Warrant for 2026 Town Meeting open through January 23

Concordians looking to change how things work around town have a chance to take action, but the window is closing to get a citizen petition on this year’s Annual Town Meeting warrant. 

The warrant will close at noon on January 23. Petitioners need signatures from at least 10 registered voters.

The town posted information about the process at concordma.gov/667/Town-Meeting.

The town moderator and town staff can help residents make sure their phrasing meets state law and achieves its intended purpose. 

This year’s Town Meeting voter registration deadline is April 17 at 5 p.m. The meeting begins on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. 

Most warrant articles come from town officials or boards such as the Select Board and School Committee. Recent citizen petitions have included requests to create new staff positions, proposed bylaw changes, and reforms to Town Meeting itself.

At least for now, voters probably won’t consider new zoning for the shuttered MCI-Acton prison — but the topic could come up later this year.

Select Board Chair Mark Howell told colleagues last month that leaders are eying a “master planning process” to firm up details. 

Town Manager Kerry Lafleur said a Special Town Meeting this fall would cost $15,000 to $20,000. 

“That’s our goal,” Howell told The Acton Bridge when asked if officials plan to hold a fall session. “We’ll do the best we can to hit it.”

The last time Acton held a Special Town Meeting outside the annual cycle was in 2023, when voters approved extra funding for the middle school building project.

Staying at CCHS?

Town Meeting has been held at Acton-Carlisle High School for years. Officials have discussed holding future meetings at the new Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School, but parking is limited.

Town Moderator Carmin Reiss said police reviewed options and determined they wouldn’t fit the “typical requirements” of Town Meeting.

She said she hadn’t talked with the Select Board about the 2026 location as of last week, but told The Bridge in an email that the police parking assessment makes a change “unlikely.” 

Reiss, who doesn’t plan to seek reelection as town moderator beyond this year’s Annual Town Meeting, said Acton could still use CMS as a satellite location in addition to CCHS if organizers expect more than 1,100 attendees.