By Mchael Donoghue
Vermont News First

A version of this news story appeared recently in The Islander newspaper

GRAND ISLE — The Grand Isle Selectboard members have said, after further review, they believe they made a mistake when they recently voted to donate $100 in tax money to Front Porch Forum, an online business.

Chair Jen Morway and board member Ellen Howrigan said at the meeting last week they had received phone calls from people upset with the town providing taxpayer funds to a for-profit business.

Morway said she now believes the vote set a problematic precedent.  It also differs from the process Grand Isle has long used for appropriations to local organizations, which are brought before all voters each year, she said.

Board member Jeff Parizo, who had voted against the last-minute proposal at the previous meeting, said he remained concerned the town donation was sending a wrong message by providing tax funds for free to a money-making business, which is based in Burlington. 

Parizo noted the town of Grand Isle has never offered similar donations to its local media outlets that regularly cover community news like Lake Champlain Access Television (LCATV) or The Islander, the weekly newspaper.

Morway said the concern was valid and the discussion at the prior meeting had moved quickly and more time should have been used.

Howrigan agreed, noting, “We just need to slow some of these discussions down a little bit sometimes.”

The town’s check has been sent, but it was unclear if FPF, which says it employs 31 people, would be willing to send the money back.

Parizo said he had other serious issues with Front Porch Forum beyond giving it local tax dollars.

He said he felt mistreated by FPF during an election several years ago.  He said FPF moderators declined to allow him to correct misstatements made about him in online posts.

Parizo characterized it as an infringement on his First Amendment rights and not allowing him to get his say.  Others could have a say, but he couldn’t, Parizo said. Front Porch Forum also denied posting corrections on the site from his wife’s account, he said.

“They are supposed to be equal, but they weren’t,” Parizo said.  “I’ve never received an apology from them.”

Board member Ron Bushway said he also has been beaten up on the FPF site.

The online email service is used mostly for lost and found items and for announcing meeting or events.

Access is supposed to be limited to real residents within a town or part of a town, but The Islander has written a couple of news stories in recent years about bogus people making ongoing posts to support town or school boards in the Islands. Front Porch Forum eventually removed each after being publicly exposed.   

During the May 18^th meeting, the donation motion was made by Bushway, who said he had used to FPF to announce Free Metal Day at the town’s transfer station and other public announcements. Vice Chair Aimee Cochran seconded the motion, which passed 4-1.

Town Clerk Melissa Boutin said the last donation she found by the town to FPF was in 2015.

Recent Grand Isle Selectboards have rejected Front Porch Forum donation requests.  A few years ago when a donation was suggested at a meeting, Selectboard members raised several questions including if it was proper to donate when not everybody has bought a computer or has access to FPF.  One vocal audience member agreed, noting their family did not have a computer. 

Parizo also said at the time The Islander was free to everybody, had total saturation at homes and businesses throughout the community and could be picked up all across the county.  

The board agreed at the latest meeting it needs a more comprehensive communication strategy, including using The Islander more for routine announcements each week.

Parizo suggested that at the end of every board meeting a summary could be made for items to be sent by their assistant to The Islander.  They could also go to FPF and other social media, including Facebook and Instagram, the board said.  The board said it would discuss communication more in the future, including creating a Fcebook page for the town.

“We want to be transparent,” Parizo said.