Lack of the Democratic Process at Deliberative Sessions

In the Jan. 17 Eagle Tribune appears a "Letter To the Editor" by an Atkinson resident. The letter was about how the conduct allowed in our Deliberative Sessions had made a mockery of "the democratic process in the Town of Atkinson." What is significant, is that the incidents cited by the letter writer are not something new. Instead, they have become regular occurrences in the last couple years.

The letter makes valid points. Some special interest groups are going to our Deliberative Session not to deliberate, but to destroy by amendment, warrant articles they don’t like for the purpose of denying Atkinson Town Meeting voters the opportunity for fair up or down votes on those articles.

The "outraged" letter writer cites mockeries of democracy which happened at two recent Deliberative Sessions. The first example cited a special interest group’s efforts to "zero out the funding associated with a new library," so that even if voters passed the article at Town Meeting, the will of the voters would have been thwarted and the article would not be able to accomplish its intent. Our Moderator kept silent and provided no words or leadership concerning their attempt to make a mockery of the town meeting vote. (The same thing happened at a previous Deliberative Session with regard to the Vietnam Honor Roll warrant article).

The letter writer also cited the 2006 Deliberative Session where the intent of a warrant article was totally butchered by a special interest group who "changed the language to some innocuous wording having nothing to do with the original warrant article." Amending an article for the sole purpose of destroying it to prevent Atkinson voters from being able to vote on it is totally unacceptable and counter to the spirit of Town Meeting.

The letter writer also cited how motions to cut off debate or move questions are allowed before residents who wish to speak, can do so. Our Moderator says nothing while these residents are denied the right to speak. Residents come to Deliberative Session to express a point of view. When they are denied that right, it is counter to the spirit and intent of Deliberative Session. As our Moderator, Mr. Polito doesn’t seem willing to point out, or maybe just doesn’t understand the purpose of a Deliberative Session is to deliberate.

Petitioned warrant articles submitted by our citizens are examples of the purest form of democracy. Citizens take the time to write warrant articles and get petition signatures so an issue can come to ballot vote, so that Atkinson "neighbors have the opportunity to vote on efforts that dedicated people worked hard to get on the ballot." Yet, too often at recent Deliberative Sessions, those citizens’ initiative, petitioned warrant articles are amended to oblivion.

Many residents are unable to attend Deliberative Session. They either work, are ill, have to care for small children, are elderly and unable to sit on those folding chairs for long periods, etc. So a small special interest group can easily "take over" a Deliberative Session.

Yes, it is legally permissible for a special interest groups to act counter to the spirit of a Deliberative Session. However, a Moderator worth his salt, would speak up and point out that some actions, while legally permissible, are morally wrong. Is it asking too much for our Moderator to just once, show some backbone and stand up for what is right vrs. wrong,-- what is legally allowable vrs. what is morally correct, --what is fair vrs. unfair.

Pointing out to those who subvert the process that they wouldn't like it if the tables were turned, might give them pause to consider the harm their actions are doing to the democratic process. How much longer are we going to have a Moderator who shirks his responsibility to, at least, say something and urge that the democratic process not be perverted? Maybe the time has come for a new Moderator.