Submitted by Town Moderator Dennis Berry (see note following):

I would like to express my deep thanks to all who attended this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Saturday was certainly trying as the temperature rose and the field got hot. Nevertheless, we got through important business including the budget and we were even able to handle several items at the end of the Warrant, taking a burden off Sunday. On Sunday I thought there was some excellent debate on key issues that that were in front of us including, but not limited to, the expenditure for the Council on Aging facility and the Loker Conservation and Recreation area.

The “stuff” of Town meeting is the pro and con debate. Whether it is between those who have studied and are prepared for particular issues, or those who may not have prepared for an issue but react to information they receive on the spot. Both types of input are important and demonstrate the value of open town meeting. Thank you to all who participated in that way.

Thanks are due to the great many people who worked on the dual tracks of developing the issues that came to be discussed on the floor of the meeting and those involved in the logistics of setting up that floor to allow that discussion. To name one or two would be to ignore others. Let it be sufficient to say that there were many. They have my thanks.

My particular thanks to Miranda Jones who stepped in to preside during The Finance Committee Appointment article, in which I was personally interested. We will see how the Select Board conducts the further study they feel they need. For the many who I think support my position, be assured myself and others will be watching the Select Board and vigorously participating in its review.

In several cases I had to ask speakers to “sum up” when they had exceeded their time limit. In a couple of cases I had to use my authority to deny some the opportunity to finish. I did so only when the original time limit was exceeded, and I felt they had gone beyond even the “sum up” remarks allowed. If you plan to make four points and only make three in your time limit, you should sum up the three, not move on to the fourth. I hope everyone understands that this is part of my role as Moderator. I need to keep the meeting moving along and I need to bring some element of fairness in time allotment. I will never be perfect in this letter area and hope most people feel I’m as fair as possible.

I look forward to the persons involved in carrying out the decisions made at the meeting and to doing it all again, in the fall or next year at this time.

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