Foxboro Citizens Own Meeting Rooms
by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle
I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting or talking to Foxboro Town Manager William Keegan, but I look forward to doing so. He has done an admirable job of steering that community back towards professionalism after a period of unruly politics and out of control politicians.
But his recent proposal to bar or restrict both “political” organizations and outside groups from using certain public meeting rooms in the town hall and other town buildings shows an insensitivity towards taxpayers and citizens. While his proposed policy is no doubt well-intentioned, it is ill-advised and sends exactly the wrong message.
Keegan’s proposal would prevent groups deemed political from using some conference and meeting rooms in the town hall, the senior center, and the public safety building. He said the rooms should not be used for politics, including groups like the Town Democratic and Republican committees.. He also suggested requiring groups that do not include a town employee to add the town to their insurance policies, and be subject to being bumped by town committees after booking.
To begin with, trying to separate politics from the Town Hall is a bit like trying to separate the Red Sox and Fenway Park. It’s physically possible, but people will still associate the two. Politics is what makes town halls possible and necessary.
And yes, there should be no political fundraising done in a municipal building. In fact, that is already illegal. Candidates for elected office should not be holding campaign meetings in the Town Hall proper. It gives the wrong appearance, if nothing else.
But groups like the Democratic or Republican town committees should be able to utilize public meeting space. So should other community organizations made up of citizens and taxpayers.
It is certainly fair to give town boards and committees preference in scheduling those meeting places, as municipal business comes first. But Foxboro taxpayers were asked to pay for a new town hall as well as the other meeting spots. If they are good enough to pay for them, they should certainly be entitled to also use them.
Selectman James DeVellis expressed concern the policy could discourage groups and individuals from participating in local affairs. “The backbone of this town is its volunteers. I think over time we’re losing the genuine want for groups to come in,” he said. That concern is a good one.
Keegan believes some type of policy is needed, though he expressed a willingness to change it. Selectmen must ultimately vote to adopt any policy, and they asked the town manager to review the proposal after including input from local citizens and non-profit groups.
“Making policy is like making sausage. You put a bunch of stuff in there and something comes up,” Keegan explained. That’s an accurate though overused cliché.
But in this case, the taxpayers of Foxboro paid for the sausage. They shouldn’t be banned from eating it just because it’s not always a pretty sight.
Here’s hoping the selectmen eventually institute a much more inclusive policy for public spaces. Now excuse me, I’m suddenly hungry.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
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