Graham, Donna
From: Laurie Ortolano [mailto:laurieortolano@email.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 8:17 AM
To: wilshirel <wilshirei@nashuanh.gov>
Subject: FYi
Misapplied Mason Rules are used against the public
Aldermen Jette,
I have become increasingly concerned about how public input is handled during this pandemic. I have not heard
any elected officials speak about reopening City Hall to the public and have no idea how long we are going to
be without a voice in a public meeting.
I feel I am being targeted by members of the Board and the City to prevent my input from becoming part of the
record. Lori Wilshire and Rick Dowd have been have been using the Mason Rule of Legislative Procedure to
bully the public and members of the board to prevent our voices from being heard.
Alderwoman Wilshire is making exceptions to the rules to enter committee and city manager emails into the
record without placement on the agenda, but will not suspend the rules to allow public emails to be placed on
the record. What is more disturbing is that the public can never participate in an item to be acted upon because,
by the time the agenda is posted publicly, we have missed our opportunity to get on it. It has already been more
than two months since the public comments have been stifled. This could go on for another 2 to 4 months.
I would like you to ask that all public communications be accepted and placed on the record at the earliest
possible meeting by applying the Mason Rules to suspend the rules.
I would like our emails to at least be read into the record, but would rather you request the City provide an
access line for public comment. The Mayor is holding press conferences with access for the press to ask
questions. Why does the public not have this ability?
I was looking over the minutes record from the April 20, 2020 Budget Review meeting where you spoke up
about my communication to the Budget Review Committee. I believe Rick Dowd was out of order and
misrepresented the Mason rules when he did not allow your motion to be acted upon and instead told you that
the Board would have to vote on it to place it on the agenda.
Your motion should have been accepted by all budget committee members. Your motion did not require a
second and a motion did not have to be made to place my letter on the agenda. Lori Wilshire, in the BOA
meetings, is suspending the rules and accepting communication. No second required, no motion to change the
agenda required.
Lori Wilshire and Rick Dowd’s targeting of people they don’t like or agree with does not make them great
leaders and the City a better place.
I am tired of the poppycock that is being doled out by certain members of the Board against the public. Please
help bring our voices back into the public forum. Below is a transcript from the Budget review Meeting.
Alderman Jette
