LETTER: Does Town Meeting Represent the People?
Sanchez: "The only way we can change our democratic process is by making it meaningful."
It has been said that all politics are local, yet our budget problems have to be put in a broader national context.
In addition, when we look at Framingham in a historical context, the democratic process is failing us –for reasons given below.
Maybe some of you had the opportunity to see a CBS report this past Sunday pointing out that Massachusetts was among the top 13 states in the nation having serious problems with state debt.
Although CBS made no reference to its source, one can obtain similar information using the internet.
State Budget Solutions, which follows the debt of all states, ranked California as the first state in the nation when it comes to debt problems.
According to the same source, Massachusetts ranks seventh in the nation when it comes to debt-per-capita ranking. The Commonwealth had a total debt of about 20 billion dollars for fiscal year 2011. The proposed increase in debt for fiscal year 2013 will be over 1 billion dollars.
It seems that people in town forget that we are citizens of the United States of America - which now has a national debt to GDP ratio of over 100 percent. We are also citizens of Massachusetts, and the state is not doing well with regard to debt.
According to the most recent figures available to Moody’s, Massachusetts ranks second in the nation when it comes to net tax-supported debt as a percent of personal income (for 2009) and first in the nation in terms of net tax-supported debt as a percent of gross state domestic product (for 2011): while the median for the nation was 3.94 percent, it was 8.62 percent for Massachusetts.
Now, there may be a lot to be said for large expenditures and heavy debt in our state, since we are providing many dollars of services to the non-profit institutions that make our state famous. Recall that we are known for educational, medical and social service institutions that pay very little in taxes But the question that we have to address in Town Meeting is whether our local government equally deserves more tax dollars and an increasing debt. Remember that the federal government and state governments provide funding for local services; but as we have seen, the funding behaviors of these entities are not sustainable. We are going to have to pay a heavier and heavier tax burden unless we do something about our expenditures and debt.
Town Meeting is supposed to represent the will of the people. Maybe we want to spend more. But do you think that Town Meeting members represent the will of the people when fewer than 10 percent of registered voters show up at the polls?
Someone has argued that people could show up at the polls, if they wanted to. But then, how do you explain previous participation rates at elections, relative to the more recent participation rates? Even the most tyrannical regimes in the world can produce 10 percent of the population showing up for mock elections, since there are always people who have something to gain by maintaining the status quo. The rest do not show up because they know that they are not going to be heard. They know that the bureaucracy in power will subvert whatever is proposed, with the assistance of lawyers always ready to give opinions in defense of the status quo.
The only way we can change our democratic process is by making it meaningful. Let’s take a look at some simple statistics, derived from official state sources. In 1950, the Framingham town elections drew 58 percent of registered voters; for 1970, 44 percent of registered voters; for 1990, 43 percent of registered voters, and even as late as 2000, 25 percent of the voters showed up to vote. In 2004, the figure had dropped to 10 percent of the registered voters, the sort of experience we had this year. Framingham is experiencing meaningless elections, because if something goes wrong, like the assessment process, all that happens is that the Administration asks for more funds for those departments performing poorly.
Do you think that people are really happy with the way that Town government is conducted in Framingham? It is for this reason that this body should instruct the Government Study Committee (and other committees) to come up with rules that can really change our democratic process.
One such rule is the one that has been proposed by the citizen’s petition presented under Article 38.
Another rule would be to have fewer elections - but meaningful elections - where all the incumbents can be voted down or out. (Electing one third of a board every three years will not do that.)
In the financial arena, we must take the bull by the horns and decide first our total expenditures, and then allocate departmental budgets in the best possible way. The opposition to this process is the entrenched bureaucracy. All it wants is additional expenditures to increase its budget, regardless of performance.
I urge you to vote for real change in Town Meeting. If not now, when?
Nick Sanchez
John Sullivan
3:57 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Nick - Not sure I get your point? I understand you are concerned about debt, but why do you think that Town Meeting has not represented the will of the people? Even in an important Presidential Election, it is difficult to get more than 50% of eligible voters to the polls. Maybe the reason we only have 10% vote in a local Town Meeting election is that people do not see voting as relevant to their lives. To be sure, it seems most of the votes this year at Town Meeting have been passed by a wide margin, suggesting there is broad agreement by all concerned parties about the passage of the various articles. It is hard to get people to partcipate in elections, when lives are so busy and people do not see their vote as making a significant difference in their lives. But low voter turnout does not mean that those who ARE participating are not being fairly represented by their town meeting members. That is the premise of your letter, but nothing you wrote substantiates that position. I understand you are upset about spending, but maybe your views don't represent the majority of those in town. You can make well reasoned arguments on both sides - to save more, or to invest more. But making attacks against the very democratic principle town meeting represents does not seem like the rational way to go.
Jim Rizoli
5:22 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
I actually like TM but it does have it's flaws. The Moderator makes or breaks it.
The school budget is a good example of breaking it. WE should of adjourned and dealt with the school budget today when more discussion would of taken place.
But he knew the majority of the people with the school dept would be busy at their scam ESL fund raiser.
So it was rushed as usual and got passed without any serious questions coming out of TMM. Lots of deals can be made to get things moved to stop discussion.
The moderator knows who to call on to either extend discussion or move things along and he does a great job manipulating things to go his way
What bothers me is take me for example, I've only spoken twice in all the time there yet some other people have spoken 2 or three times in one meeting. This is not fair at all.
I think Nick brings out some good points about the low voter turn out but this is everywhere. People don't seem to care about much any more except themselves and the ones that vote seem to have an agenda that includes spending everyones else's money.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Diane Tiger
6:20 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
For all of those tired of the doom and gloom, here is an article touring all the many areas in which MA comes out on top - with plenty of links to sources. http://mobile.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/05/massachusetts_is_the_best_state_in_the_union_.single.html
Linda Dunbrack
6:48 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
I heartily agree with Nick's opening sentence, "The only way we can change our democratic process is by making it meaningful." However, I think the change he proposes would make it so that the *best organized* special interests would be well-represented. I do not really think it would result in making it more representative of the residents of our community.
If the goal is meaningful representation, what we need is competition for the seats so that there are meaningful choices either by reducing the size of Town Meeting or moving to a different type of structure. Newton has a 24-member Board of Alderman in its city form of government. I think it is worth considering.
In terms of the financial issues, I think the wisdom of having 216 people make decisions about a complex $265 million operating budget (including water and sewer) is ...well...questionable at best. I'd rather have a smaller group of people with a greater level of accountability. The electronic voting definitely helps with that last point, and I for one plan to take a close look at how my reps are voting.
Diane Tiger
7:08 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
I would be interested also, but the moderator does not use the electronic system for every vote, so some votes are without individual records.
Greg Palmer
2:31 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
Diane,
I think the "first run" of electronic voting devices was a 6 out of 10. The technology is extremely simple to use, and administer, but there were numerous occasions of "re-voting," delays in being able to vote, and just a couple of times where the votes did not connect for some number of voters.
I think it will improve over time, but I agree with your implication that every vote ought to be done electronically. If for nothing else, it will give an accurate count. To me, accuracy is number 1, accountability is 1a. Extremely important, but getting the vote on the mark is the absolute priority. There is no reason why we cannot expect this to occur as we use these devices more and more.
I am okay with hand votes for motions to move a question, adjourn, things of that nature, but anything that is related to an article ought to be accurate. Having said that, I also think that if the vote is not very clear to move a question by hand vote, then you go right to the electronic vote to get the exact count.
I believe Mr. Noonan became more and more confident in the system as the TM has moved on and has done these things with greater frequency.
Greg Palmer
TMM Precinct 8
Linda Dunbrack
7:11 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
System has been a bit flaky, for sure, but it looks to me like the most important votes are recorded. I wish they would post the spreadsheets instead of the pdf version of the files. They are hard to read. I will probably request them and post a link to them on frambors.
John Sullivan
7:35 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Nick - Was your wife one of those town meeting incumbents defeated in the recent election? If so, the editorial your wrote smacks of sour grapes. It also would undermine your claim that it is not a meaningful democratic process. Or is the only meaningful election the one in which your wife keeps her spot at Town Meeting?
Susan Petroni
9:17 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
John: Nick has been sitting in the audience - and is here tonight
You seem to have a lot to say -- but you are never here at Town Meeting.
(I don't think I have seen you at anything in town.)
Perhaps, if you feel so strongly, you should run for Town Meeting.
What precinct are you in? It is easy to complain ...
Whether you agree with Nick and his political views, you can not argue that he is active and involved ...
John Sullivan
9:54 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Susan - I wasn't arguing that he wasn't active and involved. I was arguing against his position that Town Meeting isn't democratic. And then when someone told me his wife recently lost her re-election bid (not sure if that is true or not, just what I heard which is why I asked for clarification), I thought he should have disclosed that in his editorial, since otherwise it smacks of not just sour groups but cynicism. I think there are many merits to Town Meeting, as well as many drawbacks. I think that Framingham is a big enough entity that perhaps Town Meeting isn't the most efficient (or effective) way to manage it legislatively. But I think not being democratic, as Nick Sanchez suggested, is the least of its problems. If anything it is TOO democratic. Perhaps an oligarchy, such as the Board of Alderman that Linda suggested is worth exploring. I appreciate your saying that I have a lot to say and encouraging me to run, but I don't think I have the stamina to put in all those nights. How many weeks has it been going on? I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who volunteer their time for it though. But I also can't help but think your comment "You seem to have a lot to say" was backhanded. I seem to recall you writing an editorial imploring people to post more, to dilute the Rizoli's endless rants. Then when I start posting, I get criticized by the editor as not being involved? Or being too opinionated? Never mind, just trying to contribute to the discussion.
Susan Petroni
3:29 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
I did ask for people to comment more than on our Facebook page.
I strongly believe actions speak louder than words.
And on a regular basis suggested people get involved and not just type words.
And I practice what I preach. Besides working here at Patch, I still volunteer with several organizations in town; and before I took this position was a PTO president with one of the elementary schools. I stepped down as PTO president to avoid any conflict of interest.
If you are unhappy with the schools, volunteer.
If you unhappy with the town government, step up and be a Town Meeting member of volunteer for a committee.
I am a huge advocate of doing something not just complaining!
Linda Dunbrack
10:50 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
John...I am betting that maybe it isn't "all those nights" but all those nights in a row in a month. A typical council or Board of Alderman meets twice a month. It seems like a more reasonable option than signing up for 12-20 nights in a compressed period of time like Town Meeting. Part of the reason for my timing in leaving FINCOM in May instead of June was that commitment, which as you say, requires stamina, and, as I would say, significant sacrifice in terms of family time.
On another note, Susan has been challenging all who complain to get involved to change what they don't like. She has been consistent, so it isn't personal.
I'd also add that whether or not it is an oligarchy depends on voters. There should be enough quality candidates in the ranks of Town Meeting that it doesn't have to be. Wikipedia defines an oligarchy as "a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control." It really doesn't imply merit, but in an electoral system, it could be. It is the voter's choice.
Jim Rizoli
11:28 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
John my "Endless rants" is just me exercising my right to have a say in this town, as are yours to have the same opportunity.
I guess I can't win with some people....If I say nothing I don't care....If I say a lot they're considered by some "Endless Rants".....Go figure!
One thing is for sure...... if people listened to my "endless rants" ten years ago our town wouldn't be in the position it is today.
jim@ccfiile.com
Greg Palmer
1:24 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
The original question, "Does TM represent the will of the people," is a very good one...and extremely difficult to answer. Aside from extremely low voter turnout, and much lower participation, it's not a question that has a straightforward answer.
In completing my second full spring TM, a fall TM, and various special TMs, I have been contacted less than 10 total times via email or phone for all issues combined. The rise in real estate taxes, clearly a hot issue with all or most property owners in town, invoked not one communication nor concern to me about how I voted for any article, or motion. In other words, the will of the people in precinct 8 was never once communicated to me or several other precinct 8 TMMs from our neighbors.
I typically rely on digital, print, and televised news stories, as well as opinion letters and posts to maintain a pulse on what fellow citizens are thinking. I read a lot about dissatisfaction around the tax increases, and even though the neighbors I have spoken with are not thrilled with tax hikes, their priorities in life are somewhere else. So, how do we best capture their will?
Absent of shared opinions, I would like to believe that TMMs rely on good judgement and review materials provided to make an informed vote on TM articles. There are clearly articles that have a much greater impact than others, however, that does not mean they come with any more citizen communication.
Greg Palmer
TMM & Precinct 8 Chair
Jim Rizoli
2:30 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
This past TM was not one of our best! No real tough cross examinations of those in charge. The Blg. Dept boss gets 2k per week to play golf, the school dept got away without explaining some concerns of some TMM, and they pretty much decided to put adult ESL over the children of the town.
So if you think this was a good thing I don't know what to tell ya.
I do have an idea why things went so badly.....fluoride in the water, It's dumbing down the residents big time.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Greg Palmer
2:46 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
I think the improved financial landscape had a lot to do with it.
I personally disagree with the course of action regarding the "Big Dep't Boss" you referred to - and the way it is being handled, but the town's legal council explained their reasoning. I wasn't thrilled about it - but I understand they are following the law, in their opinion, to the best of their ability.
With regards to the schools, I thought some of the speakers did a good job outlining the issues and others rambled on without any purpose or specificity. In the end, the vote was extremely lopsided, so I would suspect if you were not on the prevailing side, it would be natural to complain further. I can see the point of people who were not in favor of the budget having further questions. I also think some of the answers would be better to gather directly from the school department when they have time to respond with details than on the TM floor where they are in presentation mode.
I guess we will agree to disagree around whether this TM was good or bad - as always, I suspect it has to do with where one is on the issues with regards to the results of the votes.
Greg Palmer
Jim Rizoli
1:33 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012
Greg...It doesn't have to do with what side of the issue one is on.....it has to do with what is best for the Town. TM votes for things that are bringing this town on its knees. Just look at downtown and you will see the direction we're going.....
You can make all the excuses you want....it is what it is, and the future doesn't look good.
Jim@ccfiile.com