The townspeople of Poland must shake off the apathy and help the town grow in a more positive direction. We need new leadership, we need new management and we need to become fiscally sound.

It’s time for business savvy people to speak up and be heard. This town needs young energetic blood to take us forward and we need to begin making sound business decisions using tried and true, good business sense.

We need policies to be set, we need accountability, we need participation, and we need people running the town who are not afraid to make cuts when appropriate, and to take the lead in doing so.

We have a huge budget deficit that has been acknowledged and now has to be dealt with. One person can only do so much, but a town of people can do so much more. We must show up to the board of selectmen meetings to show our support and ask to be heard.

Each individual resident of Poland should have the right to express their thoughts and should not be “shut down” for doing so.

Each individual has value and, as a tax-paying citizen of Poland, should be allowed to speak when they desire to do so.

Attitudes need to change and thoughts need to be expressed and heard with equal civility.

We, the townspeople, have to make choices and cuts in our own personal budgets; the town needs to do the same.

Now is the time to take a stand.

Joan Houston, Poland