Thursday, January 27, 2000 Older Editions

And now: Limited free speech?

By Neil Fater

As part of its plan for improving Town Meeting, the League of Women Voters is suggesting limiting discussion at the annual event.

On Monday, the League -- and town officials (see sidebar, page 6) -- suggested making several changes to town government.

The League sees speech limits as part of a package of Town Meeting changes they are recommending after reviewing a Town Meeting survey they made last fall.

"The reason for (limiting speech) is not to eliminate legitimate discussion, but to facilitate the process. I don't think it will be a problem," says Maria Bartlett, League president. "We just have to try ahead of time to make it clear what the goals are."

Among the goals, she says, is the need for speakers to "bring up relevant points, and move on."

League members say residents frequently complain about the length of some discussions and feel the meetings drag.

"The League very strongly feels there should be some kind of limitation," says Virginia Cole, League member. "That would encourage people to think that there is some hope of getting through (the evening)."

But League members admit the issue needs to be handled carefully. Virginia Cole says Town Moderator Jim Doherty opposes placing limits on discussion.

Recent history also shows Andover residents can be offended, at least by a strict time-limit rule.

In 1995, the School Committee implemented a three-minutes-per-person-per-issue rule, with member Susan Dalton bringing an egg timer to one meeting. A vote in favor of the timer was approved because citizens had appeared at several meetings and spent hours discussing the forced resignation of Sam Campbell, popular West Middle School principal.

The School Committee majority, Dalton, Dick Muller and Lloyd Willey, said they felt the limit was needed if they were to get anything done.

"The intent is not to not have discussion, the intent is to be somewhat productive," said Muller at the time.

But the committee still came under heavy fire from residents. The three-minute time limit was effectively abandoned after a few meetings.

Bartlett acknowledges the egg-timer decision "caused a lot of hard feelings." That may be one reason she says, "It is obviously very important to be very diplomatic about this."

Bartlett says the moderator will need to announce what the rules are for discussion before Town Meeting begins. The idea is for people to bring up new ideas, and not repeat statements made by other speakers.

"It all depends on how those rules are enforced. If they're lightly enforced it might be OK," says Cole.

Bartlett also notes that the speech limitations must be just part of an overall package.

The package would include designating separate "pro" and "con" microphones for controversial articles. This will allow supporters and detractors to each have their say.

The League also wants Town Meeting rules and regulations to be included in the Finance Committee report that's mailed to each home, and suggests a rules presentation should be made at the beginning of Town Meeting, with a sheet handed out at the event.

The League also wants the town to host issue-orientated meetings before Town Meeting during which residents could ask as many questions as needed.

Bartlett says its important for town committees to decide where they stand on the issues before the FinCom report goes to print.

As a means of saving time, the League also supports grouping some articles, to be voted together.

More to come?

Despite wanting to alter Town Meeting, the League representatives say they overwhelmingly support continuing an open Town Meeting. The League's survey of 160 residents also showed townspeople like the idea.

"We found that everybody, with the exception of five people, wanted to go forward with open Town Meeting," says Cole.

Discussions about Town Meeting will go forward as well.

Doherty, who convened his own group to study Town Meeting, is ready to meet with selectmen.

Selectmen themselves voted 3-2 this month to establish a charter study committee that will study the charter for two years with the opportunity of suggesting wide-sweeping changes for the town. Changes to Town Meeting are among the issues expected to be discussed.