Committee praises smooth election, proposes outreach, social media and format changes for next year

Committee members said the recent election and candidate forum ran smoothly but suggested changes to broaden participation and improve logistics next year.

A Committee member opened the discussion by praising this year's effort and specifically congratulated Katie for producing an effective handout that helped the process. Another member said turnout matched expectations and commended volunteers for giving one-on-one attention to voters.

Members proposed several steps to boost turnout and reduce confusion: earlier notice to residents (October/November) about upcoming elections and candidate recruitment; an informational meeting for prospective candidates; a short set of standardized questions for candidates to answer in advance to highlight key issues; and scripted, shareable social-media posts that committee members could post to link residents back to the official page. One member also said the committee should encourage waiting until the end of forums for applause to keep timing on track.

On logistics, members discussed holding a less-formal meet-and-greet at outdoor sites such as Lizard Acres with light refreshments to differentiate it from the forum and attract more attendees. Staff noted budget limits for publicity beyond a PR printing budget but said cross-posting official links could expand reach.

Committee members also noted a pre-election media outreach example: "Christine DiVello came on about a month or so before the election and went through all the process and everything that she was aware of and how and the, bylaw changes that got voted on." The committee agreed many of these steps could be implemented by the election committee and through volunteer coordination.

The chair thanked members for input and said she would incorporate suggestions for next year's planning. She also announced she will circulate an outline for the annual meeting report.