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Bad for Two Reasons

I attended the Feb. 24 Madison Board of Selectman Meeting and was very surprised at what I witnessed.

The agenda did not have any mention of selecting a voting date for two important town referenda, Academy School and the Education Facilities plan. Early in the meeting during citizen comments, it was apparent that many people came well prepared. They all commented on why October was best for the referenda vote, a month earlier than the November election day.

What I saw was a surprise attack and a very partisan effort to push through a vote on selecting October for the referenda. The two Republican selectmen, Bruce Wilson and Erin Duques, were completely in the dark about this agenda item and not prepared. It was added to the agenda with a Selectman Scott Murphy (D) motion. He read a printed legal document, obviously prepared well in advance. The two Republican selectmen objected, saying that they only learned of this October date discussion hours before the meeting.

This is bad for Madison for two reasons. First, it is not good for an end-run, surprise effort to push through an important decision with many objecting. Second, special referenda turnouts, not taking place on regular election days, have low 20- to 30-percent turnouts. The November election is expected to have 85 percent of Madison voters turning out.

We need everyone to vote on Academy and education referenda. Obviously, proponents think they have a better chance if few voters participate. Let’s do it with 85 percent of the voters in November.

Charles Lehberger

Madison