DF needs a cornerstone Charter for the future

To the Editor;

Seems hard to believe a decade has passed since a handful of Dover citizens, both elected and appointed, joined together to review and revise the town Charter. And here we are, 10 years later with a newly minted Charter Commission tasked with responsibilities, if fulfilled, could have a profound affect on the entire community and every citizen residing in it.

This Charter Commission through its deliberations and decisions has the opportunity to enhance life in Dover, to help foster greater transparency in its government and imbue every citizen with the singular spirit of a unified community. A unified community operating in the interests of all citizens, not just a kind of home-rule oligarchy inuring to only a few.

In its purest sense, democratic ideals can best be achieved through this Charter Commission only when each of its members sets aside their individual interests and personal agendas, devoid of partisan political leanings and free of the already established persuasions levied by a seemingly elite few. The community is best served only when all public officials reject their personal enrichment in the interest of truly and honestly serving in the public interest.

The July 2016 edition of THE VERDICT, published by Judicial Watch, contained this statement which could well apply to the new Charter Commission. “Public officials have a duty to act in the best interest of the people who elect them. When they make decisions based on personal interest they are defrauding the public.”

Unlike the Charter Commission of 10 years ago it will be interesting to see if this Commission actually responds not just to public concerns but to a challenging future, and incorporates citizen thoughts and ideas into a proposed final Charter draft. For starters, how about entertaining the following:

a) Establish term limits for Selectmen and committee members.

b) Establish a citizen-elected Budget Committee, which, by its very nature would be devoid of selectmen-imposed bias.

c) Establish a new list of clearly defined Ethical Standards for all public officials so as to eliminate even the perception of conflict of interest issues, and improper use and/or abuse of public office for personal gain.

d) Establish a quarterly program of random drug testing of every town employee. Include a penalty schedule sufficiently severe as to deter all employees from procuring and/or using illicit and nonprescription medications.

With this new Charter Commission comes an incredible opportunity to create a renaissance for Dover-Foxcroft. It can only happen if and when the citizens are permitted to present their ideas to the Commission and the Commission is willing to not just listen but to implement the thinking of all the residents. Citizen input as encouraged and implemented by this Commission will help develop a lasting document that is both new and refreshing. A new Charter, reflective of citizen interests can become enthusiastically embraced by all the people and will help generate real pride in our hometown.

It’s time to drop the old “boilerplate” image of some dusty archival remnant and to establish a charter that becomes the cornerstone that helps lead us into the next decade — one that promises a new vibrancy in the spirit of the people and offers the possibility of sustained growth for our town.

Don Benjamin
Dover-Foxcroft