The Charter Revision Commission is making its public debut on Monday, the 30th, in the Library at 6 pm. And online too. After two and a quarter years it is introducing itself by asking the public what to do about one particular question: should Representative Town Meeting vote itself out of existence and revert Town Meeting to the former and more common open meeting style.
I have not seen any of the evidence it has gathered pro and con but perhaps they will share that at the meeting itself though at that point perhaps not as useful as it might be. Presumably they have gathered evidence inasmuch as that is what Charter Revision Commissions are appointed to do.
Democracy only works with an informed citizen body and we’ll need some solid data, analysis and reasoning to consider and weigh in on. In other words, something to discuss. Ironically, RTM was instituted some 65 years ago in large measure because the random and self selected body of citizens that showed up were largely bereft of actual facts and town meetings were increasingly chaotic and frustrating.
It may end up that Monday’s Charter meeting may be a sneak preview of an open town meeting with 50 or 75 or a 100 people showing up with as many different experiences, perspectives and emotions and no common terminology, understandings or method to sort anything out.
I’d like to believe the god of Democracy will make an appearance and help us through this but, looking around at our country today I think she is busy on another planet trying to help a different group of ETs with a better chance of success.
Not that it matters
They have had open public meetings with published agendas since they started. Of course, I sent questions along long ago that I’m still waiting for answers to, too. : )
I wouldn’t count this as a preview of an open town meeting. It’s just a committee meeting. Like RTM Informational Sessions are not previews of RTM; they are a different beast.
For a real preview, go to an open town meeting and see how it goes. Almost every other town in Vermont seems to think it works.
I’d like to hear a good argument why a body should be elected in a small town to be a layer between voters and their government. What is wrong with direct participation in a small town? I know you study these sorts of things. Is it better to participate, or to elect someone to participate for you? : )