Select Board discusses ballot-format change and tight timeline for November land‑use items

The Select Board discussed whether to change the information presented with land-use ballot questions and reviewed timing for proposed ordinance amendments ahead of the November 4 special town meeting.

Ballot-format request The planning board asked the Select Board to include planning‑board vote information on land‑use ballot questions, mirroring an established charter requirement that budget questions list both the Select Board’s and the budget committee’s votes. Town staff advised that the planning board’s request could be handled by a Select Board policy, an administrative change to the ballot question language, or by amending the town code or charter; staff recommended consulting the town attorney about legal constraints and whether ballot summaries might be considered influencing voters.

Board members were divided: some favored more information for voters (including explanations or a planning-board vote) to make questions clearer at the polls;…