Dear Editor,

I am writing in support of a change in policy and direction of the local government in the City of Hamlet. Our government has not for some time represented the majority of voters in Hamlet, only a selected few!

I was appalled that city hall discontinued the cable coverage of city council meetings, on the pretense of saving money (cost approximately $4,000 a year); then turned around and gave the city manager a $2,500 bonus, in addition to her raise. The only logical reason to discontinue the coverage was to keep the people of Hamlet from being informed of their underhanded schemes. We need to make it clear that we want this coverage reinstated! We can do so by supporting those who are in favor of reinstating this coverage in our next election.

I am sick of the overbearing, hostile attitude of the city manager. She is more than rude to city employees, volunteers and citizens in general. Her letter to the city employees dated June 4, 2008 is, in my opinion, a violation of our Hamlet employees’ freedom of speech. Does she not know that she is accountable to the people of Hamlet? It is my opinion that she, along with a few of the people who serve on the city council, feel no accountability to the people living in this town. City employees and volunteers are voters and taxpayers also! The city manager doesn’t even live in this town. She should have received a stern reprimand from our town government and an apology should have been issued to the city employees.

Judy B. McNeil-Long

Hamlet