Time for SB2 in Moultonboro

Editor, The Citizen January 6th, 2009

As a proponent for SB2, last year I wrote a missive comparing maple syrup production with town governance. At the risk of boring those folks that took time to read that effort, I will refer to it again to show that change, from time to time, is needed.

Town Meetings have had the same format in NH for more than 250 years. The second Tuesday in March, folks left their farms and shops and gathered around the center of town to hear their brethren discuss the needs and issues of the town, and years later the schools; all the while a vote was taken here and there, after much discussion. They made a day of it; bringing forth food for the mid-day and evening meals and sewing to keep the women busy (after all, back then the women did not have a say in the political events). It was as much a social event as anything. But serious work was done, nonetheless. Not much else happened in town on "Town Meeting Day" except the annual discussions, decisions and politicking of the town.

The day after Town Meeting was usually relegated to tapping the sugar maples for the other age old spring tradition: Sappin' Season. Over decades, the technology of wooden spigots and buckets gave way to metal spigots and buckets, and a tin lid to keep out the snow. In more recent years sap is collected with plastic tubing and boiling is done by gas or oil, not wood fired evaporators. Even the dates of the season have been adjusted for climate change. Has the sweet flavor of grade A light amber (or my personal "fav" grade A dark amber) changed? No. The methodology has changed. The timing has changed. Even the grading has been altered … but the result is the same wonderful product.

Town Meeting has not changed much. It takes a full day of being away from home, employment, or avocation in order to vote. The food brought forth is that of a food sale, and a few ladies still bring sewing as a pastime. But the result is not the same. Not everyone in the town is allowed to vote. We have, over the years, recognized that women and those young adults over 18 should share in the voting at the ballot. Ah, but town meeting has a different guideline in allowing or disallowing a person to exercise their right to vote. No matter what is going on in your life, you have to take the day and devote it to Town Meeting. Are you working, sick, out of town, at school or in the military? Well then, they don't want your vote. At least it would seem that way. The result is that the opinions discussed and voted on at Town Meeting represent only a small minority who are afforded the right to vote 'cause they are there. Clearly they do not represent the opinion of the entire town.

Two ancient New Hampshire spring rituals that have needed to change methodology to achieve a favorable result. One has … and the other needs to.

SB-2 will be on the ballot again this March in Moultonborough and Meredith. In both towns, last year SB-2 received well over a majority of votes in favor of it, but missed passage by a handful of votes because SB-2 needs 60% (a super majority). We need your vote to bring these two towns up to date with more than half of the population in NH that has already opted for SB-2 as their form of voting.

Rick Heath

Moultonborough