Resident presents petition to place voucher‑program warrant article on March 14 ballot

Jim Bednar presented a petitioned warrant article to the Springfield Board of Selectmen on Feb. 9, saying 46 registered voters had signed in support and that the situation addressed by the petition has worsened since a similar article last year. The board accepted the petition for placement on the Town Meeting warrant scheduled for March 14, 2026; Selectmen Jen Roberts and Amy Lewis both voted to accept it.

The petition concerns the town’s voucher program; Bednar said he will speak on the petition at Town Meeting. The board did not take further action on the substance of the petition at the meeting and did not record any formal recommendation for or against the proposed warrant article. The acceptance places the item on the official warrant so voters can decide at the annual meeting.

The board’s action was procedural: acceptance of a properly petitioned article moves it to the warrant but does not itself adopt any policy. The article will be presented to voters at Town Meeting on March 14, 2026, where any debate and final action will occur.