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Advisory committee raises drafting concerns, does not support plastic bag ban article as written
Summary
Advisory members said they support the goal of reducing single‑use plastics but found the petition language for a plastic bag ban (Article 34) too vague on categories, enforcement and fines and voted not to recommend support.
Advisory members reviewed a citizen petition (Article 34) to adopt a general bylaw banning certain non‑reusable plastic checkout bags in the town beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The chair read the petition language and noted the presenters were young residents who are not yet of voting age.
Several committee members said they sympathize with the environmental goal but found the article too vague: it did not define the ‘‘certain categories and situations’’ it seeks to cover, did not include enforcement language or penalties, and left implementation details unspecified. A member noted that much of the town’s bag volume may come from large retailers and questioned whether the article would have meaningful environmental impact without clearer drafting.
The committee moved to support the article, then conducted a roll call. A majority voted not to support the article as written; members urged the petitioners to work with board sponsors (select board or board of health) to draft concrete bylaw language and to return to advisory or town meeting with a more complete proposal.
The advisory committee recorded its vote and will include comments about specificity, enforcement and expected impacts in its advisory letter to town meeting.
