To Marion Selectmen:

Although we are not registered to vote in Marion, we have been seasonal residents of Marion for over 60 years. During those more than 60 years, we have paid real estate taxes, personal property taxes, boat taxes, as well as other taxes and fees without complaint, without any rebates or adjustments for the fact that we are seasonal residents and without official representation in local government.

We feel you need to be reminded of the famous words of James Otis Jr. He was from Barnstable, deep within the Commonwealth, and is generally credited with stating, circa 1761, “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”

We are not prepared to challenge your role in government as wholly “tyrannical.” However, we sincerely believe that our obligation to submit to your continual governmental decrees without the opportunity to officially comment or object amounts as open acknowledgement that Mr. Otis' statement over 250 years ago remains relevant today.

We have been made aware of a petition asking for an article to be inserted into the warrant for the spring 2017 Town Meeting requesting that eligible voters be given additional options for the Town House renovation or replacement. We are also aware that, as non-registered voters in Marion, we are not eligible to sign this petition. However, we have signed the petition anyway, and submit it to you with the hope that you will consider our wishes along with those of the many other long-time Marion residents who continue to contribute significant tax revenue to Marion but who remain without official representation in local government.

As a very personal aside, both I and our eldest son have been life members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Benjamin D. Cushing Post 2425 for a great many years. As such, we wholeheartedly supported the decision to donate our Marion property to the Town of Marion for what we all hoped would enable, and perhaps even promote, some very noble purpose. We would be far more than disappointed if a narrowly focused small group of individuals were to squander a genuine opportunity for a larger group of registered Marion voters to at least evaluate the use of our former VFW property as an alternative to an expensice and aging Town House. This is particularly important when it appears that there might be a legitimate option to convert the Town House through private equity into a more compliant, stable and productive, meaning tax revenue generating, structure.

Thank you in advance for what we expect will be your careful and complete consideration of this letter.

Sincerely,

Hugh N. Dyer, III
Kathleen J. Dyer

Belle Mead, New Jersey