To the Editor;
I have created a Citizen’s Petition in Mattapoisett to request a Special Town Meeting to return Mattapoisett to a three-member Select Board. This petition would ask the town to vote in favor of rescinding Article 34, now House Bill #4245 passed by about 100 voters at the May 12th Town Meeting which expands the Select Board to 5 members. My petition requires 200 verified signatures, about twice the number who voted for it.
Some accusations have been made that this petition is:1) A Mattapoisett GOP or RTC effort; 2) An anti-democratic effort; and 3) Will subvert the “will of the people.”
The answer to these untrue, politically charged and purposely misleading statements can easily be disproved. My petition was a response to many citizens who felt that the actions taken at the Town meeting were not indicative of what most of Mattapoisett’s registered voters wanted. Many like me thought this was the first step in moving for a Town Election Ballot measure. Many were surprised at the declaration that it was impossible for us to decide that issue beyond a Town Meeting – an election on this issue was not allowed by State law. This appears incorrect as Weston, MA (MA H4158) has asked for approval to do just that in a Special Town Election.
It is true that I am the Co-Chair of the Mattapoisett Republican Party. While much of the Town’s business is discussed at our Monthly public meetings, never was it proposed or voted on for the RTC to support or sponsor any Petitions. It is not in my power to do so without that majority vote. The allegation is simply false. It should be retracted.
The Petition I am challenging is the work of the Chair of the Mattapoisett Democratic Party. While their social media accuses me of such behavior, should I then assume that the DTC did sponsor the Petition? It was not my original assumption.
I am at a complete loss to understand the logic of calling my petition undemocratic. I have followed all the rules provided by Local, County and State law. My efforts and means mirror the same procedures of the original Petitioner. Is she undemocratic? I hope not.
I also am struggling to understand that somehow my petition is subverting the will of the people and any “do over” negates the people’s wishes. One can only derive that the writers of such verbiage believe that once we vote for someone or something the people are not allowed to alter or negate that decision by established and legal means So, an elected official cannot be voted out of office but only be removed by death or term limits? Does that mean in the extreme that Prohibition or slavery should have remained in perpetuity. Please explain to us the logic of such an absurd claim.
If allowed I plan to follow up with another Letter to the Editor on why I and many fellow supporters want to maintain the great government provided in Mattapoisett by our current three select Board system with the support of the Town Administer’s office. And then, I will be able to answer why such accusations are being made and why its supporters are afraid that the will of the people will be enacted.
Paul Criscuolo, Mattapoisett
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