Editorial April 6, 2004
	During every political campaign season candidates for Town Council suggest that they would like to open the government and allow more participation by the residents. These candidates declare that they would like to see more citizen participation on the various Boards and Commissions that assist the Town Council in decision making for the Town. After these candidates are elected, the campaign promises are forgotten and the Councilmen continue to appoint and reappoint the same individuals to the Boards and Commission while rejecting any new applicant who might apply. Take for example the recent reappointments to the Zoning Board of Review. Lucy Lavada has been a member of that board since 1989. Although Ms. Lavada should be commended for her years of service to the Town, she should move aside and allow others to serve. Peter VanSteeden is the First Alternate to the Board and was praised by the Council for his outstanding work in that capacity. Shouldn't the Council have rewarded his efforts with a promotion to Regular Member status with a five-year term rather than keeping him on as a one-year First Alternate? Instead the Council reappointed Lucy Lavada to her fourth term for that Regular Member position. This Town Council, like many Town Councils in the past, claim they want greater citizen participation when in reality the message they really mean is "New Applicants Need Not Apply".