Lincoln launches study committee to review town meeting practices

LINCOLN — September 16, 2024 — Lincoln Select Board opens public review of 270-year-old town meeting format. Chair Jim Hutchinson said the board is forming a resident-led study committee after an unusual volume of post-meeting comments, with applications open Oct. 1-14, interviews Oct. 21 and first meetings in early November. Town Counsel Joel Bard told the Monday forum that split sessions and bylaw changes are within town authority, but formal ballot voting and remote home participation would require state-law changes under Chapter 39. Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden estimated the consent calendar and consolidated budget process save "between two and three hours" per annual meeting. Member Jennifer Glass ran a Padlet exercise that surfaced communication, audiovisual quality and anonymity of electronic clicker votes as recurring themes. A study committee report is targeted for fall 2025, possibly paired with a special town meeting.