Select Board Adopts Petition Policy by 2-1 Vote
Select Board · Meeting of October 5, 2026
Belmont Select Board splits 2-1 to adopt new citizen petition policy over public-review objection. Chair Taylor Yates and member Matt Taylor outvoted Vice Chair Carol, who said she was "not comfortable adopting it without it being available for public view." The policy routes petitions to the Board of Registrars of Voters for certification, as state law requires, and lets residents file them year-round rather than only while the warrant is open. The board also learned $1.3 million in surplus Community Preservation funds will flow into free cash, heard that Belmont's reserves rank near the bottom among peer towns, and voted unanimously to appoint former town moderator Michael Crowley to the Massport Community Advisory Committee.
Director of Planning and Building Chris Ryan told the board three consulting firms quoted $100,000 to $110,000 to finish Belmont's long-running comprehensive plan, the subject of a $100,000 free cash request headed to the November 16 special town meeting.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,477 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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