MEXICO – The future clashed with nearly 200 years of town government at Mexico’s Board of Selectmen meeting Wednesday night. Some of the 14 people present also clashed with the board and Town Manager John Madigan.
Selectmen voted 4-0 to take the will of 400 people under advisement, regarding municipal budget votes by secret ballot. The fifth selectman, Chairman Barbara Laramee, was absent.
On Nov. 8, 400 verified residents signed their names under wording that read, “Petition to allow the voting on town budget by secret ballot rather than by the current show of hands.”
Additional wording stated why voters were signing the document, which, along with the signatures, was presented to selectmen Monday night by former Mexico Selectman Monique Aniel.
A lengthy discussion ensued before Selectman Reggie Arsenault motioned for a vote.
Vice Chairman George Byam, who conducted the meeting, allowed Aniel to read a prepared statement that revealed the history behind the petition.
Concerned about the lack of participation at town meeting, Aniel said her research revealed that people “felt intimidated to show a disagreement concerning a particular expense.”
“They were afraid to upset a friend, a neighbor, or a family member and would rather not show up at the meeting,” she added.
Byam then deferred to Madigan for advice. The town manager read a copy of town election law regarding citizen petitions, then said the secret-ballot petition “is in the form of a political opinion.”
“People who signed it agreed to an opinion,” he said. Several hands shot into the air for the right to speak.
Byam continued, saying selectmen had two choices. They could either take it under advisement or throw it out.
“This isn’t something we’re going to do overnight. It’s an entirely different way than what we’ve been doing,” he said. The town government was incorporated in 1818.
Rumford resident Len Greaney suggested selectmen use the secret ballot as a management tool “to allow the process to cut costs and move forward with public trust.”
Another Rumford resident, Seth Carey, threatened “a legal battle over opinions” should selectmen vote to throw out the petition because it wasn’t a ballot-ready article.
“The intent of the people is there, but legally, we can do anything we want. But, we’re not going to split hairs and we aren’t going to involve the town in lawyers” over a reportedly unclear petition, Byam retorted.
Carey is the son of Rumford lawyer Thomas Carey.
While the meeting was recorded for later broadcast, a local volunteer said late Wednesday that there will be no broadcast.
“Because of a camera malfunction, there was no audio,” so the tape will not be shown at a later date, said Western Valley Access Channel volunteer Rich Plante, who recorded the meeting for WVAC, Channel 7. Mexico selectmen’s meetings are routinely recorded.
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