The upcoming special town meeting, scheduled to focus on MBTA zoning proposals, was a central topic of discussion. With expectations of a potentially large turnout, plans include using both the school cafeteria and gymnasium to accommodate attendees. Moderator Wayne Davis emphasized the need for robust public input and a fair, informative environment for residents to express opinions and learn from others. Concerns about crowd management and encouraging early arrival were raised, as the meeting requires a quorum of 150 attendees to commence. Davis outlined plans to refine voting procedures, aiming to allow honest expression of preferences rather than strategic voting, and welcomed feedback to improve proposed methods.

The board discussed the logistics of check-in procedures, including the number of additional iPads for registration. The need for effective public engagement was highlighted, with dialogue on how to inform the public of arrival times and participation formats, especially for those attending remotely.

Three zoning proposals will be consolidated into a single article for voting at the meeting. David Model has been involved in discussions about establishing agreed-upon facts to facilitate focused debate on policy issues. An agreed facts meeting is scheduled for October 23, inviting organized groups and individuals to contribute. The moderator expressed the need for efficiency, especially with the potential for a large turnout, and encouraged participants to pre-register and limit representation to one person per group.

Contentious issues, such as the fire station and demolition delay bylaw, were also discussed, with the potential application of the agreed facts approach to these topics. The requirement for any amendments to the zoning article to be submitted in advance by noon on October 28 was emphasized, with no floor amendments permitted during the meeting except for minor corrections. The planning board is expected to have final bylaw language available by October 20, which will play a role in determining the amendments that can be proposed.

Barney Arnold raised a point regarding the planning board’s recent discussions, indicating that two out of three proposals submitted to the state were rejected, leaving only the single site option acceptable. There was consensus that if only one proposal is presented, the voting would follow traditional practices, facilitating a straightforward up or down vote. However, the need for agreed facts and advance submission of amendments remains critical, given the potential for complex discussions.

The board also reviewed the process for handling proposals, focusing on structuring presentations to keep the audience engaged. Presentations should ideally be under ten minutes, with a dedicated question period proposed to last between half an hour to an hour. The final vote on one proposal will mirror a typical zoning article procedure, with sequential voting using electronic devices to determine preferences among multiple proposals. Concerns were raised about the potential for one proposal to gain an unfair advantage if allowed to proceed to the final vote without sufficient scrutiny. Including a “none of the above” option in preliminary rounds was discussed to address this concern.

Attention then turned to the Trust Fund Working Group, with the board reviewing a draft charter and proposed appointments for the committee. The draft charter aims to establish processes and policies for the equitable administration of town trust funds, emphasizing transparency and compliance with Massachusetts General Laws. The working group’s primary objective is to ensure oversight and guidance in fund administration, with membership proposed to consist of six members: five voting members appointed by the Select Board and one non-voting member from the Council on Aging.

The board also addressed ongoing budget processes within the school district, particularly regarding fees imposed on families. Four key areas where the school district charges fees were highlighted, with a desire to eventually reduce these fees due to the burden they place on residents already paying substantial property taxes. The budget process timeline was outlined, with significant dates for presentations and votes scheduled between November and January.