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Council forwards two state resolutions: hearsay exemption for vulnerable victims and loan‑repayment help for firefighters
Summary
The council voted to send two resolutions to the town's state delegation: one would create a hearsay exemption to help victims with intellectual or neurological disorders give evidence, and the other would expand an existing loan‑repayment fellowship to include firefighters to aid recruitment and retention.
The Warren Town Council unanimously voted to forward two local resolutions to the town’s state legislative delegation.
Councilman Trombley introduced one resolution asking the delegation to propose a state hearsay exemption so crime victims with intellectual or developmental disabilities or neurological disorders (including some forms of dementia) — who cannot take a traditional oath — can have their statements admitted in court. Trombley said the change would help prosecutors pursue violent offenses against vulnerable residents and give victims "their day in court." The council approved forwarding the resolution to the delegation for committee consideration.
Trombley also proposed asking the delegation to expand the existing "wavemaker" loan‑repayment fellowship — originally for STEM teachers and later broadened to health workers — to include paid and volunteer firefighters so communities can recruit and retain public‑safety personnel. Council members moved and approved that request as well.
Both resolutions are advisory requests to the state delegation; the council's action sends local support and asks the delegation to introduce and track the bills at the state level.
