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Swansea governance committee recommends returning to in‑person town meeting; board agrees to put question on 2026 warrant
Summary
The governance committee told the select board it recommends repealing the current SB2 official‑ballot format and restoring a traditional open town meeting with a board of selectmen, and the select board voted to place that warrant article on the 2026 ballot. The committee also offered communication and moderator suggestions to increase public engagement.
The Swansea governance committee recommended the town abandon the current official‑ballot (SB2) system and return to a traditional open town meeting led by a board of selectmen, saying in‑person deliberation followed by an immediate vote would let voters better understand warrant articles before casting ballots. "The committee recommends the town of Swansea return to the traditional board of selectmen open town meeting form of town government," the committee presenter said during the select board meeting.
Committee members outlined supplemental measures they said would make an open town meeting workable, including Saturday scheduling, using the high school (or multiple rooms) to accommodate turnout, providing childcare and light refreshments, using colored cards or yes/no slips at check‑in, staffing information tables outside polling places with unbiased volunteers to explain warrant articles, and recruiting multiple assistant moderators. The committee also urged improved ongoing communications — including expanding the town email list and using social media platforms — to build pre‑meeting awareness.
Board members and residents discussed tradeoffs. Several people warned turnout could fall initially after ending SB2; the committee acknowledged that risk but said participants who attended deliberative sessions were more engaged and better informed. One resident cited a prior water‑system item that drew little deliberative‑session attention but many votes at the ballot, arguing such issues would benefit from in‑person debate.
After discussion the select board moved to recommend placing a warrant article on the 2026 ballot asking voters whether to return to an open town meeting (i.e., repeal the official‑ballot format). The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board also asked the governance committee to remain available to help design an outreach and education plan if the warrant article moves forward.
The next procedural step is drafting the exact warrant article language and developing a public‑education timetable for voters; the board signaled willingness to work with the committee on communication and moderator guidance ahead of the March warrant.
