Voter Apathy Again? I Hope Not.

Voter Apathy Again? I hope not.

The upcoming Northborough Town election on May 14 is important to all residents. Elected officials need to know that residents are interested and aware of the issues. If they believe that no one cares they shift from implementing public will to changing the Town to suit themselves. Voter turnout in the 2010 Town election was only 3.12 percent or a total of 306 votes cast. Turnout in the May, 2011 Town election jumped to 6.04 percent or only 600 people out of almost 10,000 registered voters. Our apathy says, “We don’t care how the town is run.”

On May 14 you will vote for town moderator, two selectmen, two planning board members, and candidates for all the school committees. These people spend or influence the spending of your tax dollars. Further they plan to maintain a small town or change it to a near city. In case you think that the Mmoderator just hosts the town meeting, think again. The moderator has a key role in town government. The moderator appoints the Appropriations Committee, the Municipal Code & Bylaw Committee and the Personnel Board.

The selectmen, of course, manage the town and most of the spending through many boards and commissions and through the operational leader, the town administrator. The administrator appoints the Board of Assessors, who set your property’s value. Selectmen also appoint the Zoning Board of Appeals, who manage the zoning bylaws and decide on zoning variances and special permits. The School Committees spend almost two thirds of your tax dollars and affect the lives of your children. 

The May 14 town election is important, too important to not take 15 minutes to stop by your local school and vote. That’s all it will take, just 15 minutes. Exercise your right to vote. We all care about our town.