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Residents urge board to remove or amend rule limiting off-agenda public input
Summary
Several residents urged the Select Board to rescind or amend section 5 (public input, letter e), calling the restriction a 'privilege' that stifles public participation and noting the town averages about 12 minutes of public comment per meeting.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the board to reconsider a rule limiting comments to agenda items. A resident (S4) urged the board to "make a motion or to put it on the agenda for next week" to rescind section 5, public input, letter e, saying the rule sends the wrong message about citizen access and that "we should be able to speak freely to you, since you are our elected officials."
Other commenters echoed that public participation felt constrained. Frank (Resident (S3) as identified in discussion) said the rule is "stifling the taxpayer" and asked the board to either keep public input as written or remove the limiting language — he urged the board to hear both praise and complaints and to be open to public scrutiny. Committee member (S2) responded that the subject "is in discussion" and that the board has been considering the procedure previously; the board encouraged residents to submit a formal agenda request if they want the item placed for action.
