Westborough – Town officials met earlier today for an emergency meeting to discuss the town election, which was to be held March 17 and the annual town meeting, scheduled for March 28.
Town Moderator John Arnold released this statement regarding the two events:
Due to the current public health risks associated with COVID-19, the Board of Selectmen voted earlier today to postpone the Town Election scheduled for March 17, 2020 and to request emergency legislation to define a path toward rescheduling the election. Yesterday, Governor Baker filed emergency legislation that, if passed, may give additional guidance and options to the Commonwealth’s towns that are in the midst of election and Town Meeting season.
Given the guidance of the CDC and the actions taken at the Federal, State, and Town level, it is clear to me that it is in the best interests of the voters of Westborough to postpone the Town Meeting until after the current public health situation has improved so voters can feel safe about attending Town Meeting.
Therefore, I plan to postpone the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for March 28, 2020. Since I expect that legislative action may occur between now and March 28, I am going to use the time between now and then to see if any additional postponement options become available. If no additional options become available, I expect to issue a declaration of postponement as authorized by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 38, Section 10A prior to March 28.
I will continue to work with the Selectmen, the Board of Health, the Town Manager, and the Fire/EMT, Police, and School departments to coordinate the date, time, and place for the postponed Town Meeting with a focus on the safety and health of the voters and town staff. I am sure we will all work together to make sure that voters have ample notice of the new date, place, and time for both the Town Election and Annual Town Meeting.
If anyone has any questions about the upcoming Town Meeting or the Town Meeting process, please contact me by email – [email protected] – or leave a phone message for me at the Town Clerk’s office – 508-366-3020.
Thank you for your patience and help as we work our way through these extraordinary times.
