As a Town Meeting member, I am writing to express my optimism about Town Meeting as a body and the upcoming school revote in particular.
Whenever there’s a two-thirds majority vote required – and this is true when we borrow money or change zoning – it requires a lot of time and reflection. Sometimes this means we need to revisit a complex issue when there is new information to consider.
In the case of the schools, for me personally the most important new information is that a majority of teachers are in favor of this plan – something we were told previously was not the case.
Regardless of which way this revote goes, the fact that Town Meeting has the facility to revisit important issues when there is new information to be reviewed is part of what makes it an effective and dynamic vehicle for democracy and citizen representation.
Marcie Sclove
Amherst
The writer is a Town Meeting member from Precinct 2.
