It was very encouraging to see the large turnout this past Saturday to "Meet the Candidates" sponsored by the new Roslyn Community Party. Clearly not all those who attended were partisan supporters of Craig Westigard and Marshall Bernstein, both running for village trustees in the March 21 election. Pointed questions were asked of Marshall as to why he supported certain sections of the new village codes (over 1000 pages long) and whether or not the village should have allowed the Forest City Daley project to build as many units as is being proposed. But you have to admire a candidate who is willing to defend his positions and try to get the public to understand both sides of the issues.

It is just this sort of give and take between our elected officials and Roslyn residents that has been missing from so many of our public meetings. Instead of an atmosphere that encourages residents to come to meetings, ask questions and get involved, we are treated to the spectacle of residents being intimidated and limited by what they can ask and say at board of zoning and trustee meetings. More time must be set aside for public comment at these meetings. What's the point of having local government in a small village if residents are made to feel as if they are intruding on the time and patience of elected officials when we dare to ask questions? Hopefully by electing Craig and Marshall village trustees as we can reverse this trend.

Michael Kauffman