I have been reviewing the proposed Town of Coupeville Ordinance No. 677 which will come before the council for public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. I urge all citizens to attend, for something quite remarkable and sinister is being proposed by the mayor and her crew.

Under the current system the elected officials, the council members hold a public hearing and allow us, the citizens they work for, to present our views and they have to hear and take them into consideration.

But now, the mayor wants to amend that procedure and give essentially all of the decision-making authority to the appointed planning commissioners. There will no longer be public hearings before the elected officials on major land use decisions.

The only reason I can see for this change to be pursued is the council people don’t want to have to listen to the citizens and be accountable to them for the land use decision, not that they ever really “listen” to the citizens.

I urge all of you to come to the hearing next week and protest against this change of important land use procedure.

Ken Pickard

Coupeville