Due to libelous accusations being made by Lisa Hayes, reporter for the Katahdin Press, the Millinocket Community Action Committee would like to issue a statement.
Contrary to Ms. Hayes published report in an online forum that she is a member of, I, Kathy Gagnon, did not demand - or even ask that she leave the committee meeting, despite the fact that she was being disruptive to the meeting. This outright fabrication of events is libelous and can be confirmed by all of the witnesses present at the meeting. I find it quite disheartening that a group that has been formed to encourage unity in the town is being used and defamed by Ms. Hayes' libelous accusations to do just the opposite. But, if nothing else, it further convinces me of the need to continue our efforts to take positive action for the town.
Aside from the discomfort members felt from Ms. Hayes interjecting our previous meeting with questions, as a reporter, one reason for not wanting reporting done at our meetings is that we want people to feel free to offer ideas and comments without fearing that they will be published in the newspaper.
Though she interrupted our previous meeting with questions, she did not then report on any of the topics she quizzed us about. Meetings are used to discuss and toss around ideas with most not being anything concrete to report about. We prefer to offer a press release with valid and definite information as it is available to avoid misunderstandings from misinformation. Most other groups that meet do this as well and don't seem to get harassed for it. I have to wonder how these other groups would feel about a reporter wanting to interrupt and question their meetings when they are trying to put together ideas and organize.
Because some members, me included, were uncomfortable with Ms. Hayes presence at meetings as a reporter, questions were asked as to whether or not meetings could be closed to the press. We have been informed that the press cannot be kept out of any public meeting.
As Co-Chair of the committee, I did write a letter to the Katahdin Press owner, Bob Pushard, asking that, if our meetings were to be covered, if they could be covered by another reporter who is also a member. It was only a request, one that Mr. Pushard did not even show the professional courtesy of acknowledging.
Ms. Hayes' attempt to defame and damage my reputation and that of the MCAC with these accusations has caused the committee to now need to ask citizens interested in joining the committee to contact MCAC to join rather than putting meeting notices out for the general public. We are still a citizens' committee, but in the interest of having meetings free from disruption and harassment from Ms. Hayes, under the guise of reporter, we must hold all future meetings as private committee meetings.
These meetings will be closed to the press.
We maintain that we did not ban Ms. Hayes from our meeting or tell her she must leave. Ms. Hayes was told that if she was going to continue to disrupt the meeting by raising her voice at members and interrupting people she would have to be asked to leave. I was not the person who stated this to her, though I felt the same way about it.
Her response was to choose to leave.
Her parting comment was a threat to write about myself and our committee in the next issue of the Katahdin Press. She has already published false and libelous statements on a local forum. I think it is a shame when a local paper's reporter uses the ability to publish as a threat to citizens of that town and for the purpose of defaming a committee that is trying to accomplish positive activities for the town. I have no problem with her publishing truth about the meeting, but if what Ms. Hayes is stating and publishing on a local forum is an indication of what she plans to publish in the Katahdin Press, she may want to first reacquaint herself with the definition of libel before she states that I demanded or asked her to leave the meeting because that is not true. I had not intended to publicly comment on this incident in such a way, but refuse to remain silent about such an outright lie. Either way, Ms. Hayes is managing to generate something negative about MCAC. I only hope people who might judge us will look at what we have so far accomplished and watch to see what we will accomplish before doing so.
MCAC members have wondered why Ms. Hayes was insisting on attending our meetings as a reporter when she and her editor did not see fit to publish the positive article submitted to her by Co-Chair, Roseanne Weymouth, along with a picture of the Easter Egg Hunt winners. MCAC had initially shied away from publicity with the Katahdin Press because of our perception of its strong political bias and ties to regional organizations which we hoped to avoid. Having the children who won the contest see their pictures in the local paper overrode that hesitation. We are sorry that it was not included for publication since it was submitted long before the deadline. While we could easily have received permission to publish the picture on MCMS, we did not feel it wise to publish children's photos on the Internet and so did not consider doing so.
MCAC has already successfully accomplished positive endeavors with our Easter Egg Hunt and our surveys. We will continue to work hard to bring about other fun and positive events. We hope citizens will continue to support our efforts and help us to rise above the negativity with positive actions. We will not be commenting on this incident further. We prefer to put it behind us and move ahead with a positive outlook rather than argue or litigate it back and forth, which will change or solve nothing.
Our final Peddlers' Hill proposal will be coming before the Town Council soon. Depending on the council's approval, we hope to see citizens then have the opportunity to become involved with the planning of this project along with town officials.
Citizens are invited and welcome to join in our quest to bring positive action to our town.
Citizens interested in joining may contact us by email at: maine_kat@hotmail.com, or MCAC, P.O. Box 107, Millinocket, ME 04462. We may also be reached by phone weekdays at 723-6290 or 723-4226.
Thank you.
Kathy Gagnon & Roseanne Weymouth
Co-Chairs
Millinocket Community Action Committee
