Select Board allows petitioner to redraft tax-cap ordinance language for future warrant

The Select Board reviewed a citizens petition asking that the town limit municipal tax-levy increases to the prior year’s Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, and discussed legal advice about flaws in the petition’s format. Town administrator Michelle told the board that the petition met the signature threshold but lacked a circulator's affidavit and did not include the ordinance text or specify whether the vote should be by open town meeting or secret ballot. "According to state law, the circulating petition has to be accompanied by a circulator's affidavit. It was not accompanied by a circulator's affidavit," Michelle said, summarizing legal counsel’s advice and the board’s options.

After discussion, the board agreed — by motion and second — to treat the submission as an expression of voters’ will and to allow the petitioner to draft the ordinance language so it can be placed on a future town meeting warrant. Board members also amended the motion to request the petitioner seek a secret-ballot vote if the matter appears on a November ballot; the amended motion passed 2–0. The board and petition circulator discussed whether the petitioner would need to gather new signatures (the administrator said signatures would not need to be recollected) and the procedural steps to place the corrected ordinance on a warrant. The board asked staff to clarify whether the item should be scheduled for an open town meeting vote or a secret-ballot vote and to coordinate required public-notice steps.