In the month since Acton’s Annual Town Meeting, I have heard from voters directly and seen comments, including in this publication, about the experience and reflected on those and the meeting itself. I am proud and grateful that the voters came together to express their thoughts and desires calmly and respectfully. Despite the challenges of such a large turnout, the prevailing attitude was patience and understanding that people were doing their best.
I am proud and grateful that our town and school staff organized the logistics to allow the meeting to run smoothly and efficiently. I am thankful that ActonTV supports our democratic process by assisting article presenters with videos that voters can view before the meeting, and then streaming the meeting for viewers at home or to review later.
Access to the meeting is not universal, but it has improved. Rides are available to and from the meeting; seating is reserved for those with mobility issues; the Zoom option is available for those unable to participate due to physical disability (a recent innovation); real-time captioning helps those unable to hear and anyone who processes information better visually; the clickers enable those who can’t raise their hands or their voices, as well as those who want to vote privately. The meeting time is an obstacle for some, but based on surveys taken over the years, a weekend-day meeting would result in a similar number of participants. No time is the best time for everyone.
Our town government works because of the efforts of volunteers, including the Finance Committee. Part of the job of the Moderator is to appoint FinCom. At this time there are openings for associate and full members. If you want to learn more about serving on this committee, please contact me at Moderator@acton-ma.gov.
Jo-Ann Berry
Town Moderator