Woman Pickets Town Manager During Rush Hour

Despite having a large piece of duct tape over her mouth, Blake Street resident Paula Less was making a lot of noise on East Main Street on Tuesday.

Wearing sandwich boards that read, “I have been silenced by Town Manager Mr. Malloy,” Less paced in front of the afternoon rush hour traffic at the intersection of Rogers Road and East Main Street. She attracted the attention of area commuters, many who stopped to ask questions, snap photos and take literature that Less and her husband were passing out at the demonstration.

Less told Westborough Patch that she is angry because she was denied permission to speak at the during a community dinner that took place that evening. She wanted to make a presentation about the May 15 special election at which voters will decide on an $11.2 million debt exclusion override to something she opposes.

Town Manager Jim Malloy told Less that she could not speak at the dinner. “By refusing me, he is stepping on my first amendment rights and my right to peaceful assembly,” she said.

“She asked to be on a program at a community dinner where people bought tickets for a specific presentation on senior housing issues,” Malloy said. She was denied because the Board of Selectmen adopted a policy in 2009 that prohibits the use of public buildings for public debate, he said.

“Only nonprofit and civic groups, town groups and committees can make presentations in public buildings, no one else. If we permitted this, it would open the flood gates for all kinds of public issues, some which the public might find offensive,” said Malloy. “I am responsible for these buildings and how they are used.”

Less said she spoke with Alma Demanche, the director of the senior center, on Thursday to request time at the community dinner and was initially told that she could speak. On Friday, Demanche told her that Malloy denied her request.

Less expressed concern that there will be a presentation at the Westborough Senior Center on May 9 that will lean in favor of the debt exclusion override. She said that members of the fire department and Municipal Building Committee are scheduled to speak to the seniors, as is Town Manager Jim Malloy.

Malloy denied that the audience would be told how to vote at the May 9 presentation. “We will explain what a yes vote means and what a no vote means,” he said.

Less marched in protest for about two hours on Tuesday, beginning at 4:30 p.m. She said she had no plans to further picket Malloy.

When asked how it felt to be the target of a demonstration on East Main Street at the height of rush hour, Malloy said, “She was exercising her right to free speech and has a right to do so. She absolutely has that right.”

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