Acton outlines accessibility, logistics for May 5–6 Annual Town Meeting

Joanne Berry, Town Moderator, said the Town of Acton will hold its Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6 starting at 7 p.m. in the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School auditorium; the field house will be available as needed and connected by audio and video.

Berry said the meeting, as an open town meeting, is the town’s legislative forum where registered voters may attend, speak and vote in person on matters including the town and school budgets and bylaws. She told listeners the meeting will include multiple accessibility measures and that Massachusetts law does not permit remote participation for open town meeting.

To request reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Berry said residents should email manager@actonma.gov or call (978) 929-6611 by Friday, May 2 at 12 p.m. She said the town’s ADA coordinator will ask what functional limitation affects a person’s ability to access Town Meeting so staff can determine an appropriate accommodation.

The town is offering free door-to-door van rides for Town Meeting. Berry said Crosstown Connect will provide a driver covering 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the nights of the town meeting; riders must reserve by 12 p.m. on Friday, May 2 by calling (978) 844-6809. Parking will be available at the high school and surrounding school buildings.

Berry described other accessibility steps planned for the meeting: designated entrance nearest the auditorium on the Hayward Road side for people with limited mobility, a check-in person at that entrance to assist attendees, preferred seating near the entrance, handheld microphones brought to speakers unable to stand at floor microphones, live translation of audio to on-screen captions, separate pro and con microphones, and a two-minute time limit for floor speakers. She also said electronic voting will be used to help protect voter privacy and to assist voters who cannot stand, raise their hand or speak loudly enough for voice votes.

Berry said the town will present shorter in-meeting presentations and will post fuller video presentations on Acton TV and the town’s YouTube channel a week or more before the meeting to help voters learn about warrant articles in advance. She said she will hold a moderator’s meeting for presenters on Wednesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in Room 204 at Town Hall.

On remote participation, Berry said: "Mass General Laws do not currently allow remote participation for open town meeting and the available technology cannot ensure voter identification and vote security." She said the warrant is prepared by the Select Board and will be available on the front page of the town website and in printed form delivered to voters' mailboxes or available at Town Hall and libraries. Berry noted three citizen-submitted articles will appear on this year’s warrant and said her goal is a fair and efficient meeting.

Details about parking, shuttle arrangements, and the full warrant will be posted at actonma.gov/townmeeting.