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More than 900 signatures presented asking Wells Police to withdraw from ICE contract
Summary
Residents told the Select Board they have collected over 900 signatures asking the Wells Police Department to withdraw from its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; speakers urged the Select Board and town manager to act.
WELLS, Maine — Several residents told the Select Board on June 17 they had gathered more than 900 signatures asking the Wells Police Department to withdraw from its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Peg Duddy, a Wells resident who helped gather the petition signatures, told the board she presented petitions containing “over 900 signatures from Wells residents” to the town manager and asked that the signatures be shared with Police Chief Joanne Putnam and the Select Board. Duddy said another roughly 30 signatures came from nonresidents who are taxpayers. She said the petition reflects “significant support” in the community for withdrawing from the ICE contract.
Steve Kenninger, another Wells resident, spoke earlier in the public‑comment period in favor of the department’s cooperation with ICE and said the town’s pause of the agreement should end. “I think it’s important for our department to work with ICE,” Kenninger said, and questioned the objections he had seen in public debate. That remark represented a contrasting viewpoint from petitioners and others at the meeting.
Gary Lennox, a Wells resident of more than 40 years and another volunteer who gathered signatures, said he appreciates the police department’s work but described the ICE contract as “a mistake to sign.” Lennox said concerns include what he characterized as indiscriminate removals without due process; he asked the Select Board and town manager to request that the police department withdraw from the contract or to place the topic on an upcoming board agenda for consideration.
Town officials did not make a formal decision during the meeting. Select Board members acknowledged receipt of the petition and the public comments. The petitioners said they had presented the signatures to the town manager and asked the Select Board to take the matter up quickly; one commenter suggested the topic could be placed on the July 1 workshop agenda.
Ending: The Select Board did not vote on the ICE contract at the June 17 meeting; residents who presented the petition asked the board and town manager to continue discussions with the police chief and consider formal action at a future meeting.
