Candidates bring too narrow focus to charter review
To the editor:
Over the past few weeks, I have read with some measure of interest the letters to the editor with the subject matter being …
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Candidates bring too narrow focus to charter review
To the editor:
Over the past few weeks, I have read with some measure of interest the letters to the editor with the subject matter being that of the election of members to Tiverton’s charter review commission. I am indeed interested in the content of these letters, and they have given me pause to reflect upon what exactly will constitute a good and worthwhile group of individuals on the commission.
I feel that we are beginning to go down a very slippery and unhealthy slope. The only subject I’ve read or heard about is the one regarding property taxes and budgeting procedures as well as expenditures. I truly wonder how many candidates have read completely our Town Charter, as well as, perhaps, gone beyond and read the Comprehensive Plan of our community.
We must remember that those who are selected by the electors at the July election will be meeting for a year on a wide number of articles contained in the charter, and consequently are charged with addressing the entire charter with open minds and the ability to listen to elected officials, department heads, members of volunteer commissions, experts in various areas of government, as well as any town resident with an idea.
Shame on us if we are all reduced to continuing along the path of being so narrowly focused on one particular position regarding the town’s finances that we do significant harm to what otherwise could be a very good opportunity.
The only true measure of success in this process is to come together at the end with a final proposal for Tiverton’s residents to vote on — not for only whether or not our approach to finances is the correct one, but if our approach to anything else within our government is in need of some change.
Those candidates who are not open minded but push a narrow and singular agenda are not worthy of a vote.
Frank Rodrigues
Tiverton