I did not vote yea or nay on the article. I did not vote at all on Article 26.

There are a number of reasons that I did not vote, and a number of reasons why the police commission did not support Article 26.

I would ask any citizen that wants to know why, to come to a police commission meeting and ask. You will then hear the other side of the story, and can then make an informed conclusion.

Chief Stephen M. Agrafiotis
Hooksett Police Department

We have had a number of officers leave the department over the last six years. Some retired, some left for other agencies and some left police work. Regardless of what you hear, there are reasons for all these departures, and documentation on all. Just like in the private sector, people leave jobs for different reasons, and the law does not allow me to discuss any reasons with the public.

Since being hired in 1999, every police commissioner I have worked for has stated that they wanted Hooksett to be an above average department. This is and has been our standard, and nine out of 10 employees routinely meet the standard.

It is interesting that D. Dunn has so much inside information, but it is wrong. Is it any coincidence that the complaint against me last year was determined to be unfounded by a neutral consultant, discipline to that one out of 10 employees has been dealt with by the book, the union negotiations are at impasse, the officers were told through Sgt. Martakos that they could start an association as long as they followed commission policy then the idea was dropped, the budget committee made some cuts to the budget out of concern for some performance issues last year, and the commission voted not to support Article 26 at Town Meeting because it is underfunded and, like the budget committee, had concerns about some performance issues last year?

As I said, we are a good agency with a large majority of good employees, but, like all agencies, we have and will always have issues.

The attempts by a small minority to cause problems instead of trying to work through the issues only hurts the citizens of Hooksett.

I would again ask any citizens that have questions or concerns to please attend a police commission meeting and ask us.

Maybe D. Dunn, whoever that is, could also attend. Citizens have a right to ask questions and receive answers, but having baseless accusations shape your conclusions are not productive.

Remember, there are two sides to every story.

Stephen M. Agrafiotis
Chief of Police
Hooksett

It started with the moderator usurping “powers not granted.” I doubt there is any provision in the laws pertaining to Town Meetings that allow a moderator to arbitrarily “limit discussion on articles to five minutes each.” That was why I made sure that didn’t happen. Town Meetings can go on for days if the citizens in attendance allow it. Five or six hours is far from any record.

I asked how much property has been preserved by the conservation commission, using that trust fund since 1993. “The chairman wasn’t there, we only have three year terms, uhh ... uhh.” “Subverting the voter’s will” is a justified statement! Two years ago (Article 25), voters directed 100 percent of the revenue generated by the current use tax mechanism be deposited into the conservation commission fund, so that the directive of the voters of 1993 might finally be realized. This year’s Article 24 is plainly just another reworded revote of an ancient issue. They just want that money, forget conservation.

Are the words “town hall” or “community center” in the 2004 warrant Article 10 voted and approved? No, yet they continue to state “that is what was voted for!” I requested “a reading of Article 10, voted on and passed in 2004.” The one read was not the passed article, and that is a fact! Did I call it a lie? I don’t think so, but that could be said, although “error” would be more accurate.

The editorial, composed and printed by the Banner, refuting that fact and implying that answers to all my questions were given, was unfair. A response is not an answer, as was the response of the town’s attorney to my question in the parking lot; “oh, well” is not an answer. The inescapable conclusion I have reached is obvious; the council won’t give answers that don’t support their agenda.

I spoke “out of order” when responding to comments directed toward me and reacting to incredulous statements like: “Conservation should be a private- sector duty, supported by charitable contributions” and “Hooksett will cease to exist!” It was more than I could take, sorry. Do they think Santa Claus is real and that we are just a bunch of elves? I hunt frogs with a howitzer, sometimes, to make a point.

I think The Hooksett Banner’s editorial staff owes me an apology, but pride is a dangerous attribute and my reason for being a voice in the arena is based on principal, not personal gain. Everyone should know me better by now, I am always ready to defend my statements. The Banner has been, and is, a great local paper which rarely takes sides, and reliably prints opposing letters addressing the issues editorialized. I was the only person willing to defy election officials by bringing their paper to the polls!

Printing this letter, and an apology, will do much toward retaining their credibility and my confidence, but I’ll refrain from demanding it. If anyone wishes to debate me on almost any issue, using facts, I will gladly and politely enjoin you. Try to intimidate me or hand me a bunch of bleep, and my etiquette wanes, I’m only human.

David Ross
Hooksett

Both my son and daughter have been in this teacher’s classes and they come home with great stories, a relaxed attitude, actually looking forward to this teacher’s classes, and on top of it all, knowledge of the subject. After all these years of service, it is terrifying to think that one accusation by a girl on the brink of her teenage years can result in the immediate and indiscriminate dismissal of this teacher is incomprehensible.

Regardless of what the outcome of this accusation proves to be, this teacher has been ruined and this person has been ruined. How will he ever be able to approach his task with the same attitude and charm as he has demonstrated all of these years? Even if this proves to be a complete and utter farce, no apologies or public admittance of the injustice of this accusation will ever be able to restore that which once was. This whole depressing incident has given my daughter and her classmates tears and instilled nothing but rage in many parents. And there is no way to ever recover.

I hope the Moore School authorities and people responsible for the creation and handling of this incident are really proud of themselves. I have much more I would like to say but self restraint prevents me from further expressing my concerns.

Brian Reinhold
Candia

According to their presentation, we need “standards-based” math. How much are you willing to pay for a new math curriculum? How about $8,400? No, that’s the shipping and handling. How about $14,000? No, that’s the yearly cost for consumables. Well maybe $25,000 will do it. No, that’s the cost of the “student manipulative kits” that go with it. Yes, for only $83,810, we can get a new math curriculum. But wait does that include training? Sorry, we haven’t got a price for that yet. Could it reach $100,000? Wouldn’t surprise me. But we wouldn’t have to pay for the whole thing, maybe we can get a grant. Where does the federal government get the money for those grants?

So what is standards-based math? Well, it’s problem solving, trying to find your own way to get to the answer. The idea is if you figure it out your own way, you’ll have a better understanding of it. Okay, so according to standards-based math, to improve our math situation, should we try to be innovative and come up with a solution that utilizes our current recourses or spend a lot of money on a pre packaged plan like a lot of other districts who are having budget troubles have done?

So why do we need standards- based math? To raise our NECAP scores, but they just went up. Oh how about so it will match our middle school curriculum? Yes, good reason, problem is, the school board never voted for standards-based math, but we have it. Why? Because the middle school principal made that decision himself.

I put my money on the teachers and more of them. If we can reduce class size and let our teachers do what they are trained to do, I think we will have great results. A little motivation and encouragement wouldn’t hurt either. We employ a vast amount of talent in our Hooksett schools, why should we follow? Why not lead?

The Hooksett School Board has not made up its mind as of the writing of this letter. The next board meeting is Tuesday, April 18, at 7 p.m., at Cawley Middle School. Any citizen of Hooksett has two, three minute opportunities to speak at a school board meeting. “The opportunity for the public to address the board” occurs near the beginning and end on the meeting. The Hooksett School Board always shows respect to the public and seems interested in what they have to say.

So do we spend our money with someone who wants to charge us $8,400 to ship us $75,410 worth of material? I say no.

David Pearl
Hooksett

This is their migration time when they travel to vernal ponds or other breeding areas. If at all possible, you’d be doing their population a life saving favor if you could limit travel on the next couple of rainy nights. If you need to pick up a few groceries, perhaps you could buy them on your way home, avoiding going out again and chancing a close and critical encounter with these vulnerable species.

Judi Lindsey
Candia