Monday night was Winchendon’s Spring town meeting. For those of you not familiar with town meeting…”A New England Town Meeting is an example of direct democracy. It’s a form of local government where residents directly participate in making decisions about their town’s affairs, such as local laws and budgets, without elected representatives. ” Ai Overview
This was the town meeting where the town had to appropriate the money for the town budget which would increase property taxes significantly or not appropriate the funds which would close the library, the senior center and the parks and rec department by June 30th.
It was a long meeting, four hours, and well attended.
In the end after a lot of discussion we passed the budget to a mixed reaction, but it passed. I have set a meeting with the heads of the Senior Center, the Parks and rec. department and the library to see how the church may become a more effective resource for the town.
Notes From the Vicarage 
I especially appreciate your closing paragraph. The recent votes have bought us some time and a much needed opportunity to consider who we choose to be as a community and how we might address and act on this. I’m curious as to how we can use the diversity of experiences, opinions, etc. to actually strengthen us .. to build connections, trust, skills .. in our community, our organizations, our town government, etc.
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I have always enjoyed dialoguing with you Jane. This is ,as you say, “a much needed opportunity to consider who we choose to be as a community.” I am looking forward to acting on the discussions that are in our future.
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Yes .. same is true for me.
I think I’ll take a look through Margaret Wheatley’s latest edition .. https://margaretwheatley.com/books/who-do-we-choose-to-be/
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