Absolutely NO on 1

Question 1 on the ballot should be very troubling to all Wakefield residents.

The town would have us believe that the number of signatures gathered to simply PUT AN ISSUE ON THE BALLOT by referendum should be increased from the current 200 to 2 1/2% of registered voters or roughly 500 signatures. These are signatures that simply put an issue on a town wide ballot. They are NOT votes for or against the issue at hand.

Many important issues are decided at Town Meetings and most often by a pitifully small number of voters. HOWEVER….. NO QUOTA is required to take a vote at Town Meeting no matter how important the issue. This is just wrong. It is also illogical that no quota be required to 'vote' on a major town change at a Town Meeting but then require 500 signatures to put an issue on a town ballot. I suggest that if 500 signatures are required to place an issue on a town ballot that perhaps 1000 voters be required to take a vote at a Town Meeting on any major issue. Isn't this only fair? One thousand voters would still be a tiny fraction of registered voters but still a much better representation of the will of the voters than what we have now. Some terrible decisions have been made at Town Meeting. It has a vote of no confidence from me.

It is common knowledge that Town Meetings are poorly attended for a host of legitimate reasons and this is certainly not going to change. Town Meeting is the perfect place to take advantage of residents by pushing through proposals and stacking the meeting while slipping through town altering changes. All of this happens before the majority of voters are aware and much less up to speed about what has already happened. It's basically a scam. This is precisely why the referendum is so necessary. Major town issues need to be placed on a town ballot!

I have heard the argument that a referendum vote 'disrespects' the vote taken at Town Meeting. I disagree wholeheartedly. I argue that votes taken at Town Meeting with a literal handful of voters on issues that affect the entire town disrespects all residents and homeowners. I have no problem with a vote I may cast at a Town Meeting being subjected to further scrutiny by a town wide vote. In fact I would welcome it.

Maintain your right as a resident/home owner of Wakefield to have a voice.

Vote NO on Question 1.

Maureen Howland