FWIW, I would have voted for a read-only TalkBoard, but if Randy has reasons that he wants it closed, then he has every right to keep it closed, even if we all voted to open it up.

As long as we can have civil public debates on the issues concerning the community, such as this one, then it is not a particularly burning need. The open debates are healthy and give the TalkBoard members good input from the general membership, as well as giving the general membership a chance to weigh the arguments of the TalkBoard members, in a way that a simple vote just cannot.