The Belchertown Select Board has a new policy, “The Role of the Select Board Regarding Federal Matters Policy,” that affirms its core responsibility is the governance, safety, and well-being of Belchertown residents. This thoughtful policy affirms that the board’s municipal role is to focus on the town of Belchertown and its residents, and not to engage in national political or ideological debates outside of its role.
Recent events in Burlington, Vermont offer a useful example. The Burlington City Council has faced repeated pressure (including councilors being harassed) to advance a nonbinding “apartheid-free community” resolution. Rather than turn a complex international conflict into an official municipal declaration, the council instead passed a Community Dialogue Resolution and chose to prioritize and fund community dialogue and engagement.
My support for the Belchertown Select Board’s new policy and the Community Dialogue Resolution adopted in Burlington, Vermont should not be mistaken for indifference to human suffering around the world. People should absolutely speak out about national and global issues as I continue to do. I write letters, attend events, donate, and support organizations such as Indivisible, Women of Vision, Women Wage Peace (partners with Women of the Sun), and World Central Kitchen.
These municipal policies are not about silencing anyone. They are about ensuring that town government remains focused on its proper role while avoiding the kind of polarization that can divide neighbors and erode trust in local institutions.
Andrea Newman
Amherst