Spencer board debates moving pre‑agenda start from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; decision deferred to Dec. 10

At the Dec. 5 pre‑agenda meeting Spencer Town board members discussed whether to change the normal start time for pre‑agenda meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A board member who said a resident suggested standardizing meeting times urged moving the start to 6:00 for consistency and to avoid perceptions that the earlier time reduces public access. “I actually think that's a good idea,” the member said, noting that standardizing times can reduce concerns about transparency.

Other board members and the town manager pushed back on changing the time without more information. Several members argued the 5:30 start was established to accommodate staff schedules, allowing employees who work outside town to travel home and return; one member recommended a trial period and monitoring attendance before making a permanent change. The town manager noted that pre‑agenda meetings are staff‑oriented and that when public hearings are expected, start times could be adjusted so hearings begin at 6 p.m.

The board did not take a formal vote at the Dec. 5 meeting and agreed to defer the scheduling decision to the Dec. 10 regular meeting when members will have an opportunity to discuss it further and adopt a schedule for 2025 if desired.