On the front page of the Citizen published 19 November, I read that "Town Facing Tough 2010 Budget Challenge."

Turning then to Page A5, I read "Council approves pay raise recommendations". It seems Council doesn't relate page 1 to page 5. Not only a pay raise but double digit raises all round the table. The reasons for these raises seem noble at first reading, to attract the best possible people and to take into consideration the time and effort put into this part time job.

However, these reasons just don't hit the mark.

People who want to be on Council, should approach the job knowing that it is not a place to get rich, but a place to serve their community out of concern and desire. If I am correct in believing that some or all of these positions are part time, I would assume that the positions are not the only source of income for these folks. If in fact, Council is a second income, our town politicos are probably eating pretty well.

How many people in the present economy can boast a thirty or seventeen percent increase?

From what we see on the news every day, many people are fortunate to have employment at all. Those who find themselves unemployed due to the economy, no longer enjoy the prospect of a raise.

I happen to belong to an organization that pays me 35 days a year for my efforts. I put in close to one hundred days a year. Basic math would tell you that I work quite a few days for nothing. But wait, that is not true. I do it for several reasons, I love doing it, and most significantly, it is important and meaningful. Perhaps this type of reasoning is too mundane for someone with a political career in mind.

This speaks to the reasoning that you need to pay to get the best people to run in the next election. I would hope the best people for the job would do it out of the need to serve, not the need to get paid.

I have no qualms about town politicians being paid. I do have a problem with people who purportedly want to serve the townspeople but continually attempt to alienate them by their actions.

In the front page article, the Mayor indicates that some services may have to be cut to meet the budget crisis. I would postulate that the populace might think that in the next election, the services of the present Council might be one of the items to be cut.

It brings to mind something a lady named Marie Antoinette once said, " Let them eat cake"
Terry Filce
via e-mail