The New England First Amendment Coalition called on officials in Georgetown, Mass., today to revise its public comment policies after a town resident was unconstitutionally prevented from speaking and ultimately removed by police.
“By running afoul of our federal and state constitutions, your guidelines ignore the need for Georgetown residents to hold their public officials accountable — and the protected practice of those in Massachusetts doing so through town meetings,” NEFAC wrote in a July 8 letter.
During the public comment session at the town’s April 27 Board of Selectmen meeting, resident Kevin Wood was recognized to speak and began criticizing two members of the board. Then-Board Chair Robert Hoover immediately interrupted Wood and told him repeatedly, “Let’s not go there with that stuff.”
When Wood refused to yield the two minutes remaining in his comment time and attempted to continue speaking, Hoover shouted over him and then invited the Chief of Police — who was attending the meeting on other business — to intervene and eventually to remove Wood from the meeting.
The Board’s public comment guidelines state that “no person may discuss the reputation [or] character…of a particular individual,” and they consider “engaging in personal attacks on any person or entity” to be disruptive behavior which would subject the speaker to a warning and subsequent removal.
Quoting a recent state court decision affirming the First Amendment rights of speakers at town meetings, NEFAC explained that:
Although appropriate restrictions may be placed on public comment sessions to ensure orderly and peaceable meetings, the court emphasized that “civility restraints on the content of speech at a public comment session in a public meeting are forbidden,” and ultimately held that “discourteous, rude, disrespectful, or personal speech about government ofRicials and governmental actions” was “clearly protected.”
NEFAC has also fought restrictive speech ordinances in Connecticut, Maine and in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, it advocated against speech restrictions in Nashua in 2023 and earlier this year, and in Manchester in 2025. The coalition also published an audit of speech codes in the state, finding various forms of restrictions that limit public expression during government meetings.
NEFAC is the region’s leading defender of First Amendment freedoms and the public’s right to know about government. You can learn more about our advocacy here and explore all our legal briefing and policy letters here.
NEFAC is the region’s leading defender of the First Amendment and open government. The coalition began in 2006 to advance and protect the five freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
NEFAC appreciates the support of all its donors and contributors. In particular, we would like to recognize the Estate of Gloria L. Negri, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the following Leadership Circle donors: Rhode Island Foundation, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, The Harbus Foundation, Boston University and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters of NEFAC’s work include Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Gravel & Shea PC, the Academy of New England Journalists, and Truro News.