Appleton has taken a firm stance against racism and hate, and has issued a collective resolve supporting diversity and a welcoming community. The Appleton Resolution will appear in the town’s 2016-2017 Town Report, which is published close to annual town meeting, in June, and is the municipality’s record of policies, goals and budgets.

The Appleton Resolution grew from citizen conversations that took place following last year’s anonymous droppings in Appleton of plastic baggies filled with KKK flyers. The baggies had been distributed to a series of driveways in town. More recently, similar flyers have appeared in driveways and mailboxes in Gardiner, Freeport and Augusta, according to news reports.

“This got us thinking and talking,” said Appleton resident Peter Conant.

He and another resident, Elisabeth Goodridge, along with a new Midcoast organization known as the Woodstove Alliance, discussed crafting public statements. Conant and Goodridge went before the five-member Appleton Select Board at the end of January and proposed putting a brief statement before the town.

The Select Board, which represents a population of approximately 1,320, talked about placing such a statement as a warrant article before townspeople at annual town meeting, but then agreed, said Conant, to simply issue a resolution.

Board members John Fenner, Scott Wiley, Lorie Costigan, Peter Beckett and Jason Gushee voted unanimously to approve the Appleton Resolution, which reads as follows:

Appleton is a home to people from all walks of life, whose heritage and origins are diverse, and is a community whose well-being depends on the security, serenity, and mutual respect of all its citizens.

Therefore, Appleton is resolved to respect the dignity of all people, promote civil discourse, and honor diversity in all forms. We as a town and individuals will work to make our community a place where all people feel safe in their homes, on the streets, in our schools, and within the community at large.

Appleton is resolved to be a community where all people are welcome.

Rockland is likewise considering its own resolve, which will be discussed March 6 at a workshop of the Rockland City Council. That “Resolution Of Commitment To Promoting An Open, Respectful, Healthy Community.”

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657