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Concord committee urges select board to pursue home-rule petition to allow remote Town Meeting participation
Summary
The Town Unit Study Committee voted to urge the Select Board to begin preparing a home-rule petition enabling remote participation and to work with other towns and town counsel on draft language, while noting legislative and technical hurdles remain.
The Town Unit Study Committee voted to urge the Select Board to take immediate steps toward a home-rule petition that would make remote participation in Concord Town Meeting legally possible.
The committee’s chair, Eric Miller, opened discussion by asking whether the panel was ready to ask the Select Board to put an article on a future warrant. After extensive debate about timing and technical feasibility, members approved the motion calling on the Select Board to begin preparing and, where appropriate, sponsoring a home-rule petition and related warrant article for consideration in 2025.
Committee members expressed mixed views on urgency and strategy. Supporters — including members who said the town survey showed strong citizen interest — argued the Select Board should begin drafting language, consult town counsel and other municipalities, and build community support so Concord is ready when the Legislature considers such changes. Opponents cautioned that the Legislature could take years to act and that secure, scalable remote‑voting technology for an open town meeting of Concord’s size is not yet proven.
Carmen, offering procedural context, reminded the body that the study committee may recommend articles but does not itself place items on the warrant; the Select Board or a citizen petition must submit formal warrant language. The committee discussed whether to ask the Select Board to sponsor and submit a 2025 warrant article or to keep the request more limited to “begin developing and submitting” petition language; members settled on urging immediate steps without prescribing exact sponsor mechanics.
The motion was seconded and placed to a roll call of online members; Chair Miller then took in-person assent and declared the motion moved. The committee’s report to the Select Board will include the motion text and background research. The committee also agreed to work cooperatively with the Select Board and staff on next steps toward drafting and outreach.
The Select Board briefing is scheduled for next week; the committee will deliver a one-page executive summary and be prepared to answer follow-up questions.
