Blogger Foreword: This post is an op ed dealing with the blog and a legal challenge to it. Note: It is an opinion piece, and therefore falls under the protection of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
As 2015 was coming to an end, I took stock of where my time was going and began telling my friends that I planned on ending the blog early in 2016. I was looking forward to spending those hours in my studio, making art quilts.
Then I was served papers charging that my comments in the blog had defamed a man of "exemplary character" and damaged his business. The list of comments cited went back to day 1 and included Dave's limericks, which were not my comments, but just put into the blog.
Well. That changed everything. Rather than ending the blog, I had to keep it going until everything had played out.
The case has concluded, but I am NOT ending the blog.
I will do the blog as long as I flaming well please. Only one thing may change. I don't think my editorial remarks about yawns and curses from the back of the room are necessary. Their crudeness speaks for itself. Since they are part of what has gone on in meetings, they are staying if they are uttered.
If there is a back story that will give perspective and increase understanding of something that occurs in a meeting, the blog will continue to give that story. My opinion may be part of that.
This blog is protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The bully who wanted to silence and humiliate me publicly was trying to deny me my right to freedom of speech while retaining his own. The First Amendment is one of the two cornerstones of this nation, the one that makes us who we are. The First Amendment is a jewel beyond price and sets us apart from almost all the rest of the world. Hiccup wrong in Libya or Egypt or most of the Middle East, and you're dead.
So I am not going away meekly to let the only voice be one fueled by hatred and vindictiveness. The blog is continuing precisely because he tried to shut it down.
Freedom of information is another priceless feature of our nation. You don't have to wonder, "What is she talking about?" You can see for yourself.
The blog has a pretty small readership, in the great scheme of things. But now, thanks to this ego-driven lawsuit, everybody in the county and all of their friends, no matter where they live, can see every detail. It's a matter of public record.
If you don't want to go through the whole business, I will tell you that his lawyer finally moved to dismiss the case. Mine moved for a summary judgment in my favor, which the judge granted.
So, basically, after all of this posturing, my accuser quit before he lost.
Here's how to find the records, step by step: [There are two places that I need to check but don't have the time for at the moment. They are starred, and I think you can work your way through the directions OK, regardless.]
In the Search box of your computer, key in co.portage.oh.us
or Portage County Government Web Site
and click on Search.
At the left on the county home page is a list of choices.
Click on Public Records.
A page comes up headed Miscellaneous County Records.
Under that are three choices. Click on Search Court Records.
Either at the left or at the top of the page that comes up, click on Search Court Records. [*]
Follow the directions that come up. There are two verification steps, both very simple.
When you get the Search window that has starred last name and first name boxes, fill in my name:
Pollard
Carole
Click on Search at the bottom of the window.
That will give you my Portage County court records.
The one dated 1/11/2016 is the source of this blog post. [Click on it.*]
Scroll down to Docket Information and click on the Image icon at the right side of the screen for the first entry. And away you go.
There is no need for me to say anything more about this circus. It's all there in the record.
About This Blog
The purpose of this blog is to give an accurate account of what is said during Public Comment at Mantua Township Trustees meetings.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Principles
Two ideas guide and support me:
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
