Select Board Does Not Call a Fall Town Meeting

The Sudbury Select Board voted unanimously not to call a Fall Town Meeting during their July 14 meeting. The vote was unanimous. Town Manager Andy Sheehan informed the board that staff had not indicated any need or desire for a Fall Town Meeting, and there was no indication from the public that a Fall Town Meeting was desired to take up any legislative business.

There were several letters in the packet from residents opposing a Fall Town Meeting. Many of them voiced suspicions that the Select Board was seeking to hold a Fall Town Meeting to reverse the vote on the recall provision that passed at the May 2026 Special Town Meeting.

Chair Janie Dretler explained that the Board was merely following the standard annual process as outlined in the Town’s bylaws. The bylaw can be reviewed here.

The language states: “A Town Meeting shall be held during the months of September, October or November at such date, time and place as the Select Board shall determine, unless the following applies. By the end of July, the Select Board shall discuss in public session, hold a public hearing and vote to determine whether a fall Town Meeting should occur. The public hearing shall be posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.[1] The Select Board shall also solicit input from the Town via email or mail for a period of one week before the public hearing.”

In plain English, the board has an obligation to go through the process of requesting input and holding a hearing in order to not hold a Fall Town Meeting. When the Select Board initiates the process outlined in the bylaw without identifying any pressing need for a Fall Town Meeting, it is usually taken as an indicator that the Town will not be calling a Fall Town Meeting.

Member Lisa Kouchakdjian called out “misinformation” and “disinformation” in the community that she believed prompted a number of letters opposing the Fall Town Meeting. Many of the letters followed a template, and many referenced the recall provision, indicating an organized effort. (Page 21 below)