Bylaw Committee Declines Endorsement of Town Meeting Speech Rights Petition
Bylaw Review Committee voted 5-1 against endorsing a citizen petition on town meeting speech rights. Committee member Charles Miles initiated the petition under Article 23, which would allow residents instead of only voting members to address town meetings.
Bylaw Review Committee · Meeting of May 12, 2026
SOUTH HADLEY — Bylaw Review Committee voted 5-1 against endorsing a citizen petition on town meeting speech rights. Committee member Charles Miles initiated the petition under Article 23, which would allow residents instead of only voting members to address town meetings. The committee voted to pursue the matter through normal bylaw amendment processes and report in November or next April with a possible bylaw change.
Miles' research showed that all but Milton among 17 Massachusetts municipalities with town meeting government permit non-members to address meetings.
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Source: the Bylaw Review Committee meeting of May 12, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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