David Manalan’s January 13 letter to The Exchange proposed that Acton follow Concord’s example in petitioning the state to allow remote participation in Town Meetings. I strongly support this idea as a way to make our open Town Meeting truly inclusive, enabling residents who are physically unable to attend in person to participate fully.
This step aligns with the long evolution of Massachusetts town meetings, which have progressively expanded access since their origins, when only male property-owning church members could participate. By addressing the obstacle of in-person attendance, we can ensure that our Town Meeting remains a proud example of direct democracy.
Bob Sekuler