An Important Tool for Democracy

As Sudbury moves beyond our annual election and fast approaches our next hallowed civic event, Town Meeting (starting Monday May 4^th), we are met with a citizen petition (page 74) for a second Town Meeting (Wednesday May 20^th).

The mechanism for a citizen to request a special Town Meeting is an important feature of our democratic processes.   It empowers a voter to bring the community together to address a concern that has emerged and may warrant action before the next Town Meeting.  In this era of the 250^th as we reflect on the historical roots connecting us to the ordinary people in the colonies who assembled to redress their grievances, we can appreciate the value of the citizen petition option.

What we have today in the citizen petition that has triggered a second Town Meeting is an article that makes several serious allegations without any of them being substantiated.  IF such allegations had been substantiated, and IF appropriate action had not been taken in response, THEN there might be a basis for making use of the citizen petition to call a Town Meeting.  To date, neither of these conditions exist, so I ask: What is the grievance for Sudbury voters to redress?

When a member of the community becomes unsatisfied with the actions or decisions of elected officials there are avenues and processes available to seek recourse.  We also have annual elections that are a prime opportunity for a registered voter to stand up, champion their positions, and seek the votes to take a seat at the table and participate in changing things.  Demanding a Special Town Meeting to make a non-binding complaint is a very costly way of airing frustration.

The wheels are in motion, and a second Town Meeting will be convened.  Though the article up for a vote falls short of a good reason for a Town Meeting, voters will need to participate and express their positions.

Does a non-binding article with unsubstantiated allegations make sense?  

Does the article comport with principles of due process?  

Are unsubstantiated allegations even a proper use of the process of invoking a Special Town Meeting?  

Do we want a future in which community members feel entitled to employ the citizen petition to cause the community to pay for a Special Town Meeting and to come together to consider complaints that have other, appropriate avenues for consideration?

Your vote is your voice.