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Dear Editor
One wonders why the Chair of the Select Board starts each meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, which is a promise to be loyal to the core values of our Democracy, which includes unity, yet allows personal attacks on a Reading resident from a fellow Board member. The Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase “with liberty and justice for all,” which implies a commitment to fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, yet at the September 16th Select Board meeting, a Reading resident was verbally attacked by a member of the Select Board for doing just that, expressing their First Amendment right to express a personal thought and opinion during public comment. A different point of view does not justify a personal attack.
No Reading resident should ever feel unsafe, intimidated, or attacked for expressing their opinion in front of the Select Board. Period. We live in difficult times where the breakdown of respectful public behavior and dialogue is normalized. It is not normal. We must hold our elected officials to a higher standard than what was on display at the last Select Board meeting.
Going forward, there must be a public apology to the resident and to the Reading Community as a step towards regaining trust in the Select Board; the Select Board must create and abide by a Code of Conduct and self police so members of the public never have to; the Select Board has important pending business and can not be distracted by petty personal grievances.
Nancy Docktor
Pearl St
Precinct One Town Meeting member
