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Select Board sets order of ballot questions; approves nonbinding immigrants' rights advisory question
Summary
The Select Board voted to place separate override questions for Dennis-Yarmouth and Cape Tech on the ballot, eliminated a combined alternate question (4–1), and voted 4–1 to include a nonbinding advisory question on constitutional protections for residents regardless of immigration status.
The Yarmouth Select Board finalized the order and form of multiple ballot questions for the upcoming town election and town meeting on March 24.
After brief debate the board voted to reject an alternate combined school article and to proceed with two separate override questions — one for the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District and one for the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. The motion to eliminate the combined alternate passed 4–1.
The Select Board then considered a petitioned, nonbinding advisory question that would ask whether citizens support constitutional rights for all Yarmouth residents regardless of nationality, citizenship or immigration status. Following public comment both for and against the petition, the board voted 4–1 to include the nonbinding advisory question on the ballot in the form printed in the packet.
Select Board members emphasized that debt-exclusion ballots related to capital projects (for example, the library debt exclusion) will carry no dollar amount on the printed ballot because Department of Revenue rules prescribe the wording. Town Clerk Mary Maslowski confirmed final ballot language will be drafted by Town Counsel and printed in the election warrant.
The board instructed staff to prepare the formal letter to the town clerk that initiates printing and to include voter information materials ahead of the ballot printing deadline.
