SELECT BOARD-SUBMITTED SPECIAL LEGISLATION TO OVERTURN TRURO VOTERS' DECISION MUST BE STOPPED!

This petition asks Gov. Maura Healy, State elected officials Julian Cyr and Sarah Peake, and the State Legislature to set aside the “Special Legislation” request to allow Truro to hold Town Meetings outside of Truro. This “special legislation” was approved by Truro’s Select Board (SB) on December 5th for submission to the Governor. My signing indicates I join with many others who support asking the Governor and Legislature to set this request aside and not act on it.

WHY THIS MATTERS
On November 28th the largest-ever turnout of Truro voters roundly rejected the Select Board Chair’s motion to hold Special Town Meeting (STM) on February 3, 2024 — a nighttime meeting in the dead of winter — and to seek Special Legislation to hold this meeting outside of Truro. The voters instead specifically and overwhelmingly approved moving STM intact to the same Spring date as Annual Town Meeting and excluded the provision for special legislation to hold meetings outside of Truro. But this is not the only reason to honor the will of the voters.

MASS LAW REQUIRES TOWN MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN TOWN
This request violates our MGL Ch 39, § 9. The SB has indicated it wants the Charter Review Committee — a body appointed by the Select Board — to expedite a change in the charter to allow out-of-town Town Meetings as well. Do we really think they will not do as the Select Board wants? Fortunately, voters do get a say on that eventually.

“HOME RULE” SPECIAL LEGISLATION CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED ON ONE OF TWO BASES
- First, if the voters — the Town’s legislature — approve it.
The voters have not been asked to approve this special legislation. In fact, we have not even seen this legislation — it has not been publicly produced. The SB only got it just before the December 5th meeting — even they do not know what it asks for. The SB is again attempting to override the voters’ will by putting this forward.

- Second, if the Governor introduces it — it is then called a “Governor’s Bill” — and this is what the Select Board approved on December 5th. Asking the Governor to do what the voters rejected is undemocratic and intended to suppress free speech and the right to vote. The Governor will hopefully be as horrified as we voters are.

THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS SPECIAL LEGISLATION
Truro has enough space within its two largest buildings to accommodate more than 1100 voters easily. All we need to do — just like Brewster and other Towns do — is to make modest and relatively inexpensive upgrades to our A/V technology so we can all be seen and heard simultaneously across several buildings. As our IT consultant said on December 5th — it is easy and effective. The Town has ample time to get this done.

THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS SPECIAL LEGISLATION
The Town Manager’s justification manufactures two fake emergencies. At the December 5th SB meeting, the Town Manager made two assertions that do not withstand real scrutiny. First, he said “we know of discussions” about an alleged challenge “in terms of the continuance” to May 4th. Really? This is rumor and speculation at best. He alleges this could precipitate a “Citizen Petition” signed by “200” calling for a Special Town Meeting within 60 days — ah, the February date, after all. And what would that meeting be about? It cannot be the same as what is on the warrant for May 4th and it cannot be used to challenge the vote on Nov 28th — that vote was accepted. No voter reconsideration was requested in the STM meeting. Thus, any challenge to the vote can only be achieved by litigation against the Town. Not by conjuring a Special Town Meeting masked as a blatant vote reconsideration effort.

The Town Manager also said there is ”litigation in Orleans District Court” that could cause “the judge to move the Special Town Meeting date earlier.” This is nonsense. A case was filed on Nov 2 seeking an injunction to bar the improperly constituted Board of Registrars from hearing the challenges to 66 voters. The court denied the motions on Nov 2, as the Town well knows. The challenges were heard and 70% of those heard were deemed properly registered. This court case has no remaining impact on the new, voter-approved date of Special Town Meeting.

In other words, fake emergencies are the basis for an improper invalidation of the voters’ will and decision to hold STM on May 4, 2024 in Truro.

IT IS ON US AGAIN
WE have to tell the Governor and our legislators NOT to approve this “Governor’s Bill” and special legislation. Instead, they must respect the voters’ will — the will of Truro’s legislature — to hold this meeting in Truro as we voted and to hold all future Town meetings in Truro consistent with the law and our choice.
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By signing this petition, you endorse this position and understand your name will be included in those who oppose this action — and this will be sent to the Governor, our elected representatives and the legislative leadership on Beacon Hill.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. PLEASE SIGN NOW.

Roberta Lema and Dan Winslow