To the editor:

I watched the Bob Campbell Show a few days ago. At least I thought I saw it all. However, I learned that the actual decisions were made upstairs, away from the cameras at Bob's urging. My question is: Why did any of the members of this charade allow him to do this? It seems illegal to me.

The Charter Committee was supposed to meet from 6 to 7 p.m. — on camera. They did that. They voted 7-2 to not send the charter to Concord for review (a stupid move). After a lot of discussion, they ran out of time because the Budget Committee was to start their deliberations at 7 p.m. So, meeting over, right? Well you would be wrong.

Bob Campbell, Salem's czar, after the cameras were no longer on him, told the committee to go upstairs and wrap it up. Obediently, they followed. Upstairs, I learned from a committee member, they changed the number of councilors from 9 down to 7. Instead of having the majority of councilors be elected by district, they voted to make all councilors be elected townwide. It is their hope they can more easily control who gets voted in. That wasn't enough! They changed the term of office from 2 years up to the current 3 years. See? If there were to be 2 year terms, you could oust someone who is not working to your ideals.

Czar Bob Campbell and his minions do not want you the citizen to be in control. They want to tell you what is good for you. They believe you don't understand the facts.

I believe this meeting was illegal. They never announced they were continuing after the cameras were off, made significant changes upstairs out of the sight of the citizens who voted them into their seats and typically thumbed their noses at all of us. It doesn't matter whether you agree with their changes or not. They hid from view. They can say the door was open upstairs, but no one knew they were there.

Earl Merrow

Salem, N.H.