Panel weighs strengths and trade-offs of open town meeting, representative town meeting and town council options

A panel convened by the Acton Area League of Women Voters on the state of town meeting examined the trade-offs among open town meeting, representative town meeting and council‑style government and debated whether technology and statute should permit remote or hybrid participation.

The panelists — Mark DeSalvo, town moderator of North Andover; Jerry Slater, town moderator of Norwood; Pat Lloyd of the Collin Center at UMass Boston; Bill Rosenblum, select board member of Ludlow; Joanne Berry, Town of Acton open town meeting moderator; and Diane Baum of the Acton Area League — described how different forms affect participation, deliberation and the day‑to‑day pace of local government.

The discussion matters because Massachusetts towns are considering statutory changes that would allow remote or hybrid participation in meetings that now, under Massachusetts General Laws, generally do not permit remote voting in open town meeting. Panelists and attendees discussed equity, legal constraints and practical barriers such as technology costs and voter verification for remote votes.

Panelists described practical differences among forms. Mark DeSalvo said open town meeting…