Keep Nantucket’s Voice Alive: Vote to Preserve Open Town Meeting

To the editor: Are you ready to give up your sovereign right to vote, entrusting nine council members with the power to make all decisions for our beloved island? That is exactly what the proposed Town Council Form of Government, introduced as a citizens' article by Curtis Barnes at the May 2023 Open Town Meeting, would do.

If this proposal passes, Open Town Meeting (OTM) will be eliminated, and with it, your direct vote on the matters that shape our community. While some may argue that this change will be an improvement, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly prepared to lose our right to vote? The new Town Council Form of Government will meet more frequently—perhaps every two weeks—but will you have the time to attend these meetings? Will there be accommodations, such as childcare, for those who may not be able to attend? Will you become more engaged or less engaged? And perhaps most importantly, without a vote, will you still be able to influence the decisions that affect you, your family, your neighbors and your property taxes?

Yes, you will still have the opportunity to speak at these meetings, but your voice will no longer carry the weight of a vote. Is it possible that, in your absence, decisions could be made—like zoning changes—that could significantly affect your property or quality of life, all without your input? While some argue that a Town Council may be more “efficient,” is speed really what’s best when it comes to the future of our community?

With OTM, we receive the articles months ahead of time, giving us the opportunity to review them and ask questions before the meeting. In addition, the Atheneum is hosting Tuesdays with the Articles, a series facilitated by citizen Campbell Sutton, where the articles are reviewed and discussed. A mock Town Meeting before the annual meeting also provides a smaller, more intimate forum for asking questions and gaining clarity on the issues.

If Open Town Meeting or the Town Council structure hasn’t been something you’ve felt drawn to, which is perfectly okay, I kindly ask you to consider voting to preserve OTM for those of us who truly value it as a meaningful way to remain directly engaged in shaping our community’s future.

Ask questions and be informed!

Sincerely,
John Fones