the borough, I am amazed at the total lack of respect afforded the home’s employees by our elected delegation. It has been almost three years since our state representatives via the county commissioners have allowed the employees a decent pay increase to keep up with the cost of living and gas price increases. It is no wonder they cannot retain help.

Please call your representative and tell them to give the caregivers a decent raise because they take care of our families. Let’s watch out for theirs.

Continuing this lack-ofrespect theme, it appears they are at it again. Apparently they have allegedly used questionable, unethical and possibly illegal isolation tactics against a resident and family member to the point of mental cruelty and punishment. Don’t worry though, readers, as it will again be swept under the carpet. A book about the county nursing home called “A Prison Without Bars” was to be written by a now deceased resident. I find it unconscionable that the Hillsborough County delegation and the county commissioners continually ignore the rights of the workers and inhabitants of the home.

These are the people who will run for the same offices again this year and because of a lack of understanding on the part of the taxpayer, will probably win re-election.

These officials get their raises and bonuses, but refuse to give the same to county employees who work in the trenches every day. Shame on us, and also them for allowing this travesty to continue.

Kay McCarthy
Manchester