Strange doings up in Milton, where a longtime volunteer member of various town committees has gotten the boot from all his official duties for purely political reasons.

As reported by VTDigger’s Charlotte Oliver, Henry Bonges has served his town “for forty-some years.” And then he made the mistake of publicly criticizing members of the town Selectboard, three of whom happen to be Republican state representatives. (A fourth, Rep. Chris Taylor, just resigned from the board when he was hired as town manager.) In response, the Select Board has refused to reappoint him to his volunteer posts.

(The story has yet to be reported by the local Milton Independent, which appears to be highly risk-avoidant in its coverage of local politics. The paper has yet to be featured in my weekly “News You Should View” roundup because its content is generally bland and uninteresting. It’s a sorry state of affairs, when the town has had more than its share of political firestorms of late. The Independent is shirking its duty.)

In April, Bonges emailed his legislative representatives asking them to support the fight against climate change and urging them not to vote like Republican “automatons.” He has also questioned whether it’s proper for Selectboard members to also be state lawmakers.

In response, Selectboard member and State Rep. Leland Morgan accused Bonges of holding the dual officeholders “high disdain.” Board chair Darren Adams wondered whether Bonges could, in Oliver’s words, “represent the Selectboard’s interests.”

Okay, hold it right there.

First of all, Bonges has said nothing about the policies of the Selectboard or the town of Milton. He has given no indication that he would undermine the board.

Second, “represent the Selectboard’s interests”? What the living hell?

It is not the job of any town official, paid or volunteer, to “represent the Selectboard’s interests.” It is to fulfill the stated duties of the position and serve the community. The Selectboard should not expect any kind of loyalty from anyone involved in town governance. That’s Trumpism, pure and simple.

Should Bonges have been a little more circumspect? Perhaps. But he was expressing his First Amendment rights, and he has said nothing to indicate that he would not carry out his duties to the best of his ability — or do anything to undermine Board policies. It would serve the Selectboard right if Bonges were to file suit, or if someone were to file a complaint with the state Ethics Commission. Or both.