Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Notice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge postcards, clearer Zoom identification after short notice for special town meeting
Summary
At citizens input, residents said many learned of a Jan. 28 special town meeting only eight days in advance; they urged postcards at 30 days and clearer in‑meeting identification for Zoom participants to improve participation.
Multiple residents told the Select Board they received late notice of a Jan. 28 special town meeting and urged the town to improve outreach. Paula told the board she and others first learned about the meeting from a neighbor and that the town's notices arrived only eight days before the meeting; she suggested mailing postcards 30 days before special votes so more voters can be informed and participate.
"So that only gives people 8 days... who are not aware of it," Paula said during citizens input, and she recommended postcards and clearer signage as a complement to postings and Front Porch Forum messages. The group also discussed in‑meeting etiquette for hybrid attendance: several attendees asked that speakers say their names on Zoom and that people seeking to speak raise hands rather than interrupt.
Board members acknowledged the suggestions. The select board assistant said some towns send absentee ballots to all voters for town meetings and that postcards or notices to request absentee ballots could be added to outreach. The board agreed to consider the suggestions and to add a reminder on future agendas for Zoom participants to state their names before speaking to improve clarity.
