I recently attended Mexico’s public hearing on the secret-ballot voting ordinance. I went with an open mind, hoping to listen to get a clear picture of the situation. I listened for about 20 minutes, and it surprised me the only people speaking were in the audience. I asked why selectmen had nothing to say.

Chairman Barbara Leramee answered, “We decided we would not speak but just leave it to you folks.” I wonder when the selectmen met and voted to do this? I was not aware of any meeting since the last selectmen meeting, and it was not decided there. Aren’t all selectmen meetings supposed to be open to the public?

I have watched the Mexico selectmen meetings on Channel 7, and after this meeting it became clear to me these selectmen never seem to have opinions. You’d think that five people from different backgrounds would see sometimes see things different, but not so. Any selectmen that moves a motion it is seconded and passed with no discussion. Just whom are the selectmen representing?

My conclusion is the ordinance is not what the people asked for. Please vote it down on Nov. 7.

I was one of 400 people who voted for the secret ballot, but not for the way the selectmen have decided to do it. I wanted a line-item budget, separate articles for every department.

I expected the number of articles to be in the range of 30 or so, not 12 to 17.

Joseph L. Richard, Mexico