I realize that Alan Rosenberg’s recent column about the Charlestown Town Council was a satire, but as a resident of Charlestown I don’t think the situation is a laughing matter. I wish I could find humor in the column but I can’t. It takes too many liberties with the characterizations of some of the councilors that are neither accurate nor fair.

I don’t dispute Rosenberg’s characterization of James Mageau as a basher, or Bruce Picard as being silent. Both are accurate, and have been documented in many stories about the Charlestown Town Council in your newspaper. However, I have a problem lumping Harriet Allen and Kate Waterman as part of the problem in Charlestown. While I can understand someone taking issue with the way the other two councilors may have responded to Mr. Mageau’s tactics or behavior, I think both women should be acknowledged for having the courage to stand up to an unethical bully like Mr. Mageau.

If it were not for Ms. Waterman and Ms. Allen standing up for the rights of the citizens of Charlestown, the actions and agenda of Mr. Mageau, which rejected the will of the citizens, might have been passed. Thanks to those two councilors and the many citizens who had the courage to speak up, the Town of Charlestown has an opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past two years and elect a new Town Council that can restore citizen confidence in our town government.

Daniel Slattery, President Charlestown Citizens Alliance.