This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Entitled to Vote in Secret

The normal annual Westbook budget all-day vote procedure is being adjourned to a evening and public vote on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m.—no all day secret ballot! This new process will prevent many Westbrook citizens from participating due to time or privacy concerns. The regular annual evening budget presentation last Wednesday was attended by less than 26 citizens, at least 10 of whom were nonvoting staff or current elected officials.

On the evening of May 11, I will move to have a ballot—a private paper vote on this two-plus percent increase in our taxes. Board of Finance Chair Paul “I make the rules” Connelly refused to tell the meeting how much he would raise the mill rate.

By law, we are entitled to vote in secret. Now we cannot do this at a town meeting unless the registrars of voters pass out ballots that evening to verified Westbrook citizens and count them that evening.

In order for this to happen, a motion must be made and seconded from the floor at the meeting to have a ballot vote. I will make the motion. This procedure is legal and provides privacy for the citizens of Westbrook. I have informed the registrars of voters of my intention.

Jeffrey Kriete

Westbrook