Warrant Article Title:
RESOLUTION/ADVANCED REGISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION OF TOWN MEETING SPEAKERS

Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to support the development of a practice by the Town Meeting Procedures Committee for prompting proponent and opponents of Town Meeting Warrant Articles to register in advance of the beginning of the first night of Town Meeting to allow for the equal presentation of perspectives; or take any action related thereto.

Requested by:
(Inserted at the request of Barbara Thornton and ten registered voters) 

Report Excerpt:
The Select Board appreciates the goals of the proponent, but also respects the Town Moderator’s objections, as well as Arlington’s long-standing practices in a representative Town Meeting. Town Meeting may by resolution comment on the Moderator’s administration of the Meeting of course. However, in sum, while well intentioned, the Moderator has serious concerns about developing speaker lists or limiting discourse outside of the proceedings of the Meeting in ordinary contexts. The majority of the Board is inclined to defer to the Moderator.

Vote Language:

That no action be taken or Article 82.

 

(4 – 1) Mr. Diggins voted in the negative.