Acton town meeting approves home-rule petition to unify library trustees

Town Meeting in Acton on the second night approved a home-rule petition that will expand the Acton Memorial Library (AML) Board of Trustees from nine to 12 members and designate three of the new seats to be filled by trustees elected to the Citizens Library of West Acton.

Proponents framed the vote as a formal recognition of a working relationship that trustees and staff have already developed. "This is the story of two libraries, once distinct, now finding shared purpose," June Leslie, a Citizens Library volunteer and petitioner, told town meeting, describing a multi-year process of collaboration and a committee that recommended the governance change.

Supporters, including the select board and the finance committee, said the change will protect services in the West Acton branch, yield operational efficiencies and make the smaller library eligible for discounts and state aid that require formal alignment. "This plan will accomplish what simply continuing to meet jointly cannot," the proponent said during discussion.

Opponents — including several Citizens Library volunteers and trustees who addressed the meeting — warned the petition could alter the traditional role of elected Citizens Library trustees and pressed for amendments that would remove the mandatory appointment language. An amendment to remove the section was debated and defeated in a clicker vote; the main motion then passed by the town meeting. Town officials and petition supporters said that, if approved here, the proposal still requires legislative action to amend the Memorial Library special act and subsequent bylaw changes by the trustees to set operating details.

Select Board members said the measure reflects a consensus reached by a Citizens Library Governance Advisory Committee and was recommended unanimously by the board. The finance committee recommended approval in support of shared resources and long-term sustainability.

The approved home-rule petition directs the town to pursue the statutory change to make the three Citizens Library-elected trustees ex officio members of the Memorial Library board; it does not, by itself, change trustee elections or immediately alter the Citizens Library name or gift funds, proponents said. Town meeting also defeated a separate citizens’ petition later that sought to block further town legal spending on the governance dispute; the moderator ruled that petition procedural issues made postponement appropriate and it was laid on the table.

What happens next: If the legislature approves an amendment to the Memorial Library special act, trustees from both libraries and town counsel will draft bylaws describing how the combined board will operate. Any specific operational changes, including use of gift funds or day-to-day authority, will be implemented only after those steps.

Speakers who voiced support or concern included June Leslie (Citizens Library volunteer and petitioner), Alyssa Nickel (Select Board member), Anne Chang (South Acton resident and trustee collaborator), Linda Viera (Citizens Library trustee) and several Citizens Library volunteers who urged caution. Direct testimony and public comment occurred during the article’s presentation and amendment debate.

Town meeting approval now sends the petition to the state legislature for the required amendment to the Memorial Library special act; the home-rule petition itself does not change the state incorporation language.

Votes and next procedural steps are under the jurisdiction of the town clerk and the state legislature.