It'd make the town meeting more interesting.

It's a chance for community to come together and contemplate on something greater than themselves or the town, before they go for each-other's throats during the meeting.  It's a sensible thing to do, get everyone grounded and contemplative first.  The people saying they'd read the satanic versus or some stupid crap are completely missing the point.  It's all an effort to have a smooth, orderly, non-argumentative meeting.  Get people to behave like they would in a church, things should be calmer.  Get them riled up like it's a Black Friday sale at Walmart, the meeting is going to go much differently.