Sassamon Trace advisory committee adopts 10-minute limit for citizens' concerns, adds monthly summer meetings

The Sassamon Trace Advisory Committee in the Town of Natick approved a written citizens' concerns policy on May 21 that limits each individual addressing the board to 10 minutes and requires speakers to state their full name and whether they are a Natick resident.

The action followed a debate over whether to set any time limit. Committee member Marty McCrory argued against limits; Community Services Director Angela Snell warned that having no limits could create legal and management difficulties. Chair Kevin Chandley initially moved a 15-minute cap, which failed; he then moved a 10-minute cap, seconded by Peter Burke, and the committee adopted the 10-minute limit unanimously.

The committee recorded the new policy in the meeting minutes as: "Any individual may raise an issue that is not on the agenda and it will be taken under advisement by the Board. There will be no opportunity for debate during this portion of the meeting. Any individual addressing the board shall be limited to ten minutes. Individuals must state their full name and indicate if they are a Natick resident." The committee's record shows the language will be applied in future advisory meetings.

The vote came after guest Paul Stockley raised concerns that golfers' issues communicated by email had sometimes lacked a clear, public record of follow-up. Several committee members, including McCrory, Chandley and Arthur Fair, thanked Stockley for continuing to raise issues and agreed the board must put responses on the record. To improve responsiveness during the busy season, the committee also voted to hold monthly meetings in May, June, July and August and to meet quarterly during the rest of the year; that motion passed unanimously.

Procedurally, the committee approved routine minutes and adjourned at 10:24 a.m. The advisory committee set its next meeting for June 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.