Dear Editor:

Town meeting as the customary construct of local governance has a revered history across the state of Maine. By 1652, Plymouth Colony requested townsmen settled in Maine (a region then named Yorkshire County) sign a statement accepting the authority to make decisions concerning local matters; this transfer of authority began the tradition of public participation in town affairs. Throughout New England, town meeting became the legislative body of the community; it passes local laws, approves the annual budget, sets the level of taxes needed to support the budget. Town meeting was and remains today, a form of pure democracy.  

Defining Aspects of a Town Meeting:   

THE WARRANT is the official public notice of the Town Meeting listing the time, place and the items on the agenda.* 

A WARRANT ARTICLE is an item to be voted by Town Meeting.* 

AN OPEN TOWN MEETING allows all the town’s registered voters to participate, discuss, and vote on local issues. * 

Why has Edgecomb’s town meeting become so unfashionable that few citizens show up to vote for the policies, budgets, and taxes that affect our lives? Many areas of the proposed budget can be modified, without impacting public services. A sensible reduction of the costs will lower our tax burden.  

Town government can only be equitable, efficient, and effective if its citizens stay informed and participate in town meeting; a structure of governance continues to represent the purest form of Democracy. 

Participatory events for concerned residents: 

May 17 at 10 a.m., an Open town meeting will be held at Eddy School to vote on the Warrant Articles in the School Board’s proposed budget.  

On May 17  from 1 to 7 p.m., voting on the remainder of the general town warrant by referendum ballot at the Edgecomb Town Hall.   

Please attend. With participation, we can lower our tax burden and maintain the same quality of education and services for our community.   

Cynthia Marsh  

Edgecomb  

*Maine Moderators’ Manual / a handbook for Town Meetings / 6th Edition, 2006