Congratulations to Sal and Chris Carcellar, who helped guide the Portsmouth Town Council into making a decision tonight to put proposed language to the voters to convert the Tent Meeting to a regular election.

The current tent meeting "Doesn't allow every voter the right to vote," Sal Carcellar said tonight, and put it to the Council: "Where do we go from here?"

The council voted to put the amended language to the voters at a special election, date yet to be determined. But not without some twists, and a bit of fireworks. In a sensible decision, Council President Dennis Canario scheduled more discussion at the next meeting for at least two additional proposals that weren't properly advertised tonight.

Pete McIntyre had his own, alternative proposal, which was not read publicly. First, he said, he wanted to "Find two good lawyers that have no children in the school to take a look at the package." The council will take the resulting proposal up in two weeks.

I found the idea of childlessness a curious qualification for an attorney, and asked Mr. McIntyre about this after the meeting. He reassured me that it wasn't intended the way it sounded to me; that these were lawyers whose children had already graduated. "But why say it at all?" I asked. He talked about people being suspicious, on both sides, about whether people who either do or don't have children in the schools are really impartial. And that's a fair point.

But I still think it's bizarre for a member of the Town Council to select two secret attorneys. Especially someone from a party whose platform was about restoring openness and transparency. He wouldn't give their names, he said, because he "didn't want their phones ringing off the hook."

And then Tailgunner Gleason touted her entry. "Mr. Carcellar's proposal," she said, "Could produce chaos." But before she described her magic bullet, she had another ride on her favorite hobbyhorse, Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin's alleged failure to write up her proposal.

"I can't think of anything more chaotic than the tent meeting," said Councilor Len Katzman.

But Tailgunner wasn't done with Gavin. "I asked him on two separate occasions. I'm not sure Mr. Gavin will follow through."

"Mr. Gavin," said Canario firmly, "Will do as the Council directs."

There was some discussion about whether Gleason's was substantively different from one from Larry Fitzmorris offered from the podium.

"I'm not sure why you're questioning Mr. Fitzmorris," Tailgunner complained. "I would like you to direct the solicitor to draw up a proposal I'm requesting."

Katzman made a motion to that effect, which passed, to the relief of everyone who has been hearing Tailgunner flog this issue for months.

So, let's recap: the Carcellars worked for months, rounded up support, got more than 500 letters sent to the Council for their petition. And in two weeks, we come back to see what Loudy and best legal minds of the PCC have, reveal the childless-star-chamber-blessed version from PMac, and finally get to hear the beautiful duet of KG+KG. I'm all atwitter.

There was another, deeply disturbing agenda item, but I do not have time to tackle it tonight. It relates to the proposed reappointment of Allen Shers to the Portsmouth Redevelopment Agency. I knew something was odd when the reappointment wasn't automatic. Tonight, the Council voted, 4-3, to replace him with former Council President Mary Ann Edwards.

There is an interesting story here, I'm sure. Anyone care to drop a dime? You can click the link to send anonymous feedback. I promise not to use it in an amicus brief.