In an appropriate display of democracy just days before Independence Day, more than 100 residents packed Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Hot topics on the agenda included an opinion from attorneys regarding a group home for the mentally ill slated to open on Lynne Road. The Board of Selectmen  also voted on whether to begin construction on a highly protested sewer project in the Mayflower Ridge and Agawam Beach neighborhoods.

The original meeting room in the Multi-service Center was crowded beyond fire code capacity. Board of Selectmen Chair Walter Cruz repeatedly asked the people who were there for the Lynne Road group home controversy and the sewer project to leave the room until they reached their subjects on the agenda. His requests were met with objection from the people.

The Wareham Fire Department responded to the Multi-service Center for an "overcrowding complaint."

“This is an open town meeting. There are obviously more people that want to attend this meeting that can fit this venue,” citizen Philip Miles pointed out.

Town Attorney Rich Bowen advised the Board to move the meeting to the Town Hall auditorium.

After the 100+ people walked across the parking lot to attend, they patiently waited more more than an hour for their topics to come up on the agenda as Selectmen moved through a long list of appointments to boards and committees, announcements of upcoming events, approval of minutes. The "citizens' participation" portion of the meeting was cancelled due to the lengthy agenda.

The large turn-out comes just months after lack of attendance at Town Meeting threatened to postpone voting on several warrant items.