They are back. It is spring so you may think I mean the first few herring of the season. Maybe your mind goes to returning coastal shore birds or perhaps the ospreys loudly announcing their return. Perhaps, despite the cool grey weather of late, you have convinced yourself that you hear a few spring peepers already. It’s early and you know it is just the triumph of optimism over experience. But none of those are what I mean.
I am talking about town meetings. Spring on Cape Cod is also a time for my annual reminder for you to pay attention to the return of the local town meeting and local elections that will shape what your town does for the upcoming July 1 fiscal year. Town meetings and elections determine what projects are funded and who will make the decisions that will form the future of your town and, by extension, the entire Cape. Given the low levels of participation in local elections, your voice, your vote, and your informed engagement can have an impact on outcomes unmatched at any other level of government.
This is your chance to make a real difference. It’s not really that hard. Get a hold of your town meeting warrant. They are on most town websites already and must be published in whatever you have left for a local paper. Read the warrant and ask questions, if you have any, of your town officials. If you see a land project, a water quality initiative, or an environmentally friendly article on your warrant, go to town meeting and advocate for it. Bring your friends, too. This is a great way to connect with your community. And it makes difference.
Decisions that shape your community will be made at your town meeting regardless of whether you are there or not. Ceding your influence to others makes no sense. Go and be part of the change you want. It’s not that hard and it feels good to be a part of making the system work as it was designed to.
