Article 28 Not in the Best Interest of Wakefield Voters

Sponsored by the Charter Review Committee, Article 28 of the Town Meeting Warrant proposes huge changes to our time-honored right to petition one’s government.

The Referendum petition concept was introduced to our Town Charter by the late Selectman Phyllis Hull. While she herself used this valid voting option, the referendum petition has actually been used very rarely over the years.

The sole purpose of a Referendum Petition is to grant any Wakefield voter a way to get an issue that was passed at Town Meeting on the ballot for a town-wide vote where thousands of Wakefield residents can decide on that issue by going to the polls at any time during the 13 hours the polls are open.

Article 28 goes too far by proposing that we jump from the current 200 required signatures to an unattainable 5% of registered voters – about 900 signatures! Raising the bar this high would render the citizen’s referendum option useless. Gathering signatures may look easy but it is not.

These extreme changes and the motivations behind them are deeply troubling. It is clear that the goal of Article 28 is not to ‘update’ or ‘improve’ the Referendum option or our Town Charter, but to cripple it by making it virtually impossible to gather the required number of signatures within the time allotted.

***Despite what some are claiming, not being able to use the referendum petition DOES take voting options away from Wakefield citizens!

Because the referendum has been used so infrequently, and not by the same people, it is obvious that the proposed changes are not based on the actual concept of the petition but on the OUTCOME of recent referendum votes, and that is just wrong. Think about that and the implications.

***Changing our Charter based on sour grapes and political motivations is not a sound approach and damages the integrity of our Charter.

A special election by its very nature is much more representative of the entire town. It grants many more people an easier and private voting situation because it does not require sitting for long hours at a time, paying babysitters or staying up late. Those who voted at Town meeting gain another chance to vote for or against the issue at the polls. Our Charter must keep the
citizen’s Referendum option intact and attainable for all Wakefield voters. It is an important voting option that deserves our protection.

***It is important to remember that the Referendum provision is a tool that is available to any Wakefield voter.

***To say that "special interest groups" are using the Referendum to "kill" projects is false and an impossibility. Those who gather the required signatures have no control over how the town-wide vote will turn out. How could they? The final vote is solely up to the voters who are free to vote any way they choose.

***Referendum petitions are required by law to be written in a very specific way, with language that is materially the same as the original warrant article language. If the language is not correct, none of the signatures are valid and the petition would be thrown out, and no vote at the polls would take place.That language is contained right on each and every signature form for every signer to read. This means that every person who signs knows EXACTLY what they are signing.

*** ALL signatures are reviewed and certified as valid by the Town Clerk. Any signature that isn't verifiable is deleted from the petition and does not count toward the required total.

*** Remember, signing such a petition means only ONE thing: that you would like to see the issue put to a town-wide vote.

*** The research done on this issue for the Charter Review Commission is invalid because it includes only towns with Representative Town Meeting, not Open Town Meeting like Wakefield has.

Holding a special election allows everyone more time to ask questions and study the issue. That is always a good thing. On average, a special election costs about $6 a voter. Special Elections are considered a normal part of doing Town business and any funds are taken out of the existing budget. Our taxes do NOT go up because we have a Special Election. Costs are lower now that we have a consolidated voting place.

Make no mistake about it; Article 28 is nothing more than another power grab, with Wakefield voters being the losers. Article 28, as presented, is not in the best interest of Wakefield voters.

Please join me in voting NO on Article 28 at TM on Thursday, November 8, beginning at 7 pm in the Galvin Middle School auditorium.

Keep the power in the hands of all Wakefield voters where it belongs.

Bronwyn Della-Volpe