Why Attend Town Meeting? Here's a Really Good Example
By way of introduction, I am currently one year into my three year term on Northborough's Board of Selectmen. I was approached by Charlene Arsenault, editor of the Northborough Patch, and asked if I would consider some sort of regular online presence. Blogging is not foreign to me. Many years ago I authored and maintained a personal blog. Because of the various commitments I have in my life, I'm not sure how often I'll publish a post. But when I do, I've determined that it will be in the format of a question and answer relative to happenings within the town. Due to my public position within the town, I must necessarily include a disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are solely those of its author and do not necessarily reflect the policy, position or agenda of any person, agent or employee of the Town of Northborough.
Question: Why should I attend Northborough's annual town meeting? (This year being held on Monday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at Algonquin Regional High School.)
Answer: Let's be honest. Would you rather sit through an hours long discussion on budgets, bylaws, capital improvement projects and zoning laws or watch the latest primetime television program? And even if primetime television isn't your preference, surely there must be a book you'd rather read, a wall you'd rather paint or a place you'd rather be than at the annual town meeting. I get it. I really do. Legislative priorities, revolving funds, motions, petitions and reports – that's somebody else's responsibility. You have enough to manage in your life without worrying about compensating balance agreements, whatever that is, and understanding the concept of a fiscal year. Just make sure the tax level stays where it's at, educate the children, protect property from fire and theft and maintain the roads. Who cares about the rest?
Carol Chione does, now.
I don't know Mrs. Chione very well. She's a distant neighbor of mine given that we live on the same street. About four months ago, she and I started exchanging emails because she lives directly across the street from a parcel of land that is about to be developed with three buildings – a ten unit apartment building, and two half business, half residential buildings. I don't know how civically minded Mrs. Chione was prior to the start of 2012. But I'd wager a guess that this development project forced Mrs. Chione to turn off her primetime television show, put down her book or paint brush, and pick up a copy of Northborough's zoning laws. I'd even be willing to wager that Mrs. Chione has now read more of Part 7 of the Town Code than the people who have the responsibility of enforcing it.
But here's the kicker. The laws allowing for the mixed use proposed development across the street from Mrs. Chione were passed at last year's town meeting. I've never asked Mrs. Chione if she was present last year. I'd frankly doubt it. In fact, the statistical odds are heavily in my favor. Northborough has 10,000 registered voters. The average attendance at the annual town meeting is about 150. The town requires a minimum of 100 voters to convene the meeting, which means that one percent of the town is making decisions affecting the other 99.
The unfortunate truths illustrated by the case of Mrs. Chione are these: 1) Citizens are generally loathe to participate in any aspect of town governance until something happens that directly affects them - just ask anyone living on Coolidge Circle; and 2) by the time a citizen informs themselves sufficient to comprehend the impact, it's generally too late to do anything about it.
Mrs. Chione and the dozens of like-minded residents surrounding the new development will probably not be able to prevent the proposed development from moving forward. But as a result of the process, she and many others have now joined the one percent. Who knows? Maybe this year we'll achieve two percent attendance.
Occupy town meeting.
William Jeas
12:03 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
The "Cram-'n-Jam" Theorem of Town Planning Zoning Code called "Mixed Use"
Cramming-in and jamming-in multiple Apartments & Business Suite under a "mixed use zoning code" onto a tiny parcel of land which currently only is occupied by one house, and only befits space for one home, doesn't make sense, nor does it pass the common sense laughability test. Does it?
This is being undertaken by developers across town, permitted so, due to the changed & quite faulty Zoning Code of 2009. The "Problem" of such a faulty Zoning Code law is now proposed to be "Fixed" by several citizens' Warrant Articles at the April 2012 Annual Town Meeting, so as to restore common sense and reality for town planning.
It doesn't make any sense planning to convert an otherwise rural structure of zoning into a congested Boston-like high density living & mercantile culture. Does It? NO, not at all!
Citizens have the right & power to effect changes in their laws and in our democracy, it's the people who possess the supreme authority decide what to change in the law, or to institute changes in the law. Carol Chione is the agent for the citizens who brings forward changes to a 2009 Zoning law which requires modification for better Town planning.
Vote "YES" at the Annual Town Meeting to correct this "flawed & failed" 2009 Zoning Code municipal law, it makes common sense to do so for the greater common good for citizens and for developers.
AG
1:26 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Way back before there was an Aaron Hutchins John Quincy Adams said that citizens have the right to make and change laws. Your comments against Ms Chione are undue and out of line. Just because the law was passed last year does not make it right. Since when does an absence from a meeting disqualify a person from exercising their Constitutional rights in exercising their rights whether they be male or female.
Aaron Hutchins
2:41 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
I made no comments against Mrs. Chione. If anything, I've extolled her for getting involved.
Brian Smith
7:29 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
I read it the way Aaron does - he is not making a case against Carol Chione rather its against voter apathy. Carol is doing a great job of standing up for her rights but would be the first to admit that she wasn't paying attention back in 2009 (not last year) when the new zoning bylaw came up for vote. She was in good company - many citizens didn't show up or left the meeting early before the vote was taken.
In our open town meeting system the citizens are the legislative branch. It's up to all of us to pay attention and say yea or nay to what the executive branch (town government) proposes. Come to town meeting every year. Grit your teeth through those boring parts and be there for the exciting ones that count. You'll feel good about doing your civic duty.
LIfe long Northborough Resident
9:01 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Every year town meeting is the same. The town boards get up there and say this is "house keeping" you must vote yes. Or they say this is good for the town you must vote yes. Almost everyone just votes yes at everything. I think now we have seen the town boards don't know what is best for the town. Don't be afraid to vote against the town board of selectman or planners etc.
Aaron Hutchins
9:34 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
The problem is waiting until town meeting to hear about the issues. These issues are all discussed in selectmen and other committee meetings long before town meeting, and that is the proper time for citizens to voice their opposition. You can still voice it at town meeting, of course, but the better solution would be to provide feedback and input along the way, not wait until voting day.
AG
11:59 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
"but the better solution would be to provide feedback and input along the way, not wait until voting day." Ok Aaron, how do you propose to do this? You can't very well expect all the citizens to come to each and every Committee meeting..... The citizens aren't as asleep with apathy as much as you may think. Actually they are expecting that these committees act in their best interest. We can't expect that of our Committees and BOS? What? Some don't show up? Some sleep? Some are on a committee with spouse on the board? Oh my! What is going on here? John Q. Adams, please come back and help us. He would have said, "Institutionalized corruption, damn it"
Aaron Hutchins
7:33 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
There is not a line of volunteers out the door to serve on any of these boards or committees. If you're unhappy with the people who are there, come to town hall and put your name in for a spot on any one of the committees; or, in the case of the board of selectmen, put your name on the ballot. To the degree that you choose not to attend each and every meeting - something I don't expect of anyone - and to the degree that you are unhappy with the representation on any of them, feel free to take their place through the ballot box or by appointment.
Brian Smith
7:46 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
In my opinion the Planning Board in particular does not really want to hear the opinion of the public. In the regular meetings that I have been to there is no place on the agenda for the public to make comments on the proceedings so you are not allowed to say anything. When there is a public hearing on the agenda because the law requires it, the board patiently listens but then pretty much does what it wants to.
During meetings and hearings on the current zoning bylaws the radical new provisions like horizontal mixed use, maximum setback, and FAR rules were not explained with drawings, models or anything to indicate what development under these rules would look like. That would be way too much information to let slip out.
There needs to be much more transparency in these meetings.
AG
12:25 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
With all this discussion it is clear that the current Board and Committees can no longer be trusted with the affairs of this town in the best interest of its citizens. Change is imminent and sorely needed.
Resident Of Northborough
8:56 am on Sunday, April 22, 2012
I agree Brian. If the boards were listening to the residents I don't think we would be where we are today. Review the 2009 meetings minutes. One could argue that the board new there were issues that would arise with these changes. I believe the board said the other night at a public hearing that these projects are too dense. Instead of supporting the residents they are against the citizens petitions. Petitions that had to be in by March. The boad had a month to think about it and come up with an alternative - instead they are not supporting and are yet again leaving the citizens to fend for themselves. I am one of the many residents whom have filed against the ZBA for the decision on the 130 Main St/Shay project. I feel as though this could've been avoided. If the ZBA would have listened to the residents, safety is a huge concern and they did nothing to protect the citizens. What an shame. So much for pouring your heart out to boards and attending hearings. In addition, when asking certain town departments for resources they do not want to hand them over easily. Stating "you don't need that". Even though it is your right to certain documents. Something needs to change here or the people here will change overtime and Northborough will not be anything like it started out to be. By then, I assume the taxes will be low enough for anyone to live here. I guess that is what these boards are looking for.
Carol C
9:53 am on Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thank you all for coming to my defense. Here's my two cents: unless you are an abutter to a project you likely don’t know what is going on. It is true that I have study the bylaws & probably do know some parts of it better than those who are responsible for enforcing it. There is never a “good” reason to skip town meetings. I’m sure most people do so out of fear that nothing will change if they go or not. Perhaps they don’t attend town meeting expecting the town government to make the best choices for us. Although, there have been paint brushes in hands, as well as books read and TV usage; those are not the reasons I have missed town meetings. Aaron is right; we don’t know each other well. Since moving to town in 2001, I had multiple responsibilities going on at the same time such as; physically taking care of my mom, assisting with the care of my father that continues today, working part-time, volunteering at preschool & elementary, housewife, & also caring for a young family.
Carol C
9:53 am on Sunday, April 22, 2012
There are four citizen petitions for BE district (#48 49 50 51) going before town meeting tomorrow night (meeting will probably go two nights). PLEASE vote YES! I believe they are the best action we can take @ this time to STOP buildings like in front of Ace Hardware. Article 31/bylaw were revamped in 2009; @ 11:25PM! Several voters have admitted to me they “didn't know what they were voting on”. In 2009 the board said these changes would need to be “fine tuned”. On April 17, 2012 the board voted to not support my citizen petitions. The planning board is not prepared to make changes; they want to wait until 2013. This will only result in more of this type of dense construction. There are many parcels in Business East that could turn into such projects. These parcels are mostly occupied by residence, are located in residential neighborhoods or abutting.
Eddie Haskell
7:02 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
The real problem is we have an Activist Planning Board where their main priority is Affordable Housing or at least their version of it. Check and see how many of the Planning Board members also have a history of activism within the Affordable Housing movement especially the Chairman who sets the agenda.
Also please tell me the relevance in the 21st Century of the concept of Town Meeting where 150 people set the policys.
If you need an example, have you ever attended TM where an article involving the schools is debated. The meeting is packed with proponents for the schools who shout down opponents and as soon as their article is approved they split!
Great way to run a 21st Century Town!
Michelle Bailey
4:03 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thank goodness those school proponets showed up or you never would have made the quorum to vote the budget.