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Town, Select Board ask for resident feedback on ATM experience

Residents discuss a water issue on Hawthorne Lane during Annual Town Meeting on May 2. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

In an effort to improve voter experience and maximize participation, the town and the Select Board are seeking feedback on this year’s Annual Town Meeting.

The town released a survey last week that solicits a wide range of data regarding residents’ experience with Annual Town Meeting earlier this month. It asks respondents to answer questions related to their attendance at the meeting, barriers for participating, potential improvements to the meeting and more. It also solicits some demographic data.

Lance DelPriore, Assistant Town Manager, stated that the information may help the town and the board understand if some demographics are more affected by recent changes to ATM than others.

This year’s ATM was the first to be held on a Saturday since a vote last year to change the meeting date. At a recent Select Board meeting, Town Clerk Connor Degan and Town Moderator Zachary Kosan gave a mostly positive review of the May 2 meeting, acknowledging there would be “bumps in the road” as the town adjusts to the change.

DelPriore agreed. “Overall, it seems to be a good shift,” he said. He stated that attendance was higher than last year and that voters were able to attend to all the business on the warrant in one day.

“It would have taken us two days to get it done if it was on a weeknight,” DelPriore claimed.

He noted that the results from the survey will be analyzed to better understand what inhibits voters from attending ATM or staying through the end of the meeting. “We want to continue exploring and get as much feedback about what’s working and what isn’t working,” he explained.

The data collected also will build upon past surveys the town has issued following ATM. He expressed a hope that the survey could become a routine in the future so the town and Select Board can track how things change over time.

DelPriore hinted at some potential improvements for next year. He said food service offered at this year’s meeting likely will remain. There also have been discussions around working with the local Girl Scout troops to provide child care services next year. 

He added that Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch had suggested serving coffee at next year’s ATM. “It’s an understandable need during these long meetings,” DelPrioire joked.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

Hopkinton High School’s boys and girls tennis teams bowed out of the Division 1 state tournament after first-round losses Thursday, as did the boys volleyball team.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is 4-month-old Arny, an affectionate puppy full of personality who loves meeting new people.

Maryalyce Straight, 74, died May 25. She was a longtime resident of Hopkinton.

The Hopkinton Trails Committee and the Hopkinton Trails Club will hold their next monthly trail workday along the Cattle Run Trail at Hughes Farm on June 6.

Photo of the Day

Clouds cover most of the sky in this image taken from the downtown area midday Thursday.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR