New Town Forum Platform Starting to Take Shape

Sudbury resident Dan DePompei thinks too many residents have difficulty understanding warrant articles at town meetings, but has a solution that he says will better the town.

At the Sept. 3 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, DePompei was asked about a potential new town forum, something he submitted as an article at Town Meeting.

"The purpose of this was to create constructive conversation between community and the management of town," he said. "I never intended this to be a bylaw. I wrote it as a bylaw on the recommendation of (Town Moderator) Myron Fox."

DePompei envisions a two-and-a-half forum that will be a civil meeting of residents who want to discuss issues affecting Sudbury ... issues that he says may not be discussed at other town meetings.

"We can solicit information from the town and see what (residents) want to discuss," he said.

Selectman Bob Haarde liked the idea as long as it was driven by residents.

“I wouldn’t want to front-end it too much with reports from town officials,” he said. “I think people want to come in, be interactive, have conversations and ask questions. And it doesn’t degrade into a shouting match. That’s the challenge, and that’s what we have to make happen.”

Selectman Larry O’Brien said he was concerned about the forum becoming too politicized and felt a date in late January or early February would be best.

"My concern would be that if we're going forward and we have it be meaningful, if it happens later before town elections, it becomes a political event," he said. "That’s not the purpose of this forum. I’m looking long range."