March 14, 2023 By Cathe Shetzline
The League of Women Voters Hingham works to increase understanding of public policy issues. In effort to provide our Hingham community with the information needed to play an informed and active role in our local government, the league sponsors this warrant review. This is the Eleventh year that the league has provided the Warrant review and it s an example of the leagues commitment to helping to build citizen participation in the democratic process.
Our League has also produced a booklet entitled, “The Citizen’s Guide to Open Town Meeting” which you can find on our league website under town meeting. This is a practical way to learn about the legislative practice of your Open Town Meeting.
The league is proud to be a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active citizen participation in government at the national, state and local levels.
In addition to providing educational forums and materials, the league advocates for policies that our membership studies and agrees upon.
Because the league supports that citizens have the opportunity to participate in government decision-making, in 2011 the league sponsored a warrant article requiring that the Hingham warrant be made available to the public 10 days after the January 20th deadline.
We believe earlier access to the Warrant allows citizens optimal opportunity to research the Articles, engage in the review process and ask questions at the various board hearings.
The league supports protecting air, land and water resources, there fore in 2019 the league supported the “Plastic Bag Reduction By-law” sponsored by Cleaner Greener Hingham.
The league supports diversity, equity and inclusion in principle and in practice, therefore in 2021, the League sponsored the warrant article calling to amend the town’s general by-laws to include gender-neutral terms.
And this year, again in support of the league’s long standing position on environmental protection, the league is supporting Cleaner Greener Hingham’s Single Use Plastics By-Laws. We hope that you too will also consider supporting this petition at town meeting.
Every year is unique in the local government cycle, but this year is particularly an important year with several critical issues up for decision at town meeting and at town election.
These issues require our time and attention so that we can each understand what is being asked of the town, and what the implications of these decisions are. We are fortunate to have many citizens involved in the work of our local government here in Hingham.
To view the warrant articles for yourself, as well as the most recent copy of the Advisory Committee’s Warrant article Status Summary, please go to the Town’s Website where you will find these available under town meeting.
Advisory Chair George Danis provides the overview of this year’s warrant as well insights into the advisory committee’s work and the budget process.
We hope to see you at Town Meeting on April 24th.
More information: https://my.lwv.org/massachusetts/hingham/town-meeting/2023-warrant-review