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Selectmen vote not to add advisory 'high/low' question to budget referendum
Summary
The Willington Board of Selectmen unanimously voted on June 9 to deny a request from the board of finance to add an advisory 'high/low' question to the upcoming budget referendum after the town attorney warned the town ordinance governing budget approval could make such a question vulnerable to legal challenge unless the ordinance is revised.
The Willington Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on June 9 to deny a board of finance request to add an advisory 'high/low' question to the budget referendum.
The Chair explained the town attorney’s review found the town ordinance that prescribes how the budget is approved may supersede a state law that permits advisory referendum language. According to the attorney’s interpretation, adding a nonbinding question to the referendum as requested could invite an appeal or injunction that might stop the referendum or later invalidate its results unless the ordinance is changed first.
A motion was made and seconded to refuse the board of finance request; the motion passed with members saying "I." The transcript does not record individual votes or numerical tallies.
Board members discussed the option of revising the ordinance at a future town meeting to allow advisory questions, but concluded that adding the question for the imminent referendum would pose legal risk. The Board’s action was procedural: it denied the request rather than amending ordinance language.
