Following is a copy of a letter submitted to local newspapers for publication. I wanted to share this with all my truth blogging friends. My good friend Melodye Conway is the author. I think that she has voiced what we collectively feel! Good work Mel!

To the Editor and the citizens of Wareham,

My name is Melodye Conway.  I have lived in Wareham for 39 years and attended Town Meeting regularly since I was old enough to participate.  I vote in our local elections, have volunteered hundreds of hours on several Town boards and committees as well as been active with local youth organizations. 

I attended both nights of Fall Town Meeting and will admit I was appalled at the lack of civility demonstrated by many in attendance, including the Board of Selectmen.  In my years of experience I have never witnessed such outlandish behavior and it saddens me to see what this purest form of democracy, that has guided our Town for hundreds of years, has degraded to.

I place the blame for this situation solely at the feet of our current leadership including the Moderator.  When the Selectmen regularly criticize and ridicule private citizens, volunteer board members and Town employees it is no wonder the citizenship will follow suit and behave in a manner less than appropriate for a Town Meeting setting.  Our Moderator has allowed this behavior from all parties to escalate over the last few years to a point where he no longer has any control of the meeting.  Our Selectmen have no respect for the voters who attend Town Meeting, consistently labeling voters who do not support their initiatives as corrupt special interest lobbyists.  One Selectman even went so far as to say those voters were “ugly people with black hearts” in print in a local publication.

I suggest instead that the Selectmen should lead by example and exhibit the level of civility and respect to the citizens of this community that they seem to expect be granted to themselves.  I suggest as well that we need a Moderator who is capable of assuring that the body in its entirety maintains the level of decorum that should always be exhibited at Town Meeting.

The Town Meeting system works.  Any registered voter with an opinion has the right to attend and be heard and to vote their conscience.  With solid guidance from our leadership the Town Meeting form of government is effective.

It is my understanding that the Selectmen are intending to place the failed Westfield initiative and the failed Civil Service article on the April Town Ballot.  At the public urging of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, nearly 500 voters attended and spoke clearly on Monday night, and 260+ on Tuesday.  Their votes should not be discounted, ridiculed or dismissed.  Personally I have had enough and urge the voters of Wareham to stand up and be heard.  We cannot allow our current Board of Selectman to attempt to override the Town Meeting process.

Sincerely,

Melodye Conway