Should we have a family-friendly space where parents can vote and dote… on their children? What about an outdoor location for Town Meeting with a festive vibe and food trucks? The Town Meeting Study Committee has made recommendations on the three articles from last year’s Town Meeting: electronic voting (recommended), Australian ballot (not recommended), and a home rule petition for remote participation (to appear on this year’s warrant). Now the committee turns its attention back to the variety of suggestions that may continue to improve the experience of Town Meeting while preserving its intent of participatory governance. Please join in the conversation through email or attendance at upcoming meetings where the committee discusses:
- Streamlining the meeting to make the total length shorter. Examples for discussion include: Fewer speakers per article? Allow first time speakers to the front of the queue? Limit the amount of time each article is discussed to have a better sense of the overall meeting time?
- Meeting time and location. How can when and where the meeting is hosted invite more attendance and cultivate community? Discussion may include: a room where you can snack and vote? Child care with a movie in the learning commons? In-home babysitting from high schoolers? Earlier start and end times? Fewer longer meetings or more shorter meetings? What happens if we start on a Sunday afternoon?
- Ways to better engage the public. How will you use an all-inclusive “Briefing Book?” How can that fabulous (and thorough) FinCom report be even more useful? What about neighborhood circles to hear each other’s views before Town Meeting?
Thanks to the 1000+ of you who completed the survey in the fall. Please consider weighing in as the committee makes final recommendations to continue to improve our imperfect but impressive system of local government.
Kristen Hagerty
Revolutionary Road
