Essex Residents: SUPPORT Common Sense Articles 42 and 43

To the Editor,

At this year’s Essex Annual Town Meeting next week, residents will notice something a little different. Articles 42 and 43 propose common-sense bylaw updates placed on the Warrant through citizens’ petitions. As one of the authors of both petitions, I am writing to explain the thought process behind each and respectfully ask for your support.
One of the strengths of our open government system is that the power truly rests with the voters. It only takes ten signatures to place an article on the Warrant, a reminder of how accessible local government can be. Now, it’s up to us to decide if these changes should be made.
APPOINTING INDEPENDENT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Article 42 proposes a change to Town General Bylaw 2-4.2 shifting appointment of Finance Committee members from “members of the committee whose terms did not expire at that annual town meeting” to “the town moderator.”
This idea is not new. In 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Division of Local Services released a Financial Management Review of Essex recommending this change:
“The self-appointing aspect of the finance committee bylaw is uncommon, and with good reason, since it could skew toward a homogeneous membership or at least fuel perception that the committee does not represent residents’ diverse points of view. As an alternative, we suggest assigning committee appointing authority to the town moderator, as many towns do.”
Ten years later, we have still not implemented this recommendation.
To confirm whether this concern remains valid, we reviewed the Charters and Bylaws of over 270 Massachusetts towns. None (0%) use Essex’s self-appointing method. 56% appoint through the moderator, 14% hold elections, 13% appoint through the Select Board, 12% use a selection committee, and 5% use a hybrid model.
Appointing through the moderator — an elected official removed from policymaking — strengthens accountability and transparency while aligning Essex with best practices across the Commonwealth. Further, the moderator already appoints the DPW Commissioner and our Essex Tech representative. This change and ensures the Finance Committee remains independent, representative, and accessible to a broader pool of volunteers.
STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS. Article 43 proposes a new General Bylaw to modernize how Essex manages public meetings. It introduces three improvements: providing remote access to open meetings, requiring recordings, and clarifying timelines for submitting minutes.
Remote Access: The law currently allows but does not require remote access. We believe it should be required. In today’s world, real-time access is both feasible and practical. Free or low-cost tools like YouTube, Zoom, Facebook Live, or dial-in numbers make it possible for residents juggling their busy lives to observe government in action. This bylaw does not require boards to accept live remote comments, which may require investment in technology — it only ensures that meetings can be accessed.
Recording Meetings: Although written minutes are required, they often miss the nuance of discussion. Recordings preserve a complete record of public deliberations. They are easy to make using laptops, smartphones, or free conference services, and can be stored inexpensively on platforms that allow for access by the public. This is a low-burden enhancement that provides a significant return in transparency and public trust.
Timely Meeting Minutes: State law requires minutes to be “approved in a timely manner,” but does not define specific deadlines. Town guidance suggests minutes should be submitted within three meetings or 30 days, whichever is later. While many boards meet this standard, others regularly fall behind. Our bylaw clarifies that minutes must be submitted within 45 days or five days after the next meeting, whichever is later. For boards already compliant, nothing changes. For those struggling, this codification strengthens expectations and ensures timely access to information.
VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND PRACTICALITY. We recognize concerns about placing additional responsibilities on our hardworking volunteer boards or creating unnecessary expenses. We recognize concerns about compliance. These bylaws were drafted specifically to allow low-tech solutions that many of us use every day. If not, they require minimal training. They build on, not conflict with, Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Our goal is not to burden volunteers, but to ensure that all residents have consistent, timely access to the decisions that affect our town. We don’t want to make anyone’s life harder. We just want Essex to take advantage of the modern tools available to us.
Many towns of our size already manage these practices successfully. Towns such as Arlington, Boxborough, Grafton, Greenfield, Lakefield, Lexington, Maynard, Middleton, Topsfield, Wellesley, and Westwood have similar measures in place. Essex can too.
We have been in conversation with Town officials and are happy to offer amendments at Town Meeting to address reasonable concerns. That said, we believe residents deserve access to governance, and that Essex can meet these standards without undue burden.
By taking these steps, we can strengthen public trust, improve engagement, and promote a culture of accountability that will benefit our town for years to come.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I look forward to seeing you at Town Meeting.
Brian Gressler
Essex