Finance Committee Declines Position on Citizen Petition Calling for Support of Nuclear Disarmament Legislation

Joe McCabe, a town meeting member from Precinct F, presented a citizen's petition asking town meeting to reaffirm and expand on a 2019 resolution that called on higher levels of government to pursue nuclear disarmament.

"It was a call for the United States to pull back from the brink and prevent nuclear war, an existential threat to the future of humanity and the planet," McCabe said, summarizing the article's purpose and noting that new bills at the state and federal level (including one filed in the U.S. House by Representative Jim McGovern) give town meeting a more specific legislative target.

Finance Committee members said they expect town meeting members will hear presentations and debate the article at town meeting. From the committee's fiscal vantage point, a member of the Finance Committee moved that the committee "do not take a position" on the article because it presents no material fiscal implications for the town. Another member seconded the motion and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Committee members noted this conclusion mirrors the Finance Committee's determination in February 2019 on the original article; the committee's decision does not affect the ability of town meeting members to debate and vote on the petition at town meeting.