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<br />Chair Carey said that he was not aware of a presentation tonight. He encouraged <br />anyone that had a presentation longer than three minutes to give the presentation to the Board <br />in written form. <br />Beverly Blythe read a prepared statement, as shown below: <br />"Honorable County Commissioners: <br />I just can't believe that something like this is happening. As all of you know, we have <br />had a farmers market here in Hillsborough for 20 years. I started the market in June of 1987 <br />and it has grown each year with vendors and customers. We have always operated under a <br />vendor-operated participative structure with rules and regulations and a market manager. We <br />have never had any problems. The membership has always worked together far what is best <br />for all the vendors. Two years ago a group wanted to form an interim board to formulate bylaws <br />and this was approved. This past February, the Hillsborough Farmers Market Group agreed to <br />continue this interim board. I attended the meetings and it soon became apparent to me that <br />this group was discriminating against applications that I brought forward and were self-serving. <br />I wrote the first memo you have dated May 21 to disband this group. A couple of people from <br />this group wanted a vote by the membership. I asked this group a second and third time with no <br />results to disband and so I called a special meeting of the membership - a meeting in which this <br />group tried to take over with no success. The interim board was disbanded an June 14 by a <br />vote of 12 to 29. This meant that the Hillsborough Farmers Market would remain avendor- <br />operated market with no discrimination and with participation by the vendors open to all small <br />farmers, bakers, and crafters. <br />The majority of the membership wants the Hillsborough Farmers Market to remain a <br />vendor-operated market with a market manager. They have no desire to become a part of <br />some takeover group that is power hungry and self-serving. I regret that this has happened and <br />must say that it is very embarrassing to me. I do not welcome the press coverage that this may <br />get. <br />At first when I started working with this interim group and found out what was happening, <br />I was ready to give up and let them take over. However, after talking with a few of the vendors <br />and letting them know what was happening, it became apparent to me that they wanted no part <br />of this group or bylaws and a board of directors. <br />On behalf of the majority of the HFMG -specifically 34 of the 45 members I ask that you <br />not recognize this takeover group. They want what it has taken me 20 years to build and I ask <br />that you not give them this opportunity. Several of our members will be going with me to see an <br />attorney on Thursday, at which time we hope that we can legally end what is happening. Also, <br />there are ethical questions that will be pursued. <br />This is so terrible that this has happened at this time when we are getting ready to <br />dedicate the Public Market House which we have all worked so hard at getting and have looked <br />forward to for so long. I still can't believe that there are people out there who want to destroy <br />something that is so good -for the small farmers, bakers, and crafters, for the customers, and <br />for the Town of Hillsborough." <br />Beverly Blythe added that she did not know that this group was coming before the Board <br />until 3:Q0 p.m. today. <br />Jeffrey Goodrum said that he was here to introduce to the Board the new incorporated <br />Hillsborough Farmers Market. He read through a presentation: <br />Who we are <br />