At the last Charlestown Charter Revision Committee meeting on January 28th, Ms. Carney presented for discussion a proposal prepared by Mageau requesting that the Committee consider changes to the Charter to divide Charlestown into five separate voting districts with each district electing one Town Councilor. Thank goodness not a single Committee member agreed to pursue Mageau’s blatant and desperate attempt to find a possible way – through his own version of “Jimmymandering” - to get himself elected again in this town.

But more disturbing was the discussion around the voting requirements of alternates on the Planning Commission. Unhindered by her loss regarding the legality of an elected Planning Commission, Ms. Hogan attempted to push forward some self serving changes in the Charter which would have increased the chances of an application before the Planning Commission being approved by default, including her own application which is currently suspended pending the outcome of her lawsuit against the people of Charlestown which seeks to overturn the current zoning requirements. In fact, if it weren’t for several astute residents in the audience that night who pointed out how this change would benefit developers and their lawyers to the detriment of Charlestown citizens, Ms. Hogan may have succeeded. It seems that Ms. Hogan has yet to meet an issue from which she feels the least bit compelled to recuse herself. The January 28th meeting of the Charter Revision Committee will be aired on Cox channel 18 on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. I would encourage residents to view the meeting and draw their own conclusions, but more importantly, if at all possible, please attend future meetings and help ensure that your interests are being protected in this process.

Joan Lawlor