ATHENS — There will be a Special Town Meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Athens Elementary School. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and vote on how our “regular” town meetings will be held in the future.
Some of the residents in Athens would like to see a change that would encourage more voters to get the vote out on Town Meeting Day. We are suggesting a change to Australian ballot for elected officials and a “regular” Town Meeting to discuss and vote on the articles. This would give those people unable to take a day off for town meeting to at least have some say in our local government.
Last year with Covid mandates in place, all the voting was by Australian ballot, and Athens had its highest voter turnout ever!
I don't want to lose Town Meeting Day, and I don't want to lose the connection that it promotes in the community, but is it fair for 50 or 60 voters out of more than 225 (more or less) to make all the important decisions?
I urge fellow Athenians to come out and make your voices heard.