Letter: Petition author thanks supporters

By Guest

Dear Editor:

I’d like to thank the people who stood in support of moving Canton’s local elections from April to November. Frankly, things looked grim going in to town meeting. The Finance Committee had previously voted unanimously to indefinitely postpone the article; the town clerk was strongly against the article, as were four of the five selectmen. If not for the compelling arguments made by several people, then the article would not have passed.

First, Tanya Willow wrote a wonderful column in last week’s Canton Citizen that said better than anyone why this article is important. Selectman Victor Del Vecchio once again stood alone among his fellow selectmen in supporting an issue that’s clearly in the best interests of Canton. Thanks to ex-FinCom member Pat Johnson, who spoke personally and eloquently that a larger turnout is always a good thing, and ex-Planning Board member Dave Merrigan, whose comments at town meetings, past and present, are always highly valued. Thanks also to Planning Board member Tori McClain, who had every reason to skip this year’s town meeting with a 2-month-old baby at home, and to her fellow Planning Board member Jeremy Comeau for speaking in favor of the article despite only an hour before having to explain a complex zoning article.

Now that town meeting has voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to file a petition with the General Court for special legislation allowing Canton to hold annual municipal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, I would hope that all the selectmen, despite their opposition to the article, will submit to the will of town meeting and do everything in their power to promote this home rule petition. The Board of Selectmen should quickly start a dialog with Representative Galvin and Senator Joyce as to the best way to move forward. The wholehearted support of the selectmen will go far in garnering support in the legislature.

Although most of the arguments against moving our elections to November don’t stand up to scrutiny, there is one that is valid and needs to be addressed in the near future — the shortage of poll workers. The average age of our poll workers is 77. They do a remarkable (and largely thankless) job, but they need help. Shockingly, for the valuable service and dedication they provide, we pay them $7.25 per hour — not even the Massachusetts minimum wage. I spoke to town clerks in several surrounding communities. None that I talked to have a problem finding poll workers, but they work every year at recruiting new workers, and they pay them better. It’s the town clerk’s job to solve this problem. If she needs more resources or organizational help, she should ask for it.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rohr

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