This year the selectmen of Monmouth were asked by the Public Works Building Committee to allow them to present their proposals for a salt and sand shed and a new garage on the floor at our town meeting rather than on a ballot. These are new proposals, not the same as those presented last year.

The problem the committee saw last year was one of getting accurate information to the voters. When the proposals were put on the ballot, many voters came to the polls uninformed as to the need and value of the projects and, it was believed, these voters were therefore unable to make an informed judgment.

The Public Works Building Committee thought that its work and proposal could best be judged on the floor at town meeting. It was believed that if the proposals were brought to the town meeting, voters would be able to hear a presentation of the projects, debate them and then vote. Thus voters would be able to make an informed decision.

Throughout our history, many have called the New England town meeting form of government the purest form of democracy. The selectmen ask that the townspeople come to town meeting, listen to the proposals, debate them and cast an informed vote.

Douglas Ludewig, Monmouth

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