Locked out!

The Gray Town council workshop that was held at Stimpson hall on Monday, to look at police needs for our town, was supposed to be an open meeting for the public. The concept being that we as taxpayers should be privy to the information surrounding such important subjects as discussed last night. I agree whole heartedly and I applaud all who attended. But I fear not all
who wished to be there were able to gain entrance, through no fault or lack of effort on their part.

It seems that the outer doors to the Hall were locked at some point during the evening. This may have occurred by accident, foolishness or any number of other ways but the fact remains that some were turned away and I feel this reflects poorly on us all.

I could go into a long drawn out diatribe on the need for people to be careful, or even argue that there should have been some provision made to prohibit the locking of the doors while an open meeting was being held. But that will serve no purpose, and does not change the fact that some of our fellow citizens who on a very cold night came out to participate in their Town’s business were denied access in a very mean way indeed.

Take for example my friend Tim.

For three weeks I have been speaking with my friend about the various goings on of our town and the need for more folks to get involved. We have had some great discussions surrounding the fiscal policies and future of Gray. So when I told him about the Workshop, Tim decided to come and give a listen.

Put yourself in his shoes for a moment and ask how would you not only feel by being locked out of a public forum, but also one in which you took great pains to attend? Ask, would not your perception of your place in the community be affected? Would the conclusion that you are not welcome or that the effort to be involved is wasted cross your mind?

It seems but a small matter for which to apply so many words and questions, yet I think it not small in the least. For, in a community of thousands in which but two hundred show up at Town Meeting and vote, every single person counts. To discourage, deny, or exclude any person who wishes to take part in the practices of our community, through mischief or mistake, is not some thing to take lightly. I am a bit angry over this as I am sure all can tell, not just for my friend no, but for all who may have tried to participate and were unable.

Every small safeguard, must be made going forward to ensure that no one, EVER! is denied their opportunity to contribute to their community, even if that contribution be as small as attending a meeting.

Cheers

Allen R Butler
Gray, Maine