I urge Town Meeting members in Amherst to approve funding for the Charter Commission’s work and urge the commission to use some of that funding to publish the previous reports of charter commissions, which are available only for a fee.
This would encourage public discussion of prior recommendations, and move our current discussion forward in a better informed manner. I also hope that the new commission will develop a robust mechanism for public participation in discussions.
I reject the suggestion, made previously, that such expert guidance is “bought and paid for.” We are, largely, a town of experts who value our integrity and what we can contribute to informed debate.
Marilyn Denny
Amherst