Sterling Town Moderator Jennifer Scalise-Mullett, during Sterling Annual and Special Town Meetings, runs a PROTECTION RACKET for bent Town of Sterling officials and employees by implementing her UNCONSTITUTIONAL speech suppression/discussion suppression ‘Decorum Policy’ prohibiting the mention, by name, of such bent Town officials and employees.
That ‘Decorum Policy’ was rendered UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in its March 2023 landmark case, Barron et al. vs. Kolenda et al., 491 Mass. 408 (2023), involving bent Town of Southborough officials protecting themselves by means of UNCONSTITUTIONAL speech and discussion suppression during official meetings. SEE BARRON vs. KOLENDA, 491 Mass. 408 (masscases.com)
You can bet that Jennifer Scalise-Mullett did not cook up her UNCONSTITUTIONAL ‘Decorum Policy’ alone.
By letter, in spring 2023, ccd to the Sterling Select Board, I warned Ms. Scalise-Mullett about her violations of Sterling voters’ free speech and discussion rights during Sterling Town Meetings. In view of her continued illegal conduct displayed during the 16 October 2023 Sterling Special Town Meeting I filed a ‘Case Report’ about her with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). FIRE has staff lawyers and also retains outside lawyers where needed to bring lawsuits against government officials violating individuals’ free speech rights. FIRE is now the PREMIER U.S. organization upholding citizens’ speech protections. SEE https://www.thefire.org/ I have donated to FIRE for many years.
Below is the email I sent on 17 October 2023, about Ms. Scalise-Mullett’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL Town Meeting ‘Decorum Policy,’ to the Sterling Select Board, Town Administrator, Secretary to the Select Board, and Town Clerk, with ccs to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, FIRE, and Town Counsel Gregg Corbo.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, immediately before the 16 October 2023 Sterling Special Town Meeting, Jennifer Scalise-Mullett, elected Sterling Town Moderator, announced her ‘decorum’ policy that speakers having the floor were not permitted to mention Town officials or Town employees by name during Warrant Article discussions. That policy constitutes an official Town of Sterling speech suppression/discussion suppression and Town officialTown/employee PROTECTION RACKET rendered UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the landmark decision handed down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in March, 2023, Barron et al. vs. Kolenda et al., 491 Mass. 408 (2023). SEE BARRON vs. KOLENDA, 491 Mass. 408 (masscases.com)
In spring 2023, by letter, with cc to the Sterling Select Board, enclosing a full copy of the Barron vs. Kolenda decision, I warned Ms. Scalise-Mullett about her unconstitutional Sterling Town Meeting speech suppression/discussion suppression policy and practices.
During the 16 October 2023 Sterling Special Town Meeting, when Ms. Scalise-Mullett attempted to cut off, in violation of my rights under the Massachusetts Constitution, my mention of David Favreau, the Sterling Board of Health Agent who continues running up big overtime claims on his official Town of Sterling Time Sheets while running David Favreau Construction & Septic Services–Title 5 Inspections | Sterling, MA | David Favreau Construction & Septic Services (favreausepticservices.com) — and his being in an obvious conflict of interest, I talked over her deliberately to share that information with the Special Town Meeting attendees. I had a Constitutional right to do so.
In view of Ms. Scalise-Mullett’s ongoing, official, violations of Sterling Town Meeting speakers’ Constitutional rights I have filed a ‘Case Report’ with the Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression (FIRE). FIRE has staff lawyers and also retains private counsel to uphold the free speech/free discussion rights of all U.S. citizens.
Jim Gettens
Sterling, MA
J.G.
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, OVERWATCH 