October 1, 2007
Dear Board of Selectmen:
As you are probably aware by now, this morning three of us were asked to leave a No Place for Hate committee meeting. We find it highly disturbing that a group that is supposed to promote inclusion for all our town members excluded us from a discussion in which we have a direct interest, while they met in closed-door session with a nonresident.
What happened today illustrates perfectly the contradictory status of the No Place for Hate program and the problems that can arise from such an ambiguous situation. Is the committee a town body representing the residents of Lexington or is it a subsidiary of the Anti-Defamation League?
Ms. Krieger stated at the Board of Selectmen's meeting last Monday that NPFH is not a town committee. Yet, it is included in the annual report, it is listed on the official town web page, it meets in the Town Office Building, and it has representatives from the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager's office, Lexington Public Schools, and the Lexington Police Department.
Given this, should not open government laws apply here? At least in principle, if not legally?
We can not imagine why the committee members would have been unable to ask their questions had we been present. Why the secrecy?
We left peacefully, but under protest, and with a great disappointment in the NPFH committee. Surely you must realize that this will cause further resentment in the Armenian community.
We would like to ask formally that you place the issue of severing Lexington's ties to the ADL on the agenda of your October 15th meeting. We also ask that you vote on it that evening.
Thank you.
Laura Boghosian
Michael Kouchakdjian
Alan Seferian
Nora Aroyan
Letter of Complaint to Lexington Selectmen: NPFH Committee Holds Closed-Door Meeting, Excludes Residents
