Civic Engagement:
Hamilton & Wenham Special Town Meetings

For the most recent Community Forum on the School Consolidation Project, click here.  This is the most up to date information regarding the project and its history and addresses the concerns of the community at the end.  Another Forum will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, June 4th from 10am-11am. We'll add the link to that recording here when it is published.

Make a Plan to Attend Your Special Town Meeting 

We know that a Monday evening at 6:30 PM is a hectic time for our families. Hello bedtime! However, this is far better than the alternative of giving up another Saturday morning or afternoon during a busy time of year. We can do this!

All voting happens at the Town Meeting. Upon arrival, registered voters will receive a clicker that is used to cast your vote electronically during the meeting. You must be in attendance to vote.  The clicker is tied to the receiver in the room.

Resources for families with young children: 

Childcare 

• Babysitters list! A list of babysitters available to hire to watch your littles at home while you're at Town Meeting. 
• Hamilton Wenham Recreation is hosting two programs for kids ages 5-12. Description and registration here. Space still available in the STEM/Lego program.
• Childcare at Children’s Development Center (CDC): Open on June 9th, from 6 PM–late. Pajama party theme for newborns through age 12! Text Lauren at 617-240-8966 to sign up. Space still available. The cost is $20 per hour for your first child and $15 per hour for siblings.  This option is open to non-CDC families and any family in town can sign up.  Sign ups close June 5th EOD.
• Similar to the Annual Town Meeting, family-friendly rooms will be available at both meetings. Wenham's meeting includes a dedicated family classroom in a kindergarten room. There is currently a waitlist but please —sign up here or join us in the alternative cafeteria family friendly space!

• NEW! Childcare option at HS/MS Library. Great chance to be at the same site as the Hamilton meeting for potty trained children and older. Led by Buker principal Ben Shersten and a dozen high school student volunteers. Free but families must register in advance; no walk-ins. Registration closes June 6 EOD.

Family Friendly Attendance

• Pizza will be for sale at the Hamilton site. 5 Sons Pizza will be serving.  Bring cash and consider dinner accomplished! Wenham will not have this option - please be aware of this change.
• Children are welcome at Town Meeting and you're encouraged to bring them. As crazy as it sounds, it's doable.  Bring coloring books and supplies, tablets with downloaded content and headphones, etc.
• Nursing room spaces will be available.

Agenda Rundown

Hamilton: Two articles on the Warrant. 

• Debt Override for the Consolidated Elementary School Project - Requires 2/3 majority
• Lease Extension for the Cutler School Site - Requires a simple majority. Necessary for the Consolidated School Project to move forward. Only Hamilton votes on this. 
• Estimate that the meeting will last approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. 

Wenham: Key articles on the Warrant (this is not a fully inclusive list)

• Regular municipal business that did not get covered in the Warrant during the April 5 Annual Town Meeting. These will be quick!  
• Debt Override for the Consolidated Elementary School Project - Requires 2/3 majority
• To approve the proposed 3A zoning plan as presented by the Wenham Planning Board.
• Estimate that the meeting will last approximately 3 - 4 hours. The Consolidated School vote will take place in the first half; very likely by 8:30 PM. The 3A vote takes place at the end of the agenda. 

*Warrant is in the mail and will arrive in mailboxes soon.

Deeper Dive: Hot Topics on the Warrants

Want to get up-to-speed on the Special Town Meeting articles?

HW Consolidated School Information Session with Superintendent Eric Tracey

The final community meeting is scheduled next Wednesday morning via zoom, or watch the recordingfrom a similar session on May 22. 

Wednesday, June 4 at 10 - 11 a.m. 
via Zoom 
Link will be available on June 4 

Wenham Report on the Financial Impact of 3A MBTA Communities Act Zoning

Released today, Wenham presented a comprehensivereporton the Financial Impact of the town's proposed 3A zoning.

Reach out if you have questions!

We are so proud of how many Mothers' Club families participated in the April Annual Town Meetings and actively engaged in the process. As before, please be in touch if you have questions about the meetings' logistics and/or warrants as you make a plan to attend your Special Town Meeting. We will send updates as the date gets closer. 

Sincerely, 

Michelle Granese 
Chair, Civic Engagement

hwmccivicengagement@gmail.com