Testimony against Town Council censorship

Testimony before the Charlestown Town Council

By Will Collette

At tonight's Town Council meeting, which starts at 7 PM, I plan to speak during the Public Comments section of the meeting.

This is the testimony I plan to give regarding the September 7th  3-1 vote by the Town Council to ban a representative of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee from speaking on the Committee's behalf.

If you don't believe this happened, watch the Clerkbase video for yourself.  Clerkbase is the town's website for agendas, minutes and video of Council and town commission meetings.The CDTC received a message from town hall this morning that the Council changed its mind - on advice of the Town Solicitor - but that recorded vote seems to hold more authority than a phone call.

Maybe I'll be able to give the whole thing before they censor me and direct Chief Shippee to drag me away.

Here it is:

Testimony by Will Collette before the Charlestown Town Council, September 12, 2011

On September 7, this Council voted 3-1 to ban a representative of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee from speaking on behalf of the group. Perhaps you have reversed this new censorship policy on the advice of the town's lawyer, but you did take that vote. 

Twelve years of parochial schooling taught me that if you decide in your heart to commit a sin, you HAVE committed the sin whether or not you carry out the actual deed.

During your discussion of this motion, Mr. Slattery and Mr. Gentz adamantly opposed allowing representatives of political groups from speaking, except as individuals and not as group spokespersons.

I reviewed official Council minutes from 2007 through July of this year. On at least 41 occasions spokespersons of at least 28 different non-governmental groups have spoken before the Council, most on controversial political subjects.

Council President Tom Gentz: "I can speak.
Slattery can speak. The CCA can speak. RISC can speak.
Democrats CAN'T SPEAK."

One of my favorites happened on December 14, 2009 when Council President Tom Gentz, then an officer of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, stepped to this podium.

Mr. Gentz stood here and read the results a CCA survey showing overwhelming support for wind energy.

Council Vice-President Dan Slattery, as CCA President, spoke from this podium as CCA’s representative on at least seven times.

Last April, Mr. Slattery stepped to this podium to speak as an officer of the Watchaug Heights Homeowners Association.

RI Statewide Coalition President Harry Staley came to this podium at least twice to speak on behalf of RISC.

The CCA and RISC are both state-recognized Political Action Committees, just like the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee.

The key difference is that you voted to ban the Charlestown Democrats from this podium.

Shame on you for your hypocrisy.