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Ipswich Select Board schedules Special Town Meeting and special election for Public Safety Building revote
Summary
After public urging and debate over process, the Select Board voted 4-1 to hold a Special Town Meeting July 28 and a special election Aug. 11 to allow voters to reconsider the Public Safety Building funding article.
The Ipswich Select Board voted 4-1 on June 1 to schedule a Special Town Meeting for July 28, 2026, and a special election on Aug. 11, 2026, to give residents another opportunity to vote on funding for a proposed Public Safety Building.
Several residents urged the board to hold a revote during the citizen query period. Robert Donahue, speaking as a member of the Public Safety Building Committee, said the committee had worked to incorporate public feedback and recommended giving voters another chance to decide. Board members Charles Surpitski, Linda Alexson and Sarah Player supported scheduling the Special Town Meeting, citing the condition of existing facilities and prior community support for the project. Chair Michael Dougherty opposed the motion, expressing concern about asking voters to reconsider the same project without changes to scope or cost. The motion passed with Dougherty opposed.
The board and staff discussed logistics, including facility availability, voting equipment, Finance Committee scheduling, publication requirements and funding for the Special Town Meeting and special election. Town Clerk Andrea Pappalimberis and Town Moderator Jim Engel reviewed sequencing and mailings after state election dates were raised as a potential source of voter confusion. Staff will confirm practical details and report back to the board before the meeting.
The scheduling decision comes after the funding article for the Public Safety Building failed at Annual Town Meeting despite having earlier majority support at Town Meeting proceedings and on a subsequent ballot. The board did not alter the project scope or funding in its vote to schedule the revote; members said that any changes would need to be proposed and vetted before voters are asked to reconsider the project.
The Select Board directed staff to finalize arrangements and to work with the Finance Committee and other town bodies on the timeline and public information materials ahead of the July Special Town Meeting.
