Friday, March 29

THE TRIAL


THE TRIAL

{Monday April 1st 2013 6:30pm. Town Hall}

 


          There’s a trial on Monday and I’m not the one on trial. I’m like a prop in a play and I don’t yet know if it’s a comedy or a tragedy. The finance committee is on trial. The town is on trial. Democracy is on trial. Monday night we will decide what kind of town we will live in. Are we a democracy or are we an oligarchy? Do we want to be ruled by a small group of reactionaries or rule ourselves through a democratic process? We have the opportunity to put ourselves back on track.

          Some people are giving me kudos for doing something that needed to be done. I didn’t do anything. I simply voiced something that needed to be spoken. I put my ear to the ground and heard what people have been whispering for a long time. What people thought but dared not say. Don’t look at me, look within yourselves. WE HAVE THE POWER IN OUR HANDS. We are a democracy. Every vote is equal and none are more equal than others. The only vote that doesn’t count is the vote that isn’t cast.

          There is a small group of people trying to keep the power out of the hands of the people. The only way to stop them is to take the power back. We diminish our power when we don’t voice our opinion. We relinquish our power when we don’t vote. The only way this small group of people can win is if we are either too afraid or too apathetic to exercise our rights. Monday night we have a chance to tell this small group of people that we are taking back our town.

          Monday night will be either a rallying point or place of death. This trial is not about me or my blog it’s about our way of life. Our town government is set up with checks and balances. The Board of Selectmen serves an advisory role; but its primary function is to administer the will of the people as expressed at the annual town meeting. The Finance committee is an advisory role as well. Its function is to keep a check on the financial aspects of the town; the guardian of the purse. The police department is there to keep law and order. But the legislative branch of our government is vested only in the people. We have to get back on track and Monday night is the night to do it.      

Kevin Zurrin

4 comments:

  1. Agreed this is all very odd. Thought BOS just voted people off the island with no hearing. And agreed that there's been lack of oversight of water co., but do remember when it was purchased by the town there were options, and the whole town chose. Always was the idea of the town taking over some debt service. Great to have a viable S. Egremont village, do not want to return to toll roads, fee to use French Park, Library etc. Or have to subscribe to a Fire protection service.

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  2. Yes Anonymous this is odd in too many ways to mention. If the town was told in the beginning that they would be on the hook for 50k to 100k per year we would never have purchased the water co. Look at the written evidence. I read in the 1996 annual report of the town offices, Pg. 32, 1st paragraph “It was emphasized once again that no town monies are being used to purchase the water company, improve it, or operate it.”This was a statement made by Charles Ogden, Chairman of the Finance Committee. You can blur the argument with scattered thoughts of people who think everyone should share the cost, but the fact is that all written statements say that the town would not have to pay one thin dime. As for the tolls, fees and subscriptions that you don’t want to return to; all the people pay for and have equal access to these services. The water is only available to the homes that are served. If you want to know my opinion on this read http://eyeonegremont.blogspot.com/2010/06/speech-before-house-of-representatives_15.html

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  3. 1995 Annual Report, Pg. 29, 3rd paragraph "The users of the system, the Selectmen, and our legislators worked together to prevent this outrageous attempt to capitalize a private business with our citizens money."

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