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8 Mr. Cox said that t he community's reaction to the USA Patriot Act has been phenomenal and opposition to it has cut across jurisdictional and party lines. He said requests that Council adopt a resolution in opposition to it have come from the Republican and Democratic Commit tees and the Center for Peace and Justice. He read the draft resolution. The public hearing was opened. Ms. Barbara Rich, 767 Madison Avenue, urged Council to join over 100 other communities and pass the resolution. She said she remembers the McCarthy era and the Constitution seems to be in dire straits. Directing her comments to Mr. Schilling, she said consistency is overrated. Mr. Susan Oberman 604 Grove Avenue, read a letter from the Center for Peace and Justice urging Council to adopt the resolu tion. She said this is a unique opportunity with bipartisan and Peace Center support to oppose the USA Patriot Act. She said it is designed to strip away rights. She said three states and 129 localities have adopted similar resolutions. She said if we do not act now we lose the freedoms we have fought for. She recommended that Council hold a public forum to educate the public about the issue; urged them to pass the strongest resolution possible; and recommended that Council adopt an ordinance with lang uage that requires the Police Department to comply. Mr. William Anderson, 109 Quince Lane, Chairman of the Center for Peace and Justice, thanked Council for providing the opportunity to speak and for considering the resolution. He urged Council to make it as strong as possible to defend our constitutional rights. He said opposition to the Patriot Act is very American and a patriotic thing to do. Ms. Alexandra McGee, 315 Foxhaven Farm, said she is glad to see the resolution include language that a sign will be posted at the library informing people about the implications of the Patriot Act. She said Council should also take other steps to make sure change happens in Washington. Mr. Bob Hoffman, Batesville, thanked Council for addressing the issue of abuse in the Patriot Act. He said there is a unique union of people asking Council to take action. He said the proposed resolution does not specify abuses of the Patriot Act nor does it include penalties for non - compliance. He said Police Chief Longo ha s said that he will abide by the wisdom of the Congress and Supreme Court which implies he will not comply with the resolution. He asked Council to set up a diverse oversight committee to follow the issue. Mr. Paul Priest, 41 Old Farm Road, said he feel s the Patriot Act was an over - reaction and one that Congress will regret. He said a climate of fear and distrust cannot resist terrorism.