Dear Town Meeting Members:

This is a reminder that the Select Board has called a Special Town Meeting (STM) for 7 pm on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in response to a Citizen Petition aiming to retain the name of the now demolished “Skip Viglirolo Rink” for the new skating rink currently under construction at the same site. The citizen petition was signed by 258 Belmont voters, as certified by the Town Clerk, which triggered a requirement that a STM be held within 45 days (per M.G.L. 39 §10). Although the petitioners did not intend to trigger a STM before October, Town Counsel advises that the petition may not be withdrawn and the STM may not be rescheduled to a more favorable time.

A second Citizen Petition that was submitted and certified will be also considered at the same STM to see whether Town Meeting will ask the Select Board to prepare the language and file a Home Rule Petition with the State that:

1. eliminates seating capacity requirements for “all alcohol licenses” and “wine and malt beverage only” licenses for restaurants;
2. increase the number of such licenses available for restaurants, and; 
3. have the Select Board revise the Town’s Alcohol Licensing policies, rules, and regulations to make such licenses easier to apply for.

The citizen petition was signed by 154 Belmont voters, as certified by the Town Clerk.

You can review all of the July 23rd STM related documents on the website here, which has the warrant, the citizen petitions, and the current Town alcohol policies. The general Town Meeting page can be found here.

The upcoming Special Town Meeting will be held only by remote access, meaning that participating Town Meeting Members must access via Zoom or watch remotely through Belmont Media Center’s (BMC) Verizon and Comcast government cable channels or via BMC’s website (www.belmontmedia.org). All electronic voting by Town Meeting Members will make use of echo360 PointSolutions application (available as an app for smartphones or over the web). Town Meeting Members who choose to watch remotely through BMC will be able to vote, but not speak in the proceedings unless they sign on to use one of the assigned Zoom phone numbers.

Remote Participation Guidelines

Participants should ensure they are familiar with Zoom.  

Town Meeting Members who are not confident in their Zoom skills:

• are encouraged to take one of the many free online tutorials offered by www.Zoom.com.
• may choose not to sign into Zoom and therefore may watch via Belmont Media and vote using their PointSolutions, but will be unable to participate apart from voting. 

All Town Meeting Members should:

• Login to their PointSolutions account before the day of Town Meeting to ensure their access and password are up to date, by using the PointSolutions app or visiting www.ttpoll.com.
• Between 6 PM and 7 PM on the night of the Town Meeting, login to PointSolutions, enter the Session ID that will be provided by the Town Clerk within 48 hours of the Town Meeting session and confirm that their electronic voting account is working properly. 
• Between 6 PM and 7 PM on the night of Town Meeting, sign in to the Zoom using their first and last name (not Fuzzy Cat 6 please). The Town Meeting Member will be able to see if their electronic vote has been received by watching their name on the voting grid change color from grey to aqua. 

Voting Procedures

All voting will be conducted through the PointSolutions app. All Members must ensure secure access to their voting account/app prior to the meetings using their identified email address.  Online “Forgot Password” help prompt is available and the Town IT department will staff a help line 617-993-BTMM (2886) for those needing technical assistance from 6 PM until 8:30 PM the night of the STM.   

While voting is open on a motion, Members experiencing voting issues should raise their Zoom hand, await recognition by the Moderator, and state their name and vote verbally. The verbal vote will only be counted if an electronic vote has not also been received.  Then the Member should call the help line to solve the problem.

Speaking Procedures

Attendees should raise their hand in Zoom if they wish to be recognized to speak.  Those using the Zoom phone number press *9 to raise a Zoom hand.  If a Town Meeting Member wishes to make a point of order, please type the words Point of Order in the Zoom Q&A and a Town Meeting staff member will call it to the immediate attention of the Moderator.

Simplified Procedures Guide

View a two-page reference guide outlining Belmont’s Town Meeting procedures to assist you in participating effectively.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly.

We look forward to seeing you at the July 23 STM.

Best regards,

Mike Crowley, Moderator

moderator@belmont-ma.gov

Ellen O’Brien Cushman, Town Clerk

townclerk@belmont-ma.gov