What is wrong with this City Council? Have they gone completely crazy over power? What these charter changes amount to is get rid of the mayor because his name is not Violette. I think they are overstepping their bounds.

Apparently, Mr. Rielly wants the council to control all city business. Boy, will we be in trouble. He wants better government not different government. Well, he is headed in the wrong direction.

This charter commission would have six elected members and three members appointed by the council. Who do you suppose those three would be? Councilors Rielly and Gattine want the mayor’s spending limited to $3,000. The mayor would have no veto power. In other words, if he doesn’t agree with the council, he’s wrong. Why do you seven people think you are the only smart ones in this city? You certainly haven’t shown that so far.

Councilor Foley suggests staggered terms for council members so a new council can’t be elected without any “institutional knowledge.” I haven’t seen too much of that in this council.

Councilor Symbol doesn’t know what people are afraid of. We have seven people sitting there who think they know so much more than the citizens of this city. I spoke on Saccarappa Park with almost 700 names of people who wanted to put the park back, and you were all very attentive while I was talking. Then in one minute voted against it. That’s what people are afraid of. You people don’t listen or care what people in the city think or want. I guess because we are not very smart.

I’m sure this is leading to the removal of the mayor and any power he has. However, this never would have come up if his name was Violette.

Leona Glidden

Westbrook