Concord study committee to draft Home Rule petition language and ADA remote‑participation policy

The Town of Concord’s Town Meeting Study Committee voted to form workstreams to draft language and strategy for a Home Rule petition on remote participation and to develop an ADA remote‑participation procedure ahead of Town Meeting 2025. Chair opened the discussion noting the Select Board will consider a warrant request on Jan. 27 and asked the committee to coordinate with town representatives and Wayland stakeholders to clarify strategy and draft warrant text.

Committee members focused on two linked items: an initial legal notice or lean "skinny" warrant to improve early public notice and a formal policy to qualify and implement ADA remote participation. Shannon (town staff) told the group a legal notice could be distributed via the Bridge or mailed; the committee discussed sending a lean initial mailing, followed later by a fuller meeting book that includes the Finance Committee report so hearings and public review could begin sooner.

The committee agreed someone would draft article language and that a separate task would create an ADA remote‑participation procedure covering who qualifies, how participants would be authenticated, and how participation would be managed during the meeting (for example, a virtual room monitored by an appointed teller). Chair emphasized this is a legal and practical issue: "It's legal," the Chair said when discussing whether Massachusetts policy allows such accommodations, and members cited examples from Carlisle, Sudbury and other towns as models to review.

Shannon clarified the ADA coordinator for Concord is Jess Porter, assistant town manager and head of HR and human services; members asked staff to consult Jess and to gather examples of state/local policies and implementation details. The committee also discussed how to notify the public about an accommodation and whether voting can be carried out while maintaining the character of an in‑person Town Meeting.

Next steps: committee members will (1) draft Home Rule petition text and a short warrant notice for Select Board review ahead of Jan. 27, (2) consult Jess Porter and town counsel on ADA policy details and state guidance, and (3) assemble examples from towns that have implemented remote participation so the committee can recommend feasible operational procedures.