My discussion with John Carlson, Board of Selectmen
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Gopal Shenoy
Apr 17, 2008, 2:13:42 PM4/17/08
to Grafton Schools
Hi everyone,
John Carlson, one of the town selectmen and I had a phone conversation
this morning about this forum. He feels that there are some
inaccuracies in what is being discussed and proposed that it would
make sense that he meet with me and anyone else interested over a cup
of coffee so that he can share his perspectives and make sure that any
mis-perceptions are corrected.
I want to emphasize that I very much enjoyed my phone call with him -
he was not adversial about what is being discussed in this forum, in
fact was happy that he has an opportunity to have a face to face
discussion with anyone who has time to sit down for a cup of coffee
with him and have a meaningful discussion. I am looking forward to
hearing his perspective and getting more educated on the process, the
town problems and figuring out how I can be part of the solution.
I have offered the time of 4pm this Sunday, John is checking to see
where would be the best place to meet in case 20-30 people want to
show up. I will post the location as soon as I come to know about it.
So, please pencil in the slot of 4-5pm to meet with John this Sunday
(April 20) if you are free.
Thanks,
Gopal
John Carlson, one of the town selectmen and I had a phone conversation
this morning about this forum. He feels that there are some
inaccuracies in what is being discussed and proposed that it would
make sense that he meet with me and anyone else interested over a cup
of coffee so that he can share his perspectives and make sure that any
mis-perceptions are corrected.
I want to emphasize that I very much enjoyed my phone call with him -
he was not adversial about what is being discussed in this forum, in
fact was happy that he has an opportunity to have a face to face
discussion with anyone who has time to sit down for a cup of coffee
with him and have a meaningful discussion. I am looking forward to
hearing his perspective and getting more educated on the process, the
town problems and figuring out how I can be part of the solution.
I have offered the time of 4pm this Sunday, John is checking to see
where would be the best place to meet in case 20-30 people want to
show up. I will post the location as soon as I come to know about it.
So, please pencil in the slot of 4-5pm to meet with John this Sunday
(April 20) if you are free.
Thanks,
Gopal
kako
Apr 17, 2008, 10:16:40 PM4/17/08
to Grafton Schools
Thanks Gopal for making this connection. I look forward to hearing
more about it and being part of this meeting.
Kim
more about it and being part of this meeting.
Kim
Raghu
Apr 19, 2008, 8:33:49 AM4/19/08
to Grafton Schools
Hello Gopal,
Is the meeting with John Carlson finalized? We are planning to come.
Please let us know where it will be held in that case.
Thanks
Raghu
Is the meeting with John Carlson finalized? We are planning to come.
Please let us know where it will be held in that case.
Thanks
Raghu
Gopal Shenoy
Apr 19, 2008, 8:22:42 PM4/19/08
to Grafton Schools
Yes. It is at the South Grafton community center at 4pm. It is located
on 122 A (after the fork at Cumberland Farms) after the Polish Home
and before SGES. It is in the vicinity of Cross Street.
on 122 A (after the fork at Cumberland Farms) after the Polish Home
and before SGES. It is in the vicinity of Cross Street.
Raghu Nandan
Apr 20, 2008, 7:59:22 AM4/20/08
to grafton...@googlegroups.com
Do you think it is a good idea to send a email announcing this to the BVIS group as well?
Kent
Apr 21, 2008, 10:43:09 PM4/21/08
to Grafton Schools
If Mr. Carlson has reservations about this forum and any inaccuracies
in it, why doesn't he post his rebuttals? Don't get me wrong - I'm
very glad that he is willing to meet face to face with people - it's
very generous for him to go out of his way and host a meeting like
this. But why would he leave the inaccuracies in this forum without
pointing them out? This forum is public knowledge and is searchable
via Google. If he does not post rebuttals to what he believes is
wrong then they may be viewed and interpreted as fact. If there is
false information being posted here, I'd like to see the correct
information posted.
-Kent
in it, why doesn't he post his rebuttals? Don't get me wrong - I'm
very glad that he is willing to meet face to face with people - it's
very generous for him to go out of his way and host a meeting like
this. But why would he leave the inaccuracies in this forum without
pointing them out? This forum is public knowledge and is searchable
via Google. If he does not post rebuttals to what he believes is
wrong then they may be viewed and interpreted as fact. If there is
false information being posted here, I'd like to see the correct
information posted.
-Kent
Gopal Shenoy
Apr 22, 2008, 8:37:46 AM4/22/08
to Grafton Schools
Agreed. The meeting went very well though there were only 5 of us. In
attendance was
John Carlson, his son Peter (member of Technology committee), Mary Ann
Cotton (secondary
school committee and candidate for Selectman), Rich McCarthy (planning
board).
The discussions were very cordial and the net was that I suggested the
same to Mr. Carlson as you
suggest below. Participate in the forum and encourage other selectmen
to do this as well. We are not
expecting them to craft public policy in this forum (which would
violate the rules set by the AG), but
use it as a means to communicate with their voter base. Mr. Carlson
understood this and has agreed
to look into it and do this once he gets comfortable with posting to
the forum.
Other things that I picked up during the meeting
1) Come very early for the town hall meeting on May 12 - it starts at
7pm. Parking will be a challenge,
you need to have a seat for you to exercise the vote.
2) They are expecting a large turnout for this meeting. Do not wait
for someone who is at the meeting to call you
and tell you "get here fast" - if the building is full, the fire
regulations may lock you out. Best way to prevent this -
get there early.
3) The feasibility study is currently #18 on the warrant, may move up.
But the budget that will fund the feasibility study
will have to be passed first. But don't assume that since this is #18
you can show up there at 730pm. You never how long the
first 17 items could take. They could breeze thru this and be done in
10 minutes. SO AGAIN, GET THERE BEFORE 7PM TO GET
YOURSELF A SEAT.
4) Grafton does not much of commercial land available - Tufts is
having trouble finding commercial tenants for the two new lab
buildings they have built.
I don't know if I have missed anything else.
Gopal
attendance was
John Carlson, his son Peter (member of Technology committee), Mary Ann
Cotton (secondary
school committee and candidate for Selectman), Rich McCarthy (planning
board).
The discussions were very cordial and the net was that I suggested the
same to Mr. Carlson as you
suggest below. Participate in the forum and encourage other selectmen
to do this as well. We are not
expecting them to craft public policy in this forum (which would
violate the rules set by the AG), but
use it as a means to communicate with their voter base. Mr. Carlson
understood this and has agreed
to look into it and do this once he gets comfortable with posting to
the forum.
Other things that I picked up during the meeting
1) Come very early for the town hall meeting on May 12 - it starts at
7pm. Parking will be a challenge,
you need to have a seat for you to exercise the vote.
2) They are expecting a large turnout for this meeting. Do not wait
for someone who is at the meeting to call you
and tell you "get here fast" - if the building is full, the fire
regulations may lock you out. Best way to prevent this -
get there early.
3) The feasibility study is currently #18 on the warrant, may move up.
But the budget that will fund the feasibility study
will have to be passed first. But don't assume that since this is #18
you can show up there at 730pm. You never how long the
first 17 items could take. They could breeze thru this and be done in
10 minutes. SO AGAIN, GET THERE BEFORE 7PM TO GET
YOURSELF A SEAT.
4) Grafton does not much of commercial land available - Tufts is
having trouble finding commercial tenants for the two new lab
buildings they have built.
I don't know if I have missed anything else.
Gopal
vhe...@msn.com
Apr 23, 2008, 10:31:33 AM4/23/08
to Grafton Schools
Raghu/Gopal,
Do you know if BVIS yahoo group has joined this discussion group ?
It is very important that we get May 12th voting message to all BVIS
members who are "US Citizens, Registered to Vote in Grafton".
Thanks
Vivek Hegde
> > > Gopal- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Do you know if BVIS yahoo group has joined this discussion group ?
It is very important that we get May 12th voting message to all BVIS
members who are "US Citizens, Registered to Vote in Grafton".
Thanks
Vivek Hegde
>
> - Show quoted text -
Gopal Shenoy
May 3, 2008, 7:48:44 AM5/3/08
to Grafton Schools
But unfortunately after about 3 weeks of meeting with John Carlson and
asking him to join this
discussion forum so that he can converse directly with the voter base,
I have not seen him
do it. I am not trying to turn this into a political issue, but I have
to say that I am very disappointed.
Gopal
asking him to join this
discussion forum so that he can converse directly with the voter base,
I have not seen him
do it. I am not trying to turn this into a political issue, but I have
to say that I am very disappointed.
Gopal
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