Town meeting adopts non-binding declaration urging adherence to constitutional norms

Town meeting adopted a citizens petition that urges respect for constitutional norms, calls for adherence to court orders and due process, and asks for accountability for agencies and officials when constitutional norms are violated.

Petitioner Robert (presenter named in transcript as Mr. Roberts) described the document as a local reaffirmation of the constitutional checks and balances that undergird the republic and asked the Select Board to issue a declaration on July 4th to echo similar municipal actions elsewhere. Several residents framed the vote as a nonpartisan defense of fundamental civic institutions; Select Board members noted the Select Board had previously discussed and sent a toned-down letter on democracy responses, and some members said they might not sign an identical July 4th declaration if the Board alone were asked to act. The moderator clarified that Town Meeting'9s vote is a sense-of-town resolution and does not bind the Select Board to act on a particular schedule.

The motion passed by recorded electronic vote (96 in favor, 14 against, 2 abstentions). Town Clerk said she will certify the vote on request as part of the public record. The resolution is an expression of Town Meeting's position; implementation or outreach to state or federal actors is not automatic and is in the discretion of the Select Board and other officials.