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Study committee recommends keeping Concord's open town meeting
Summary
After reviewing options and survey results, the Town Meeting Study Committee voted Jan. 13 to recommend that Concord retain its open town meeting form of government rather than move to a representative town meeting.
After studying the alternatives and taking citizen survey results into account, the Town Meeting Study Committee voted Jan. 13 to recommend that Concord retain its current open town meeting form of government.
Alice Kaufman moved the recommendation and read the committee’s proposed wording: "After studying the options, forms of government, including open town meeting and representative town meeting, and after taking into consideration a survey of Concord voters, the Town Meeting Study Committee therefore recommends that we maintain our current form of government and the open town meeting." The motion was seconded (record does not specify the second by name) and the committee then voted.
Vote: Recorded votes in the transcript show Keith Bergman, Katie Bresnan, Kristen Haggerty, Alice Kaufman, Eric Moore and Phil Swayne all voting in favor. The committee minutes record that Parashar Patel (listed as absent), Chase Thompson and at least one other member were absent from the roll call. The motion carried.
Why it matters: The recommendation formalizes the committee’s conclusion after research and public survey input that open town meeting better suits Concord, a conclusion the committee will include in its report and present to the Select Board and other town bodies as appropriate.
Ending: The committee asked staff to incorporate the recommendation and supporting analysis into the committee report for the annual town report and for upcoming presentations to the Select Board.
