http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/hooksett_editor/archive/2008/12/23/Hooksett-town-councilor-furious-as-five-councilors-sign-contract-without-vote.aspxBY GINGER KOZLOWSKI Hooksett Town Councilor Patricia Rueppel is calling for the resignation of five of her fellow council members following the handling of a contract for the services of an interim town administrator. The five town councilors, David Dickson,enCommunityServer 2.1 (Build: 60809.935)http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/hooksett_editor/archive/2008/12/23/Hooksett-town-councilor-furious-as-five-councilors-sign-contract-without-vote.aspx#12412Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:12:54 GMT7b375189-dcc7-4af7-b4d3-2fc751a0220e:12412Marc MivilleThe Town Councilors still don't get it ... nearly every month, another news controversy comes out of the Council meetings that they have botched again...either inside town meetings, or worse - outside the watchful eye of the voting Public and Press, or onto the world-wide-web. So much for learning their lessons about "accountability and transparency" in Hooksett's town government. So much for our public plea for them to "just let us know what you're doing." It's not about them... it's about maintaining a level of integrity, having been elected by the townspeople to always represent their interests. Once elected, they forget why they are sitting on the Council in the first place, why they ran for office to serve, and so they continue to betray the citizens' trust placed in them to carry out the town's business. The citizens are not getting their full measure of district representation, when contracts are signed without full Council discussion, and when projects are adopted without the public's awareness. The correct governmental processes are ignored for their convenience, to advance their own agendas, and to spend money on projects not fully vetted by the voting public ... all without a single vote being cast by the townspeople - which if done, would succeed in avoiding these ongoing controversies. Councilor Reuppel has coined the term "stupid" for a third time by my count, first in reference to the voting public by voting for a default budget this year, and twice just this month by calling out her fellow councilors using that term. Yet her hysterics in calling for resignations regarding this contract issue is not exactly wise. Well, it is said that "stupid is what stupid does." I guess we just can't fix stupid... but we can all try with our own watchful eyes and frustrated voices. Who's watching the Watchers? Hasn't Hooksett now grown beyond the "Old-Boy Network" way of doing things, and that we need our elected officials to reflect the maturity that we expect of them in their representation of us, without it always devolving into their constant bickering about petty issues? Hooksett is too big now, with important budget concerns in these difficult times. The time for Old Townie Politics is over. The town of Hooksett has grown up...when are our elected officials going to? http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/hooksett_editor/archive/2008/12/23/Hooksett-town-councilor-furious-as-five-councilors-sign-contract-without-vote.aspx#12432Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:41:51 GMT7b375189-dcc7-4af7-b4d3-2fc751a0220e:12432mogabe All these allegations of botches, bickering, stupidity, secrecy, controversies and smoke-filled rooms wherin evil lurks are being uttered and spurred on by one citizen-councilor; Pat Rueppel. Most of this bad press has been of her doing. Years of casting foul aspersions of character upon the Hooksett Town Council, (and defaming Hooksett's reputation and theirs), with such a broad and reckless brush may result in her needing to hire some of her New York City lawyers. She should lead by example and resign.