Opinion: A response to 'Let the people decide about changing the town charter'
In Lincolnville, democracy in action: The people did decide
Those in favor of changing the Lincolnville Town Charter want to remove the requirement for the town to have a police department. They insist that their amendment to the town’s governing document is all about democracy, not about getting rid of the police. They ask, “Shouldn’t townspeople get to decide if they want a police department or not,” and to decide at that bastion of democracy, Town Meeting?
In fact, the Town Charter, written by a committee of citizens after many months of careful deliberation, is to Lincolnville what the U.S. Constitution is to our country. It is the document that our town government’s structure is based on. Some of us may have been on Lincolnville’s Charter Commission some 20 years ago, and obviously enough of us voted to adopt it.
When, in 2002 the selectmen, the officials we democratically elect to represent us, recommended we adopt an amendment to the Charter that reads: “Police protection and public safety for the town, shall be provided by a Police Department having a full time Police Chief and police personnel (full or part-time) as needed.”
We, the voters, ratified it.
We trust that the people who have the interest to get involved in town affairs — the selectmen and other committee members — have researched, studied, and listened to us before presenting what they feel is best for the welfare of all townspeople.
Now a petition has been circulated and validated calling for a referendum vote to change the charter. Three hundred and six citizens signed it, less than a sixth of the 1,776 registered voters. According to a recent guest column, that number includes several committee chairmen and selectmen. It also includes a good number of people who say they were pressured to sign it at the polls last November. Several people I spoke with said they had no understanding of what this was. One couple say they were told this would give them a chance to vote yes or no for the police chief. Since they like the chief they wanted to be able to vote for him.
The right to petition for a referendum vote in the state of Maine is a dearly-held right, and depending on whether you’re the one doing the petitioning or not, it can be an empowering thing. But a problem with it is people don’t always understand the issues, and the signature gatherers can portray it any way they want.
Signing a petition doesn’t bind anyone to vote for the issue presented when it comes to a vote, and in the case of reluctant signers the police amendment petitioners were quick to say that. The trouble is, you can’t gather signatures with that as a rationale, and then argue later that “four out of five selectmen, the Lincolnville Fire Chief, Chairman of the Planning Board … etc.,” all signed their petition, thus implying the support of these officials. Using their own words, signing a petition doesn’t bind you to anything.
If this amendment to the charter passes June 11 , the future of the police will be decided at Annual Town Meeting. The trouble is, Town Meetings are so poorly attended. A fine Saturday morning in June or a sleety night in March — there’s always a reason people don’t come out to exercise their right. So maybe a 100 or a 150 people, (and that’s counting the town officials who have to be there) sit through the two- to three-hour meeting, deciding on the budget. It’s a cinch to take over a meeting like that.
It happened last year. The only warning that “something was up” was the crowd of people coming in to the Town Office to register to vote the Friday before. Sure enough, a motion to cut the police budget enough to eliminate all part-time officers carried, due to these single-issue voters. Once their cut passed, a good many of them got up and left.
Again, the proponents of the charter amendment tell us it’s only about we voters having a choice, that it’s not about getting rid of the police. This is simply dishonest. What other possible reason could they have for their amendment?
What then are the reasons for a police department in a town of 2,100 people?
• Lincolnville has a good number of elderly people, many of them living alone in homes isolated from neighbors. They find it reassuring to have a police officer to contact.
• We have a K-8 school in town; the Lincolnville cruiser is frequently parked out front when school is in session, especially when students are coming and going.
• Many homes are empty during the day with the adults all at work and the children at school. Others are closed up seasonally. Both situations call for a police presence keeping an eye on them.
• Atlantic Highway (Route 1) is dotted with businesses, and the highway itself brings all sorts of traffic through our town. Businesspeople appreciate an accessible police presence.
• Crimes do happen, even in a sleepy little Maine town
So imagine the scenario. With no charter requirement for a police department the budget line for police depends on who does or does not show up for Town Meeting.
We trust that the people who have the interest to get involved in town affairs — the selectmen and other committee members — have researched, studied, and listened to us before presenting what they feel is best for the welfare of all townspeople.
Now a petition has been circulated and validated calling for a referendum vote to change the charter. Three hundred and six citizens signed it, less than a sixth of the 1,776 registered voters. According to a recent guest column, that number includes several committee chairmen and selectmen. It also includes a good number of people who say they were pressured to sign it at the polls last November. Several people I spoke with said they had no understanding of what this was. One couple say they were told this would give them a chance to vote yes or no for the police chief. Since they like the chief they wanted to be able to vote for him.
The right to petition for a referendum vote in the state of Maine is a dearly-held right, and depending on whether you’re the one doing the petitioning or not, it can be an empowering thing. But a problem with it is people don’t always understand the issues, and the signature gatherers can portray it any way they want.
Signing a petition doesn’t bind anyone to vote for the issue presented when it comes to a vote, and in the case of reluctant signers the police amendment petitioners were quick to say that. The trouble is, you can’t gather signatures with that as a rationale, and then argue later that “four out of five selectmen, the Lincolnville Fire Chief, Chairman of the Planning Board … etc.,” all signed their petition, thus implying the support of these officials. Using their own words, signing a petition doesn’t bind you to anything.
If this amendment to the charter passes June 11 , the future of the police will be decided at Annual Town Meeting. The trouble is, Town Meetings are so poorly attended. A fine Saturday morning in June or a sleety night in March — there’s always a reason people don’t come out to exercise their right. So maybe a 100 or a 150 people, (and that’s counting the town officials who have to be there) sit through the two- to three-hour meeting, deciding on the budget. It’s a cinch to take over a meeting like that.
It happened last year. The only warning that “something was up” was the crowd of people coming in to the Town Office to register to vote the Friday before. Sure enough, a motion to cut the police budget enough to eliminate all part-time officers carried, due to these single-issue voters. Once their cut passed, a good many of them got up and left.
Again, the proponents of the charter amendment tell us it’s only about we voters having a choice, that it’s not about getting rid of the police. This is simply dishonest. What other possible reason could they have for their amendment?
What then are the reasons for a police department in a town of 2,100 people?
• Lincolnville has a good number of elderly people, many of them living alone in homes isolated from neighbors. They find it reassuring to have a police officer to contact.
• We have a K-8 school in town; the Lincolnville cruiser is frequently parked out front when school is in session, especially when students are coming and going.
• Many homes are empty during the day with the adults all at work and the children at school. Others are closed up seasonally. Both situations call for a police presence keeping an eye on them.
• Atlantic Highway (Route 1) is dotted with businesses, and the highway itself brings all sorts of traffic through our town. Businesspeople appreciate an accessible police presence.
• Crimes do happen, even in a sleepy little Maine town
So imagine the scenario. With no charter requirement for a police department the budget line for police depends on who does or does not show up for Town Meeting.
A small group of citizens can do again what they did last year — organize a single-minded voting block to come to the meeting. Not illegal, it’s actually good political organizing. Except is that the way democracy should work?
Twice in the past few weeks, when a group working to get out the vote to keep the police requirement posted their meetings on the town’s email bulletin board, a member of the “opposition” showed up to learn what was being planned. Interestingly, their meetings aren’t publicized.
Finally, in a recent op-ed piece, one of the leaders of the charter amendment effort referred to “some vocal people in town (many of them ‘from away’) who are against changing the charter.”
Opinion
Democracy in action In Lincolnville: Let the people decide about changing the town charter
Twice in the past few weeks, when a group working to get out the vote to keep the police requirement posted their meetings on the town’s email bulletin board, a member of the “opposition” showed up to learn what was being planned. Interestingly, their meetings aren’t publicized.
Finally, in a recent op-ed piece, one of the leaders of the charter amendment effort referred to “some vocal people in town (many of them ‘from away’) who are against changing the charter.”
This is beyond offensive to the people of Lincolnville. That people have chosen to live here, to raise children, make their living, and work hard to make Lincolnville a friendly, caring, and safe community regardless of their place of birth should be all that matters. Pulling the “from away” card is a nasty trick.
Tuesday, June 11, Election Day in Lincolnville, democracy does get its chance. A written ballot at polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the option of voting absentee by going to or calling the Town Office, will give every voter ample opportunity to express their wishes for or against a police department. If you want to keep our town the way it is, with a police department, then vote “NO” for no change. Then come to Town Meeting, Saturday June 15, 10 a.m. at the school and vote for the money to run the department.
Please vote. Let’s settle this once and for all.
Tuesday, June 11, Election Day in Lincolnville, democracy does get its chance. A written ballot at polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the option of voting absentee by going to or calling the Town Office, will give every voter ample opportunity to express their wishes for or against a police department. If you want to keep our town the way it is, with a police department, then vote “NO” for no change. Then come to Town Meeting, Saturday June 15, 10 a.m. at the school and vote for the money to run the department.
Please vote. Let’s settle this once and for all.
Diane O'Brien lives in Lincolnville.
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