See Capezzuto, supra at 955. The crux of the plaintiffs' argument is that the earlier petitions referenced the sections of the Town Charter which provide for submission of the petition to the voters at the election, as does the petition in the case at bar. Accordingly, they maintain, the Council ought to be estopped from balking at the instant petition. But, the circumstances of the earlier petitions are clearly distinguishable from the case at bar, and estoppel will not lie. That initiative petition, which dealt with acceptance of the Quinn Bill in the Town of Southbridge, plainly stated its purpose in both the title and body of the document.
Similar language is, significantly, absent from the petition at bar.
This Court concludes that the purpose intended by the Southbridge Town Charter would be frustrated were an election to be called in circumstances where it is impossible to determine if the signers understood that the language of their petition sought to call an election on the matter. 29 Mass. App. An Act Restoring the Town Meeting-Selectmen Form of Government in the Town of Southbridge. Each copy of the petition shall have attached to it a copy of the proposed legislation. Said petition shall then be filed with the board of registrars of voters for certification.