At the annual town meeting in New Gloucester on May 5, voters will have the opportunity to pass one of two recall ordinances.

The circulators of the Citizens Petition for a Recall Ordinance, and the hundreds who signed it, want local elected officials to listen to, and have respect for, all the people of New Gloucester.

It was all done in the open, face to face. Circulators introduced themselves. Signers signed their names and addresses with enthusiasm. They expressed their frustration at how town government has deteriorated, and hope that democracy still offers the voters recourse.

Some “concerned citizens” recently spent a lot of money on a large glossy postcard that accuses the petitioners of being the cause of all discord in town, and warning that awful things will happen if the real majority of New Gloucester citizens don’t attend town meeting.

Usually it’s pretty simple, whatever passes at town meeting passes. In this case, however, because of how the selectmen’s version of the ordinance reads, if Article 27 passes by a huge majority, and then Article 28 passes with even a tiny majority, Article 28 will take effect.

So if residents want the citizens’ version, they must vote yes for Article 27, then vote no for Article 28. Those who haven’t decided should come, listen to the discussion, make up their own minds, and vote.

However many voters attend town meeting, if the citizens’ petition version (27) passes, and 28 doesn’t, “concerned citizens” will label it “a minority vote.”

Nope, majority is majority — period.

Penny Hilton, New Gloucester

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