Residents and town officials will convene for this year’s Annual Town Meeting Saturday, May 3, at Cronin Auditorium at the Bromfield School. The meeting starts at noon, with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m.—time enough to get to sports practice or the Transfer Station and still be on time to participate in the direct democracy of Harvard’s Town Meeting.
Town Meeting is Harvard’s legislature. The Select Board has put forward 44 articles for voters to debate and approve, one of the longest warrants in recent memory. Every registered voter can have a say on articles that include a $35.1 million omnibus budget, 13 projects recommended by the capital committee, and another eight recommended by the Community Preservation Committee. Several other articles propose changes to town bylaws, most notably a town center overlay district and a significant update to zoning in the commercial district that is meant to encourage more attractive commercial and mixed-use development in the Ayer Road corridor.
Masks are optional. Accessible school restrooms will be available nearby.
Checking in
Electronic check-in will be the same as for previous Town Meetings, facilitated by Poll Pads. The pads are not connected to the internet, so voters’ personal information is not at risk, according to Town Clerk Rose Miranda.
The Poll Pad accepts either a first and last name or a driver’s license barcode for scanning. No information from a scanned license will be retained by the device.
Each participant will receive an electronic clicker and can collect additional materials, such as a copy of the Town Meeting booklet and other handouts, after registering at the check-in table.
The clickers are small devices that fit in the palm of a voter’s hand and provide instantaneous results with a permanent record of the decision. The clickers use radio frequency to send the voting signal to a receiver monitored by the town moderator, Bill Barton, and a representative of the company that provides the devices. Barton will set a designated amount of time for people to cast their votes. Once the voting period has closed, the results will display instantly on a large screen for all participants to view. Attendees will be reminded to return their clickers at the end of the meeting.
How to participate
Anyone who wants to speak at Town Meeting should walk up to the microphone and take a place in line. While social distancing is no longer required, residents are reminded to be mindful of their proximity to others for their own and others’ comfort.
Speakers should give their names and addresses before beginning their remarks. All comments and questions should be addressed to the moderator and be relevant to the article being discussed at the time. If Moderator Bill Barton cannot directly answer any questions, he will pass them to the appropriate person. At previous Town Meetings, Barton has reminded residents to avoid repeating points that others have already made and to remain civil to fellow residents.
Each article will be debated under a main motion to be decided by a “yes” or “no” vote and can also be amended, deferred, or withdrawn; if an amendment is allowed, it must be submitted in writing to the moderator. Town officials—in particular the moderator and town counsel—are experienced in the rules of Town Meeting and will guide the process accordingly. To learn more about the conduct and procedures for Town Meeting, see the useful summary on page 1 of the warrant booklet prepared by the League of Women Voters of Harvard..
What to bring
Masks are not required, but attendees are encouraged to wear them if desired. Stephanie Opalka, president of the League of Women Voters of Harvard, recommends that people bring water, a pencil to doodle or take notes with, and if they have it, needlework.
The town meeting booklet contains the text of all 44 articles and will serve as a guide throughout the meeting. Participants should pick up a copy and any other materials on display at the check-in area. Especially valuable is the Town Report, for instance, which tells residents everything they might want to know about Harvard and the work of its departments and volunteer committees.
It is also worth bringing along this issue of the Harvard Press, which provides a summary of each article in “Warrant in Plain English.” (See pages 21-18.) Additional stories in the Press also provide insight into some of this year’s more complex articles, especially the budget override and the proposed bylaw for adopting form-based zoning code for the town’s commercial district.
Child care
Child care will be provided this year for free by Harvard Public Schools teachers, administrators, and staff alongside youth volunteers. Between noon and 4 p.m., children who are potty trained are invited to come and play with other kids while their voting adults are attending Town Meeting. Parents must register by completing a form provided at the town website. Go to harvard-ma.gov and click “Annual Town Meeting & Election.” At “Registration for Child Care at the May 3rd Town Meeting is now open,” click the link provided.
Parking
Parking is allowed in the lots surrounding Bromfield and at the library; parking is not allowed in the circle in front of Bromfield.
In the lobby
The Cronin Auditorium lobby typically bustles with activity before, during, and after a Town Meeting. Arm in Arm will offer ethnic candy and books, and the Girl Scouts have planned a bake sale. Look for a table sponsored by the Climate Committee and staffed by members of the Bromfield Green team.
Stop by the Harvard Press table where we’ll have extra copies of this week’s issue available. Members of staff will be on hand to hear what’s on attendees minds and feedback on the paper’s recent coverage of town news.
