To the editor:

We will be having our Annual Town Meeting on March 7 at 9 a.m. At this meeting there will be 33 articles to vote on including several budgetary and a couple of zoning ordinances. In addition to these articles there is an open seat for a town selectman for the next three years. John Dill is stepping down after many years of service and it will be up to the voters to decide upon his replacement. I am one of the candidates and am encouraging as many of you that are able to attend the town meeting. This is the only time you will have a say in the direction of these 33 articles as well as the replacement of John Dill.

I think it is unfortunate that in our community which depends upon tourist dollars for many of the resident's income that our meeting is being held at one of the most challenging times, a Saturday morning in March at 9 a.m., when many of us will be required to work in the resort industry to support our families. Not only will many of the Kingfield residents be unable to attend the town meeting, but they also may not have a "proxy" or opportunity to represent themselves.

The only time you can vote is to be present at the town meeting. When I was obtaining signatures for my petition to run for selectman, this concern was expressed several times by those who I talked with. I went to the town office, explained this concern to Mr. Dill and the administrative assistant and they told me we would need a warrant to change the time or date of the town meeting. The 2009 Warrant is complete for the town meeting, so I could present an article for the 2010 Annual Town Meeting where it would be voted upon. If the vote were successful at the 2010 town meeting we would then be able to change the time of the town meeting for the 2011 year town meeting, two years away.

I hope there is some compromise to this problem. Either we allow residents to vote for items through a paper ballot so their voice may be heard or we change the time and date of the meeting so more of us who are employed in the resort industry (both Sugarloaf and Saddleback employ several residents) could voice our opinion. We are a democratic society and the will of those people who want to voice an opinion should be heard in a fair manner.

With all of this being said, as of now there is nothing we can do except attend the 2009 Kingfield Town Meeting on March 7 at 9 a.m. I encourage as many of you that are able to attend do so. It is most important for residents to voice their opinion on these issues which will affect the future of our town government in these challenging times. Submitted by Scott Hoisington Kingfield