A remote Town Meeting? Acton’s state reps are on board
After the Town Meeting Study Committee recommended that officials investigate a remote option, Acton state reps voiced support.
Remote participation in Acton’s town meetings could be a long way away.
But after the Town Meeting Study Committee recommended that officials pursue the possibility, both of Acton’s state representatives voiced their support.
“I’ve been impressed but not surprised with the thoughtfulness and deliberation of those who are working on this issue,” Rep. Simon Cataldo (D-Acton) said in a statement to The Acton Bridge.
In backing the effort, Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) said he is “available to discuss this with members of the Town Meeting Study Committee.”
Sen. Michael Barrett (D-Lexington) did not respond to requests for comment.
Home rule petition
The study committee is asking the Select Board to endorse a remote participation article on the Town Meeting warrant. If voters pass the article, officials could formally ask for state approval.
The move would require legislative approval and the governor’s signature.
Cataldo said he would be “delighted to file or co-file a home rule petition” if Town Meeting passes one.
Though new for Acton, the push for remote Town Meeting participation is not unprecedented.
Wayland and Lexington have embarked on similar efforts. In June 2024, the Acton area League of Women Voters published a report urging its six member towns to consider following Wayland’s lead.
In 2016, Sudbury voters backed a measure to allow people with physical disabilities to vote remotely in Town Meeting.
Many concerns
The Acton Town Meeting Study Committee reported that 78% of respondents to a survey last year said they wanted remote participation.
As the study committee looks to deliver that option, chair Eric Moore, in a letter to the Select Board, said officials should consult with Cataldo, Gentile, and Barrett.
The committee also raised the prospect of coordinating a petition across multiple towns.
“It’s a lot of moving parts,” Moore said of Acton’s efforts in an interview with The Bridge, “and a really uncertain timeline.”
