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Select Board discusses outreach and "wiggle room" to boost town meeting participation
Summary
The Select Board and town moderator outlined a set of outreach and accommodation proposals — including open-house Q&A sessions, short social-media videos, and a family "wiggle room" during town meeting — and recommended a working group to pilot measures ahead of the May 2026 town meeting.
The Acton Select Board discussed steps to increase participation and make town meeting more accessible, including targeted outreach, pre-meeting open houses to answer residents' questions, short social-media videos explaining warrant articles and a family-friendly overflow room for parents and caregivers.
Town Moderator Joan Berry and select board members said they met to draft a memo of possible actions and that Boxborough's recent open-house approach (staffed stations where article sponsors answer questions) produced a helpful model. Board members and municipal staff also discussed outreach to residents of apartments and condominiums, partnering with the League of Women Voters, and producing short, 30- to 60-second video explainers suitable for platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Board members emphasized three broad goals: outreach/advertising to broaden awareness, measures to shorten town-meeting time (for example by holding Q&A sessions beforehand), and accommodations to make in-person attendance easier (an informal family room, overflow sites with remote viewing, or shorter walking routes inside meeting venues).
The moderator and board discussed potential pilot steps for the DPW article, which is expected to generate many public questions, and suggested a working group to develop a concrete plan for the spring warrant process. Suggestions for membership included representatives from the League of Women Voters, the Council on Aging, the Commission on Disabilities, student representatives and other stakeholders to ensure diverse feedback.
No formal vote was taken. The board asked the town manager and moderator to develop a proposal for a short-term working group or committee to return with recommendations, and to coordinate with existing civic organizations already pursuing similar goals.
