To the editor:

Congratulations, Kennebunk residents: you now have a full-time economic development director to spend your tax dollars helping businesses!
What’s that? You don’t remember voting on it? Well, you didn’t. The town manager has decided to spend the money appropriated at Town Meeting a little bit differently than the budget we approved. Well, if you look at the Town Charter – the one you voted on 18 months ago – you’ll see that he doesn’t have that authority. But that’s just a bothersome detail.
You say you don’t remember hearing anything about this economic development director?
Well, that’s because last year there was so much public opposition to this position that the discussions this year were held in secret. You thought the board of selectmen had to have their meetings open to the public?
According to state law you’d be correct, but some things are too important to be disclosed to the public, so what’s a little illegal executive session between friends.
Sure, you could speak against this at a board of selectmen’s meeting. Oh, too bad, the chairman has gotten into the spirit and decided to ignore the charter, too, by not allowing members of the public to comment on it.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new economic development director. I guess it’s more important than having a social services director.
Soon Kennebunk’s economy will be so grand that you won’t be worrying about pesky little things like Town Charters, state law, and public participation.

John Costin
Kennebunk