In my little town, there are some who don’t seem to understand the impact bloggers have. Last week’s newspaper had an article about this. One of my town’s selectmen runs a blog, where he shares information about meetings, his opinions ect. It’s come under fire.

In selecting its “Person of the Year” last week, Time Magazine saluted the online community of bloggers and others who participate in user-generated Internet sites, saying they are transforming the world.

But in Milford a selectman’s blog has raised the ire of some town employees, including the town administrator and the library director.

Town Administrator Guy Scaife criticized the blog of Selectman Jim Dannis last month, and other town employees, including the head of Wadleigh Memorial Library, told The Cabinet they think Dannis’ blog is offensive.

Offensive? Jim Dannis’s blog is anything but offensive. The people who are being critical here obviously haven’t read many blogs…political and otherwise. The ignorance shines through.

After Scaife called Dannis’ blog inaccurate and inflammatory, library director Michelle Sampson said, “I’m extraordinarily happy Guy called him on it. He said what a lot of us (town employees) wanted to say.”

Unlike town employees, who want to remain anonymous, Sampson does not report to the selectmen, but to the library board of trustees.

Sampson is angry that Dannis’ website has attacked Selectman Noreen O’Connell and members of the town’s personnel committee, for, he said, being opposed to a town wide ethics policy.

He got it wrong, Sampson said: Committee members are not opposed to an ethics policy but thought it was unnecessary because town department heads are already governed by the ethics codes of their professional organizations.

Why can’t a person speak to how they feel? Being a selectman, or a governor, or Senator, shouldn’t be a reason one has to keep their feelings and thoughts to themselves. We’re all free to speak, last I knew. Especially in New Hampshire, where it’s Live Free or Die.

Sampson was also upset with anonymous postings written by Dannis’ readers. She called the postings “extraordinarily mean and completely unprofessional.”

“If someone feels that way have the guts to put your name on it,” she said.

About a dozen employees across nine town departments told The Cabinet they agree with Scaife and many said that they have stopped reading blogs posted by Dannis and by fellow Selectman Larry Pickett because they find them “too disturbing.”

One department head said he doesn’t read the blogs, but every day he hears from residents who say they are frustrated with the “disharmony” he says they create.

Oh puleeze lady. Get a grip of yourself. One of the reasons people blog, using anonymous signatures is to avoid the wrath of people like YOU. Many of us blog under a different name as well. We have reasons: If we blog about political issues we could face some personal scrutiny. If we blog about national and international politics, war, peace, and similar things- we get threatened with our lives. I’ve been threatened a few times with having my head chopped off- from supposed Muslimes. Don’t forget: The Internet is not all about Milford NH. It’s international. It’s easy to find out who runs a web site…unless your block that info with a proxy service.

“I believe that taxpayers come first,” he recently wrote, “that town government should be held to the same kind of performance, accountability and customer service standards as are found in the private sector.”

Pickett started a blog this fall, and some of his posts are also critical of town government, especially DPW paving projects, something he often addresses at board meetings.

“You can’t just write everything that’s positive and tell taxpayers you gave them a realistic view of government,” he said, defending his postings.

Pickett said residents have given helpful ideas and called blogging “like having your own little focus group.”

An elected official from a neighboring town who did not want to be named said he likes Dannis’ blog and even posts entries. He said Dannis’ postings are no different than speaking to constituents. People who dislike the blogs “don’t have to read it,” he said.

Blogs offer another means to communicate with citizens of any town or city. Blogs should not be censored by a committee or posts approved by councils and all that. Let freedom speak for itself. Blog on Mr. Dannis and Mr. Pickett!