Auburn voters shouldn’t be alarmed by Joe DeFilipp’s rhetoric (Feb. 23). There were questions both by city councilors and an advisory by Jim Bennett about the report from the mayor’s commission on consolidation of services. They were urging some restraint before forging ahead.

DeFilipp failed to notice that only two of the so-called “gang of three” voted not to accept the proposal, because the Auburn council had less information going into the meeting than the Lewiston side, and wanted more time to digest additional materials. There was a bilateral feeling of “what’s the rush?”

The three councilors DeFilipp mentions aren’t the puppets here. They’re looking out for the people, the ones who feel they’re being driven out. These councilors remember that they were elected to represent constituents, not appointed or anointed, and they remember that they are part of the democratic process and not a totalitarian government.

The citizens should be wary of the rest of the crew running things – the legion of agreeable, head-nodding, former city luminaries who always show up when it’s time to increase the tax burden on the residents. They are the ones with strings attached. Ask yourselves who they’re working for.

It is a good thing that this mayor’s commission has explored the questions of buying power and consolidation of services. I saw some of that as a municipal employee in the Twin Cities. Maybe some of it can be beneficial.

Is it all doable? That remains to be seen.

Connie Lyons, Zephyrhills, Fla.