Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The Oak Bluffs selectmen have decided to take away our right to vote. The roundabout was not allowed on the ballot. The rest of the Island voted against the roundabout and I believe Oak Bluffs would have, had they the opportunity.

So when does this eminent domain rule kick in? Eminent domain has to be for the good of the town. Who decides the good of the town when no vote is allowed? The selectmen’s action goes against democracy.

Selectman Walter Vail says he doesn’t care how the other towns vote. But the roundabout project affects all of the Island, and the majority of those allowed to vote do not want it.

I hope the other towns don’t get to feel about us the way our selectmen feel about them. We are tied in with them with our water supply, our sanitary waste, and our fire department. We have to work with the rest of the Island to survive. The sooner we start doing things right, the better off we will be.

Richard Coutinho

Oak Bluffs