Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-04-15
TRUSTEES WILL NOT PERMIT THE PRESS
REPRESENTATION AT THEIR MEETINGS
Vote Unanimously Reject Registers Petition to Report Debera
OnS. Only Finished Matters Of Public interest They Say.

dlebury voted unanimously chat nc
person acting in the capacity of news
paper reporter or editor shall be al
lowed to be present at the meetings Oi
the Trustees, with the intention oi
publishing in any newspaper the pro
ceedings of the Board, matters voted
by the Trustees only being considered
of any interest to the public or reader;
of newspapers.S This decision was
copied from the records at the office oi
the village clerk. The paragraph that
preceded it in the minutes of the last
meeting will explain the circumstances
of the decision. The minute reads:
"Mr. Rossiter. editor of The Middle
bury Register, was present and asked
permission to attend the meeting OF
the Board of Trustees in the future and
report the doings of the Trustees for
his newspaper Mr. Sturtevant, the
village attorney, was also an attendant
and discussed the matter of the right
of publication Of the proceedings Of the
Trustees"
Mr.. Ross;ter was present at the
opening of the meeting After the
reading of the bills, the chairman c. o.
Frost asked him what his business
was "I am here to ask that you
gentlemen permit me to be present at
your meetings as a reporter" was Mr.
Rossiters reply. "In what paper do
you intend to publish your report of
the meetings." Mr.. Frost asked, "In
this Middleburv Register?" The latter
part Of his question seemed put in a
manner Of a slur. Mr.. Sturtevant sug-
gested that Mr. Rossiter make his re-
quest and then leave the room during
the debate. Mr.. Rossiter then read the
following communication.
Gentlemen
Like yourselves, The Register strives
to the best of its ability to serve the
public, upon whose patronage its ex-
istence depends Its service consists
mainly in the publication of the items
of interest such as happenings in the
village, town and county. Its man
agement seeks your assistance, in as
much as you and your deliberations in
an official capacity form one of the
most interesting parts of local life.
'In a letter to your president under
date of January %, we requested the
permission to be present at your meet
ings Our communication was prompt
ed especially by criticisms of certain
reports of village affairs published by
us We had lacked in accuracy, our
critic said To insure ourselves against
a repetition of any cause for complaint,
by teking full responsibility for stories
of the trustees to ourselves and doing
away with the necessity OF relying
upon a third party for our information,
we sought this representation, as lis
tener merely, at your sessions.
"Our letter to your president has
never been answered and we have ap-
pealed to you, the Board.
"We have brought with us a clipping
from the Bennington Banner, Illus
trating the thoroughness with which
the meetings of the trustees Of Ben
nington are reported by that news
paper. To our mind such reports as
this form one of the most desirable Of
links between the public and their
elected presentatives. AS taxpayers
YOU yourselves, after quitting the office
you now hold, will appreciate all the
information obtainable of the method
in which your money will be expended
by your successors.
The advantages in publicity of viii
lage affairs seem to outweigh the rea-
sons advanced for secrecy. 1t is the
peoples business that you do. The
people will read with deep concern the
transaction, in its various phases, OF
their business. The advertisement
through the press of contemplated ac-
tions would afford one and all an op-
portunity of being heard upon such
plans,-a guarantee of public satisfac-
ton.
1--WE have sought the counsel OF
many men of local prominence anent
he advisablitv of our request. Quite
unanimously they were surprised that
anybody, reporter or other citizen,
would find difficulty in gaining admit
tance to your sessions. We say this
for no other reason than to refer to
the general opinion as we found it.
On Vergennes the newspaper is wei
coined by the administration. Mr..
Wheeler. the editor of the Enterprise
and Vermonter and of the Middlebury
Record, expressed himself in no uncer-
tain terms Of the conviction that the
press has real right to the gallery
in the village Board meetings.
"In a reply to communication from
us the attorney-general of Vermont,
F. c. Archibald. wrote as follows re-
garding village trustees and the press.
Montpelier. VT, Feb. p, 1921
The Register Company, Inc,
Middlebury. Vermont.
Gentlemen
Referring to the letter of your edi-
tor. Daniel P. Rossiter, of the 18th
inst. relative to meetings Of your
oard of Trustees, l beg to say:
This is a matter, to reply to which,
is wholly outside of my official duties
1t is, however. my judgment that the
meetings OF your Board OF Trustees
should be open to the public, unless for
some special reason that Board goes
into executive session. Ordinarily such
boards are not only willing, but an
xious, to have publicity given to their
orncaad;uor