The Oct. 30 Sun Journal story on the Lewiston Personnel Board seems a little one-sided. There may be a reason that the personnel board is provided for in the city charter. It may make some contribution to the high quality of the public safety component of government in Lewiston. Since no one knows for sure what the impact will be, the people of Lewiston don’t have to risk losing whatever contribution the board may be making to the quality of police and fire service there. Auburn has already abandoned a similar commission, so we’ll find out if there is any loss of quality in service. Time will tell.

Similar boards were written into the charters of communities all over New England. The reason being that the folks writing the original charters believed that public safety is too important to leave to the whimsy of people from away. Is there any reason to not believe that now? Do we really think the state, or, by default, the federal government, will make better decisions about L-A’s safety than we will?

James Tierney, Auburn