The Natick Select Board discussed possible Fall Annual Town Meeting articles during a tidy 24-plus-minute meeting on Aug. 11 (well technically the meeting went longer, but in executive session not open to the public to cover sensitive legal issues).
One article would address Article 50 Section 13 under Police Regulations, which is titled “Indecent or Profane Language” and that reads: “No person shall use any indecent or profane language in any public place in the Town or near any dwelling house or other building thereon.”
Board Chair Kathryn Coughlin explained that this rule is unconstitutional. “The Board will be moving to have Section 13 struck from the Police Regulations,” she said, adding that the police chief has confirmed this rule is unenforceable.
Not to say civility isn’t appreciated…
The Select Board has been looking at bylaw cleanups, and the same applies to Article 54 on Sex Offenders. Outdated language and citations no longer consistent with current law are included in this bylaw, so need to be addressed.
On a completely different topic, there’s a move to prep an article for Select Board sponsorship regarding establishment of a revolving fund that would support a sustainable electricity program for income-qualified individuals.
The board is also looking at an article for Town Meeting to hear the final report from the Natural and Synthetic Turf Field Study Group.
Articles for Fall Annual Town Meeting, slated to start on Oct. 20, must be submitted by Aug. 20. Some will come from town bodies, while others could come from individuals.
Also at the Select Board meeting, the body voted in favor of Natick joining with Walpole and other communities that are banding together to try to get a better solid waste disposal contract. Joining the group, which includes some much larger communities, doesn’t bind Natick to take part in such a contract, but does give Walpole and its counsel support for negotiating. This would fit into Natick’s broader evaluation of its trash and recycling program (see our recent RATS update)
During its consent agenda, the Select Board accepted resignations of two Natick Cultural Council members. So the council is looking for new blood.
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WTF? How is ot possible policy have an unconditional law on the books?
you mean they cancelled the Wednesday night meeting and rescheduled to a 4PM zoom only meeting that two board members stayed home and only had 24 minutes of open agenda which usually takes 2 hours. Why the cancellation? Is there more to this cancellation occurrence?