There is a prior thread with Sharon (Sam) Levine requesting emails under the Freedom of Information Act. Guess what surfaced from this request? An email from Sam Levine and Ms. Merlin rallying their troops.
Here are the questions on this. Does this constitute fair play or stacking the deck? Was their plan to flood the town officials email accounts and then try to prove a point by immediately requesting the emails under FOI?
From: lmerlin2@comcast.net
To: lmerlin2@comcast.net
Subject: Fw: Tomorrow Night’s crucial Bd of Finance Meeting
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:06:50 -0400
If you can only make one meeting next week, please come tomorrow night. But if you can come on Thursday (see below) that would be a great way to figure out how we can really make a difference this year and maybe help get a referendum passed in this town first time around.
In addition, don’t forget to e-mail the BOF anytime betw/now and Tuesday when they make their final decision on what the BOE’s budget will be that goes to referendum. (If you recall, after tomorrow night’s big town meeting and after hearing from the community at the meeting and in e-mails, the BOF meets to discuss what to do, and usually cuts back on both the Town and the BOE budgets. The realistic goal is not to ask them for more than the BOE asked for, but to ask them to cut back as little as possible at this point. That meeting is Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 pm BOF Workshop in the Avon Room at Town Hall – BOF – as I said, they will discuss what number they think the town voters will “tolerate” and set the number they will send to referendum first time around. If they can’t come to a final decision that night, they will have one more meeting either on Wed. or Thurs. if necessary.) Here are the e-mails addresses – feel free to cut and paste – ask them to distribute your letter to the appropriate boards. I have always thought e-mails can make a difference, especially from new voices.
Town Manager: PSCHENCK@town.avon.ct.us
Board of Finance Chairperson: tfh101@sbcglobal.net
Board of Ed Chairperson: peggyroell@comcast.net
Town Council Chairperson: john_carlson@sbcglobal.net
—– Original Message —–
From: Sam Levine
To: Sam Levine
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:21 PM
Subject: Fwd: Tomorrow Night’s crucial Bd of Finance Meeting
Dear Concerned Parents,
Please bear with me if I am sending out repeats I am working out my contact glitches- NB I have modified this letter read to end.
I like the rest of you am extremely concerned by the upcoming school cuts. In previous years when things were difficult the get the vote movement helped in mitigating the damages. This year the damage has already been done and we have not even received the proposed budget from the town.
FYI we live in a town of approximately 15,000 residents we have a historical presidential election turnout rate of over 95%. On average 1,800 no voters have determined the fate of our community. All we need to come up with is 2000 people to vote yes and we can restore our schools, services and provide for those who live in this town, who are really in need.
First on the Agenda: getting enough parents (Moms and Dads) toSupport our schools on Monday March 30th 7:30 at the Sr. Center
Here is a Link for you to find out all that is about to be slashed:http://www.avon.k12.ct.us/webshare/District/Newsletter/Spring-2009.pdf
Please spend tomorrow calling and emailing those individuals that you can rally and convince to attend, this is not a fun job but we desperately need bodies tomorrow, This is a CRUCIAL step in the process we need people to show up en masse!!!!!!
Second: we need to get people involved and educated more so than the 50 or so regular campaigners that gets involved out every year.
This means you (and those who you can wrestle to the ground so that they appreciate the direness of the situation) MUST participate by:
1) Making difficult phone calls
2) Handing out literature at schools and campaign hard to get parents out there aware and willing to vote.
3) Scaring people with the truth about the cuts that are about to fall. (See link above)
4) Dedicate yourselves to helping your children’s future on a local level with the same energy and dedication that you utilize in your own home
5) Presenting this group with the email addresses of at least 5 friends or family members within the community to help support our children this effort- it should not be a tough sell.
FYI I have set up this separate email account and will not use yours or any other email addresses for any purpose other than to support our schools in the upcoming and future referendums.
Good news:
1) If all the parents who support the schools actually vote, our schools can be repaired in the future
2) Dads as a rule do not vote as readily as the Moms in referendums, Moms have something that Dad’s want
OUR FIRST MEETING DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 2nd 7:30 pm AHS Public Conference room off the library DO NOT ASSUME THAT EVERYONE ELSE CAN MAKE THIS MEETING– EVERYONES PRESENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS!!!! Sorry for being pushy but we have been bitten by the no show before and we all have pressing agendas.
Sincerely,
Sam Levine