The following is an excerpt from some replies I made on an FBIbook thread. I want to share them here in part to also mention an invitation to discuss Town Meeting more deeply. you will see the invitation at the end.
…Without making any claims about whether or not we came up with the right or wrong answers, overall I believe the decisions (at this year’s Representative Town Meeting) closely reflected the knowledge, experience and traditions of this town meeting and its attendees. The citizens in this exercise of democracy gave a very honest, sincere and respectful rendering of what they knew and what was in their hearts. There was a very powerful sense of community present. Not all of it evaporates at the end when we scatter. A few of the new people will have left feeling like they have drawn closer to their neighbors. They will feel a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility. There are good reasons that many people return for ten and twenty and thirty years. In this way Representative Town Meeting is invaluable.
For most all of the near two hundred people that participate or are present for RTM there is unusual focus on what will, is and has happened on that day from eight in the morning until bedtime. It is a very stimulating, and, in turn, sometimes exciting, heartwarming, exasperating and exhausting. Does such a day have to occur only once a year? Is the meeting itself as good as it can be? Is democracy expressed or employed as effectively as we’d like to believe? Or as effectively as we want? Are there things in our particular procedures or traditions that push us in ways we don’t realize towards certain outcomes?
These are relevant and fascinating questions that are ripe for discussion. They are questions about democracy, democratic principles and elements and applied democratic procedure. They are questions about community. About social fabric and tradition.
With these questions in mind I am INVITING EVERYONE particularly Town Reps, to an informal discussion at my house on SUNDAY, APRIL 8th, after one pm. It would be nice to know in advance if you plan to show up but you’re welcome to drop in unannounced. If you’re inclined to bring along a coffee cake type nosh please do. If there’s reason to believe a good number will show up I’ll have a very big pot of coffee available. 145 Green St. Park in the school lot.
A Very Generous Year
RTM voted to raise taxes on everyone, for many good things. I was rather amazed at just how much Representatives chose to add.
One of the flaws, I think, in RTM is that items come up on the floor that Reps have no way of checking with those they represent before voting. Take the skatepark increase. Non-reps might have discussed whether to spend the $20k, but I doubt seriously that any Representative had a pre-meeting conversation with a non-rep about taking it much higher than that. Reps then had to vote without knowing what their constituents may or may not want them to do. This can’t happen at a regular Town Meeting.
I did like the renewed zest for improving town. A few Reps expressed concern that the increases might be hard on others.
Very amazed that the school budget passed without any discussion at all. More time was spent on just about everything else. As a viewer, I didn’t get much sense of schools or school budgets at all from this meeting. I think I learned more about Green Up Vermont. : )
Agree on parts of that
>> Reps then had to vote without knowing what their constituents may or may not want them to do.
Definitely agree! Even go one further – despite good intentions, and perhaps because of a focus on filling TMM vacancies and press of time, I had less time for comprehensive discussions of issues
>> didn’t get much sense of schools or school budgets at all from this meeting
Yes. The Informational Sessions were better forums to get this info.
Representative?
In a reflective (and perhaps bitter!) mood, I’m surprised to find my iBrattleboro account is still active… but now I can’t resist tweaking you all once again. I actually moved from Brattleboro, instigated by my disillusionment in Representative Town Meeting (RTM), which cost a lot of money but was completely worth it. Since I left Brattleboro, Ive been able to speak and vote in my town’s meetings – without needing any external validation! – and I can now volunteer in service of my town based on my skills instead of my popularity.
Spoon: I respect you more than you probably know, but really. RTM voting to raise taxes on everyone…? For most all of the near two hundred people that participate or are present for RTM [of the roughly 12,000 in Brattleboro]…? A few of the new people will have left feeling like they have drawn closer to their neighbors. They will feel a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility. There are good reasons that many people return for ten and twenty and thirty years. [As TMMs, not mere residents…]
I love Vermont, and I remember my time in Brattleboro fondly, but I remain a staunch opponent of Representative Town Meeting. You encouraged the 2% who want to be elected as Town Meeting Members; you ostracized the other 98%. Congratulations – I’m glad I moved from Brattleboro to Vermont.
The list of why people leave
When people ask “why do people leave Brattleboro?” rarely is RTM put on the list of possibilities. We hear things like “not enough jobs,” or “taxes too high,” or not “enough opportunities for young people.”
Perhaps RTM should be on that list.
(ps, welcome back! We did our best to preserve old accounts and passwords, and are happy to help anyone who wants to rejoin or get started. No election required.)