Saugus Town Meeting member breaks his silence

SAUGUS – Before Monday night?s vote on the science lab feasibility study, Town Meeting member Peter Vadala rose to speak on the issue, telling members he was “threatened yesterday with a frivolous lawsuit to silence my first amendment rights here at Town Meeting.”?Please don?t anyone here try to silence me,” said Vadala, before reading his statement. “We?re talking about the safety of the students in the schools and I believe this is very important.”Vadala then began reading his statement.?I am here to call upon you to defend Saugus children by defunding Saugus Public Schools, including a no vote tonight on article two, until Saugus Public School officials are willing to sit down and talk about two things ?” said Vadala. “The sexual orientation nondiscrimination statement ? and the underlying presence of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) at Saugus High School. It seems anytime ? “At that point, Town Moderator Bob Long slammed his gavel and told Vadala that he had asked him “not to name any organizations.”?It is your opinion and apparently you choose to ignore me,” said Long.Vadala responded that he “shall refrain from using the name the organization,” however, Town Meeting members Maureen Dever and Ellen Faiella rose to move the feasibility article to a vote.?Please respect my First Amendment rights,” said Vadala. “This is going against free speech. I don?t understand why I?m being silenced.”Town Meeting voted 24-11 to move the question, netting the two-thirds vote required to bring the issue to a vote, thus ending discussion, according to Long.?It?s a parliamentary rule that at any time a member of a body can move the question, which means if it?s seconded, it?s non-debatable, which requires a two-thirds vote ?” said Long. “We do have a two-thirds vote ? the discussion has ended.”Vadala then left the podium, but not before making one last statement.?Don?t tread on me,” said Vadala.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].