Thank you, Mr. Starchuck, for your opinions.
You are right that I should not have told Mr. Frederick to shut up.
But you are incorrect about why I was yelling after the meeting.
Mr. Frederick asked at least four times about how many board members signed the confidentiality paper, the last time saying something like ‘I just want to get this right as it’s going in the paper.’ I felt his tone was threatening and he was bordering on harassment, particularly since the question a couple before was mine and I asked when are we going to be able to ask our question aloud.
Mayor Martin answered that: it was to be discussed at a later date.
So, upon Mr. Fredericks’ fourth time (I am told 5 times) asking the question, a woman sitting two rows behind me called up to tell Mr. Frederick what to ask.
Why is it they were the only two people able to speak out?
I don’t count the people asking to have the speaker hold up the microphone.
The acoustics in that beautiful building are so lousy, the overhead drone of that air machine made it so that people in the first row said they couldn’t hear.
I was in front of the podium in the second row. I could at times not hear either Mayor Martin or Mr. Von der Gonna.
So, I don’t think you heard what transpired at the end of the meeting, Mr. Starchuck. Let me tell you.
As soon as the meeting ended a person in the room turned and came at me. He shook his finger right in my face and pointed at my husband and said the next time you talk like that you better be standing behind him.
You bet I got fired up!
Don thought he was going to hit me. I put my arm out and said, ‘No Don.’ Don said ‘back off,’ twice.
If he had turned properly, I am a big enough person to have said I am sorry to have said that.
I meant what I said but should not have voiced it aloud.
After the meeting I reacted to what I perceived to be a threat and called this person out on it as he walked away.
Diane Smith
McBride, BC
