Re-Open General Public Comment

Members of Westerly Town Council,

I am writing you today with the concern of the anti-democratic elimination of general public comment in your public meetings. "Comments shall be limited to agenda items only."

Part of any citizen's right is to comment to their elected officials on issues of the day or to give feedback and direction on the decisions or actions taken by said elected officials. What does the Westerly Town Council gain by taking that right away? Do the members of the WTC hold themselves in such high regard that they think they don't need to hear from members of the Westerly community in this way?

The WTC likely does have serious issues with itself if it regularly takes five hours or more to conduct the town's business at its meetings. I don't think the WTC has done any analysis or actual examination to see how much time such general comment took. It appears to be negligible and not a source of the problem of its apparent inefficiency.

If the WTC feels it has the ability to weigh in on issues not directly under its purview, such as gun regulations or book bans, why doesn't it allow voters and community members the same opportunity, or to be able to give public feedback in its meetings as to decisions it has made?

Elected officials should hold themselves as near as possible to the community members they claim to represent. Not allowing general comment sends a clear message they hold themselves much above.