Town Meeting Reimagined task force urges open‑house kickoff; board debates amendment limits

Gaye Symington reported July 16 that the Town Meeting Reimagined (TMRi) Task Force supports an open‑house style fall kickoff and outlined four possible methods to accommodate citizen questions during the budget and meeting cycle. The task force described three linked steps in the process — a vision‑oriented kickoff, a moderated Selectboard budget meeting with remote participation, and an Australian‑ballot vote that is the determining vote — and identified communication, article wording and meeting rules as areas needing improvement.

Task‑force members said the fall kickoff has not achieved the intended mix of education and brainstorming and recommended an open‑house that would let residents learn about the budget process and how to develop public questions. “The third is the Australian ballot vote, which is the determining vote,” Symington said, describing the sequence. The task force also offered four approaches for handling public questions (tightening in‑meeting time, holding a weekend meeting, separating budget and public‑question meetings, or changing the timing of the Australian ballot via charter amendment). Members expressed a preference to continue one more year without major procedural changes while the Selectboard provides guidance.

Board members debated limits on in‑meeting amendments and the effect of moving large items to Australian ballot. Erik Johnson said he supported a rule that would prevent a small turnout from forcing an up‑or‑down vote on the entire budget because of a single large amendment and described a $36,000 threshold discussed last year; Peter Booth said he is inclined to emphasize that citizens are the legislative branch and the board should allow them to make decisions. The board agreed on the value of an open‑house kickoff and to further discuss which option to adopt for public questions.