Groton is a very diverse community and that is what I love about our town. We have wealthy sections, middles-class areas, low-income areas and a large military family presence. All these parts of our town are equally important and deserve a voice currently guaranteed with a Representative Town Meeting (RTM). Regardless of where you live in our town, you are assured of having local representatives looking after your interests on this governing body, the RTM.

This is a vital part of Groton’s fair government. Each of the seven voting districts in town have elected members representing their district. The RTM system currently also has a minority representation guarantee. The proposed changes to our charter abolish the RTM, taking these voices away.

There are other proposed changes to our charter that frankly I do not agree with. One example is a proposed budget referendum. With no voter turnout threshold, a mandated budget referendum could adversely threaten our quality of services and put our great education system at risk.

I urge Groton voters to vote "no" on the charter revision proposal.

Harry Watson

Groton