See you next year!
Absent a special town meeting, that’s it until next year.
It seems so weird to be done with TM by mid-May. Seven sessions is the shortest meeting I’ve been in over my 11 years in TM (next shortest was 10, I think). Not unrelatedly this was the shortest warrant I’d ever seen, and one with only two zoning articles. So right from the top it was clear that absent some strange controversies we’d finish quite a bit sooner than usual.
I was glad that Elsie Fiore made the statement she did at the end and received the long ovation. She was right on. I’ve been on record elsewhere as saying I felt Article 67 was not an appropriate subject to be before TM, but there is no excuse for not even being willing to hear out the proponents. The Moderator did the right thing by refusing to recognize a motion to terminate debate before the proponents even had a chance to speak, and once the Moderator made it clear to Mr. Daly that the motion would not be taken until the proponents spoke, Mr. Daly did not do himself proud by interrupting and otherwise demanding the floor.
As for the Moderator, it will be very strange (but interesting!) to see Mr. Worden down on the floor and (presumably) addressing the meeting as a non-neutral for the first time in my tenure. Based on remarks he’s made, letters to the editor he’s written, etc. over the years I have some suppositions on what sorts of positions he might take on various issues and it’ll be amusing/educational to see how right or wrong I may be.
It will also be strange to see a new moderator up on stage for the first time in my tenure. I’ll be immodest enough to hope it turns out to be me, but I know it will take a hard race to get there, should I go forward with putting my hat in the ring.
May 17th, 2006 at 19:25
Rich, for what it’s worth, I hope you DO put your hat in the ring. I’ve been a Town Meeting Member (precinct 14) for 12 years (I think it is), and you’ve been a consistent voice of moderation and good sense. Good luck with your campaign.