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• <br />,- 152 Hooppole Road <br /> Iashpee, MA 024 <br /> 508 477-7197 <br /> February 1 , 1995 <br /> Members of the Mashpee Board of Selectmen, <br /> Tonight, as we discuss the issues raised by Ms. King, <br /> great deal of anger rises within me. Thirty-four years ago my <br /> parents sent Mme away from the island of Cuba, by myself, to the <br /> .and of freedom to the north. The lard that promised, in the <br /> First Amendment to the Constitution, a guarantee of Freedom of <br /> Speech. This land, so foreign to me, became my new home. <br /> After developing and gaining knowledge, not only of the <br /> language, but of the laws of the land and its Constitution, 1 <br /> made a promise, first as an enlisted main and then as ars officer <br /> "to honor and defend the Constitution of the United States <br /> against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, " After- serving <br /> slightly over twenty years in the Armed Forces, I retired to the <br /> town of Mshe , in the cradle of freedom known as Massachusetts, <br /> The mala arguments facing you, our elected Board of <br /> Selectmen, acting as the Town's executive branch of goverrment, <br /> is whether I am in violation of Chapter 5, Article III, section <br /> 5 .8 of the code of the Town of I ashpee. The possible violation <br /> is based on my membership on the K.C. Coombs School Council, an <br /> organization created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1993 ars <br /> included in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section <br /> 59C. The Legislature created an advisory council to the school <br /> principals to assist thein in the identification of school <br /> educational needs of the students attending the school, in <br /> reviewing the school budget, and in the formulation of a school <br /> improvement plane <br /> The Town Attorney, in his well written opinion, states that <br /> the Mashpee Town By-Law's intent was that of "keeping the <br /> decisions of the Finance ommittee untainted by any influence <br /> from any person or persons who have any other interests within <br /> the town. " I believe this is ludicrous. Every member of the <br /> Finance Committee is a property owner, and therefore all have a i <br /> direct financial interest in the deliberations and <br /> recommendations of the committee, Several members actively <br /> participate in town-wide organizations, such as the League of <br /> Women voters. Are +all these individuals also required to resign <br /> Am I going to have to place my children up for adoption and have <br /> them move out of torn so that I may participate as a member of <br /> the Finance committee'? I believe that was not the intent of the <br /> Town Meeting members when they approved the By-Law in 1982. <br /> The only organizations that may submit budgets to the town <br /> are the school, committee and the department heads through the <br /> coordination of the Executive Secretary) , The Finance <br />