I question whether the vote taken at the Feb. 16 town meeting in New Gloucester to fund a water district was proper. There was a special town meeting on Jan. 26 where this issue was voted down by 54 percent of the voters. How is it now possible to have another vote, with even better financial terms for the residents in the water district?

When several townspeople showed up at the Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 19 to voice their displeasure, they were told that there was no public comment allowed. When pressed, the chairman of the board stated that if anyone had any concerns, to submit their concerns to the town office and they would then do their best to address any issues and that future meetings probably would not have public comment periods.

How is this allowed to happen in a democracy? How are residents to directly confront elected officials?

The chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Steve Libby, has stated many times in the past that “the process is the process is the process.” It seems that the exception to this is when officials want to usurp the rules.

Sean Chayer, New Gloucester