Resident urges Northfield to ‘reinvent’ town meeting and proposes citizen committee

Denise Sanders, a Northfield resident, told the select board she has researched how Vermont towns sustain civic engagement after a recent vote moved budgets and some public questions to the Australian ballot. Sanders urged the board to consider a reinvention that restores community deliberation and civil discourse and recommended forming a citizen committee to survey residents and report back to the board.

“Please address your remarks to the merits of the question, not an individual and in a courteous manner,” Sanders quoted a moderator’s opening words from another town as an example of the tone she wants to encourage. She said she voted to move the budget to the ballot in one town after concluding low in‑person turnout was disenfranchising those unable to attend.

Sanders told the board she compiled Secretary of State participation data and visited other towns’ websites to identify practices that increased engagement. Among tactics she cited were providing childcare, holding potlucks, and scheduling informational meetings or “have your say” days earlier in the budget process so residents can influence drafts before the ballot.

Members asked what concrete steps she wanted the board to take. Sanders said the town has two legal routes to return ballot items to floor votes: a voter petition or select‑board action to place a question on a subsequent ballot. She suggested a citizen committee, either independent or select‑board appointed, to survey the community and propose options; she offered to compile spreadsheets and follow up on participation data.

Town Manager Jeff acknowledged resources (Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Secretary of State data) that could support such work and told Sanders staff could help locate relevant materials. Board members discussed whether a committee should be citizen‑led without select‑board appointment — which would avoid open‑meeting‑law obligations — or formally chartered by the board, which would require public notice and adherence to meeting rules.

The board did not vote on formal action. Members encouraged Sanders to gather written proposals and said staff could help with data and access to reference materials. Several members said they supported exploring ways to revive participation but emphasized the need for clear goals and an achievable timeline.

The next procedural step agreed in discussion was for Sanders and interested residents to draft a plan and for staff to provide the underlying data so the board can consider whether to authorize a committee or support a citizen‑led effort.