To the editor:

In a recent letter to the editor, a member of the Tiverton Budget Committee expressed his irritation with the fact that residents — in particular, parents and teachers — filled town hall when his committee met to discuss the school budget. He then went on to lament the fact that school committee meetings see much lower attendance.

Either you believe, as I do, that public scrutiny of and participation in government is a good thing, or you don’t. An elected official who suggests that public oversight of other committees is a good thing but public oversight of his own committee is not risks looking hypocritical.

Two observations may help here. First, residents and stakeholders tend to show up when they have reason to believe that a majority of the committee will not be representing their interests; conversely, these same residents stay home when they trust a majority of the committee will make decisions that are in the best interests of the community.

Second, the proper response to a room full of citizens at your committee meeting is not to wish them away, but to allow them to speak and then to do your best to address their concerns.

Carol Herrmann

Tiverton