The controversy over the decision not to reappoint Sue Ellis to the Poland Planning Board resulted in the appearance of many residents at the selectmen’s meeting in protest of the decision and has created a pall over the procedure dictated by the chairman of the board.

No appointment to any of the town’s boards should be taken up without the entire board present. In fact, at the prior selectmen’s meeting, after two members decided not to make the reappointment, the chairman decided not to consider other appointments until the entire board was present.

Another board member elected not to vote, stating he was a friend of Ellis. As an elected official of the town, it was my understanding that the best interests of the town were placed on the shoulders of these officials and that personal interests were not considered.

Having served as a selectman in Poland for many years, I have never seen a board appointment not considered by the full Board of Selectmen. The appointments are important and should merit careful consideration.

The decision of the chairman to allow a vote on one appointment and then to hold up consideration of other appointments tends to create a question in the minds of many as to why.

Whether the appointment is made or not is not the question, but proper due process certainly is.

Raymond Waterhouse, Poland

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