Town Manager Sarah Stanton told the Finance Committee last week that her office is beginning to consider the wisdom of canceling the annual citizens’ caucus and postponing annual town meeting by about two months so it can take place outside.
“It’s still very early, and the Select Board and the moderator haven’t weighed in,” she stressed.
The town charter directs that town meeting begin on the third Monday in March, which “would be tough to hold indoors,” Stanton said. “The Select Board and I haven’t talked about it, but in working with the health director the informal idea is to have it potentially in May.”
Last March, with the annual meeting warrant already distributed and the Covid-19 virus threatening, town meeting was postponed in 30-day increments, the maximum allowed by law.
Ultimately town meeting took place on the synthetic turf of Sabourin Field at Bedford High School on June 27, with action only on articles essential to continuing operations. Detailed plans were executed on social distancing, particularly for check-in and departure, as well as microphone use and seating arrangement. “I think it worked well outdoors,” Stanton said.
If action is taken before the 2021 warrant is approved, the Select Board can reschedule beyond a 30-day limit.
Finance Committee Chair Ben Thomas pointed out that a delay would “give us more time to get even a minuscule amount of certainty” on financial projections for fiscal year 2022.
Select Board Chair Ed Pierce, speaking to a League of Women Voters virtual meeting Sunday, confirmed the thought process. There should be no need for a special town meeting, he said, since it appears excess school spending will be covered by reserves.
He emphasized that all town meeting preparations will take place according to the usual March schedule, without distributing the warrant, as the board continues to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on the calendar. Pierce also told the LWV that execution of the outdoor annual town meeting cost the town about $50,000.
The purpose of the caucus, required under town bylaws to take place on the first Tuesday in January, is to nominate candidates for positions on the March local ballot.
Since caucus rules allow two nominees for every opening, virtually all candidates are nominated. Indeed, the value of the event is actually to identify offices for which there are no candidates.
Residents still have the option to file petitions of nomination, so the caucus is not essential. Stanton said town officials would have to work with legislators to see if it’s possible to get approval for a waiver under state law. Stanton said that would involve extending an emergency act for canceling caucuses in 2020.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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