Wilton voters have a say this year in whether they want to continue the traditional Town Meeting format, or switch to ballot voting.
Ballot voting, often referred to as SB2, short for “Senate Bill 2,” the legislation which outlines the process, will be on the warrant this year. In a Town Meeting system, which Wilton has, the town holds a budget hearing, and public hearings as required by law on certain issues such as bonds or loans prior to Town Meeting. The election of town officials, zoning amendments and a select few issues required by law are voted on at the ballot box, and the remainder of the warrant, including the budget, can be amended and then voted on the floor at Town Meeting.
In an SB2 system, the town holds what is known as a deliberative session several weeks before voting, where the debate and amendments usually done at Town Meeting can be heard. The articles can be amended at deliberative session, but don’t undergo the final vote. All issues on the warrant are voted on at the ballot box.
The Select Board held a public hearing on the issue Monday, as required by law. All those present, plus several submitted letters, spoke in favor of keeping the Town Meeting system. Select Board Chair Kellie-Sue Boissonnault said the board elected to put the article on the warrant after she received several requests to do so from residents.
“This was brought to my attention and has been asked of me for a couple of years. It is something we need to bring forward,” Boissonnault said.
Boissonnault added that when the matter came to a vote, she would abstain, believing it a matter best left to the voting public.
Selectman Matt Fish also said he would abstain on the issue, for the same reason, but said his personal conviction was that Town Meeting was the better format for Wilton.
Selectman Kermit Williams said he had heard from a number of people since the issue was put on the warrant, with the “universal” sentiment in favor of Town Meeting.
“I think it’s an important tradition,” Williams said.
Williams called SB2 “a bad solution to a reasonable problem,” – the problem being how residents of large towns can make themselves heard. But Williams said Wilton’s voting rolls are small enough that even a much larger turnout than is typical during Wilton’s Town Meetings could be accommodated.
The board and public discussed several points often made by SB2 proponents, including participation. While typically, attendance at deliberative session flags below Town Meeting attendance, more people often show up to the polls. It also allows for absentee voting, where Town Meeting requires voters to be in attendance.
Resident Tom Schultz said he understood some of those arguments, but that the drawbacks outweighed the potential benefits.
Schultz noted the main issue with deliberative session in the past has been notably low attendance. As a side effect, he said voters are going to the polls less informed. There is also the possibility that because attendance numbers are so low that a very small number of people can make amendments, which can have big impacts on issues such as the budget.
“That can happen and it has happened locally,” Schultz said. “At the end of the day, I’m not a proponent.”
Resident Ron Brown, in a letter to the board read by Boissonnault, said Town Meeting was “essential to social cohesion” in town.
“I know my fellow citizens have changed my mind more than once by their arguments,” Brown wrote.
Moderator Bill Keefe said Town Meeting allows for “back and forth,” and said deliberative session made it too easy for a small group to influence the warrant.
“While attendance could always improve, the modest numbers are reflective that many voters don’t feel aggrieved enough to show up and instead believe the voters that do show up more or less reflect their views,” Keefe wrote in a letter read by Boissonault. “The day may come when Wilton grows too large for a traditional Town Meeting, but we are not there yet.”
Resident DJ Garcia, who is running in the upcoming election for Select Board, requested the board remove the article from the warrant, noting every person who spoke or wrote in to the public hearing had been against the concept of enacting SB2.
Selectman Matt Fish said he did not want to remove the article based on such a small sampling, particularly as it was such an important issue as how the town is governed.
“An overwhelming down vote would put this to bed,” Fish said. “I think it’s something we should vote on.”
The board also discussed taking a straw poll at this year’s Town Meeting to see whether the town should continue to hold Town Meeting on Thursday nights, as has been tradition, or to switch to a different time or day to make it easier for residents to attend.
The board agreed by consensus to move the warrant forward to Town Meeting for a vote by residents. SB2 requires a three-fifths majority to be enacted.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.