Registered Boothbay voters opted for a referendum rather than the traditional town meeting format this year, so we went to the town office and made our choices on the questions presented to us, but we don’t mind telling you, we really didn’t like it. It’s just not the same as sitting with friends and neighbors and raising our hands at a good, old-fashioned town meeting.

A referendum is quicker, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a daytime vote, which avoids having to come out after dinner (supper) and spend a couple of hours or more, setting the budget for the coming year.

That being said, in our opinion, there are a number of drawbacks. Voters have no opportunity to ask questions or to debate an issue. Less than a week before the referendum, we had yet to see a copy of what we would be voting on come Monday and called the newspaper to ask if they would post the referendum in its entirety on their website so more voters could review the questions in advance. We all have an opportunity to stop in at the town office any day, or to attend a selectmen’s meeting prior to the vote, if we wish to comment on any warrant article scheduled to appear on the ballot, but that’s no substitute for voicing your opinion to fellow voters and to your town leaders at town meeting in hopes they’ll share your views.

Boothbay peninsula residents who have Time Warner Cable and get the local channel 7 have probably already watched the Boothbay Harbor town meeting which was televised. If so, they’ve had an opportunity to witness democracy in action. Several articles were debated at length and a number of thought-provoking opinions were voiced — ones that would have been lost on a referendum ballot.

Some of those who favor a referendum vote will argue that more registered folks participate compared to a town meeting. They’re probably right. However, we aren’t convinced that because more residents vote via referendum, it is justification for abandoning our longstanding town meeting tradition.

Our biggest fear if town meetings fall by the wayside is that small-town government will be the big loser. Most cities, and even many smaller communities, no longer hold town meetings. They vote the way we did on Monday. Others less fortunate don’t really have any say at all; their governing representatives make all the decisions for them, and their only voice comes at election time.

We believe many newer residents consider the loss of town meeting no big deal. We don’t see it that way. Town meetings may not bring out large numbers (we need to work on getting more folks there), but a small turnout generally signifies that residents are satisfied with how things are going. Watch what happens if they get riled about a particular issue; there will be standing room only! The fact remains that town meeting is an important forum for each and every individual who is a registered taxpayer to speak his or her piece about our town government.

Boothbay voters may have saved time this year, but is giving up the special democratic process afforded by town meeting really worth it?