If you've never been to a town meeting
you're missing something. People get to stand up and speak
what's on their minds. Most people choose their words
carefully and some don't. At times the discussions can get
quite heated.
Personally, I find it more entertaining
than what's on TV nowadays. I didn't realize small towns
were so political. There are like minded groups or clicks in
town (kinda like the Democrats & Republican parties) that
hang together and try to get things passed that they want.
These groups seem to think they have control of what happens
in Andover, but as I've witnessed on a few occasions, in the
end, it is a democratic process and the majority wins. Not
always does the town as a whole agree with these groups.
The only downside I see to this is all
these decisions for the town are made by whatever few people
happen to show up at this meeting. There's around 800 to 900
people in the town and there may only be 75-150 people at
the meeting. I like the town meeting, but I think it would be better to
give all residents the opportunity to vote on the issues. A
special election could be held on a day after the town
meeting, and all the issues
could be put on a ballot for all town residents to approve or disapprove.
This would give people who have to work or are unable to sit
through the long hours of the town meeting, an opportunity
to vote on the issues.
