BY RYAN O’CONNOR
Last year, Dunbarton overwhelmingly opposed changing traditional voting to SB2, the official ballot law form of government.
SB2 failed 502-241 on the town side, and 487-251 on the school district ballot.
This year, 28 residents will try again, having submitted petitioned warrant articles to both the town and school district to transition to SB2.
The SB2 form of government, adopted by a number of other area towns, including Goffstown, New Boston and Weare, allows residents to vote on warrant articles through an official ballot on Election Day, rather than in a public forum at Town or School District Meetings.
Residents may still amend and potentially change the intent of an article at a deliberative session that precedes Election Day.
Selectmen Chairman Mert Mann said his board doesn’t support the initiative and supporters are most likely those who would like to take advantage of the flaws in the system.
“It certainly isn’t a representative form of government,” he said. “Historically, those towns that adopt SB2, when they have deliberative session, the attendance drops. The problem is that’s where decisions are made. And then, many people who may be uninformed show up a month later to vote.
“Town Meeting is a tradition that has proven itself over and over again, and there is absolutely no need for such a drastic change,” Mann continued. “It’s just a bad idea, and I think most people in town last year proved they agree.”
Following last year’s Town Meeting, when results were announced, resident J.R. Hoell expressed relief.
“I believe the choice to put SB2 down in Dunbarton was a good one,” said Hoell. “I don’t think SB2 represents towns well. People miss the ability to get information in the deliberative session that comes up in Town Meeting.”
Still, those who support SB2 see a different side of the coin.
“I support it because there are so many registered voters in this town and hardly anyone shows up to the meetings. A lot of things that aren’t passed or are passed may have been different if more voters showed up,” said resident Ann Carney, who signed the petition.
“I mean, we are talking about less than 300 people that go to Town and School District Meeting, so it doesn’t seem like a lot of people are that involved anymore.”
Carney said she would rather have more people vote after educating themselves through the annual town report, and asking questions of town and school officials outside of public meetings for clarification purposes.