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Town Meeting wrapped up on Wednesday May 7. Attendance exceeded expectations for a third night of an Annual Town Meeting. Sudbury’s legislative body was able to conduct its business. While the votes were once again lopsided, Town Moderator Cate Blake effectively balanced efficiency with the strong desire of residents to speak on almost all of the articles. The length of this Town Meeting was more a choice made by the desires of the legislative body rather than any decisions made by the moderator. Blake read the room accurately, created space for discussion, and moderated with a steady hand once again.
The first article considered was Article 44 – Funding for the Fairbank Community Center pavilion, multi-sport court and and landscape master plan. That one took on some lumps and bruises on the way to Town Meeting, most notably with the Finance Committee voting not to support it. However, as they informed the hall tonight, they reconsidered the article and ended up recommending its approval. Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly in favor the article, 174-28, setting the tone for a night that was a reaffirmation of Sudbury’s commitment to the Community Preservation Act. All of the non-petition articles were Community Preservation Committee articles on this night.
Article 44 – Fairbank Community Center Court/Pavilion/Landscape Master Plan – It passed 174-28
Article 46 – Sudbury Housing Authority Funding for Scattered Site Duplexes – This was indefinitely postponed upon a motion by the SHA. They didn’t have architectural renderings in time for Town Meeting, so this may come back later. The vote was 189-15.
Article 47 – Housing Trust Allocation – It passed 167-33.
Article 48 – Hosmer House Collection – It passed 160-23
Article 49 – Hosmer House Envelope – It passed 170-21
Article 50 – Hosmer House Wooden Roof – It passed 175-18
Article 54 – CPA Surcharge Cut (Citizen Petition) – It failed 32-163
Article 55 – Updated Means Tested Senior Exemption (Citizen Petition) – This one passed 129-7
Article 56 – Sidewalk Funding (Citizen Position) – This one failed, 30-111
At the end of Town Meeting, the Town Clerk swore in many of the winning candidates from the March Town Election. Don’t blink — committees and boards will start reorganizing in the coming weeks, which will set the trajectory for the next year in Sudbury.
