Please give me a few moments as I enter Dr. Peabody’s Way-Back Machine.

Sometime within five years and before 2008 I encountered as a School Committee member a new line item in Hawlemont’s school budget: Homeless children charge. I noted to those in attendance that to the best of knowledge we had no homeless children in Charlemont. I was informed that we could possibly and that the amount or charge was determined by the state education department (DESE).

I don’t know if that is still there. But I suspect the where of it, if any member of the public or press were to research, it’ll be found on charges that reduce state aid to our communities. Somewhere there is/will be a state charge for homeless children.

Why am I so cynical? With a deep love of the New England open Town Meeting after Philly party politics, I fear that the most democratic institution is being undermined. For example, there is a charge for the Franklin Regional Transit Authority that reduces state aid to town. It shows as a charge of the cherry sheet distributions. I don’t know who made that decision, but as a 32-year veteran of Town Meeting I don’t recall any question before us to pay this charge.

Perhaps this is the year citizens will attend the public hearings on town and school budgets before the annual Town Meeting — still the most democratic forum if you know what questions to ask and attend. Think of it as our Iowa.

Marguerite Willis

Charlemont