To The Reader’s Forum:

On April 10, we attended a Town of Ellicott board meeting. We were specifically concerned about a proposal calling for the elimination of a town justice position.

Although we did not speak at the meeting, we are against the proposed elimination. Many people attended the meeting and many people spoke against cutting a justice position. All speakers voiced interesting and well thought opinions. All were very orderly. The opinions were all in opposition to the town board’s decision to cut a town justice position and we\\\’re quite sure the town board members were not comfortable with hearing the opinions of the town folk. Regardless of one’s position as to whether or not to cut the position, it was a nice feeling to see people take interest in the matter and to hear from the many who had obviously spent time preparing their brief speeches.

What wasn’t pleasing, or in any way expected, was the town board’s reaction. At the beginning of the meeting, town officials made clear their intentions to limit their constituents’ voices and even suggested that one person could have a five-minute time frame to speak on behalf of the entire group. Seriously? Several people in the audience then disagreed with the board and made it clear that their concerns would be voiced. We were definitely interested to hear the thoughts and views of all. Through a very democratic and orderly process, the people of the town spoke.

The board members, in unison, listened to the opinions — yet most members seemed to be almost put off by the fact that they had to be at the meeting and had to listen to numerous speakers. When the town people finished, not one member of the board said one word in response to the topic at hand. Not one town board member thanked the people for their opinions, their preparedness, of even their interest in the judicial concern. In fact, the board members (in unison) marched purposely into the next item on the agenda.

We found this very disrespectful. The board’s action was pretentious for some, and at the very least rude for others. We found it quite appalling that not one board member addressed or thanked their constituents for their contributions to the meeting. It wasn’t until after members finished the rest of the agenda and were ready to turn out the lights, that Justice Gerace requested a response as to the concerns of the justice position. The board’s response was curt and confusing as to the next action. It definitely painted a poor image of our town government. We will remember this night come November.

Ellicott