BRATTLEBORO-During the approximately 30 years that I served as a member of Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting, there were times when I was frustrated by exceedingly long discussions about relatively minor matters. There were times when I was angry about self-serving, narrow-minded speeches.
But I never thought that Representative Town Meeting was not worth it. I think that RTM is a beautiful expression of that most messy institution — democracy.
Each year I reviewed the Annual Town Report, read opinion pieces and letters to the editor concerning matters to be discussed at the upcoming meeting, attended information sessions unless I was sick or needed to be out of town, and talked with people in my district.
Thus, going into the RTM, I felt confident and clear about how I would be voting on different issues.
And then, during the course of the meeting, an amazing thing would sometimes happen.
Through the course of in-person debate, the sharing of new information or a new point of view, hearing someone’s opposing viewpoint logically and clearly expressed, and group consideration of short-term versus long-term goals and impacts, I would sometimes change my mind and my vote!
There is another benefit of RTM: This gathering of townspeople provides the opportunity to have a greater familiarity with Brattleboro and its needs, and as a result, to further serve the town on committees that play an important role in our town’s well-being.
I think that voters losing the ability to make critical decisions within the context of a yearly RTM or an in-person open Town Meeting would be a great loss for Brattleboro.
Douglas Frantz
Brattleboro
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.
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