Published in the September 20, 2017 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The day of the April Town Election might be changing if voters approve a proposed warrant article at Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 16.
Town Clerk Trudy Reid appeared before the Board of Selectmen last week to present a proposed warrant article that would change the April town election from the second Monday in the month to the second Tuesday.
If voters approve the warrant article at October Town Meeting, Reid said the vote would authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the State Legislature to approve special legislation that would amend the Town Charter in order to hold the annual town election on a Tuesday.
Selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett asked Reid why she proposed changing the date of the election.
Reid said having the town election on a Monday creates logistical issues. She said moving the election from Monday to Tuesday would provide an additional workday to prepare for the election.
“Since I became town clerk in 2014, we have had two elections that have fallen the day after Palm Sunday,” said Reid. “The DPW and myself spent Palm Sunday setting up for the election. Between now and 2023, this will happen at least another three times where it will either be Palm Sunday or Easter.”
Reid noted the DPW is paid “double time” on Sundays versus time-and-a-half.
“It’s not going to save a ton of money, but there will be some savings to the town budget as far as election set up,” said Reid.
Additionally, Reid explained that the change would make the annual town election “consistent with state elections.” She also said it will extend absentee voting from noon on Friday to noon on Monday.
Selectman Dick Dalton asked, if there is any downside that could be made against the move
“It seems to be pretty simple and straight forward,” said Dalton.
Reid said she doesn’t know of any issues with the proposal.
“I don’t know if it would be easier to get into the high school on a Monday afternoon versus Sunday afternoon,” said Reid.
Selectman Phil Crawford expressed his support for the warrant article.
“I think this should have been done long ago,” said Crawford. “It has always been a problem. If (Reid) were here earlier, it would have been done a long time ago. I think it’s been a long time coming and I think it’s a great idea. I am certainly in favor of it.”
Reid is currently waiting for Town Counsel Tom Mullen to approve the warrant article’s language.
“I put together the article as well as I could,” said Reid. “Middleton recently went through this and they are still waiting back from the State Legislature on whether or not the change will be made. I cannot see why they wouldn’t if we got Senator (Tom) McGee and Representative (Brad) Jones involved.”
While the selectmen unanimously voted to place the election change proposal on the October Town Meeting warrant, Barrett said he wants Mullen to review the article before the selectmen vote to recommend it to Town Meeting.
