Opinion: Non-Residents Shouldn't Get Vote On Town Committees

A Letter to the Editor from William Brown:

Article 4.14, Other Boards or Committees of the Town of Reading Home Rule Charter, states "Any of the elected boards or committees authorized by Article 3 may establish and appoint or dissolve boards or committees (human rights?) from time to time for a specific purpose. Members of such boards or committees shall reside in the Town of Reading at the time of their appointment and during their term of office.

An item on the Select Board meeting of May 21, 2019 proposed to end the Charter to allow non-residents to serve on such boards or committees.

Over the last twenty years or so I have served two charter review committees, the first had approximately 10 members, the second had approximately 15 members.

Both committees overwhelmingly rejected allowing non-residents from serving on any Reading committee.

I welcome any non-resident that may wish to bring "expertise" that may not be found among the residents of Reading.

I do not want a non-resident voting on decisions that could affect me.

William C. Brown, Martin Road