Tuesday night’s board of selectmen meeting ran high with emotion over the issue of the Citizen’s Forum. Mr. John Truesdale spoke to the board asking that Citizen’s Forum be reinstated.

Citizen’s forum was usually the final portion of a board of selectmen meeting in which any citizen could be heard by the selectmen and have his or her problem or concern voiced. citizen’s forum was replaced last year by a procedure in which any resident who needed time before the board is asked to submit in writing any question to the board under that part of the meeting’s agenda called Correspondence.

This new change in policy by the board was thought to make the prior procedure of citizen’s forum more efficient because it would give the board more time to look into any questions in advance and hopefully find a solution more quickly.

Some residents and board of selectmen members did not like the new correspondence format and have been calling for the reinstatement of the old former citizen’s forum. Tuesday night’s meeting was no exception when John Truesdale of Apple Lane told the board and all in attendance that to him the citizen’s forum was the town’s constitutional right to free speech. Mr. Truesdale spoke of how many of our ancestors left their homelands because of not being able to speak freely.

“I served my country and people fought and died for the right of free speech,” said Truesdale.

Selectman Peter Rossetti said that any town resident could speak to a board of selectmen member and have his or her question submitted for the next meeting.

Board of Selectmen Chair-man Donald Wong reminded everyone that if anyone needs to be heard immediately, they may talk to any of the selectmen before the meeting and the matter will be addressed right away.

Selectman Steve Horlick asked the board and Chair-man Wong to reverse its previous decision and reinstate the citizen’s forum. “I believe it is the right thing to do,” he said.

“It’s time to put this issue to rest,” said Selectman Michael Kelleher. “We have spent too much time already on this issue. The people want citizen’s forum reinstated. Let’s just do that.”

Selectman Steve Castinetti said, “I believe once we make a decision we should all stick by it. We have not kept anyone from speaking to this board and if anyone believes that, it just is not true.

“I just want what is best for our residents and there are citizens who like the new format and think it is working out well,” Selectman Rossetti stated.

Chairman Wong reiterated, “Any citizen can be heard before this board. I just want to make that very clear to town residents.”

The Board of Selectmen voted 3 to 2 to keep the Correspondence portion instead of citizen’s forum, but there is no doubt this is not the last we hear of this issue.