Dear Editor,
Last Thursday night, about the time most of you were sitting down to supper, the (Putnam County Board of Commissioners), in a hurriedly called meeting, was busy approving a resolution to issue General Obligation (GO) bonds that potentially could result in a Putnam County debt of $24.5 million.
Revenue to pay off this debt is tied to TSPLOST #2; revenue which, by law, is capped at approximately $19M. Where is this shortfall in revenue to come from to cover this debt? That has been the bone of contention for some months because the county continues to refuse to publish a financial plan addressing the county’s five-year repaving/road improvement program, of which this GO bond issue is part.
With people in attendance who came for the express purpose of learning about the various pros and cons of the GO bond resolution, and while Dr. (Stephen) Hersey (Dist. 3 board commissioner) was discussing his opinion concerning the resolution, the other board members voted to silence him.
That’s right, voted to silence him from further comments just because he was voicing some things they didn’t agree with. Mind you, this was during a discussion of the motion to approve the resolution and the chairman (Bill Sharp) had given Dr. Hersey the floor (permission to speak).
This vote to end discussion while a commissioner has the floor is virtually unprecedented in Putnam County history. To the best of my recollection, it never happened in my 16 years on the board. By silencing Dr. Hersey, this board silenced the citizens of the 3rd District, whom he represents, from having a voice at this board meeting.
To say I am disappointed with the conduct of this board would be a major understatement.
Billy Webster, Putnam County