WESTHAMPTON — At the annual Town Meeting Saturday, voters will be asked to fund a feasibility study on the town’s public safety complex, urge state representatives to support the Safe Communities Act and adopt a “sanctuary city” resolution.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Westhampton Town Hall, 1 South Road.
Articles 24 and 26 are based on the safety and equality for immigrants in Westhampton and were placed on the warrant by petition.
Article 24, if approved, would instruct state representatives to support the Safe Communities Act. The act would prohibit state support for any Muslim registry, ensure basic due process rights for immigrants detained in state and local facilities and insure that state and local police do not participate in federal immigration activities.
Article 26 is a resolution to restrict local authorities from becoming involved with federal immigration enforcement. The resolution falls under the description of a “sanctuary city.”
The resolution directs schools to enroll children in the district regardless of immigration status.
“We further direct Westhampton Police Department to refrain from initiating an investigation or taking law enforcement action on the basis of immigration status, and to refrain from inquiring as to an individual’s immigration status except as required by state or federal law,” the article states.
Residents also petitioned for article 25 to be placed on the warrant — a vote to instruct state representatives to support the creation of a revenue-neutral Carbon-Free and Dividend program.
The warrant says the act would create a system of greenhouse gas emission fees to be charged for the sale or distribution of natural gas, petroleum and coal. Revenue from those fees would be placed in a rebate fund and return all proceeds to residents and employers in the form of rebates.
For Article 20, voters are asked to fund a feasibility study for the town’s public safety complex.
Fire Chief Chris Norris said in a previous interview that there are problems with the 65-year-old building, such as the space is too small to house new fire engines, the top floors are not handicap accessible and the building lacks an adequate ventilation system — exposing firefighters to diesel exhaust.
A fiscal 2018 budget request states the public safety complex has outlived its useful life space and needs to be replaced immediately.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.