In response to Nancy Fraser’s letter April 13, a correction of facts is necessary.

Brian Dench was elected Poland town meeting moderator by the citizens of Poland, not appointed by the selectmen, as stated in Frazer’s letter. Townspeople were called to assemble in the downstairs of the Poland Town Hall on April 6, to act on Articles I and II of the 2007 town meeting warrant.

Article I was to choose a moderator. Two men were nominated: Brian Dench and Glen Peterson. The ballot vote count was 62 for Dench, 27 for Peterson. Article II was to elect, by secret ballot, selectmen, school committee members, library trustees and charter committee members.

The polls closed at 7 p.m. After the voting machine ballots were tabulated, the results were announced and the town meeting was adjourned. The remaining warrants would be taken up the next morning, at Poland High School auditorium.

At the start of Saturday’s meeting, Dench, the duly-elected moderator, read the town meeting protocol from the Maine Moderator’s Manual. It was clearly stated that once the moderator decides the outcome of a vote, the meeting could challenge that declaration. The challenge must be by at least seven voters, and must be acted on before the moderator takes up the next question.

Also, at any time during the meeting, a motion could have been put forth to change the way votes were counted.

Barbara Strout, Poland

Editor’s note: The writer is election warden for the town of Poland.

Copy the Story Link