Dear Editor:

Re: “Bylaw change proposed for Southport voters” posted on the Register website on Jan. 19, 2016, which states:

“Southport’s bylaws committee met with the board of selectmen Jan. 13 to discuss a change in the process for selecting the island’s treasurer, tax collector and clerk. Following a brief discussion, a proposal to change the positions, from elected to appointed, was approved to go on the town meeting warrant.”

The open town meeting form of government on Southport Island allows citizens to vote for town officials, as well as openly discuss and vote on all warrants presented at our annual town meeting in March.

By giving up our right to vote for officials, we are giving up the last vestiges of a tradition that has gone on for more than 200 years … that of the people of the town making decisions on who runs the town and how we spend our tax dollars.

Why would we want to abandon our treasured form of democracy on Southport? We, among all towns in the region, have kept this tradition alive. Only a few towns in New England still preserve the open town meeting form of government.

If these by-laws pass, we, the people, will have lost three critical checks on our local government – the election of three key officials.

Why would we want to give up our voting rights and responsibilities?

I urge Southport residents to vote NO on the new by-laws that would change the office of treasurer, town clerk and tax collector from an elected to an appointed position.

Helen Meserve

Newagen