Many in Framingham are wistful during what is town meeting season for so many other communities (“Democracy’s gatekeepers,’’ Metro, April 22). After self-governing by town meeting for 317 years, Framingham voters chose by a margin of just over 100 votes last April to join the modern era and become a city.

It’s early going, for sure. But what we’ve learned so far is that the mayor’s position doesn’t come with a magic wand to cure all the perceived ills of running as a town. City councilors are groaning under the weight of a workload that formerly was churned out by hundreds of volunteers on town meeting committees. And putting all the power into the hands of a few smaller and naturally politically ambitious branches doesn’t necessarily promote rowing in the same direction.

I remain hopeful, even confident, that our shiny new city will hit its stride. In the meantime, though, the comment from Everett Poole, longtime Chilmark town moderator, is poignant: “It’s the best form of government there is. Everybody has their chance.’’ That opportunity doesn’t really exist in our world anymore, except in the classic New England institution known as town meeting.

Beth Greeley

Framingham