Citizen upset Selectmen change petition on warrant

To the Editor:

Over the last several years the freedoms in our democracy have slowly been eroded. While we have little control over many things at the national and state level, I'd like to think that we still have a vital role in maintaining freedom in our community. Something occurred, however, at the Selectmen's meeting on April 7, 2008, here in Ashburnham about which I feel the citizens should be informed.

A warrant article by citizen's petition had been submitted to the Selectmen. The petition had been readily signed by everyone who saw it, enabling the matter to be brought before the town meeting for a vote by the citizens of Ashburnham. When the selectmen reviewed the article they altered the intent of the article by changing the wording. Fortunately, a member of the Advisory Board who was at the meeting, pointed out the change in wording. The town attorney confirmed that changing the wording in a citizen's petition is illegal. Instead of acknowledging that an error had been made, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen then asked if this was a legal petition. The town attorney assured everyone that it was indeed a legal petition. It seems that the Selectmen are afraid of putting this article before the voters? Is this how democracy works in Ashburnham? Have we become a town where the citizen's voice is unimportant and can just be ignored? As the date for town elections draws near, we are fortunate that we have a very qualified candidate running against the incumbent. It is time for a change. The present situation is not beneficial to either our town or, in a larger sense, our country.

Lois Somers Ashburnham