The Poland Board of Selectmen had no business issuing a letter requesting that David Griffiths resign as chairman of the RSU 16 Board of Directors. Their job is to run the town of Poland and not act as a self-indulgent political action committee.

Individually, the selectmen have all the rights in the world to criticize Griffiths’ statement regarding elderly people and their ability to pay property taxes. It could be deemed as an insensitive and careless comment. Griffiths stated it as his personal opinion during the school budget process on May 11. People made up their own minds regarding the merits of such a remark. And that school budget vote failed on May 17.

But the recent action taken by the Poland selectmen toward an elected representative from another town is unwarranted and was done namely to influence an upcoming school budget vote. Instead of speaking up as individuals, the selectmen made a lame shield of a conference table to issue official drivel.

Eriks Petersons, Mechanic Falls