by Chris Jones ·
Friday, April 24, 2026
Residents and town officials will convene for this year’s Annual Town Meeting Saturday, May 2, at the Bromfield School’s Cronin Auditorium. The meeting starts at 10 a.m., with check-in beginning at 9:15 a.m.—time enough to make coffee, swing by the Transfer Station, and still be on time to participate in a democratic process that started with the Puritans in the 1630s. In fact, the British tried to ban town meetings in 1774—bad idea!
Town Meeting is Harvard’s legislature. The Select Board has put forward 30 articles for voters to debate and approve, and every registered voter can have a say on articles that include a $36.7 million omnibus budget, consequential additions to the town’s solar overlay district, and projects recommended by the Capital Planning and Investment Committee and Community Preservation Committee. These projects range from comfort to recreation to safety: new seating in the Cronin Auditorium, reconstruction of the tennis courts behind the Bromfield School, reconstruction of the Eldridge Road culvert, and the purchase of Police Department drones, to name a few.
To pay for everything in the budget, the Select Board has asked for a $135,370 Proposition 2½ override to avoid cutting personnel and services it considers critical. Town Meeting must first approve the budget, and then voters must agree to the override at Town Election on May 5. If either vote fails, it’s back to the drawing board. (See “Article 7: Harvard budget leaves gaps only an override can close” on page 1.)
Masks are optional. Accessible school restrooms will be available nearby.
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.
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, the 2025 Annual Town Report, 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 Town Moderator Bill Barton and by 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.
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 offer their names and identify their street 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 prepared by the League of Women Voters of Harvard on pages 27 and 28 in the warrant booklet.
The League of Women Voters of Harvard recommends that people bring water and a pencil to doodle or take notes with.
The Town Meeting booklet contains the text of all 30 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 Annual 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.” Additional stories in the Press also provide insight into some of this year’s more complex articles, especially the budget override.
Child care will be provided this year for free (donations welcome) by Girl Scout Troop 65075, starting at 9:45 a.m. Children who are potty-trained and up to 10 years old are invited to come and play with other kids while their voting adults are attending Town Meeting. Parents should register on the town website and pack a nut-free lunch plus a water bottle. Go to harvard-ma.gov and click “Annual Town Meeting & Election.” You will see a QR code to register.
Parking is allowed in the lots surrounding Bromfield and at the library; parking is not allowed in the circle in front of Bromfield.
The Cronin Auditorium lobby typically bustles with activity before, during, and after Town Meeting. Arm in Arm and the Climate Initiative Committee will have tables with information and perhaps some items for purchase. The Girl Scouts will sell baked goods and water for hungry and thirsty voters.
Stop by the Harvard Press table, where we’ll have extra copies of this week’s issue available. Members of the Press staff will be on hand to hear what’s on attendees’ minds and feedback on the paper’s recent coverage of town news.
Happy voting, everyone!