Attempt to delay charter votes until public comment fails; debate centers on trust and timing

Commissioner Bill Peret moved early in the March 25 meeting to postpone any votes or straw polls taken from prior discussions until after the town’s postcard survey deadline (March 31/April 1) and a scheduled April 14 public hearing. Peret argued that holding votes before the public had a chance to respond would "violate public trust." The motion was seconded and prompted a long debate.

Supporters of postponement said the public should have the full opportunity to provide input before the commission records positions in its draft report. Opponents, including Chair Kathleen and several commissioners, said part of the commission’s role is to produce a draft with positions that allow the public to meaningfully respond. "By putting all of the waiting for the postcards to be responded to... be waiting till after the public hearing is the flip side of what we’re really intending to do here," the chair said, urging the panel to proceed.

Joe noted that combining postcard responses with live public‑comment attendance changes the balance of input, citing about 47 postcard responses asking for change at P&Z and contrasting those numbers with live testimony. Commissioners also discussed how concerns about anonymous survey responses informed past comments.

The commission held a roll‑call vote on the postponement motion; Secretary Jameson recorded four votes in favor and seven opposed, and the motion failed. The commission then continued with its work, including the subsequent P&Z governance vote.

Although the postponement effort did not pass, the exchange highlighted a persistent question for the panel: how best and when to fold public survey responses and hearings into final recommendations for the town council.