Below is a FAQ from Town Moderator Jonathan Eaton regarding Remote Participation at Wilmington’s Annual & Special Town Meetings:
WILMINGTON, MA — Historically, participation in open town meetings has been limited to those individuals who are physically able to be present for the meeting. In June of 2023, the Massachusetts Office on Disability issued a memorandum on “Reasonable accommodations at Town Meetings” which interpreted the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) to provide an alternative for those individuals whose disability necessitates remote participation in open town meetings.
I am proud that last year, Wilmington was one of the first communities in the Commonwealth with an open town meeting form of government that allowed remote participation for those with a disability that necessitated remote participation as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. That said, the state requires that the town engage in an interactive process with the person requesting a reasonable accommodation, and in an effort to communicate what that process is, after consultation with town counsel, I created the Policy for Remote Participation in Wilmington Town Meetings.
How do I request remote participation?
You can request a reasonable accommodation to participate remotely by calling the Town Clerk’s Office at 978 658-2030, or by filling out the request form on the town’s website dedicated to town meeting.
Is that it?
No. The town and the person requesting the reasonable accommodation must engage in an interactive process. The town may inquire how the person’s functional limitations associated with their disability prevent them from attending in person.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, requests must be received by the Town Clerk’s Office no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled start time of the Town Meeting. The upcoming Annual Town Meeting is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, so the deadline to request a reasonable accommodation is 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25.
Can my caretaker, or anyone else from my household, join me in participating remotely?
The ADA applies to individuals with disabilities, and not their caretakers or household members. Only individuals who have a disability that necessitates a reasonable accommodation may participate remotely. All others must be physically at the meeting in order to vote.
What if I have questions?
Feel free to reach out to the Town Clerk’s Office at 978 658-2030, or email the town moderator at moderator@wilmingtonma.gov.
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