Dear Editor:

We thank the community for your time, energy, opinions, and efforts at the Sept. 20 Community Forum.

Residents talked about affordability, taxes, schools, economic development, community growth, and what they want Edgecomb to become. Conversations were thoughtful, constructive, and the kind of civic engagement our town needs.

It is important to always remember that there is a difference between strong disagreement and destructive discourse. Residents have every right to question decisions. They have every right to challenge budgets, taxes, school policies, development decisions, and the actions of their elected officials.

Over time, we have seen an increasing tendency for some public conversations in Edgecomb to shift away from the issue at hand. Questions and grievances are sometimes raised in settings where they do not belong, rather than through the appropriate meeting, agenda item, public comment period, or other avenue where they can be addressed. Town officials are then sometimes put in a position where they are being confronted about an issue, but are not given an opportunity to explain the facts, provide context, or answer the question before the conversation moves on to the next accusation.

We strongly reject that behavior. If you believe a decision is wrong, explain why. If you believe the numbers are wrong, bring the numbers. If you believe a policy should change, propose a change. If you have a question for a town official, give that person an opportunity to answer it. And if you disagree, then continue the conversation. If the goal is to solve a problem, the person in front of you is not the problem. The issue is the problem.

Treating the person as the problem has consequences. After the forum, a school board member chose to resign. We should all consider that a loss for Edgecomb. Small towns depend upon residents being willing to serve. Select board, school board, budget committee members, committee volunteers, and other residents give their time because they believe they can contribute something to Edgecomb.

Going forward, we will continue to welcome, listen and deal with hard questions, disagreement, scrutiny, and vigorous debate. We will continue to expect our elected officials to be accountable to the people they serve. You may disagree with their vote, with their priorities, and you may even believe they are wrong. But we are your neighbors. Civility is not optional.

We believe Edgecomb is better than that. And we believe you feel that way, too. Why else would you continue to show up?

Edgecomb Select Board

Edgecomb School Board

and Edgecomb Budget Committee