I used to believe in traditional town meeting, but now favor Deering changing to an SB 2 town. The reason? I counted up ways taxpayers were cheated out of a voice. The list of denials to vote is long.
SB2 allows people who could not vote at town meeting to have a say by:
■Allowing absentee ballots, so infirm and/or disabled, out-of-town, deployed military and weekend-working people can vote.
■Allowing for private votes instead of a very public, hands-raised vote when displeasure of those who feel differently can be incurred.
■Allowing approximately 1,200 registered voters to cast a ballot vote when our town hall holds a mere one-tenth that number to sit at traditional meeting.
I hope those recognizing the need for everyone to have a say in town matters will vote for SB 2, Article 11, on March 14 at Deering’s town meeting.
NANCY COWAN
Deering
(The writer is a former Deering town clerk/tax collector.)