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Sudbury Select Board creates Sudbury 250 Committee to plan 2025 commemorations
Summary
The Select Board approved a charter on Dec. 5, 2023 establishing the Sudbury 250 Committee to plan events marking the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, with activities expected in 2025 and possible events in 2026. The committee will develop a plan, pursue funding, hold public forums and report quarterly to the Select Board.
The Sudbury Select Board approved a charter on Dec. 5, 2023 establishing the Sudbury 250 Committee to oversee planning and outreach for commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the commencement of the American Revolution. The document anticipates many observances in early spring through late winter of 2025 and allows for later events such as July 4, 2026.
Under the charter, the committee's duties include developing a comprehensive celebration plan; coordinating programs, funding and grant applications with Town staff (including possible requests as part of the Town budget process); appointing subcommittees for specific tasks; and coordinating with other Massachusetts 250 committees. The committee is explicitly charged with ensuring events represent a commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability and accessibility and with identifying opportunities for individuals and organizations to participate.
Membership will be appointed by the Select Board for the period Jan. 2024 through Sept. 2026 and may include up to nine individuals. The charter lists possible representatives including a Select Board member, the Town Historian, a Lincoln‑Sudbury Regional High School educator, community members with historical expertise, event‑planning or logistics professionals, community leaders with fundraising experience, representatives of business or civic arts groups, the Town Manager (or designee) as an ex‑officio member, and Public Safety as ex‑officio.
Governance provisions require the committee to elect a Chair, Vice‑Chair and Clerk and set a quorum at a majority of full members. The charter instructs that if any full voting member misses five consecutive regular meetings their position may be deemed vacant and filled by the Select Board. The committee is scheduled to be dissolved on Sept. 30, 2026 unless the Select Board votes to continue it.
The committee must file annual reports of activities with the Select Board on or before Dec. 31, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2025 and again prior to dissolution. Meetings are to be open to the public and recorded; minutes and committee materials must be posted to the Town website and filed with the Town Clerk.
The charter also directs compliance with the Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law, the Public Records Law and the Conflict‑of‑Interest Law, in addition to applicable town bylaws and policies (including the Town’s email communications policy for committee members). The document notes the committee will provide periodic updates to the Select Board no less often than quarterly.
The committee's formation sets the administrative structure and deadlines ahead of a year of commemorative events; the Select Board will appoint members and receive the committee’s first report before the end of 2024.
