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Resident urges board to protect volunteers’ free-speech rights when drafting committee standards
Summary
A resident urged the Board of Selectmen to avoid policies that would restrict appointed volunteers from signing petitions, attending meetings, or speaking as private citizens, saying such restrictions would violate First Amendment rights.
A Columbia resident warned the board against adopting committee standards that would limit volunteers’ private‑citizen speech.
In public comment, Noreen Newford Barrington said the proposed professional standards and communications rules for appointed committees must not strip volunteers of constitutional rights. "Any policy that attempts to ban an appointed volunteer from signing a petition, attending a public meeting, or speaking as an individual resident is a significant violation of free speech," she said. She urged the board to ensure any standards permit volunteers to participate in local democracy without fear of retaliation.
Board members responded that they respect the petition process and agreed more information and careful wording are appropriate before adopting formal restrictions. The board did not adopt any policy changes at the meeting.
