Our View
• Gray Special Town Meeting
Jun 28, 2010 – Tomorrow night is Gray's opportunity to exercise the democratic process. A special town meeting addressing three failed municipal warrant articles will take place at Newbegin Gym at 7 PM.
Last year, by referendum, the town decided, by a wide margin, to eliminate the bifurcated town meeting and simply vote by referendum in June. Upon that vote, the Town Council clarified verbiage in the charter to address the potential for certain articles failing at the referendum vote.
In the town's maiden voyage of the new procedure, that potential became a reality. With Charter in hand, the Council followed the rules and planned a Special Open Floor Town meeting to address the failed articles.
Ironically, the very people who were against the elimination of the open floor portion of the meeting during the public hearings last year, objected to having an open floor meting to address the failed articles this year. They seemed in favor of another referendum vote. Rather puzzling, even more curious is the fact that they wanted to put any special meeting off until mid July.
Other than to water down the vote, as many will be on vacation by then, one has to wonder what would motivate such preferences, since the fiscal year ends on June 30th, and by charter the town would continue to operate on the last budget – which in the case of the Boards and Committees is higher than the proposed article that failed.
By the vote earlier this month, $10,000 worth of council stipend was eliminated. At a subsequent council meeting, one citizen commented that he wasn't satisfied with the performance of the council and thus they shouldn't be paid. I always thought that with elected officials, if the public isn't satisfied, the solution is to simply not to re-elect them. As a former councilor, I can assure you that the $2,000 a year is not pay, it's reimbursement for the reams of paper and printer cartridges required to keep up with all the information and e-mails that are received. It might cover gas money for travel to countless meetings in town and out, but it is certainly not pay for the innumerable hours spent serving the public.
As for the administrative budget, our Town Hall staff and department heads will see its first raise in 2 years, and most will net about a 2% increase as they now pay more for health care. What do you cut?
In the past year, we've seen a mass of citizenry in support of Parks and Recreation staff and programs, we have heard over and over again that we need to increase the tax base through smart economic development. Why would one then want to cut the positions or the salaries of the very people who work toward those goals.
The Boards and Committees warrant presented a budget that is actually less than last year. Aside from the semi-judicial Zoning and Planning Board whose budgets are somewhat fixed since they, by law, have to have meetings recorded, the other committees, all with fairly nominal budgets will suffer. They are Parks and Recreation, Community Economic Development, Library Trustees, Public Safety, and Solid Waste. All of the boards and committees are manned by appointed volunteers who see no compensation for their time, and no reimbursement for their expenses. These committees are the backbone of the town. Without them, the Pennell renovation, the new town website, and countless other community enhancements might not be. Why punish them and impede the progress they're making?
Although you don't have to read too far between the lines to determine our opinion here, the point of this editorial is to encourage our readers to be heard and participate in the meeting. Although many that we've heard from feel that they elect councilors to represent them, this is one of the times that folks need to come forward and represent themselves. No matter which side of the issues you support, make it a priority to attend on Tuesday and cast your vote.
Tracy Scheckel
Editor
