I was surprised to read in the “Candidate Statements” from last week that our Bristol Town Council instructed the current town clerk to “limit online access.” Why would the town council instruct the town clerk to do that?

It is disappointing to hear that the council is instructing anyone to curb the public’s access. After all, isn’t the business of our town all the people’s business? Was there a public discussion of this at a town council meeting where the public had a chance to weigh in on this? Was a vote taken to limit access?

I don’t understand why I can go into the Town Hall and ask for a “public document” but can’t simply print it from my own computer. Why should I have to take time out of work to get to the Town Hall before 4 p.m. to get a public document that should be easily available online? It seems arbitrary.

If the General Assembly can post their business all over their website, then Bristol should be able to do the same thing. Clearly, we wouldn’t be posting any state secrets.

Paul Furtado

Bristol