Dear Editor:

Recently I was one of three Southport residents who circulated the much talked about Citizens Petitions to give the registered voters an alternative plan (Petition #1) to end the Axiom funding which was voted on last May 2021, etc., and (Petition #2) is intended to set aside $60,000 plus grants to help pay for upgrading broadband service in those areas where service does not meet Maine connectivity standards.

The Selectmen have scheduled an Axiom informational meeting for Wednesday, April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall. It is my hope that the Selectmen, Broadband Committee, Axiom representative, Southport town attorney and all interested islanders come together for an organized and factual informational meeting that we can all benefit from. This is our community’s opportunity to align our questions and concerns and hopefully get the honest answers we deserve in order to make an educated decision facing the financial impact on our town and its taxpayers over the next 15+ years.

We had a very short window in which to gather signatures. There was no extra time for us to develop an elaborate strategic plan, so, we simply hit the ground running and actually collected 144 signatures which was well over the required 42. At the April 13 Selectmen’s meeting, we were told that if these petitions are approved, then voting would take place at a special town meeting in the future, with the date to be determined by the Selectmen.

A special thanks goes to all Southport residents who graciously opened their homes to us, and to those who sought us out in order to sign the petitions. The support from Southport registered voters was truly overwhelming. I also wish to thank Doug Jones, Tom Myette and Bonnie Humason for taking the time and energy to circulate the petitions. We hope our efforts will give the islanders a platform to express their thoughts on April 20 at 6 p.m. So, please join us.

Celeste Brown

Southport