You are the key to making a significant change to Wareham government. You think the town meeting is a waste of time. You wish the town were like the majority of other towns in the country where a mayor and a town council actually gets things done. You want Wareham to actually make progress. Well, this is the one time you should attend town meeting.

A new form of government is being proposed, but first it must get through the gauntlet of town meeting. It will do away with town meeting so the town meeting regulars will try to defeat it. That is where you come in. If you come to town meeting with your friends and relatives who are registered to vote you can be the difference and pass the measure.

The measure is called “article 25” and it is simple. If approved, it will send the proposal to a general election next year where we can all vote at a secret ballot like elections are normally held around the country. We currently hold general elections for state and national representatives and for a few local officials like selectmen. General “secret ballot” elections are the best way for a community to make a major decision. The state legislature will review the proposal before it goes to the general election to make sure it meets state law. That will happen after town meeting, with your key vote, approves the measure.

Please do not be so discouraged that you do not attend. The town meeting regulars depend on voter apathy to keep attendance low enough so they can get their way. Let me tell you what will probably happen so you will come prepared. First, the meeting starts at 7:00 pm at the Wareham High School auditorium. Try to come about 45 minutes early to avoid parking problems and to get a good seat. If many of you show up there will be a seating problem so please don’t leave when that happens. The moderator of the meeting will have to find a solution to make accommodations for everyone. If you leave the measure will be defeated and the town will continue to be held back from what it could be under a representative democracy.

Next you need to understand the meeting will proceed like the legislature. There could be all sorts of parliamentary procedures to try to confuse you and defeat the proposal without you even knowing what happened. The measure in number 25 and should come up for a vote after number 24. So there are 24 articles that have to be dealt with before this measure unless things are taken out of order. Things could go fast but they normally go slow. At 10:00 pm there will be a decision to adjourn until another day if there are still measures to consider. It is very likely article 25 will be considered on the second evening which should be Tuesday (same time, same place). This is normal, but please don’t try to time your attendance and skip Monday. Parliamentary procedures have been used in the past and if there is a poor turnout on Monday I am expecting the opposition to try to get this measure moved ahead in the schedule. Remember, this is the one series of evenings you will ever need to attend town meeting.

During debate the opposition will have one speaker after another bring up topics to confuse the audience. Once they think they have succeeded to plant doubt in enough people’s minds they will make a motion for further study. This will kill the measure and we will be stuck with the current form of government. It would be helpful if supporters for the proposal express their opinion. This usually means standing and getting a microphone. Once it is your turn to speak you have a few minutes to say what you think. Your comments will have a big impact on some people, but most people have already made up their minds by the time they go to town meeting. If you can counter a claim made by the opposition, do it. If you just want to tell why you support the change, do it. Most people don’t get up and speak so if you don’t want to speak it is fine. Your vote is important.

You will be given a colored card when you arrive at the auditorium. When votes are taken you will raise that card and a person will count them. Sometimes the vote will be by saying yes or no out loud. If there are people talking or being rude in the crowd, ignore them. These are the people who oppose anything their group didn’t propose.

This is the one chance we will get to change the form of government so get on the phone and call your friends and relatives. With your support we can obtain a representative democracy in Wareham. The proposal is available on the town website and the Charter Review Committee will hold many more information sessions to explain it if this measure is passed at town meeting. Between this town meeting and the general election on the proposal there will be plenty of opportunities to learn how the proposed mayor/town council form of government will help Wareham make progress.

Sincerely,

Mick Jones