Deerfield residents have taken a controversial warrant article about marriage off their March ballot and tacked onto their proposed budget enough money to buy a new piece of radar equipment. Saturday’s deliberative session lasted just under four hours, Selectman Walter Hooker said, and neared its conclusion with about a half hour of discussion on a proposed resolution stating that residents should be allowed to vote on an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage. If approved by voters, the resolution would be sent to state politicians.

The petitioned article has popped up on warrants across the state this year following legislation passed in 2009 that made same-sex marriage legal in the state. In Deerfield, the petition was submitted by Chris Tidwell, pastor at Deerfield Bible Church.

At yesterday’s meeting, residents voted to strike the proposed resolution by a 92-28 vote, Hooker said. Deerfield resident Jim Deely, 36, made the motion to amend the warrant article to take out all but two words, effectively rending it null and void. “It’s clearly a statewide, divisive end-around to try to impose individuals’ religious and moral views on others,” Deely said. Tidwell said there was no malice intended in proposing the resolution. “As far as I’m concerned, in Deerfield, it’s done,” he said.

Full Story from the Concord Monitor
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