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Select board bars slideshow for nonbinding residential tax-exemption question, approves warrant-explanations posting with edits
Summary
The board unanimously voted not to use a PowerPoint for a nonbinding residential tax-exemption question at the special town meeting and approved posting a warrant-explanations document online, agreeing to delete the detailed harbor paragraph and note the board’s recommendation to postpone that article.
The Dennis Select Board decided unanimously not to present a slide show at the special town meeting for Article 20, a nonbinding residential tax-exemption question, and approved posting a final warrant-explanations document online with a revision to note the board’s recommendation to indefinitely postpone the harbor article.
The board discussed whether a short slideshow would help inform voters about the residential tax-exemption question. One committee member argued in favor of limited slides, saying “a picture is worth 1,000 words” and that a few slides could help attendees follow the presentation. Others, including the chair and staff, cautioned that the town moderator must approve any slideshow and that staff had concerns about the late timing of materials and the assessor’s role. “This is gonna grow legs… people are gonna beat the drum both ways on this thing,” another committee member said, urging caution about letting the presentation become a debate.
After debate, a board member moved that the select board decide not to have a slide presentation for the special town meeting. The motion was seconded and the board conducted a roll-call vote; the chair recorded the result as unanimous (John: Aye; Paul: Aye; Carlin: Aye; Jim: Aye; Chris: Aye).
Separately the board reviewed a final draft of a warrant-explanations handout intended for the Oct. 21 special town meeting. The board agreed to post the document on the town website and Facebook and to seek the moderator’s approval for any printed handouts. Because the board had just voted to indefinitely postpone Article 14, members agreed to remove the article’s full explanatory paragraph from the handout and instead include a brief note that the board recommends indefinite postponement. That motion to approve the posting with the amendment passed unanimously.
The board also confirmed a joint meeting with the finance committee for Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. to prepare for town meeting; staff reported free cash certification was still pending but expected soon.
